| Welcome |
| Zoom Link |
| PROGRAM STRUCTURE |
| – Course Components |
| – Reading Assignments |
| – Writing Assignments |
| – Service Work |
| – Mentor Interviews |
| – Optional Activities |
| COURSE INFO |
| – Contacts, Communications and Slack |
| – Group Agreements |
| – Payment, Withdrawal and Completion |
| MONTH BY MONTH |
| – Before Our First Workshop |
| – September Karuna – Compassion Seminar 09/08 Workshop 09/29 |
| – October Dana – Generosity Seminar 10/13 Workshop 10/20 |
| – November Sila – Virtue Seminar 11/10 Workshop 11/17 |
| – December Virya – Energy Seminar 12/04 Workshop 12/08 |
| – January Panna – Wisdom Seminar 01/12 Workshop 01/19 |
| – February Nekkhama – Renunciation Seminar 02/02 Workshop 02/09 |
| – March Khanta – Patience Seminar 03/08 Workshop 03/15 |
| – April Sacca – Truth Seminar 04/09 Workshop 04/12 |
| – May Aditthana – Resolve Seminar 05/03 Workshop 05/10 |
| – June Metta – Lovingkindness Seminar 05/31 Workshop 06/07 |
| – July Upekkha – Equanimity Seminar 06/28 Workshop 07/12 |
| RESOURCES |
| – Action + Reflection = Learning |
| – General |
| – Return to sati.org |
October
DANA – GENEROSITY
Workshop date: 10/13/2023
A monk once asked the Chinese Zen master Hui-hai, “What is the gate of Zen practice?” Hui-hai answered, “Complete giving.”
CLASS RECORDINGS
TO DO BEFORE NOVEMBER CLASS:
– Practice regularly with paramita of the month: Generosity. See below for suggested activity.
– Continue developing service work plan
– Meet with your buddy
– Meet with your small group. See below for assignment.
– Have a Mentor Interview if you are scheduled here
– Write the Dharma Story assignment: ‘Crying With‘
– Write first Action-Reflection paper
– Read the October workshop follow-up articles posted below
– Read at least 50% of the Book-of-the-Month (click here for schedule). Specifically focus on Chapter 2 of An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics, titled ‘Key Buddhist Values’ in time for November’s seminar.
– Optional: Work with your Reflections Journal
READ
DANA / GENEROSITY
The Perfection of Generosity
Dana in the Theravada Tradition
DEEP LISTENING
‘Listen’ – Anonymous Poem
Foundational Listening and Responding Skills
COMMUNITY FORMATION
Attitudes Towards Difference: The Riddle Scale
Embracing Ambiguity
Offering Spiritual Support for Families or Friends
ASSIGNMENT REGARDING THE GROUP AGREEMENTS
We will revisit the Group Agreements and edit them and then finalize them at the November session (not in detail nor as time consuming as this was today, but for about 30 minutes)
Your assignment is two-fold:
1. Review, discuss, consider how Group Agreements relate to:
– Spiritual Care skills
– Your Individual formation or practice development
– The Buddhist teachings, practices, values that apply to caring for one another by Group Agreements
2. Review the Group Agreements and decide which ones merit further clarification or editing/changing language. Propose additional agreements in writing.
OPTIONAL PRACTICE ACTIVITY
Inspired by the Kolam ritual, can you make something (a drawing, poem, baked goods, a meal etc) to give away this month. Can you give it away completely, without holding on to any part of it? (for example, making a copy of a drawing or poem).
Carefully follow the unfolding of this activity, taking note of:
– who you choose to give your object to
– how you offer it
– the impact of the gift on yourself and on the recipient
– what comes up for you in this process of creation and giving
OPTIONAL FURTHER READING/RESOURCES
Messages – The Communication Skills Book
By Matthew McKay, Martha Davis and Patrick Fanning
The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World
By Lewis Hyde