Dharma Topics

Prior to each Thursday evening gathering in Silver Spring for meditation and Dharma sharing we send out an announcement of the topic. The announcement is includes a short essay that focuses on a way of bringing mindfulness into our lives, families, work, and society. Below are topics that we've discussed in the past.

The archive goes from 2004 to the present. You can search by one or more key words, such as: Compassion Training (no quotes), or by phrases, such as: “emotional and spiritual healing” (with quotes). If you would like to receive our weekly announcement, please click on the bar to the right.

Overcoming Polarization

Facilitated by: Ernestine Enomoto| in: Dharma Topics

Discussion Date: Thu, Mar 04, 2021

March 4, 2021, 7:00 to 8:45 pm Silver Spring, Maryland, community online on Thursday evening March 5, 2021, 7:00 to 8:45 pm Open to all online on Friday evening

Dear Still Water Friends,

Recently, because of the divisiveness of our times, I have been reflecting on how I can respond with mindfulness and compassion to those who hold different perspectives than my own. I have thought about how to draw upon the spiritual values of our Buddhist tradition – recognizing suffering, embracing unpleasant emotions, seeing nondiscrimination, practicing loving kindness and compassion. Thich Nhat Hanh has offered numerous teachings, stories and practices that guide me in being more skillful with thoughts, words and actions.

To what extent could I speak to someone whom I knew to hold a different political perspective? My cousin in... Continued