Approaching Buddhism: Three Stages of the Path

John Bruna, the Spiritual Director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, provides practical guidance and methods to cultivate constructive actions. He speaks about how we can strengthen our ability to engage in actions with compassion and wisdom through familiarity. John also points out how our own self-critical attitude is a manifestation of our mental…

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.

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna offers a variety of techniques for developing equanimity for three different categories of people: Friends, enemies, and strangers. He describes how to meet ourselves where we are at and encourages us to expand our circle of loving care to those who are strangers or who have harmed us.

John Bruna, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion Foundation, continues to offer commentary and guidance on the text “Approaching Buddhism” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chödron. In this session, John gives guidance around disillusionment stemming from unrealistic expectations.

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna helps us understand what it means to take refuge in the teachings of the awakened ones. He talks about how what we are really taking refuge in is the Dharma, which are teachings that ultimately lead us to know reality as it is. John distills the journey to…

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna discusses the different aspects of fear and anger as mentally afflictive states and wisdom. He offers clarity and guidance on the tendency to exaggerate situations as an important aspect of identifying afflictive fear and anger. John also gives practical guidance on how to respond to the events of…