In the Upaddha Sutta, the Buddha tells Ananda, his close friend and attendant, that spiritual or noble friendship is the “whole” of the life dedicated to Awakening. The presence of kalyanamitta (spiritual or beneficial friends) in our lives is crucial for maturation on the path. It supports inspiration, resilience, energy, and ethical direction for the lived embodiment of the Buddha’s teachings. Spiritual friendship is the whole life-expression of loving-kindness and care, compassion, appreciation, joy and relational equanimity—realized in particular intentional relationships. How can we cultivate the depth and power of such friendship across the experience of isolation, disconnection, loneliness, and ill will in our contemporary lives? In this program, the meditative guidelines and contemplative dialogue practice of Insight Dialogue will be introduced for a co-meditative relational practice that can support our capacity to offer and receive the flow of generous openness to others. This practice helps us explore the challenges and the potential in our contemporary lives and particularly across cultural, racial, and gender differences.
Learning Intentions:
Learn the six guidelines of Insight Dialogue as a foundation for spiritual friendships; learn and practice the qualities of friendship on the Eightfold Path; develop capacity for nurturing and maintaining friendship in contemporary life; recognize how social location and privilege may lead to delusion and ignorance; and practice opening to dialogue and spiritual friendship across culture, race and gender.
