On behalf of the Kalyānamitta Dharma Collective, I’ll be helping to host this rare opportunity to spend time with Joseph Goldstein. I hope you can join us to benefit the KDC so they can host our six-week retreat in Aotearoa / New Zealand next year. Date: 14th June 2026, 10am – 12:30pm NZT (online)Teacher: JosephContinueContinue reading “Online benefit with Joseph Goldstein”
Author Archives: Jill Shepherd
NEW five-week online study and practice course
Cultivating resilience in challenging times: Learning from the “heavenly messengers” This five-week online course offers an opportunity to develop and strengthen our inner resources of kindness, compassion, calm and clarity, through an exploration of what are traditionally known as “the four heavenly messengers.” In Buddhist teaching, these are four archetypes that symbolise the existential challengesContinueContinue reading “NEW five-week online study and practice course”
NEW: planned six-week retreat in Aotearoa / New Zealand
Dates: 3 April – 22 May 2027Teachers: Jill Shepherd and Willa Thāniyā Reid, with Elizabeth Day Kalyāna: Cultivating the Beautiful in the Spiritual Life The Buddha has pointed out the way:beautiful in the beginning, beautiful in the middle,and beautiful in the end. Supported by spiritual friendship and seclusion, this six-week retreat offers the ideal conditionsContinueContinue reading “NEW: planned six-week retreat in Aotearoa / New Zealand”
Inhumanity and humanity
Man’s inhumanity to man,Makes countless thousands mourn. Robert Burns Following the recent extreme violence in Israel, perhaps like many of you I’ve felt pretty numb, struggling to make sense of the senseless. This discomfort is trivial compared to the suffering of those who are directly affected, and words are utterly inadequate in response to overwhelmingContinueContinue reading “Inhumanity and humanity”
The Union of Energy and Wisdom
A new article by Jill, just released in Buddhadharma online https://www.lionsroar.com/the-union-of-energy-and-wisdom/
Dharma as confrontation and consolation – Part 2: Consolation
A few practices that might help mitigate sorrow and despair flower offerings at Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya, India Mettā / kindness and rest A short talk exploring mettā: how it’s supported by our capacity to rest, and is itself a restful quality In the language of the suttas, the Buddha’s discourses, many of the words thatContinueContinue reading “Dharma as confrontation and consolation – Part 2: Consolation”
Dharma as confrontation and consolation – Part 1: Confrontation
A few perspectives on confronting the reality of the climate crisis. Blue Mountains backburn – photograph by John Orme US dharma teacher James Baraz As a Dharma teacher who is very concerned about climate, I have been aware for some time that practitioners are often resistant to hearing Dharma talks on this subject. I haveContinueContinue reading “Dharma as confrontation and consolation – Part 1: Confrontation”
Glimmers of Good News p2
In relation to the climate crisis … A few resources and trainings that might help us to stay motivated in the face of so much intensely difficult news. Despairing about the Climate Crisis? Read This A conversation with scientist Susanne Moser about climate communication, the benefits of functional denial, and the varied flavors of hope.ContinueContinue reading “Glimmers of Good News p2”
Glimmers of Good News p1
In relation to social justice, some recent shifts in the media, in the UK … Cotton Capital A special series by the Guardian newspaper on how slavery changed the Guardian, Britain and the world. It focuses on Manchester, the city where the Guardian was established, because of its connection to transatlantic slavery through the cottonContinueContinue reading “Glimmers of Good News p1”
Some information and support for Ukraine
Lovingkindness In Troubled Times Metta Meditation & Community Gathering organised by IMS At times it seems like goodness may be getting harder and harder to find. In this moment, all around the globe—from Ukraine to Ethiopia, Afghanistan to Myanmar, as well as in the fractured United States—the prevalent expressions of grasping, hatred, and delusion canContinueContinue reading “Some information and support for Ukraine”
Some Climate Change Actions and Trainings
ONLINE EcoSattva Training – Series 3: An Online Course for Aspiring EcoSattvas In the backdrop of a pandemic and state actors actively hostile to science, ecological breakdown looms. The potential for overwhelm is real. While we take steps to demand racial justice, protect voting rights, or defend ecosystems, we can also invest in our innerContinueContinue reading “Some Climate Change Actions and Trainings”
Some bhikkhuni news from around the world
Sri Lanka Bhikkhuni Kusuma passes away 28 August 2021 The internationally acclaimed Buddhist monastic, scholar, and vocal advocate for full female monastic ordination Venerable Dr. Bhikkhuni Kusuma Devendra died of Covid complications late on Saturday in Sri Lanka. She was 92 years old. photo from Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women Some personal reflections on meeting BhikkhuniContinueContinue reading “Some bhikkhuni news from around the world”
Exploring the Heart of Freedom
Exploring the Heart of Freedom is a sixteen-month program designed to cultivate our understanding of the core teachings of the Buddha, deepen our meditation practice, and help us to embody the dharma in spiritual friendship and community. Jointly offered by IMS and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies (BCBS), the program consists of five residential retreats in Barre, MA, whichContinueContinue reading “Exploring the Heart of Freedom”
A few resources for resilience
Feeling stretched? As the bad news continues and intensifies in various parts of the world, I’ve started collecting news articles, books and courses to turn to when I need some inspiration. Below are just a few suggestions – let me know if you have any favourites of your own! Chipmunk between fenceposts, Barre, Massachusetts FindingContinueContinue reading “A few resources for resilience”
A Few More Anti-Racism Resources
United States White and Awakening Together An online course run by Spirit Rock starting August 2 Description:This is a time in America when white people’s awareness of the terrible impact of racial injustice has increased dramatically in the context of the pandemic and following the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. HowContinueContinue reading “A Few More Anti-Racism Resources”
Can you hear these voices?
Can you listen as if it was your sister speaking? Your grandson? Your niece? Your father? Your aunt? Kimberley Jones, US Black Lives Matter Activist https://youtu.be/E46uaDCcT9Y In the Buddha’s teaching, all beings have been our mothers and fathers at some point in the past … Trevor Noah, South African comedian https://youtu.be/v4amCfVbA_c Whether or not weContinueContinue reading “Can you hear these voices?”
The Police Killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis
Wherever you are in the world, you may have seen the recent video from 26 May of police officers standing over an unarmed black man lying on the ground. One of those police officers kneels on the neck of the black man, George Floyd, for at least nine minutes, preventing him from breathing. He diesContinueContinue reading “The Police Killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis”
Karuna-virus
In the Buddha’s teachings, karuna is a Pali word that means compassion. There’s a lot going on around the world right now, and due to coronavirus, many people are navigating intense suffering on multiple levels simultaneously: The suffering of health challenges, food insecurity, financial distress, longer-term economic uncertainty, separation from friends and family – orContinueContinue reading “Karuna-virus”
Continuing compassion
[Forest and wildlife officer Lachlan Clarke checks a koala for injuries – photo courtesy of the Guardian] In my last newsletter and last post here, I’ve been exploring compassion as a resource to navigate all the various global challenges happening right now. Just today there was a moving photo essay about all the efforts thatContinueContinue reading “Continuing compassion”
Compassion for all beings affected by the Australian bushfires
Season’s greetings from Waipu, New Zealand I’m unexpectedly having to spend more time here in New Zealand, after my nine-day retreat outside of Sydney over New Year was just cancelled due to the bushfires in Australia. The Blue Mountains has been a kind of second home to me, so I’ve been staying in contact withContinueContinue reading “Compassion for all beings affected by the Australian bushfires”