Open Door Dharma - Living Earth

Heart to heart, face to face, using Zoom

Open Door via Zoom

Open Door Dharma Gatherings offer warm refuge, space to breathe and rest in a simple community of practice. Sharing practice cultivates stability, courage, and compassion. Open to all, free of charge. Click the zoom link above; the monthly schedule is below. We open with simple chanting (mics are muted), followed by meditation before opening into shared reflections. We draw from wisdom that threads through the world’s cultures and spiritual traditions, orienting toward advaita, bhakti/devotion, and Buddhist practices.

In January and February, our discussions include reflection on the Five Precepts of the Buddha as articulated by Thich Nhat Hanh, in For a Future To Be Possible, along with several commentaries.

January 2021 schedule, Pacific time: Mon., Wed., & Fri. 8:30–9:30 am ~ Practice: Quiet chanting, meditation, and brief reflection. Sundays 4:30–5:45 pm ~ Practice, opening to community check-ins & conversation.

Please NOTE: Seeing and hearing each other in real time is a treasure, and combined, they enhance communication. If you’re speaking during conversations, it is helpful to have both your camera & mic on. If you prefer to have your camera off, we appreciate if you have a photo on your screen of yourself or something dear to you as an avatar. Using the Zoom chat is also an option for those who prefer to have no visual representation. Sundays include time to check in and connect in community, supporting resilience and a sense of belonging. Regular practice in community (sangha, fellowship, or satsang) nurtures loving awareness and our ability to be present with whatever arises in our world.

All are welcome. Open Door on Zoom

The zoom room opens a few minutes before the scheduled time; stop in when you can. The softly structured format is inclusive and fluid. Request Open Door email-reminders here. These twice-monthly posts are simple Open Door updates, not a chat list. Email addresses are never shared, unless you choose to share your own address on the zoom chat window.

What is this path?

Fifty years ago, Neem Karoli Baba (Maharajji) drew Ram Dass and countless Indian and Western devotees to the profound yet simple path of devotion, wisdom, and service. These teachings continue to spread far and wide, opening hearts and enriching daily lives. Our eclectic tapestry of devotion and service, Buddhist wisdom, chanting and meditation includes accents and strands from a range of the world’s spiritual traditions. Maharajji offers a path of engaged spirituality, a way to be active in the world and remember who we really are. All backgrounds, traditions, and curiosity are welcome here. Sweet voices and creaking pipes all chant together, and longtime practitioners join friends new to meditation. Together we’re learning how rich the nonexclusive Western dharma centered on love and service can be.