"If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?" – Dogen Zenji
Carla offers meditation instruction, dharma talks and classes in a variety of locations. For the schedule for Carla's weekly group in Felton go to Monday Night Meditation.
CLASSES
SPECIAL MEDITATION GROUP
MEDITATIONS OF NATURAL WISDOM AND COMPASSION Thursday, February 2, 7:00 - 8:30 PM (Please note new time!) Santa Cruz Shambhala Center 920 41st Avenue, Capitola
This practice combines Tibetan Buddhist open awareness meditation with a
simple visualization practice to awaken compassion. The evening will
include a short talk, guided instruction, and discussion. This is a monthly meditation group to continue these practices. Carla
Brennan is an authorized teacher of Natural Wisdom and Compassion
meditation with the Foundation for Active Compassion. By donation. No pre-registration necessary.
DIRECTIONS: Santa Cruz Shambhala, 920 41st Ave., Santa
Cruz/Capitola. Coming from Highway One, continue down 41st Ave. past
Capitola Ave. When you see Betty's Burgers on the left, take the next
left onto Bain Ave. Immediately on your right is a small parking lot.
Turn and park there - if full, park on Bain. The door to the new
Shambhala Center opens directly onto the parking lot. It is to the left
of Sylvia Skefich's office. If you enter 920 from 41st Ave side, go down
meandering hallway to Suite F. From the Foundation for Active Compassion: “In these workshops and retreats, guided meditations are adapted from the natural ease tradition of Tibet (dzogchen) to help participants deepen their experience of liberating wisdom and loving compassion—the essence of the spirit of enlightenment (bodhicitta). To receive and extend loving compassion helps the mind relax into its most natural state—the liberating wisdom of simplicity, openness, and presence beyond self-clinging. By resting in its natural state, the mind can further unleash its innate capacity of loving compassion. As this synergy of love and wisdom unfolds, we become more fully present to others—communing with them in the depth of their being instead of reacting to them from habitual judgments. When this unity of love and wisdom is embodied in our daily lives, through our relationships, service and action, it becomes the most powerful force to heal our world and to remake it into a place of mutual reverence, care and joy. The ancient bodhisattva path of enlightenment comes newly alive in the particulars of our lives. In this way, we learn to bless the world as bodhisattvas before us have done. Included are teachings and guided meditations for deepening the wisdom in the nature of mind that cuts through karmic obscurations, uncovering the spirit of enlightenment in its absolute and relative aspects, taking the six perfections into the particulars of ordinary life, exploring how practices of offering, purification, and communion reveal connections between reverence, liberating wisdom and compassion.”
DHARMA MOVIE NIGHT
DHARMA MOVIE NIGHT! FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 6:45 - 9:30 PM MOVIE: “GROUNDHOG DAY” The Satellite 6265 Highway 9, Felton, CA Come join the fun of watching a clever comedy that also has spiritual lessons with sangha friends!
“Groundhog Day has been considered a tale of self-improvement which emphasizes the need to look inside oneself and realize that the only satisfaction in life comes from turning outward and concerning oneself with others rather than concentrating solely on one's own wants and desires. The phrase also has become a shorthand illustration for the concept of spiritual transcendence. As such, the film has become a favorite of Buddhists because they see its themes of selflessness and rebirth as a reflection of their own spiritual messages. It has also, in the Catholic tradition, been seen as a representation of Purgatory. It has even been dubbed by some religious leaders as the ‘most spiritual film of our time.’”
Why Dharma Movie Night? Great film can offer observations, insights and good story-telling about human life. Tibetan Lama and filmmaker Khyentse Norbu ("The Cup", "Travelers and Magicians") believes film is an ideal vehicle for transmitting Buddhist wisdom with freshness in the 21st century: "Buddhism has the tradition of using all kinds of mediums: statues, paintings, monasteries. And although it's difficult for people to accept, I see film as a modern-day tanka."
SPECIAL DHARMA MOVIE NIGHT! “HAPPY” World Happy Day Saturday, Feb. 11, 7 PM Insight Retreat Center 1906 Glen Canyon Rd Santa Cruz
RSVP if attending: Contact Betsy Blessing at 831-566-3960, gardenblessings@gmail.com (you can still come if deciding last minute) CARPOOL: IRC parking is limited. Please arrange carpooling with your friends. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to help with parking, set-up and clean-up. To volunteer: Contact Betsy Blessing at 831-566-3960. DANA BASED: No admission fee.
Join Insight Meditation teacher Carla Brennan and others from Bloom of the Present Sangha for an evening investigating happiness by watching the 2011 film, “Happy”. There will be a short introduction to the film and a discussion afterward. Popcorn and tea will be available. Please feel free to bring finger food to share.
The film “Happy” combines cutting-edge science from the new field of “positive psychology” with real-life stories of people from around the world whose lives illustrate these findings. We see the story of a beautiful woman named Melissa Moody, a mother of three who had a “perfect life” until the day she was run over by a truck. Disabled for nine years and disfigured for life, amazingly she is happier now than before her accident. Manoj Singh, a rickshaw puller from the slums of Kolkata, India who lives in a hut made of plastic bags with his family, is found to be as happy as the average American. Through these and other stories HAPPY leads us toward a deeper understanding of how we can all live more fulfilling, healthy and happy lives.
WORLD HAPPY DAY, February 11, inspires action for increasing happiness in our own lives and in the world. A growing body of research shows that happy people are healthier and live longer. They are more likely to care for the environment and less likely to commit crimes or go to war. Happy people help others more often... and are more likely to find creative solutions. Increasing happiness benefits us as individuals and communities in infinite ways and is a goal worth sharing.
DHARMA TALK SERIES "Essential Self-Compassion" February 9, 16, 23 Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:30 PM Vipassana Santa Cruz (Insight Santa Cruz) 1010 Fair Avenue Santa Cruz, CA
MEDITATION AND DHARMA TALK With Carla Brennan 10:15 - 11:15 AM YogaSource Los Gatos 16185 Los Gatos Blvd Los Gatos, CA 95032
SPECIAL EVENTS
DHARMA TALKS ONLINE
DHARMA TALKS ONLINE We are in the process of creating a page on this website to list Carla's audio talks. It is not ready yet. You can go to the links below to listen to Dharma Talks by Carla:
Insight Meditation Center of Redwood city (click here)
MEDITATIONS OF
NATURAL WISDOM AND COMPASSION 
DHARMA MOVIE NIGHT!
SPECIAL