Dear Common Ground Friends,
The scriptural texts which we rely on for the stories and the teachings of the Buddha are called suttas. Many of the lists, maps and the stories that you hear teachers at Common Ground speak about can be traced back to the suttas. Sutta is sometimes literally translated as thread. These threads trace the Buddha’s teachings back 2600 years to those living real human lives. They weave together a beautiful cloth of comprehensive teachings to support us through life’s 10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows. I find the suttas inspiring and challenging. The repetition embedded in the suttas can be a steady reminder to keep the most important thing in mind whereas seemingly contradictory statements invite patience as we live with the teachings, allowing the freedom they point to, to be revealed in their own time. We remember again and again that the Dharma is not abstract philosophy but a path meant to be lived.
The teachings on generosity, wise speech, and mindfulness for example are daily trainings that can shape and inspire our lives. Over time, steady contact with the suttas can inspire confidence and invoke wise discernment—qualities we need to meet life with open hearted clarity rather than reactivity or contention. In daily life, this often shows up in very ordinary ways. During a challenging conversation, we might remember the Buddha’s guidance on right speech and see the value of the teaching right then and there. Even reading a short passage in the morning can echo throughout the day, influencing how we listen, speak, and respond. The statements and the teachings in the suttas can become stable companions, quiet reminders that freedom is cultivated right here, in the midst of our work, our relationships, and our imperfect, beautiful human lives.
Mark Nunberg, Wynn Fricke and I co-lead 2 sutta study groups that in addition to study, involve a year’s commitment to monthly small and large group meetings. Sutta study groups open in February or March for a limited number of new participants each year. This year, new participants begin on March 7th. Apply or read more about the format and criteria here.
Wishing everyone well in the days ahead.
Peace,
Shelly Graf
Co-Guiding Teacher
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- Have you been directly affected by ICE activity? Need support from the Common Ground Community? Give us a call or send an email and we will try to connect you with help - if needed, we can communicate with an encrypted Signal message upon request. Also, here is a list of Free / Sliding-Scale Therapists for individuals and families who have experienced, witnessed, or been impacted by ICE activity.
- For people looking for ways to volunteer or otherwise support local immigrant families you may wish to visit these websites:
Unidos MN
Defend The 612
Stand with Minnesota - Places to Donate