Approaching Buddhism: A Synthesis of Daily Practice

Approaching Buddhism: A Synthesis of Daily Practice

John Bruna, the Spiritual Director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, continues to offer his commentary on the text “Approaching Buddhism” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chödron. John is known for translating the Dharma to make it practical and accessible for the daily life of a westerner. In this session,…

Approaching Buddhism: Analytical Meditation and Great Compassion

Approaching Buddhism: Analytical Meditation and Great Compassion

John Bruna, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion, continues his commentary on the text Approaching Buddhism by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chödron. John is known for clearly translating the Dharma into practical and accessible teachings for individuals with a western mind. In this session, John offers clarity on analytical…

Approaching Buddhism: The Antidote of Wisdom

Approaching Buddhism: The Antidote of Wisdom

In this session, John Bruna continues to teach from the text “Approaching Buddhism” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. John offers a variety of accurate perspectives that act as antidotes to our mentally afflicted states. He also speaks about how important context and integration are for our rituals, meditation practices, and…

Approaching Buddhism: Working with Afflictions

Approaching Buddhism: Working with Afflictions

John Bruna, Spiritual Director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, continues to offer commentary and guidance on the text “Approaching Buddhism” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. John brings the teachings of training the mind right into our daily lives in this session focused on working with afflictions in our…

Approaching Buddhism: Emotions and Survival

Approaching Buddhism: Emotions and Survival

John Bruna, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, discusses emotions from modern psychological and Buddhist perspectives . He discusses how emotions can be helpful and even save our lives. On the other hand, emotions rooted in exaggeration and projection can be quite harmful to ourselves and others. John offers clear examples…

Approaching Buddhism: Unrealistic Expectations and Disillusionment

Approaching Buddhism: Unrealistic Expectations and Disillusionment

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.

Approaching Buddhism: Responding to Anger

Approaching Buddhism: Responding to Anger

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna continues teaching about anger. He offers commentary on different perspectives of anger and how the different paths in Buddhism approach this emotion in a variety of ways. John brings in the wisdom of dependent origination as a powerful antidote to our habitual tendency to point outward at the…

Approaching Buddhism: Mental Afflictions

Approaching Buddhism: Mental Afflictions

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…