Notes on the November Meeting

The meeting started with a teaching (Chapter 5) about how anger cuts one off from positive thinking and helpful, healthy behavior. We had personal anecdotes and political commentary on just this process from everyone. The conversation progressed through complaints, to philosophical perspectives that are at the root of emotional extremes, through Buddhist perspectives on the benefits of mindfulness of our tendency to demonize a "perceived enemy" in order to gain a feeling of efficacy. We talked about ways in which we can be Buddhist in a non-Buddhist work environment. In addition we discussed the need to start with one's self, and letting go of grasping after outcomes or we tend to find ourselves being the very thing we are working to avoid. In other words believing that we are some variation on "God." Impermanence was noted on several occasions.

To all who attended, please feel free to email me with your own notes from the gathering or add to what Bob recorded in the comments section.
Details on December's meeting TBA. Watch this space.