Abandoning Negativity (podcast)

“Abandoning negative places, disturbing emotions gradually subside; Being free from distraction, the practice of virtue spontaneously increases; With brightened awareness one feels confidence in the Dharma; To adhere to solitude is the practice of the bodhisattvas.”

the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva. Verse 3.*

*all quotations are from “Illuminating the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva by Chokyi Dragpa

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You Are Not Your Home (podcast)

Toward friends, attachment rages like a river; Toward enemies, hatred blazes like fire. Therefore it is the practice of Bodhisattvas to give up that home, Where the darkness of stupidity, of forgetting what to accept and reject, prevails.

the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva. Verse 2.

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37 Practices of a Bodhisattva Series

I did a series of daily talks during the Covid-19 lockdown.

I wanted to do something during this crisis, something to try to help others (and myself). At first I thought it might be too ambitious to give talks every day, but I made it work and I’m pretty proud of the series. I had intended for it to end right at the end of the lockdown here in Kansas City, but the lockdown has been extended.

I’ll try something else next. Putting out this material has been good as far as giving me something to do, bringing something positive into the world when so many people are struggling with what’s going on.

What’s a Bodhisattva?
A Bodhisattva is someone who is trying to unleash their potential for mindfulness and compassion. We’re on the Bodhisattva path because we’re trying our best.

This text “the 37 practices of a Bodhisattva” is a concise text written by a Tibetan teacher in the 14th century named Tokme Zangpo. It’s a summary of how we should behave as we are on the path to awakening. It’s like a list of 37 tips to help keep us on track.

Going through these every day has been enormously meaningful and helpful to me. I want to teach a class on this text at some point and I’m hoping an opportunity for that will appear.  

So, I am sharing all of the videos here.

You don’t have to watch all of these and you don’t have to watch them in any order.

These teachings are offered free of charge, but if you feel compelled to make a donation to support this work, you can click here:

1. Make Life Meaningful
2. Attachment and Hatred
3. Abandoning Negative Places
4. Giving Up Concern For This Life
5. Bad Company
6. Relying on a Spiritual Friend
7. Taking Refuge
8. Lower Realms and Virtue
9. Happiness is Like a Dewdrop
10. What Use is Our Own Happiness?
11. A Mind Intent on Benefitting Others
12. When Someone Steals
13. If Someone Tries To Cut Off Your Head
14. Bringing Disgrace Onto the Path
15. Bringing Harsh Words Onto the Path
16. Bringing Ingratitude Onto the Path
17. Bringing Defamation Onto the Path
18. Bringing Decline Onto the Path
19. Bringing Prosperity Onto the Path
20. Bringing Anger Onto the Path
21. Bringing Attachment Onto the Path
22. Free From Delusion
23. The Object of Attachment
24. The Object of Aversion
25. Training in Generosity
26. Training in Discipline
27. Training in Patience
28. Training in Diligence
29. Training in Concentration
30. Training in Wisdom
31. Examine Your Confusion
32. The Faults of Others
33. Honor and Status
34. Giving Up Harsh Words
35. Negative Emotions
36. Mindfulness and the Benefit of Others
37. Conclusion

 

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Visit my YouTube Channel to hear  Talks!

If you’d like to support my work, please consider making a donation.

And go check out my Podcast The Kansas City Meditation Podcast

 

 

Awakening in the Outbreak

I had a new plan all set up.

I had a new time and place set up for a weekly meditation group and I was cautiously excited about it. I was going to start in early April and hoping people would find me.

Now everything in the city is shut down and I’ve had to cancel that group until further notice. It was pretty discouraging when I realized I’d have to do it.

I don’t know if I’ll end up starting that group or not. The truth is I’m not sure my city needs another meditation community. There are a lot of meditation communities in Kansas City.

There’s just not one that has me teaching. I wonder sometimes if that’s as important as I think it is. That’s not the right word. I don’t think it’s important. I just feel like I have something to contribute as a teacher.

Anyway,

I’m home now. I’m one of the lucky ones sent home from work with pay during this crisis. My kids are home too. School has been canceled for at least a month, so they’re having the joy of watching their teachers teach in videos and doing assignments on their iPads. (I think the North Kansas City School District is doing a good job dealing with this situation. Everything they’re doing for “virtual school” seems to be working)

 

But the thing I really wanted to tell you about is this: I’m teaching online.

I’ve gotten inspired. I’m giving teachings every day. I say it’s to inspire and help others, but really it’s to inspire and help myself.

I’m doing live videos on my facebook page every day.

This is helping me keep it together and if it’s helping anyone else, I think that’s great. I’m giving talks on “The 37 Practices of All Bodhisattvas”

This is a text in 37 parts and I’m doing a dive into each one. We all need connection and encouragement right now. So come and let’s encourage each other.

It’s going to be 37 talks for 37 days, if I can keep up with it. I’m really inspired by the teachings in this text and I think you will be too.

As of this writing I’ve done 7 of them. You can go back and find the old ones, or start where you are, it makes no difference.

https://www.facebook.com/DScharpy/

follow my page and you should get notified when I go live.

I’m also recording the audio for my podcast, so I’m dropping a new podcast episode every day.

If you’re interested in just audio, check out:

 Kansas City Meditation Podcast

 

The version of the text I’m using for these talks is called “Illuminating the 37 Practices of A Bodhisattva” and you can get it here if you’re interested:

Illuminating the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

and if you’d rather not get on facebook, you can also see the videos on YouTube here:

Daniel Scharpenburg YouTube Channel