Love as a Doorway into, and Expression of, the Nature of Mind

Instructor(s): John Makransky

Program Description:

This weekend-long program will explore ways of accessing and settling into our innate awakened awareness through practices adapted from Tibetan Buddhism. By participating in an empowering field of loving, spiritual connection, we can become increasingly receptive to the unconditioned openness, wisdom and compassionate energy of our buddha nature. Yet parts of us, often unconsciously, can prevent us from becoming more fully receptive to such qualities of awakening. This is true even for long-time practitioners. To address that, we will focus on ways that the unconditional, healing powers of our buddha nature can help realign all parts of us with that nature. Then our innate awareness can increasingly manifest of itself, unleashing powers of love, discernment, and creative responsiveness. This program is both for practitioners who identify as Buddhists and for people of all faiths and backgrounds who seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional powers of love, compassion, and discernment for action. Guided meditations, explanation of key principles, and discussion will clarify our collective practice.

Noble Silence:

This program includes dedicated periods of both wise speech and noble silence. Some contemplative exercises may involve mindful speaking and listening. Noble silence is to be upheld at all other times.

Experience Level:

Suitable for beginning and experienced practitioners.

About the Instructor(s):
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  John Makransky

  John Makransky, PhD, is a professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology at Boston College, senior advisor for Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche’s Centre of Buddhist Studies in Nepal, a fellow of the Mind and Life Institute, and developer of the Sustainable Compassion Training model for accessing innate capacities of compassion and awareness. John's scholarly writings have focused on connections between practices of devotion, compassion and non-dual wisdom in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, on adapting Buddhist practices to meet contemporary minds, and on theoretical issues in interfaith learning. In 2000, John was ordained as a Lama, a meditation teacher of innate compassion and wisdom, within the Nyingma Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.  As a meditation teacher, John is known for guiding participants in their discovery of underlying powers of unconditional love and wisdom. For the past twenty-five years, John has taught meditations of innate compassion and wisdom, adapted from Tibetan Buddhism, for modern Buddhists, those in other spiritual traditions, and for people in caring roles and professions.