Description
The Buddha taught us that greed, hatred, and delusion – the “three poisons” – are the root causes of our suffering and dissatisfaction. In Pali, these three roots are called the “kilesas” and can be translated as torments of the heart and mind. And for anyone who has paid attention, they do just that!
Often unnoticed, these three unwholesome roots arise incessantly in our daily lives and in our formal meditation practice. We may not realize just how much they affect our experience. However, as we continue to investigate, we come to recognize the countless ways in which they drive our thoughts, actions, and speech.
In this Practice Group, we will explore these unconscious roots of suffering. When we see them clearly, feel their painful impact, and have a longing for inner freedom, we are inspired to cultivate the roots of goodness that are their antidotes:
- Gratitude, generosity, and contentment, the antidotes to greed
- Kindness, compassion, patience, and forgiveness, the antidotes to hatred
- Wisdom, insight, and wise understanding, the antidotes to delusion
These bring lightness of heart and ease of mind. Together we will cultivate goodness through meditation, dharma teachings, small group discussion, individual reflections, and home practices.
Attending an online practice group
- Sitting a practice group from home online differs greatly from coming to a meditation center. Tending to your comfort and giving yourself a quiet, private sitting and walking space (if possible, in your environment) will help keep your attention focused and support your practice and learning. Plan to bring as much simplicity and ease to your day as possible. The schedule of the practice group is structured to support your well-being and practice with regular breaks and time for mindful movement.
- We use Zoom for online practice groups. Before your practice group begins, be sure to download Zoom and familiarize yourself with using the program, including the chat feature. Specifics about how we use Zoom during your practice group will be covered initially; however, we cannot provide technical support during the group.
- We ask that you treat our virtual meditation hall as if we were together in person, in the same room. The teachers and other yogis benefit greatly from your full presence and careful attention.
- Join each session of the practice group a few minutes early. This will support the teachers and your fellow attendees.
- Please maintain noble silence as much as possible for the duration of the practice group and take any necessary steps to limit external distractions such as incoming emails, texts, or other interruptions to maintain the integrity of our practice together. Close all programs on your computer other than Zoom and turn off all notifications on your devices.
- Power off your phones and smartwatches for the entire practice group. Please don’t check your devices during breaks. We suggest you put an “away” message on your email and voicemail and leave your devices in another room during the practice group.
- Please keep your video on during our time together as much as possible. This supports a sense of connectedness and sangha.
- You will receive a welcome email from CIMC a day or two before your program, including the Zoom link, practice group schedule, and further information.
- Practice groups will often have home practices in between sessions.