Sunday Open Meditation: The Nalandabodhi Path of Mindful Activity and Meditation in Daily Life with Mitra Mark Power

As a follow up to Mitra Mark’s Sunday dharma talk on February 15th, Nalandabodhi Seattle is happy to be able to share this pre-recorded talk on the subject of Nalandabodhi’s Path of Mindful Activity.

Before his parinirvana, the Buddha taught Three Trainings, Śīla (ethics), Samādhi (concentration), and Prajñā (wisdom). The Three Paths of Nalandabodhi are based on the Threefold Training of the Buddha. Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche has laid out progressive curricula for the Path of Meditation (samādhi) and the Path of Study (prajñā), but the Path of Mindful Activity is perhaps the most fundamental of the paths, practiced every day in all activities.

We’ll view a video recording of Mitra Dean Mark Power introducing Mindful Activity, which can be described as “Awareness in Motion,” followed by a facilitated discussion.

Mindful Activity is the skillful integration of awareness in our daily activities, allowing us to live more intentional lives. Awareness is key to knowing both when we’re acting skillfully and when we’re falling back into unhelpful habits. Awareness-in-motion is the very heart of service and volunteering—our wish to do something good for ourselves, others, our community, and for our world.

If anyone would like to participate in volunteer activities at Nalanda West, please join us. Our discussion will be followed by a community potluck  brunch and a volunteer orientation.

Schedule

10:00–10:45a Open Meditation
10:45–11:30a Pre-recorded Talk by Mitra Dean Mark Power
11:30–12:00p Facilitated Discussion
12:00p  Community Potluck Lunch (optional)

1:00-2:00 p   Volunteer Orientation (optional)

The purpose of the volunteer orientation gathering is so that people can get to know each other and find out about how things work at Nalanda West and the various volunteer roles.

Over the past few weeks, people have signed up to be on one of our Sunday Volunteer teams: Downstairs, Upstairs or VIP support. We’ll divide into teams at the orientation and be given a general introduction to the area and roles of each team. It’s not required that you be signed up with a team to join the orientation. Please just come anyway and be part of creating a vibrant and friendly sangha.

Registration

Nalandabodhi Seattle offers dharma teachings at no cost, but please consider making a donation if you are able.

Format

Hybrid–Onsite at Nalanda West and online via zoom.

Registration Details

Please register below and look for an auto-email response.

Please practice generosity when registering so that Nalandabodhi Seattle can continue to offer precious teachings like these to all who are interested in the dharma.

Questions?

Please contact seattle@nalandabodhi.org if you would like to volunteer to support this event or have any questions.

If you would like to volunteer to help support this Sunday or Sunday Open Meditation in general, please fill out this Sunday volunteering form. If you would like to contribute to the Sunday potluck, please fill out this Sunday Potluck form.

Teacher

Mitra Mark has been a student of the Dharma for several decades and has studied with Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche since the early 1990s. Over the years, Mark served in a variety of leadership and service roles within Nalandabodhi. In 2005, he was appointed as a teacher (Mitra) and made a member of the Mitra Council where his focus is the Path of Mindful Activity— the intersection of dharma and daily life. Currently, Mark serves as dean of the Mitra Council.

Mark worked for many years as a chaplain and palliative care consultant in healthcare settings. In 2014, he broadened his focus to include life-transition and executive coaching. Mark is a partner in Awareness Enabled Life Positioning, a professional development company in China whose programs leverage experiential awareness, kindness, and creativity as key strengths of the business leader.

Mark, who resided in Seattle for 15 years, moved to New York in 2014, where he now lives in the Hudson Valley town of Red Hook with his wife Marion. They have two kind and creative adult daughters, a very hip son-in-law, and a much doted on granddaughter and grandson!

Our Mitra Dean

Mitra Mark Power is currently serving as the Mitra Dean of Nalandabodhi, a role that rotates among our Mitras. The Dean leads the Mitra Council, which guides Nalandabodhi’s Three Paths and works closely with Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Together, they help ensure that Rinpoche’s vision for a genuine and relevant presentation of the Buddhadharma is upheld in the 21st century and passed on for centuries to come.

The “Mitra” title

In 2005, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche empowered a group of his long-time students to be senior teachers of Nalandabodhi. He gave each of them the title Mitra, which is drawn from the Sanskrit term Kalyanamitra, “spiritual friend.” The Mitras guide Nalandabodhi’s three paths of Study, Meditation, and Mindful Activity and teach throughout the world.