Dear Common Ground Friends, The Buddha taught that it is our not deeply understanding dukkha–the pervasive and sometimes subtle unsatisfactoriness that characterizes experience, that is the cause for the stress and mental pain we experience in life. Unfortunately, one of …
Weekly Email 3-2-23
Dear Common Ground Friends, Continuing in the tradition of Buddhist monasteries in Southeast Asia, all programs at Common Ground are offered free of charge in the spirit of generosity. Common Ground has been committed to operating this way since the …
Weekly Email 2-27-23
Dear Common Ground Friends, Registration is now open for three upcoming programs at our retreat center: a daylong masculinity workshop, and two retreats with teachers Mark Nunberg, Ramesh Sairam, and Gabe Keller Flores. A lottery for in-person spots for the …
Weekly Email 2-21-23
Dear Common Ground Friends, Please Note: Those of us in the upper midwest are preparing for a significant winter storm to hit these next three days so it seems wise for us to close the City Center in Minneapolis from Wednesday …
Weekly Email 2-16-23
Dear Common Ground Friends, We come to community for many reasons and we can appreciate the variety of ways we can get our spiritual needs met. It can be grounding to remember that practice unfolds from simple persistent habits to remember to be …
Weekly Email 2-8-23
Dear Common Ground Friends, Whenever we recognize an unskillful impulse taking root in the mind, notice the wholesome concern that also arises in the heart, an intuitive voice that asks, “Honey, are you sure this is wise?” An essential part …
Weekly Email 2-3-23
Dear Common Ground Friends, With all of the insistent demands on our time, it is easy for the to do list to get the best of us. We create a reality out of our thoughts, what we should do, what …
Weekly Email 1-25-23
Dear Common Ground Friends, What do we mean by Buddhist retreat practice? Buddhist awareness practices are skillful ways we develop the mind’s natural capacity to recognize, to connect, and to be intimate with things as they are. During sustained practice we …
Weekly Email 1-19-23
Dear Common Ground Friends, This week as we celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, I spent some time studying his work, listening to his sermons and reading his memos and speeches. I was moved once …
Weekly Email 1-12-23
Dear Common Ground Friends, I have been appreciating being back working and teaching in our beautiful city center. We just completed the year end retreat with folks sitting together in the same room for the first time since the pandemic. …
