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…

Approaching Buddhism: The Possibility of Freedom

Approaching Buddhism: The Possibility of Freedom

John Bruna, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion Foundation, continues the discussion of the path to awakening as presented in the book “Approaching Buddhism” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chödron. John discusses how the Buddhist path offers the potential for completely removing suffering from ones experience. He speaks about…

Approaching Buddhism: Dependent Arising and the Three Jewels

Approaching Buddhism: Dependent Arising and the Three Jewels

John Bruna, Spiritual Director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, discusses and unpacks dependent arising as it relates to the triple gem (The Buddha, The Dharma, and The Sangha). This session is a continuation of a series of teachings based on the book “Approaching Buddhism” by Venerable Thubten Chödron and His Holiness the Dalai…