Dharma Sunday (10/18) - Gentling into Awareness, Gentling into the Origin of Thoughts (Online)

Live Online!

10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET

At first, thoughts are like a river running in a gorge.
In the middle, thoughts are like the steady flow of the river Ganges.
Finally, like all rivers they are of one taste in the ocean,
Rest in the meeting of the mother and child luminosity.
—Shabkar

Harnessing the powerful energy of our thoughts can feel impossible when we first recognize it. As Shabkar kindly illustrates for us, “At first, thoughts are like a river running in a gorge.” But instead of clinging to our thoughts, blind to their essence, we can learn through personal experience that they are simply manifestations of our basic nature. Our intrinsic awareness. Unrecognized at first, the mind surges with thoughts. We may even want to turn away from this cascade as our attention expands to include it. Yet it is more difficult to keep this samsaric attitude alive—the habit of perpetuating dualistic clinging—than to simply rest in what is! It is more difficult to keep longing for what isn’t present. As we can discover for ourselves, already amid the noticing of this turbulent river of thoughts the mind begins to calm.

Thoughts arise and disappear, arise and disappear, and in chasing after them we bind ourselves in confusion and overlook or forget our basic nature. But in coming alive to our relationship with thoughts, and the steep cost of ever chasing after them, we can also discover a wellspring of compassion and loving kindness for ourselves and others to fuel our heartful practice.

How wonderful to share together as we dive this Dharma Sunday morning into the great yogi Shabkar’s verse on the nature of thoughts!

Natural Dharma Fellowship’s Dharma Sundays are donation-based gatherings open to all, offering a wide range of topics. Led by highly trained NDF Dharma and guest teachers, these live, interactive sessions include guided meditation, teachings, and time for questions and discussion. Please join us to settle into the support of sangha and the joy of practicing together.

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