What the Buddha Taught:
Who He Was, What He Learned, and Why It Is Still Relevant
HYBRID: In-Person and Online
6:00-7:45pm MST
led by IMT Dharma Leader,
David Bornstein
“The young prince lived in a palace with every luxury at his command. But confronted with the reality of life and the suffering of humankind, he decided to find the solution — the way out of this universal suffering.”
Walpola Rahula
In some ways, the story of the Buddha’s life may not seem immediately relatable to us: he was born a prince; he lived nearly 26 centuries ago; and he is iconic, known in every corner of the globe. How are our lives like his?
Just like us, the Buddha was a human being with bodily aches and pains, endless desires, aversions, and distractions, and he was subject to aging, sickness, and death. And just like those of us who seek a spiritual path, he realized there must be more to a happy life than seeking pleasure and comfort. He set off on his own spiritual quest to “find the way out of universal suffering.”
Although modern life is utterly different from the world the Buddha inhabited, the roots of human suffering remain the same. In this series, we will explore major themes from the Buddha’s teachings. We will take inspiration from his life story, namely challenging circumstances that he sometimes found himself in, just like we do. His deep compassion and timeless wisdom have blazed
This weekly gathering supports continuity of practice with a community of like-minded people. The intention is to bring these valuable teachings of the Buddha into practical applications in our daily lives.
The evening includes a 30-minute sitting meditation, a dharma talk, and discussion or interactive exercises. Open to those new to practice as well as those with an established mindfulness practice.
NEW TIME
Now that we are meeting in person once again, we are extending the class by 15 minutes to allow more space and time for discussion. We find this to be such a rich part of our practice together. If you need to leave by 7:30, we will understand.
HYBRID OPTIONS
In-Person Location, Pima Friends Meeting House, 931 N 5th Ave., 85705
PARKING: is available in the back lot, along 5th Ave. between 1st and Speedway, and along 1st St. west of 5thAve. Some parts of this area require permit parking – the signs are clear, so check them if you’re not sure.ZOOM: Click on the button below
PASSCODE: sangha
DANA
The teachings of the Buddha are a priceless gift which are offered freely. No one is ever turned away for inability to pay. We invite you to consider dana, generosity, as part of our practice together, and to give what you can to support this dharma service.
ABOUT THE TEACHER
David Bornstein, MSW began meditating in 1997 and has worked with many teachers including Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, and Anna Douglas. He graduated from the Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner’s Program in 2016 and completed the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program created by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, in 2019.