Speaker: Nicholas Carter. Nick shares something Rinpoche told him on his 19th birthday: “Remember Nicholas, a bodhisattva has only one wish”, but Rinpoche did not say what that wish was. Since then, Nick has come to learn that the path of the bodhisattva is a very personal path of discovery- discovery of the truth, in Sanskrit, “Dharma”. We start with ourselves. We examine how we feel, how we behave, and we examine our motivations, which inevitably lead us to the truth of emptiness and dependent origination, the essence of the Buddha’s teachings. Over time, and through the application of the three principles, we come to appreciate more fully the profundity of the four immeasurables in discovering for ourselves the path and wish of the bodhisattva.

Speaker: Lindsay Heppner. Lindsay describes how everyday life provides her with meaningful opportunities for practice “on the spot”, including tonglen, mantra recitation and shamata meditation. Recent natural disasters such as the earthquake in Tibet and the fires in Los Angeles, as well as past travels to India allowed her to feel acutely the suffering of others, provoking a sincere wish to alleviate that suffering. In these cases, Lindsay relied on the practice of tonglen. Feeling the pain and suffering of others, Lindsay inhales their pain into herself and in return, and exhales while sending them love and complete relief from their suffering. After having been injured in a recent ski accident, Lindsay described how reciting the 100-syllable mantra in the moment provided immediate relief from her own fear and suffering. Whether performing her work as an in-home, elder care counselor or as a mother relating to her teenage sons, she has found shamata meditation to be a reliable practice to maintain a calm and peaceful state of mind, allowing her to remain present in her interactions with others.

Speaker: Dungse Jampal Norbu. Dungse-la shares his thoughts and advise for the new year ahead. For a fresh start, he underscores the importance of cultivating a positive mental attitude to counteract negativity. Looking forward to brighter horizons, he recommends setting aspirations for the year ahead. We must remind ourselves that despite how things may appear, we have the ability to break the cycle of samsara and this starts with taking refuge in the Three Jewels.

Speaker: Sasha Dorje Meyerowitz. Sasha reflects on the idea of aspiration being connected to a deeper intelligence. Rather than being a plea we can express aspiration toward a particular outcome, giving that aspiration stronger form. By living daily through the eight worldly concerns and sitting with the suffering we experience, we can tune into our aspiration throughout the day.