Sit Club with Davin Youngs

In this, the second week of advent we light a candle for hope and a candle for peace. But what does it mean to even consider peace when we live in a world filled with war? In this Sit Club gathering, we engage a practice of wishing peace first to ourselves and to others. From there, we utilize the poetry of Wendell Berry and the words of Roshi Joan Halifax to lead us into a more expansive understanding of peace and its ability to hold us all, even in war.

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If you would like to join live, please visit: SIT CLUB

If you would like to donate to Davin as an energetic exchange for these offerings, please do so here: DONATE

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Born out of the pandemic, Sit Club began in September of 2020 and continues every Sunday morning at 10am CT. Typically an hour in length, an intimate group of all ages, genders and races, from all over the world gathers on Zoom to sit in guided meditation, contemplate a reading and then share in conversation. Each gathering is centered around a spiritual theme chosen and guided by Davin. Youngs Buddhism is often the framework through which the readings and practices are approached, but no particular religious or philosophical ideology is subscribed to.

There are no requirements, special skills or abilities that are necessary to attend. Just an open heart and a desire to connect with a community of seekers.

This is the first of a four week series where we attempt to reimagine advent through the lens of Sit Club. This week, we take a hard look at what the concept of "hope" using the practice of Tonglen as our guide.

Anit, Kris and Johanna read three poems.

Heavy by Mary Oliver

Eagle Poem by Joy Harjo

Everything is Waiting For You by David Whyte

Davin also mentions the On Being podcast interview with Nick Cave: https://onbeing.org/programs/nick-cave-loss-yearning-transcendence/

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If you would like to join live, please visit: SIT CLUB

If you would like to donate to Davin as an energetic exchange for these offerings, please do so here: DONATE

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Born out of the pandemic, Sit Club began in September of 2020 and continues every Sunday morning at 10am CT. Typically an hour in length, an intimate group of all ages, genders and races, from all over the world gathers on Zoom to sit in guided meditation, contemplate a reading and then share in conversation. Each gathering is centered around a spiritual theme chosen and guided by Davin. Youngs Buddhism is often the framework through which the readings and practices are approached, but no particular religious or philosophical ideology is subscribed to.

There are no requirements, special skills or abilities that are necessary to attend. Just an open heart and a desire to connect with a community of seekers.

If you would like to join live, please visit: SIT CLUB

If you would like to donate to Davin as an energetic exchange for these offerings, please do so here: DONATE

--

Born out of the pandemic, Sit Club began in September of 2020 and continues every Sunday morning at 10am CT. Typically an hour in length, an intimate group of all ages, genders and races, from all over the world gathers on Zoom to sit in guided meditation, contemplate a reading and then share in conversation. Each gathering is centered around a spiritual theme chosen and guided by Davin. Youngs Buddhism is often the framework through which the readings and practices are approached, but no particular religious or philosophical ideology is subscribed to.

There are no requirements, special skills or abilities that are necessary to attend. Just an open heart and a desire to connect with a community of seekers.

What is the difference between thanksgiving and gratitude? Why do we celebrate do we use the words so similarly, but the evoke such a different emotion or feeling? In this gathering, Davin explores the nuanced difference between the two words and leads a guided practice that utilizes both as a path to personal growth and expansion. A reading is read from Jack Kornfield's blog. You may want a pencil or pen to participate in the exercise offered.

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If you would like to join live, please visit: SIT CLUB

If you would like to donate to Davin as an energetic exchange for these offerings, please do so here: DONATE

--

Born out of the pandemic, Sit Club began in September of 2020 and continues every Sunday morning at 10am CT. Typically an hour in length, an intimate group of all ages, genders and races, from all over the world gathers on Zoom to sit in guided meditation, contemplate a reading and then share in conversation. Each gathering is centered around a spiritual theme chosen and guided by Davin. Youngs Buddhism is often the framework through which the readings and practices are approached, but no particular religious or philosophical ideology is subscribed to.

There are no requirements, special skills or abilities that are necessary to attend. Just an open heart and a desire to connect with a community of seekers.

This is the final gathering our series around Loving Kindness Meditation or Metta. In this gathering we explore the complex and beautiful experience of wishing all living beings unconditional friendliness. Particularly, Davin unpacks the idea of oneness and why the terms requires a reverence of understanding. In addition, he utilizes a reading from Sharon Salzberg's book on Loving Kindness and a poem called "Oneness" by Thich Nhat Hanh. 

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If you would like to join live, please visit: SIT CLUB

If you would like to donate to Davin as an energetic exchange for these offerings, please do so here: DONATE

--

Born out of the pandemic, Sit Club began in September of 2020 and continues every Sunday morning at 10am CT. Typically an hour in length, an intimate group of all ages, genders and races, from all over the world gathers on Zoom to sit in guided meditation, contemplate a reading and then share in conversation. Each gathering is centered around a spiritual theme chosen and guided by Davin. Youngs Buddhism is often the framework through which the readings and practices are approached, but no particular religious or philosophical ideology is subscribed to.

There are no requirements, special skills or abilities that are necessary to attend. Just an open heart and a desire to connect with a community of seekers.

In this Sit Club gathering we explore the fourth person to whom loving kindness is traditionally offered... the "difficult person" or "enemy." Davin offers a guided practice framed by the teachings of Sharon Salzberg that asks "Who are we tempted to exclude from our circle of loving-kindness?" From there, a discussion around karma and enemies ensues.

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If you would like to join live, please visit: SIT CLUB

If you would like to donate to Davin as an energetic exchange for these offerings, please do so here: DONATE

--

Born out of the pandemic, Sit Club began in September of 2020 and continues every Sunday morning at 10am CT. Typically an hour in length, an intimate group of all ages, genders and races, from all over the world gathers on Zoom to sit in guided meditation, contemplate a reading and then share in conversation. Each gathering is centered around a spiritual theme chosen and guided by Davin. Youngs Buddhism is often the framework through which the readings and practices are approached, but no particular religious or philosophical ideology is subscribed to.

There are no requirements, special skills or abilities that are necessary to attend. Just an open heart and a desire to connect with a community of seekers.

In our continued exploration of Metta or Loving-Kindness mediation, we move on to the "benefactor" or the person for whom we care and cares for us. In this guided practice, Davin invited participants to use the visualization of a wild flower field to elicit Metta as something we can both cultivate, receive and give. A reading is used by the teacher and author Sharon Salzberg.

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If you would like to join live, please visit: SIT CLUB

If you would like to donate to Davin as an energetic exchange for these offerings, please do so here: DONATE

--

Born out of the pandemic, Sit Club began in September of 2020 and continues every Sunday morning at 10am CT. Typically an hour in length, an intimate group of all ages, genders and races, from all over the world gathers on Zoom to sit in guided meditation, contemplate a reading and then share in conversation. Each gathering is centered around a spiritual theme chosen and guided by Davin. Youngs Buddhism is often the framework through which the readings and practices are approached, but no particular religious or philosophical ideology is subscribed to.

There are no requirements, special skills or abilities that are necessary to attend. Just an open heart and a desire to connect with a community of seekers.

What does it mean to practice meditation in a time of war? What good does Loving-kindness do when we are bearing witness to the extreme suffering of others? Is any of it worthwhile? How do we make a difference? 

These are just a few of the questions we ask in this special Sit Club gathering that addresses the war that has erupted in Israel and Palestine. While no answers are provided, we meet this inquiry with a loving-kindness meditation practice aimed at ourselves and those directly impacted by the war.

Subsequently, this is the third anniversary of Sit Club. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your continued love and support around this community and this endeavor.

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If you would like to join live, please visit: SIT CLUB

If you would like to donate to Davin as an energetic exchange for these offerings, please do so here: DONATE

--

Born out of the pandemic, Sit Club began in September of 2020 and continues every Sunday morning at 10am CT. Typically an hour in length, an intimate group of all ages, genders and races, from all over the world gathers on Zoom to sit in guided meditation, contemplate a reading and then share in conversation. Each gathering is centered around a spiritual theme chosen and guided by Davin. Youngs Buddhism is often the framework through which the readings and practices are approached, but no particular religious or philosophical ideology is subscribed to.

There are no requirements, special skills or abilities that are necessary to attend. Just an open heart and a desire to connect with a community of seekers.

One of the most fundamental and lovely teachings in the lineage of Buddhist meditation is Metta or Loving-kindness. Championed in the west by teachers like Sharon Salzberg, Metta meditation is a practice that brings our attention to the first of the four Brahma Viharas or "heavenly states." It is a simple, yet profound reminder of our ability at any given time to tap into unconditional friendliness toward ourselves and each other. In this Sit Club gathering, we return to the practice as a part of a series centering loving-kindness as a way of lighting up the sometimes dark path of our lives.

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If you would like to join live, please visit: SIT CLUB

If you would like to donate to Davin as an energetic exchange for these offerings, please do so here: DONATE

--

Born out of the pandemic, Sit Club began in September of 2020 and continues every Sunday morning at 10am CT. Typically an hour in length, an intimate group of all ages, genders and races, from all over the world gathers on Zoom to sit in guided meditation, contemplate a reading and then share in conversation. Each gathering is centered around a spiritual theme chosen and guided by Davin. Youngs Buddhism is often the framework through which the readings and practices are approached, but no particular religious or philosophical ideology is subscribed to.

There are no requirements, special skills or abilities that are necessary to attend. Just an open heart and a desire to connect with a community of seekers.

Are you willing to give up your suffering? Are you willing to stay present to now and let go of your past and your future? One of the central teachings of Buddhism is the truth of impermanence. Throughout time, teachers have taught that while suffering is a part of the human experience, there is a path for suffering to cease. That path is traveled most quickly when we recognize that nothing is permanent and that all things and experiences fall away. This truth is liberating if we allow ourselves to know it fully. 

In this Sit Club gathering we engage the teachings of Ajahn Chah and confront the truth of our suffering through a simple yet profound meditation practice.

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If you would like to join live, please visit: SIT CLUB

If you would like to donate to Davin as an energetic exchange for these offerings, please do so here: DONATE

--

Born out of the pandemic, Sit Club began in September of 2020 and continues every Sunday morning at 10am CT. Typically an hour in length, an intimate group of all ages, genders and races, from all over the world gathers on Zoom to sit in guided meditation, contemplate a reading and then share in conversation. Each gathering is centered around a spiritual theme chosen and guided by Davin. Youngs Buddhism is often the framework through which the readings and practices are approached, but no particular religious or philosophical ideology is subscribed to.

There are no requirements, special skills or abilities that are necessary to attend. Just an open heart and a desire to connect with a community of seekers.