In this episode, Spiritual Director John Bruna talks about the path of a bodhisattva as the six perfections of generosity, ethics, patience, joyous effort, concentration, and wisdom. He also translates these perfections into a variety of different practices that can meet us where we are right now regardless of our scope of motivation within the Buddhadharma. This episode was recorded on August 14th, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, ...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna offers an in-depth perspective of the Buddhist notion of taking refuge. He describes how we are taking refuge in the truth and the supportive structures that allow us to nurture a path of increasing clarity and living in accordance with "the way things are". This episode was recorded on July 31st, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the Way of Compassion Dharma center's primary objective i...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna digs into the heart of the Buddha’s teachings on the removal of all suffering. He intertwines commentary on Buddha Nature and the Bodhisattva path while showing us steps along the way for removing stress, worry, and fear from our lives. He finishes this empowering talk by offering a simple question we can ask ourselves to make healthy decisions during difficult situations. This episode was recorded on July 24th, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compass...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna goes to the very heart of awakening by giving an in-depth discussion on root and auxiliary mental afflictions. He describes how from the root afflictions of misperception, anger, and attachment arises a variety of afflicted mental states that can lead to unhealthy behaviors. John finishes the talk with pithy advice on virtuous actions and three motivations that will continue to nurture our paths to awakening. This episode was recorded on July 17t...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna offers a clarifying discussion about the three marks of existence. He describes practical ways to engage with these three realities that will lead to less suffering in our lives. John also answers a variety of questions about meditation practice and encourages some different daily practices that can help further liberate our minds. This episode was recorded on July 10th, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carb...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna discusses various forms of arrogance and shows how these mental factors are harmful to ourselves and others. He also offers a perspective about the subtle differences of self-importance versus self-value which gives clarity on how we can feel good about our achievements and virtues we are cultivating without needing to exaggerate or be boastful. This episode was recorded on July 3rd, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Lo...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna gives an in-depth teaching on the root affliction of anger. He describes the Buddhist view of anger as a very destructive mental state for us, and how it also leads to harmful behaviors toward others. John finishes this session by encouraging us all to practice patience which is one of the direct and most powerful antidotes to anger. This episode was recorded on June 26th, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Ca...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna gives a very helpful teaching to clarify the differences and grey areas of aspiration versus attachment. He describes scenarios that may be a subtle form of attachment that actually serve as a temporary motivator for our journey to Enlightenment. This teaching goes right to the heart of one of the common misperceptions that, in the Buddhist view, desire is the root of suffering. This episode was recorded on June 19th, 2024.Welcome to the Way of C...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna continues his commentary on the text "Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. John gives clarity on how to identify mental afflictions and how specifically misperception, anger, and attachment impact our experience. This episode was recorded on June 12th, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the Way of Compassion Dharma center's pri...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna gives a commentary on the true origins of dukkha or dissatisfaction. John talks about how our habits, driven by misperception, can be quite sneaky in that they may seem to bring happiness, when in reality they are the very causes of our suffering. This episode was recorded on June 5th, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the Way of Compassion Dharma center's primary objective is to provide...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna gives a teaching on the four attributes of the Third Noble Truth: true cessation. By using this model of understanding, John clarifies the meaning of Nirvana as complete freedom from all mental afflictions rather than temporary states of bliss and non-conceptuality achieved by concentration practices. This episode was recorded on May 29th, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the Way of Com...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna gives a teaching on the 4 attributes of the Second Noble Truth, as presented in the text “Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature,'' by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. John discusses the various ways ignorance, craving and karma create suffering in our lives. He emphasizes the important point that these conditions are temporary and that we have the ability to change our situation by eliminating the causes for suffering and ...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna continues teaching on the 16 attributes of the Four Noble Truths, as presented in the text “Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature,'' by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. John summarizes the attributes of true dukkha by explaining how we misperceive ourselves, things and events. He offers everyday examples of using ethics, concentration and wisdom to unravel these misperceptions and engage more realistically in our experienc...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna continues teaching on the 16 attributes of the Four Noble Truths, as presented in the Text “Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. This episode focuses on the second attribute of the First Noble Truth; the unsatisfactoriness of conditioned existence. John makes important distinctions between temporary pleasures and inner lasting happiness, so that we can relate to the conditions of this l...

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna begins teaching on the 16 attributes of the Four Noble Truths, as presented in the Text “Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. He discusses the truth of impermanence and explains how understanding and accepting impermanence can relieve much suffering in our lives. This episode was recorded on April 24th, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, ...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna speaks on 4 different methods of cessation as presented in the text “Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. Additionally, John talks about the 5 hindrances and how they obstruct our progress on the path to awakening. This episode was recorded on April 10th, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the Way of Compassion Dharma cen...

In this session, The Way of Compassion Dharma Center spiritual director John Bruna, continues his commentary on the text "Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature" with a discussion on the Buddhist view of Duhkha which is translated as suffering. He offers practical advice on engaging with a path that leads to the removal of this suffering by first helping us identify our misperceptions of where suffering actually comes from. This episode was recorded on April 3rd, 2024.Welcome to the Way of Compa...

In this session, spiritual director John Bruna takes us deeper into the Buddhist truth of Duhkha or suffering, and the true causes of suffering that all sentient beings experience. He speaks about our fundamental misperception that leads to our Attachment and aversion. John also gives needed clarity around the term Attachment as it is used in Buddhism versus modern psychology. This episode was recorded on March 27th, 2024. Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in...

In this session, the spiritual director of the Way of Compassion Dharma Center, John Bruna, goes right to the heart of the Buddha's first teaching on the four truths. John gives commentary and a practical understanding of these truths and illustrates how the Buddha's teachings are designed to free us from the fundamental misperception of ourselves and others that will awaken us to our Buddha Nature, which is free from suffering.  This episode was recorded on March 20th, 2024. Welcome to the...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna begins his commentary on a new text that was written as a collaborative effort by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. John offers helpful ways to understand the Buddhist view on the Self by investigating these two questions: Does the Self exist, and is there a beginning to the Self? This episode was recorded on March 6th, 2024.  Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna gives clear guidance on how to engage with the Buddhist teachings on karma, or actions and their consequences, in healthy and practical ways. He offers ways to avoid obvious pitfalls by simplifying the laws of karma. This episode was recorded on February 28th, 2024.  Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the Way of Compassion Dharma center's primary objective is to provide programs of Buddhist...

In this episode, John gives clear guidance on how to engage with the Buddhist teachings on Karma. He specifically talks about 2 characteristics of Karma, giving guidance on how we need to plant the seeds of wholesome actions to experience their results and how we can mitigate previous unwholesome actions by applying the 4 opponent powers of purification. This episode was recorded on February 21st, 2024.  Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado,...

In this session, John Bruna unpacks the commentary by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron on the characteristics of Karma. John takes time to clarify how karma is definite and expandable. He also talks about how we will not experience the effect of an action that we have not done and how karma that is created will have a result. This episode was recorded on February 14th, 2024.  Welcome to the Way of Compassion Dharma Center Podcast. Located in Carbondale, Colorado, the...

In this episode, spiritual director John Bruna continues his commentary on the teachings of the law of karma which are presented in the book "Foundations of Buddhist Practice" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Venerable Thubten Chodron. John gives a comprehensive explanation of what role our actions play in the creation of karma, and he pays particular attention to the importance of intention as the most important facet of karmic results. This episode was recorded on January 31st,...