Here is a talk I have at the Rime Center:
Dharma talk given by Daniel Scharpenburg, January 8, 2023.
Music by Barefoot Bran Music.
Bodhisattva Challenge Intensive
108 Day Bodhisattva Challenge
Beginning January 1, 2023
This challenge will be practice intensive for those who want to apply their understanding of Bodhicitta with daily practice. We welcome new students who are looking to learn about the Bodhisattva Mind Training and how to apply it to their Buddhist path, as well as experienced students who have insights to share. This event will be in-person with an online option available. Read more…
I am one of the teachers in this class that is taking place with the Rime Center Buddhist Community. This intensive is both in person and online.
This challenge will be practice intensive for those who want to apply their understanding of Bodhicitta with daily practice. We welcome new students who are looking to learn about the Bodhisattva Mind Training and how to apply it to their Buddhist path, as well as experienced students who have insights to share. This event will be in-person with an online option available.
The main book that will be used for the challenge will be The Power of Mind: A Tibetan Monk’s Guide to Finding Freedom in Every Challenge by Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé Rinpoche. The Power of Mind guides the reader through transformative practices one by one—from recognizing the value of our human life to overcoming the sources of suffering, together with meditation advice for incorporating these insights into our daily lives.
“Peace and happiness can be attained, but not by searching for something in the outside world. They start within us then extend out to the entire globe.” – Khentrul Rinpoche
Kick off party for the 108 Day Bodhisattva Challenge is Sunday January 1, 2023 at 10:30am and will held be during the Sunday Service.
Sunday Dharma Talks beginning January 1st
Each week kicks off a new topic with a Sunday Dharma talk given by Lama Matt and the other Dharma Facilitators. Dharma Talks will be uploaded to the Rime Center’s Podcast each Monday. Participants are then encouraged to read the topic from the book.
Wednesday Online Discussions beginning January 4th
Participants will meet either in-person or online Wednesdays at 7:30 pm to discuss the week’s topic. There will be ample opportunity for questions and discussion about the practice that will include actions that can be applied to daily life/practice.
Drop In Meditation Group – 4th Wednesdays
I am at the Rime Center the 4th Wednesday of every month leading a drop in meditation group. This is both in person and online. You don’t have to have any experience to attend and this doesn’t cost anything.
Meditation Practice Every 4th Wednesday – In Person and Online
Every Wednesday evening from 7:00 – 7:30 pm.
PDF of Meditation Prayers
Join us online by registering in advance for the Zoom meeting
Dhammapada Class
Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha
November 2 @ 7:45 pm – 9:00 pm
This classic text of teaching verses from the earliest period of Buddhism in India conveys the philosophical and practical foundations of the Buddhist tradition. The text presents two distinct goals for leading a spiritual life: the first is attaining happiness in this life (or in future lives); the second goal is the achievement of spiritual liberation, freedom, absolute peace. Many of the key themes of the verses are presented in dichotomies or pairs, for example, grief and suffering versus joy; developing the mind instead of being negligent about one’s mental attitude and conduct; virtuous action versus misconduct; and being truthful versus being deceitful. The purpose of these contrasts is, very simply, to describe the difference between what leads to desirable outcomes and what does not.
We’re going to do explore the passages in this foundational Buddhist text together.
Facilitator: Daniel Scharpenburg
Date: 4 sessions beginning on November 2, 2022
Time: 7:45 – 9:00 pm
Class Fee: $30
Text: The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations – Get it on Amazon or at the Rime Center gift shop.
These classes are available to EVERYONE. We have “Suggested Fees,” however pay whatever you can afford for the class. Everyone is welcome! It is our hope that some will pay more to cover those who can’t afford the usual fee. We simply want everyone to have access to these wonderful classes.
Use coupon R1M3CL@55 if you are unable to afford to class fee.
Boundless Heart Teachings
I taught a class at the Rime Center called “Boundless Heart”
This was an exploration of the teaching of the Four Immeasurables.
If we can learn how to cultivate Lovingkindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity then we will develop what the Buddha called “The most noble way of living in this world.”
This set of virtues is called “immeasurable” because it’s said to be a list of things that you can never have too much of. They are: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity.
I wrote a series of articles and recorded a series of podcasts based on the teachings we talked about in the class. I’m linking this series for you below.
Training in Kindness
“Each moment of cultivating the psychological gesture of kindness rather than the impulse of abandonment is learning to inhabit our life in a fearless way.” -Christina Feldman Kindness is fundamental to living an ethical life, with positive thoughts, words, and actions. It’s hard to imagine living a life of virtue that isn’t predominately focused on kindness. I’m using the word ‘kindness’ because that’s easier to use and understand, but what we’re really talking about is ‘Metta’. Sometimes this word is… Read more
Training in Compassion
“Compassion has the power to bring harshness and cruelty to an end; compassion heals our hearts even when pain cannot be fixed; compassion is the root of forgiveness, patience, and tolerance. The seed of profound and immeasurable compassion lies in each of our hearts.” -Christina Feldman Compassion is fundamental to living an ethical and fulfilled life. The original term that we’re translating as ‘compassion’ is ‘karuna’. It’s an attitude we can cultivate in our lives. Compassion is the wish for… Read more
Training in Joy
“Joy has its roots in mindfulness, which sensitizes us to our world of the moment. Mindfulness brings intimacy with all things. With mindfulness we simply learn to make room for joy; learning to see, listen, and attend to all things with a spacious heart.” -Christina Feldman Joy makes us feel alive. It’s part of our innate potential. We can have joyous lives. With mindfulness we can learn to see the roots of our joy and to have some understanding of… Read more
Training in Equanimity
“Equanimity is understanding what it means to stand in the midst of all experience with unshakeable balance, to be responsive yet unbroken.” -Christina Feldman Equanimity is that quality of mind that helps us keep us together when things get hard, our ability to weather the storms of life and to not fall apart. It’s that quality that stops you from freaking out and falling to the floor when there are setbacks in life. We’ve all been kicked in the heart… Read more
Meditation and Joy
| “Joy has its roots in mindfulness, which sensitizes us to our world of the moment. Mindfulness brings intimacy with all things. With mindfulness we simply learn to make room for joy; learning to see, listen, and attend to all things with a spacious heart.” -Christina Feldman 16. I have taught my Introduction to Meditation Class at 16 public libraries since the end of May. It has been a wonderful experience and I have met and talked about meditation with a lot of people. There is only one of these classes left. So, if you’ve been wanting to go and have missed it so far, this is your chance: 7/26/22. 7:00pm (central): Introduction to Meditation @ North Independence Library. 317 W 24 Hwy. Independence, MO  I have a drop-in meditation group at the Rime Buddhist Center on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 7pm (central time). You can come show up and meditate with me or you can access the meditation group through zoom. I always prefer in person things, but I know many people are unable to attend things like this in person. Meditation is better together. Show up if you can. So, I’ll be doing this one day after my last introduction to meditation class. Here are the details: 7/27/22. 7:00pm: Drop In Meditation @ Rime Buddhist Center. 2939 Wayne Ave. Kansas City, MO. Also on Zoom.  Some Guided Meditations for you: Mindfulness of Breathing + Loving Awareness Metta (Loving Kindness) I want to tell you about Joy. Joy makes us feel alive. It’s part of our innate potential. We can have joyous lives. With mindfulness we can learn to see the roots of our joy and to have some understanding of what gets in our way. A lot of things do get in the way of our joy. We get caught up and obsessed with fulfilling our desires. We start telling ourselves stories and convince ourselves that if just one or two circumstances in our lives were different, then we could be happy. It’s, of course, totally understandable that we would want to strive for getting our desires and wish for things to be different. It’s just that state of mind that says, “I’ll have time to be happy later.” that gets us all mixed up. Sometimes we keep ourselves so busy that there’s no room for joy. Sometimes we need to slow down and appreciate the good in the world. But we’re often so busy chasing after the next thing, that we don’t appreciate anything in our lives. This doesn’t serve us very well. I can’t take much joy in seeing the mailman get a promotion. But what if I could? If I can extend my circle and take joy in the success of more and more people, then happiness is always out there for me. The foundations of joy are Integrity and Appreciation. Integrity has been described as ‘the bliss of blamelessnesss’. I like to think of that Mark Twain quote, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” When we don’t live ethical lives we get in our way. It’s easy to feel like we aren’t good enough when we aren’t making the best choices. We always know what harmful actions we’re letting ourselves get away with. This is a way to live with less regrets and to have more harmony and trust in our day to day lives. Appreciation is when we learn how to focus on the positive instead of getting caught up in the negative or the imaginary all the time. There’s an old traditional Chinese saying that is relevant here. It is, “Write your sorrows in sand and etch your joys in stone.” Christina Feldman says, “Mindfulness teaches us to reclaim our capacity for appreciation. We learn to cultivate many moments when we pause, step out of our busyness and our stories, and truly see what is before us, to listen wholeheartedly, to be touched, and to make room for joy.”When we appreciate what’s happening, we make room for joy to exist in our lives. WRITINGS Training in Joy Training in Compassion Book Review: The Path to Peace Book Review: That Is Not Your Mind Some books I recommend: Boundless Heart by Christina Feldman The Path to Peace by Ayya Khema |
Meditation with Daniel 