Speaker: Kelly Smith. Kelly shares more of the history of Longchen Jigme Samten Ling, MSB's long-term retreat center in Crestone, Colorado. This is an ongoing series wherein Kelly describes in great detail her personal memories of being present since the center's beginning in 1993. Kelly shares an especially touching story of caring for a squirrel named "Norbu".

Speaker: Martha Asselin. Martha recalls her experiences in retreat ranging from durations of one weekend to six weeks, eight months and three years. Whether they were solitary or in group settings, retreats present an opportunity to let go of everyday distractions to observe and direct one's mind. Rinpoche guides us to view retreat as ideal for encountering our basic nature and seeing things exactly how they are. We bring all of our experiences onto the path from fear, confusion and preferences to insight and wisdom. Martha shares advice she received from Elizabeth and others regarding how to manage retreat: start slow, ease into practice, structure one's time, let go of expectations and allow leaving retreat to be natural.

Speaker: Chris Parmentier. Chris shares how her experience with depression provided the opportunity to practice patience, mindfulness and loving-kindness for herself and others, while also helping to let go of judgmental concepts such as success and failure. The focus on and protection of a "real" self causes pain and suffering. It takes practice and time to let go of this habitual mindset and way of being. Letting go also involves others; Chris recalls being reminded that without others there can be no enlightenment. We can learn to be grateful for everyone and everything in our lives, even those we may dislike and reject. Chris specifically recommended the Thangtong Gyalpo Refuge Prayer as a practice for overcoming pain and discovering intrinsic joy. This also results in having less resentment toward the world and ourselves. By naturally being present, we can face even old age, sickness and death with equanimity.

Speaker: Dungse Jampal Norbu. Dungse-la describes how the spiritual life asks us to look inside of our mind to find peace from the constant grasping and rejection of things- "the eight worldly concerns" in Buddhism. We strive to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, and learn that our own true happiness comes from wishing for the happiness of others. In this way, the spiritual life involves not only engaging our mind but also being fully engaged in life and our environment where our activity is expressed. If we sometimes get stuck generating this intention, Dungse-la suggests that we ask ourselves what's going to serve and what's not going to serve. He assures us that this aspect of skillful means is not a difficult but delicate choice of threading the needle of present circumstances. Then, in holding the understanding of interdependent origination, more skillful opportunities will arise that have no assumptions or bias. Dungse-la concludes by saying that there can't be anything more meaningful than a life infused with bodhicitta.

Speaker: Daniel Dranetz. Daniel reflects on the three turnings of the wheel of Dharma starting with the first turning and its central teaching on the four noble truths. As he considers the foundational teachings of each of the yanas and the eightfold path, he offers examples of human and animal suffering. Drawing on both his personal and professional life as a mental health counsellor, Daniel muses on our persistent and habitual belief that happiness is available through samsara. Flowing inevitably from this confused belief are the chronically ineffective strategies with which we try to combat our suffering. He illustrates his talk by reading some of his favourite passages from Words of my Perfect Teacher and finishes by reminding us that because of our Buddha nature, enlightenment is possible for us all.

Speaker: Deb Spragg. Deb explains how self-doubt or unworthiness can be an indicative of not trusting our own mind. In the same vein, seeking affirmation from others can distract us from developing our own wisdom and skillful means to see ourselves and others as equal. While self-doubt doesn't offer us real inner truth, awareness of how it manifests in our physical bodies helps to recognize and overcome the self-absorption accompanying it. Rinpoche emphasizes the vital importance of cultivating confidence and exuberance in our practice. Self-doubt undermines this aspiration and can be indicative of a lazy state of mind. It takes effort to observe self-doubt and let go of nervous and restless energy, which creates space for confidence to arise and settle.

Speaker: Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. Rinpoche originally originally gave this teaching on February 2, 2014 in Crestone, Colorado. In this talk, Rinpoche speaks about the importance of cultivating maitri or unlimited friendliness toward oneself and others as a way to cheer ourselves up and experience a lightness of being, especially in times of difficulty.

Speaker: Ava Evans. Ava gives a personal account of how her practices of bodhicitta and tonglen have been essential in navigating grief and loss. Her commitment to walk the path of a bodhisattva and follow Rinpoche's advice that, "our hearts must be strong and brave" have provided the support she needed to care for her brother during his battle with brain cancer until his death, and her father's decline into dementia. Turning toward suffering and bearing witness to their pain allowed Ava to step out of her limited sense of self and extend love, patience and compassion to her family members. In doing so, she touches the buddhanature in herself and her loved ones, strengthening her understanding that we are all the same. These experiences have also brought a deeper connection to her own mind's nature to always be in touch with itself. The power of that recognition allows confusion to be transformed into compassion and wisdom, which is the ultimate ally in difficult and uncertain times.

Speaker: Pat Noyes. Pat talks about her exploration of the Dharma as it pertains to a current mental health challenge within her family. She offers a compilation of foundational teachings, practices and contemplations that have helped in understanding the pain and fear she experiences. Starting with the four noble truths, Pat shares her search for a way through suffering by drawing on the words of her teachers. What gets her to the cushion when times are bleak are Rinpoche's teachings on the 51 mental states, tonglen, impermanence, karma, the four immeasurables, the four thoughts, and the four seals. Pat shares with us how these teachings and practices can help us all in overcoming the mental and emotional obscurations that keep us bound in samsara.

Speaker: Michael McIlmurray. Michael describes how working with honey bees is a vehicle for his practice of mindfulness. As an example, a beekeeper's movement in the apiary can accidentally squash and kill the bees. Honoring his bodhisattva vow of not harming others, he brings mindful awareness and patience in caring for the bee colonies. His practice of patience also includes accepting his mistakes. Michael describes how being stung by a bee may result in a flash of anger or resentment, which provides an excellent opportunity to examine and work with these emotions, remaining calm and composed in the moment. Beekeeping also enhances Michael's ability to visualize the Buddhanature of vast numbers of beings including all beings’ collective quest for happiness.