7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m ET

Donations welcome! 

About the Session

 If you would like to be enlightened, take on these eight subjects of meditation 

and apply their corresponding insights to your daily life.

-The Buddha

Together we will read and explore the Buddha’s Discourse on The Eight Realizations of Great Beings. We will discuss how to incorporate the eight realizations into our every-day lives with a sense of warmth, openness and power. The study and practice session is designed to inspire your practice and post-meditation experience with a sense of great confidence and great joy – in appreciating the precious dharma. 

Recommended Reading Material (not required)

Old Path: White Clouds: The Life Story of the Buddha by Venerable Thich Nhat  Hanh

The Eight Realizations of Great Beings: Essential Buddhist Wisdom for Waking Up to Who You Are by Brother Pharp Hai

Transforming the Mind: The Sutra of the Eight Realizations of Great Beings by Shih Cheng Yen

Note: Chaplain Alley will screen share the Buddha’s discourse for attendees

This Session Offers

• Teachings on contentment, compassion, diligence, and suffering 

• Instructions on the view and practical applications of Mahayana Buddhism

• An opportunity to listen deeply and contemplate The Eight Realizations of Great Beings with others

• An opportunity to study, contemplate, and meditate in community from the comfort of your own home and practice space

• Connection with other meditators

Prerequisites

Open to all. 

About the Teachers

Alley Smith (she/her) is a College & University Zen Buddhist Chaplain and US military war veteran. During her career, Alley served with the military funeral honors teams in the US Marine Corps and Navy Reserve. She specializes in spiritual care, mortuary affairs and as a funeral clergy/celebrant. She has been a student of Shambhala and Zen Buddhism since 1999. She works at a funeral home in Vermont and as a First Responder/Firefighter. Alley currently hosts “Making Friends with Death and Dying: Support Group” on Shambhala Online. chaplainalley@gmail.com.

Deb Flieder is a long-time member and former director of the Dallas Shambhala Meditation Center. She took her refuge vow in 2019 and was assigned the Tibetan name Jinpa Satso, which translates to Generosity Earth Lake-a name she aims to live up to! Deb has made a late-in-life career pivot devoted to environmental causes, particularly zero waste and circular economy initiatives.