Way of Compassion Dharma Center

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna gives a teaching on the third and fourth seals of Buddhism. He gives clarity on the wisdom that realizes all phenomena as "selfless" and lacking inherent identity. John discusses how our misperception of our self as being inherently existent leads to anger and attachment. These three together are the three poisons that turn the wheel of sams...

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna gives commentary on the second seal of Buddhism. He describes how we experience unsatisfactoriness in life due to karma and mental afflictions. John also discusses how misperception leads to attachment and aversion which turns the wheel of suffering. This episode was recorded on October 11th, 2023. Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcas...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna begins commentary on a new text. This text is "Foundation of Buddhist Practice" and is composed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. In this first section, John unpacks the portion of the text that is focused on the Four Seals which are a framework for determining if a teaching is an authentic Buddhist teaching. This...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna describes multiple ways that we can see signs of progress on the path to awakening. He gives examples about how our analytical meditations will take root and change our experience of life. John also illuminates how we can engage with life so that all of our experiences become Dharma instructions and how we will naturally move through different motivat...

In this episode, John Bruna unpacks teachings from the book, The Foundation of Buddhist Practice, about evaluating our meditative experiences. John illuminates the pitfalls of exalting ecstatic meditative experiences and discusses how the greatest signs of progress are taming the mind and not being prone to engaging in unethical behavior. He finishes with guidance on checking the effectiveness of...

In this episode, John Bruna, Spiritual Director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, speaks about the importance of creating a strong foundation in the Four Noble Truths, ethics, and the four thoughts that turn the mind to Dharma before engaging in more advanced practices. He gives clear guidance on developing a sustainable practice to truly transform the mind, which is the essence of Dharma pr...

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna offers a Dharma talk on how we develop sustainably along the path of awakening. He discusses how steady effort and adopting a spacious view will serve us on the journey. John also discusses how we can engage with the worldview of multiple lives and continued consciousness at a variety of levels which can help alleviate constrictions around making unre...

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna gives a talk on some healthy expectations for our Dharma practice and how a balanced practice maintains an enthusiastic effort coupled with relaxation and patience. He also talks about how meditation is a process of becoming familiar with our minds and how slow and consistent meditation practice leads to taming and training the mind. This episode was...

Spiritual director John Bruna offers commentary and clarity on how we can evaluate our practice in a realistic way and gives useful tools for us to make sustainable progress on the path. This episode was recorded on August 23rd, 2023.  Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the Way of Compassion Dharma center's primary objective is to provide...

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna gives guidance on the three levels of learning that bring about irreversible faith and confidence in the Buddha's teachings. He discusses the importance of studying the Buddhist scriptures, then reflecting on and analyzing the teachings, and finally meditating upon the understanding to gain realization. This episode was recorded on August 16th, 2...

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna unpacks teachings on prayers and rituals by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. John gives guidance that prayers alone won't lead us further on the path to awakening. He describes the interplay and importance of prayer with our virtuous actions and gives clarity on how prayers act as nurturing conditions for the seed of awa...

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna gives a powerful commentary on the text Approaching Buddhism by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. John unpacks the topics of purification and accumulation of spiritual merit, bringing to light how important these practices are for our wisdom to grow on the path to Enlightenment. He also discusses the importance of motivation a...

The Way of Compassion Dharma Center's spiritual director, John Bruna, discusses the topic of blessings in Tibetan Buddhism. He speaks about how blessings are received through the dependent origination of teachings of Holy beings and our practice. John tells some stories of his teachers and how they have guided him to understand that one main way we receive blessings is through the teachings o...

The Way of Compassion Dharma Center's spiritual director, John Bruna, gives commentary on wisdom and faith as presented in the text Approaching the Buddhist Path by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. He discusses how the three types of faith in Tibetan Buddhism build upon each other and lead us to a deep experience of trusting and having confidence in the teaching...

The Way of Compassion Dharma Center's spiritual director, John Bruna, offers practical guidance on the mental tools that one uses to engage in Dharma practice. He gives guidance on how to find balance between our formal practice and being engaged in daily life. He also explains how we can integrate Dharma practice into all of our daily activities. This episode was recorded on July 12th, 2023....

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna clarifies the technical aspects of the two aims and four reliances as described in the Tibetan Buddhist Lam Rim teachings. He also answers questions about dependent arising and causal dependency as presented in the text. This episode was recorded on July 5th, 2023.  Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorad...

In this session, John Bruna, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, gives a powerful teaching on the different motivations for different levels of practitioners. His commentary specifically focuses on how the four noble truths and conduct relate to the three levels of motivations outlined for Buddhist practitioners. This episode was recorded on June 21st, 2023. Welcome to t...

John Bruna, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, offers a teaching on the different scopes of practice as discussed in Tibetan Buddhism. He encourages us to know where our practice is in relation to these paths and to be gentle with ourselves as we progress through these various motivations. This episode was recorded on June 14th, 2023. Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dh...

In this episode, John Bruna, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, unpacks the skillful means and wisdom aspects of the Eight Verses of Mind Training. He gives simple guidance for understanding the dynamics of dependent origination and subjective experience in daily life. This episode was recorded on June 7th, 2023. Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. L...

John Bruna, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, provides insightful instruction on the eighth verse of mind training. He illuminates how our motivations are key in drawing distinctions between actions based in the eight worldly concerns or actions that are authentic Dharma. This episode was recorded on May 31st, 2023. Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcas...

The Way of Compassion Dharma Center spiritual director, John Bruna, helps us understand and integrate teachings on cultivating love and compassion for those individuals who have hurt us deeply. He illuminates how engaging in a relationship with a transactional mindset sets us up for suffering and how our expectations of others should be realistic. John also clarifies how forgiving someone is a ste...

John Bruna, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, offers a teaching and guidance on the fifth verse of the eight verses of mind training as taught in Tibetan Buddhism: Whenever others out of jealousy, mistreat me with abuse, slander, and so on, I will practice accepting defeat, and offering the victory to them. John gives clarity on how to practice this verse in daily life...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna gives commentary on verse four of the Eight Verses of Mind Training: Whenever I see ill-natured beings, Or those overwhelmed by heavy misdeeds or suffering, I will cherish them as something rare, As though I’d found a priceless treasure.  He gives a clear pathway to transforming our perspectives on the challenging people in our lives. He suggests seei...

In this episode, John Bruna, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, offers commentary and guidance on the third verse of the Eight Verses of Mind Training. In all actions I will observe my mind  And the moment a disturbing emotion arises Endangering myself and others I will firmly confront and avert it. John offers practical methods and mind-training techniques to put this...

In this episode, John Bruna, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, offers guidance and clarity on the second of eight verses of Mind Training. He talks about cultivating a baseline of equanimity and recognizing that everyone we encounter has something to teach us. In addition, John illustrates how seeing ourselves as teachable and equal to others lessens our insecurities a...