About us
The principles the Buddha taught 2500 years ago have led to happier lives for countless human beings. Buddhist teachings apply today more than ever in reducing stress, providing peace, encouraging mental stability and enhancing understanding of living and dying. Buddhism teaches that the mind and our concepts are the cause of our unnecessary problems and that the mind can be positively influenced by reflection and meditation.
The Buddhist Meditation and Study Group is an experiment in spiritual participatory democracy, exploring the diversity and inclusiveness within Buddhist thinking and practice. This peer-led approach encourages regular participants to teach/present Buddhist related topics.
We invite beginners, experienced Buddhist practitioners of all persuasions, as well as people curious about Buddhism to attend our meetings. Because of the pandemic, we have moved to the Zoom platform. We 'meet' at 6:30PM every Thursday with a 30 minute meditation, followed by a Dharma talk/presentation, or a book study and group discussion until 8:00 PM. You will receive the Zoom link when you RSVP to each event.
If you wish to remain a member, we ask that you attend a meeting or visit our Meetup web page at least once every 6 months. It is also recommended for those who are not familiar with meditation to request a free brief meeting for individual meditation instruction. This can happen prior to a meeting. You can contact Alida Bryant at info@harbordharma.net.
Upcoming events
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Another Kind of Freedom
·OnlineOnlineAs usual, we will begin with 1/2 hr. meditation followed by our Dharma discussion...
Tonight we are continuing our study in chapter One, part 1 "Fantasy and Reality" pg. 15 starting with the line "In the second paragraph of Fantasy and Reality," Rinpoche says that according to the Buddha, we must begin by seeing our experience of life as it is."...
In our group reading we will focus on the text "Another Kind of Freedom" by Pema Chödrön.
Reading Myth of Freedom is an optional way to deepen our understanding.About the texts:
Another Kind of Freedom by Pema Chödrön As one of Chögyam Trungpa's primary student-teachers, Pema Chödrön offers a deeply personal, accessible, and practical commentary on The Myth of Freedom. She takes her teacher's radical, uncompromising insights and grounds them in daily lived experience, offering actionable guidance on working with fear, groundlessness, and reactive habits.The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche Based on teachings given in the early to mid-1970s, this foundational text explores how we mistakenly seek freedom through our attachments, ego, and conditioning—often falling into what Trungpa famously termed "spiritual materialism." It breaks down the nature of mind, the mechanics of samsara, and how mindfulness-awareness practice (shamatha-vipashyana) allows us to cut through self-deception and experience true, unconditioned freedom.
Reading them together provides a rich dynamic: Trungpa Rinpoche presents the direct, penetrating blueprint of the teachings, while Pema Chödrön brings the compassionate, step-by-step application for navigating everyday life.
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Another Kind of Freedom by Pema Chodron
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Inspired by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche's book The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation
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Do you need help obtaining the books? Please reach out and let us know.
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Past events
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