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Upcoming Online Workshops

Full Awareness of Breathing: Meditation in Recovery

Part One

Finding Body and Breath

Saturday

January 21

10:30am EST


Led by Sheldon Clark, this two-hour workshop is the first of three on the meditation practice known as the Full Awareness of Breathing.

This practice, the Buddha's most direct teaching on meditation, is a set of breath-based contemplations which relate directly to deepening our sobriety.

Full Awareness of Breathing meditation moves through contemplations of the body, feelings, mind, and the objects of our mind. These contemplations help us to understand our patterns of suffering, to relate to them with non-attachment, and allow them to pass.

In this workshop, we'll cover important fundamentals in this style of meditation:

  • meditation posture and settling the body

  • the differences between receptive, purposeful, and contemplative meditation

  • mindfulness: directed and receptive attention

  • developing the breath

  • peripheral awareness

  • working with distraction in meditation

  • contemplations of breath and body

  • cultivating contentment

This workshop will include teachings, periods of guided and silent meditation, and discussion.

Registration Requested.

🙏🏼

Recommended Donation $10

See Below

Full Awareness of Breathing: Meditation in Recovery

Part Two

Deepening Understanding

Saturday

January 28

10:30am EST


In this second two-hour workshop, we'll expand our practice of the Full Awareness of Breathing.

Based in the Buddha's direct teaching on meditation, this workshop will help you deepen your practice of the fundamentals of Full Awareness of Breathing meditation. We'll then expand the practice through additional ideas and contemplations:

  • being open to joy

  • practicing with impermanence and interdependence

  • feelings vs. emotions

  • contemplations of feelings

  • the three poisons

  • beginning contemplations of the mind

This workshop will include teachings, periods of guided and silent meditation, and discussion.

Prerequisite:

Full Awareness of Breathing: Meditation in Recovery

Part One

Registration is Required.

🙏🏼

Recommended Donation

$10-15

See Below

Full Awareness of Breathing: Meditation in Recovery

Part Three

Realizing Equanimity

Saturday

February 11

10:30am EST


In this third 2.5 hour workshop, we'll practice the remaining contemplations in the Full Awareness of Breathing.

In this workshop, we'll revisit contemplations of Breath, Body and Feelings. We'll then expand our contemplations of the Mind and begin contemplations of the Objects of Mind.

  • deepening contemplations of the mind

  • no thought, no form, no self

  • thoughts on equanimity

  • contemplating the objects of mind

  • the fading of attachment

  • liberation from attachment

This workshop will include teachings, periods of guided and silent meditation, and discussion.

Prerequisite:

Full Awareness of Breathing: Meditation in Recovery

Parts One and Two

Registration is Required.

🙏🏼

Recommended Donation

$10-15

See Below

Full Awareness of Breathing: Meditation in Recovery

Part Four : Videos on Demand

1) Summary and Review

2) Guided Meditation: Body and Feelings

3) Guided Meditation: Body, Feelings and Mind

Available after February 11.

These workshops are offered at no cost, and....

Hello friends,


I've been offering dharma talks and meditations to the Buddhist recovery sangha for years now. I've practiced with some of you in all-day retreats. I've sat in meditation with others back in the days of Pittsboro Recovery Dharma. More recently, I've met you through programs offered by Buddhist Recovery Circle, such as the Summer Precept Series. Being in dialogue with you has been a powerful force in my own recovery, and the work we've done together inspires me to do more!


On December 11th, I'll enter into a year long period of discernment before ordaining as a Zen priest. As part of my journey, I'm going to set out on a few road trips to further my training and practice.


My plan is to visit four different Zen monasteries over the next year, from New York state to California, spending two weeks or more at each. Each location will bring rich practice opportunities, and will help me grow more deeply into my pastoral roles: working with people in recovery, and Buddhist chaplaincy in hospital and hospice settings.


As a retired school teacher, however, I can only only manage this financially with the help of friends and sangha. Each of the places I visit will require meaningful donations and, of course, there will be travel expenses.


If you would like to make a donation toward this adventure, please visit my journey's Go Fund Me page. The smallest financial contribution is welcome. So are friendly thoughts and good wishes!


Sheldon Clark

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