Dear Friends,

Much of the time we feel pushed around by both wholesome and unwholesome desires. When we bring careful attention, we see that the cause for our suffering isn’t due to the desire, but rather it is the identification with desire that is the problem. According to the Buddha, attachment to desire is the root cause for our suffering. Whenever we are dealing with difficulties and we feel the pull to fix, to get rid of, or to become somebody, that is a good time to get interested in the experience of desire as a natural and impersonal movement in the heart. Sylvia Boorstein, a well known Insight Meditation teacher wrote, “Desire pulls so hard it’s surprising to find that it is empty.” Remember, this practice isn’t about suppressing desire, it is about getting to know what is moving through us as it actually is. There is much turmoil and uncertainty these days. Of course desire for real change, for deep healing, for justice will arise, and that is appropriate. Our practice is to learn how to allow desire to move without getting hooked and spun around. Desire is the animating force of life, attachment to desire is the cause of suffering. Understanding this deeply allows us to engage our life with wisdom and compassion.

Peace,

Mark

 

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Upcoming Program Highlights

JANUARY 12TH-FEBRUARY 16TH
MARK NUNBERG will offer the next Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation course. Six Tuesdays, 7:30-9:00pm. More info and registration here.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12TH
JEAN HALEY will lead Dharma Among Us. The topic will be about cultivating a wise relationship to money. 7:00-8:30pm. Zoom link here. (Please note the link has been updated since last week’s weekly email.)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13TH
MARK NUNBERG will be leading the Weekly Practice Group this week. 7:30-9:00pm. Zoom link here.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14TH
SPRUCE KRAUSE will begin offering Interplay monthly on the second Thursday of the month from 7:00-8:30pm. InterPlay helps you explore old habit energy and discover new possibilities through movement, sound, words, stillness and connection. Zoom link here.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15TH
JEAN HALEY & JANE RAUENHORST offer the monthly Mindful Self-Compassion practice group. 7:00-8:30pm. Zoom link here.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16TH
WYNN FRICKE and MARK NUNBERG will offer their monthly Community Practice Check-Infrom 8:00-9:00am. Zoom link here.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16TH
RAMESH SAIRAM will offer his biweekly Dharma Reflections program from 10:30am-12:00pm. The emphasis of the program is on establishing and sustaining mindfulness practice, and, especially, its integration in daily life. The meetings include guided meditation, brief talk on a specific topic and ample time for reflections, comments and Q&A. All are welcome. Zoom link here.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17TH
MARK NUNBERG will lead the Weekly Practice Group as usual. 10:30-11:45am. Mark is currently teaching Mindfulness of Breathing. Here is a list of resources on this topic.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23RD
MARK NUNBERG will lead a Daylong Retreat from 9:30am-4:00pm. More info and registration here.

FEBRUARY 2ND – MARCH 9TH
JEAN HALEY and JANE RAUENHORST are offering a six-week Mindful Self-Compassion course on Tuesdays, 1:30-3:00pm. For more info and registration click here.

Please note that all times listed are in Central time. For complete, up-to-date program information, including programs cancelled for holidays, visit the online calendar. We recommend you bookmark it for easy access during the week. You might also want to bookmark our Youtube channel. 

Additional non-CG events Taught by Mark and Shelly:

Friday, January 15 – Monday, January 18 w/ Shelly Graf, Nakawe Cuebas Berrios & Devin Berry

Mindfulness & Insight Meditation: The Mah?si Method

Thursday, February 25 – Sunday, February 28 w/ Mark Nunberg, Kamala Masters, & Steve Armstrong

 

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The Practice of Generosity

Continuing in the tradition of Buddhist monasteries in Southeast Asia, all programs at Common Ground, including these online programs, are offered free of charge in the spirit of generosity. This offering is possible because of the generosity of people like you—from the Buddha on down to all the people in our community—who contribute their practice, time, and financial resources to support the continuation of the center.

To learn how to support the center and our teachers, visit this page. Let us know if you have any questions.

Interested in snowblowing for CG this winter?

We are still looking for snowblowing volunteers! We have a snowblower and we can train you in. If you’re intimidated by the snowblower, we also need shoveling volunteers. If interested in joining the snow team, please email Rob at rwkohlmeyer@yahoo.com. Thank you!

 

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Community News 

Be Queer Now Meditation Sangha every Wednesday!

Come sit with queers! Join fellow compassionate-minded practitioners from the LGBTQQIA+ community for weekly meditation and Dhamma chats. Whether you’re curious about Buddhism or have been practicing for decades, you’re welcome here. Wednesdays from 7:30 – 9 pm on Zoom, with scottie hall (ze | zir), Brian Young (they | them), and others. Zoom link here. On the last Wednesday of each month, we will join the full community for the Weekly Practice Group, led by Shelly Graf (they | them). 

CG Mutual Support Form

We’ve created a form to gather info from community members interested in offering eachother support in the form of social connection, help with errands, or other forms of support. If you’re interested in participating, you can fill out the form here.

Job Opening at Compassionate Ocean Zen Center

Our fellow Twin Cities Dharma center Compassionate Ocean Zen Center are looking to hire a part-time Administrative Director. This is a new leadership position, taking full responsibility for developing, maintaining, and growing the administrative function of the Center. More info here.

Antiracism Study and Dialogue Circle Beginning January 18th

Our friends at ASDIC will be offering their next 10-week circle January 18th -March 22nd. Mondays. 5:30 PM-8:30 PM. This is an excellent training many CG leaders have done. More info here.

Weekly Tejaniya

The real objective is to under-
stand things. Happiness will
then follow naturally.