Join us in-person in Missoula with Justin or online via Zoom. Address and Zoom link sent upon registration. This month’s Sangha gathering with Namchak translator Justin Kirkwood will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 5:30-7:30pm MDT.
The Perfection of Diligence (Joyful Effort)
The core of Mahayana Buddhism, where we at Namchak find our roots, is bodhicitta, the mind of enlightenment. The Six Perfections also known as the Six Paramitas, are the ways to train in engaged bodhicitta. They are Generosity, Ethical Discipline, Patience, Diligence (Joyful Effort), Meditative Concentration, and Wisdom.
Join teacher and Tibetan translator Justin Kirkwood for an exploration of Diligence (Joyful Effort). Diligence means being enthusiastic about wholesome pursuits, and it empowers all the other perfections. We’ve all felt the difference between being stubbornly persistent about things and being genuinely joyful and enthusiastic about doing them, right? The latter is much more beneficial, not to mention enjoyable. Diligence serves as the main antidote to laziness, which means to lack that enthusiasm towards these wholesome aspects of our spiritual growth.
Life will certainly give us highs and lows. However, practicing the Perfection of Diligence, can help us maintain our enthusiasm regardless of our life circumstances.
If you were not able to attend previous sessions on the six perfections, please watch the video below before the gathering.
About One Community
For one evening each month, we come together as a community to deepen our understanding of the dharma and connect with our fellow sangha members. Each gathering is facilitated by a different Namchak teacher, thought leader, or staff member and will revolve around our theme of the month. These gatherings are two hours in total. The first half will consist of a dharma talk, and the second half will offer an opportunity for participants to reflect on the teachings through small group discussions in short break-out sessions. These group discussions will be followed by a Q&A session with the teacher. Participation in small group discussions is encouraged but not required. You can always sit these out! We encourage Learning Circles and meditation buddies to attend together. Inviting friends, partners, family members, neighbors, and co-workers is always welcome.
About the teacher
Justin has been studying and practicing Buddhism for over twenty years and has been working as a Tibetan translator and interpreter for more than ten. He lived in India for eight years, studying and practicing with many great teachers and spent three of those years as a monk, studying Buddhist philosophy in a Tibetan monastic seminary. He now works at the Namchak Foundation as a translator of texts, as Namchak Khen Rinpoche’s interpreter, and as a meditation teacher.
Address and Zoom Link
Missoula address and Zoom link will be provided upon registration. Please note: Confirmation emails from Eventbrite often end up in spam/promotions tab. Please check there if you do not see the confirmation email.
Our Community Commitments
In order to co-create a brave, inclusive, anti-oppressive and learning centered space, in our community we each agree to:
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- Be inclusive of diverse opinions and backgrounds through treating each other with respect and appreciation.
- Commit to words and actions of non-harm within our group interactions.
- Learn by immersing in and committing to the practices at hand.
- Hold personal sharing in confidence.
- Be present, practice mindful listening, and not offer unsolicited advice.
- Allow and invite for equal sharing of voices as well as the right to pass.
- Take care not to speak for others in the group.
- Assume good intent and come from a place of curiosity and care.
- Come as we are with permission to be “raggedy.”
- Be mindful of and take personal and collective responsibility for our own biases including the use of language that may “other,” “cancel,” or dehumanize any person, groups of people, and/or their experiences.
- Ask for consent before hugging or initiating physical contact during in-person gatherings.
- Use the “Ouch/Oops” tool to address hurtful comments and language in the moment and to allow space for repair.*
We aspire for this sangha to be a place of refuge
*Ouch/Oops . This is a tool for addressing hurtful comments/language in the moment. If someone says something hurtful, anyone can bring attention to it in the moment by saying “Ouch” and then explaining what was hurtful. If it is a word choice issue, be sure to give the first speaker the chance to rephrase and try again (remember, it’s okay to be raggedy, and we are all assuming good intent!) When someone says something that comes out wrong or hurts someone else, they should start with “Oops” – first, acknowledge the impact of their words, and then try again. This can also be done outside of the event if someone feels an “Ouch,” but does not feel comfortable sharing it with the group at that time. We aspire for this sangha to be a place of refuge.