Tune in to your body. Feel the firmness of the earth with your feet, sense the wetness of a drink of water as it glides down your throat, look up and absorb the warmth of the sun, experience the tingle of a cool breeze, and open to spaciousness all around you. Join us on a journey of exploring the five elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space through a Buddhist lens.
A growing body of research is now showing that old-growth forests, fungi, microbes, and most matter – including all of us – are connected. Yet the Buddha’s teachings have offered this perspective for thousands of years. Practicing with the five elements helps us to reconnect on a deeper level to this truth. Challenging the notion of individualism and a siloed self, we begin to realize, to experience, that we are a part of a complex relational network.
In this two-hour program, we will explore the five elements rooted in the teachings of the first foundation of mindfulness, growing our awareness of the body. We will aspire to increase our connection to nature and the environment, and bring humility, curiosity, and compassion to our place in the web of things, loosening our grip on a separate self.
This program is suitable for everyone, beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Our time together will include Dharma reflections, meditation instructions, small group inquiry, poetry, journaling at home, and ample opportunity for Q&A. Everyone is welcome.
This is a freely offered, pay what you can program.
