Portland Friends of the Dhamma

Ayya Medhanandi begins by asking those assembled what is the most pressing issue now. She leads us to seeing the wisdom of being present in the moment as a refuge from the worldly winds and suffering. While she recognized that there has been great suffering this past year, she pointed out that suffering, in fact, allows us to learn the Dhamma. Our true home is the place within us unperturbed by th...

Ayya Medhanandi teaches Portland Friends of the Dhamma for the first time in a daylong session. The theme was Ever Present Refuge. In this recording she introduces the precepts as the foundation for building happiness.

Ajahn Thanissaro (Geoff) visited Portland Friends of the Dhamma by Zoom for his 19th annual teaching session. His topic was “Response to Change.” The study guide is found here . The topics ranged from change in general to grief, all with a focus on specific skills for this challenging 2020 year.

In the afternoon session of Ajahn Thanissaro’s 19th annual visit, this time online due to the pandemic, the theme of “Response to Change” continues. The focus remains on the suttas and developing skills, the response. The study guide is found here .

Sakula leads Sunday Sila and reflects on training the mind to go where we want, to be skillful, and to guide the heart.

Jessica Swanson leads Sunday Sila at the Center with some in person and some online. She reflects on what we bring to meditation, developing beneficial mind states as a gift to ourselves and others, and fearlessness – abhaya-dana.

Ayya Santussikā gives the afternoon talk of our daylong session with her on Directing the Mind, Cooling the Heart. Breath, Brahma Viharas, and suttas inform the instruction. Guidance for daily life is given. The talk is followed by a long, rich question and answer session.

In this guided meditation from the morning of our daylong session with Ayya Santussika titled Directing the Mind, Cooling the Heart the foundation is laid for the afternoon’s teaching. Careful practice instruction is given grounded in the Buddha’s teaching.

Once we disengage from defilements, trust and discerning can follow more easily. Trust can bring relief. In the space of this relief we can discern an opportunity for good karma. So how do we disengage? Sakula reflects on the process of finding the constriction in the body and ceasing to feed it.

Sakula reflects on impermanence, uncertainty, and feeding the hindrances and our fears. with life at home.

Sakula reflects on pain in an online Sunday Sila during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sakula addresses fear and our relationships with others during this Covid-19 pandemic.

Having spent the weekend on the theme of joy, Ayya Santussika notes that unworldly joy is an essential part of the path but can be difficult in our culture. She shares reflections on six recollections that each of us can do to help cultivate joy from the Anguttara Nikaya sutta AN3.70 Uposatha, Sabbath.

Ayya Santussika continues this weekend on the theme of joy by reflecting on the Majjhima Nikaya Sutta MN152 Indriyabhavana Sutta, The Development of the Faculties .

On the morning of the second day of her visit Ayya Santussika spoke on unworldly joy, deep and spacious. She encouraged us to notice joy when it arises and to cultivate it.

Santussikā Bhikkhunī opens her weekend of teaching with a recollection of her monthlong visit to Ajahn Gunhah in Thailand and what she learned from this arahant and nephew of Ajahn Chah.

Sakula begins with reflections on the noble beings, those on the path, in recollecting Sangha Day. She continues with reflections on practicing to bring balance through the stages of life and on stream entry.

Tom and Julie share the life challenge that brought them to seek Buddhism and choose Portland Friends of the Dhamma as their resource and refuge.

Sakula reflects on bandaids, crocodiles, and paying attention in this Sunday Sila teaching.

Debbie Stamp and Sakula discuss practicing deeply with the truth of impermanence and uncertainty during the weekend on the theme of the Refuge Within.

Debbie Stamp answers questions about metta and how to tap into the actual feeling of metta during the weekend of practice on the theme of the Refuge Within.

Debbie Stamp gives a Dhamma reflection on the theme of the Refuge Within for a day of practice and meditation.

Visiting lay teacher Debbie Stamp from Abhayagiri monastery begins a weekend of practice and reflection on the theme of the Refuge Within.

Sakula Mary Reinard begins the new year offering a path to happiness through keeping of the five precepts for lay community members, with discussion of the Upasika program.

Sakula Mary Reinard offers reflections on one pointedness as an inclusive gathering and on placing your foot on the path to end suffering.