We are introducing a short 4-part series within the Sunday Check Ins "Intergenerational Learning" . The series will involve different generational groups presenting concerns, challenges and wisdom from their unique perspectives.

For the first session we are delighted to have our friend Stephen Hill present the generation: "Life as an Elder". He would like all of us to consider the following questions:

1. What has been your most important life lesson so far?

2. If you came across an older person who seems genuinely wise and experienced, what would you want to learn from them?

So, if you are an elder with wisdom to share, a younger person curious about the experience of a generation that seems far away, or a middle aged person reflecting on approaching the senior years, your input and ideas will be vital and gratefully received in this very conversational session.

If you are new to our check-in session, please register via: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/upIpf-CtqTouE9ALQFonVkvJhjSkYrlgrqgj

Life as an Elder

We hope you enjoyed the first part of our Intergenerational Learning series - perhaps our elders have inspired some wisdom in you! This week we’ll hear from our generous young friends as Liam, Xiaomeng and Yijun share their experience and understanding in response to Stephen’s sharing last week. 

The questions our youth team would like you to consider are:

1. What change do you want to see in the world?
2. How do you think we should go about it?

If you are new to our check-in session, please register via: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/upIpf-CtqTouE9ALQFonVkvJhjSkYrlgrqgj

On our Way

Ina is guiding our community of friends for the upcoming two weeks on "Friendship". The questions she would like us to consider are:

1. Who are your friends? Are they a: Helper? Enduring? Mentor ?Compassionate?

2. We think of the elders as our mentors. What can we learn from our juniors?

3. As "juniors", what do you look for from "elders"?

If you are new to our check-in session, please register via: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/upIpf-CtqTouE9ALQFonVkvJhjSkYrlgrqgj

Good Friends Across The Generations

How is your week going? Last week, we were delighted to have our old friend Remy share his adventure writing and his findings of Learning to Stop: Mindfulness Meditation as Anti-Violence Pedagogy. This week, we will invite a new friend, Professor Hun Tong, to lead us with a discussion of "the second arrow".

The Buddha spoke about a person who is shot by the first arrow but then shot himself with a second arrow. Are we this person? The questions Hun Tong invites us to consider are:

1. Think of an incident or incidents when something unpleasant or painful happened. What was your reaction then?

2. Looking back, do you think your reaction helped you or made things worse?

3. Looking back, would you have reacted any differently?

If you are new to our check-in session, please register via: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/upIpf-CtqTouE9ALQFonVkvJhjSkYrlgrqgj

The Second Arrow

Continuing our final series of 2024 with our young presenters over the next few months presenting issues which they are concerned about, that they'd like the community to hear about, and to hear community responses to.

We are delighted to invite Tay Jing Jia. Jing Jia will be presenting on "Mindfulness- Think Before you Act". Jing Jia will investigate the following questions and would also like us to consider them in preparation for the session:

1. Recount a time you did or did not think before you act.
2. How can we help ourselves and each other to "think before you act"?

If you are new to our check-in session, please register via: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/upIpf-CtqTouE9ALQFonVkvJhjSkYrlgrqgj  

Mindfulness - Think Before you Act

We are delighted to welcome back Gawaine Powell Davies to guide us at this Sunday's Check In session.

Gawaine will be speaking about "Equanimity- Can you have too much of a good thing?".  Gawaine will give a very brief account of how he understands equanimity and its virtues, and then raise some questions about its limitations and when it may be unhelpful.

The questions he would like us to consider are: 
1. Can you think of a time when equanimity helped you through a difficult situation? 
2. Can you think of a time when a focus on equanimity was unhelpful?

If you are new to our check-in session, please register via: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/upIpf-CtqTouE9ALQFonVkvJhjSkYrlgrqgj  
If you have previously registered and saved the Zoom link, you may use it to enter the meeting.

Equanimity

This Sunday marks the final session of our June Bodhi Light Tales sharing series, and we are deeply grateful for the time we've spent together in reflection and spiritual friendship.

For this week's session, Venerable Miao Guang will be sharing a powerful story titled "Heavy Bag" from Bodhi Light Tales by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. This story invites us to reflect on how determination and aspiration can transform the way we carry life's burdens.

In preparation for our discussion, we warmly invite you to ponder the following questions:

1. Have you ever forgotten your discomfort because you were focused on a clear goal? What helped you keep going?

2. What "heavy bag" are you carrying in life right now? How might a strong aspiration help lighten that load?

If you're joining us for the first time, please register via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/upIpf-CtqTouE9ALQFonVkvJhjSkYrlgrqgj

Bodhi Light Tales - Heavy Bag

When everything we cling to reveals its fluid nature, we panic. What if śūnyatā isn’t the void of despair, but the womb of possibility? What can we learn from what refuses to stay still?

The questions she would like us to contemplate and perhaps practise today are:
1. Take something that you believe is right and try to adopt its opposite for half a day. How did your perception shift? 

2. What could emerge in your life if you loosen the grip on your most cherished truths? 

Is Emptiness the end of meaning or the beginning of boundless creativity?

Freedom is not the end of the story. The bodhisattva turns back: not out of obligation, but from love. What happens when compassion calls us to remain in a world unravelling, rather than to escape it? What kind of strength says, “I will stay with you”?

1. A bodhisattva, in Buddhism, is someone who awakens to wisdom and compassion but chooses not to “leave the world.” Instead, they stay present with others, walking alongside them through suffering and joy. When you hear the word “bodhisattva,” what qualities or actions come to mind? Do you imagine heroic sacrifice, tireless service, or something else? 

2. In your current work or relationships, where might ‘staying present with others,’ be more softening our need to be right rather than trying to change the situation? What might that look like for you without adding to your exhaustion? 

What Moves a Bodhisattva?

Nilanka Tilbrook

The Humanistic Buddhism Centre (HBC) is committed to the research and development of Humanistic Buddhism as well as community engagement.  The Centre identifies and undertakes innovative projects that contribute to the scholarly and teaching communities.  Besides facilitating inter-disciplinary research and course-ware development that contributes to the Nan Tien Institute’s teaching programs, the Centre also participates in outreach programmes such as podcasts, workshops, and exhibitions.  This podcast collection houses resources on Humanistic Buddhism that will be useful to students, educators and informed Buddhists.

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