Please introduce yourself:
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I’m Joan Volkmann; I live in Urbana, IL and have been a long-time fan of Susan’s knowledge and ability to share the dharma in a down-to-earth way. I do not have a formal practice other than daily meditation so am looking forward to receiving some actual teachings that will inform my practice and ideally my life in general.
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Hi all! My name is Amy Burke and I am a Canadian currently living in Spain. I have worked in education my entire life and now find myself at a crossroads as I look for other ways to show up in the world. I have practiced meditation on and off for many years.
At the moment, these lyrics from Paul Simon’s Graceland keep running through my mind.
There is a girl in New York City
Who calls herself the human trampoline
And sometimes when I’m falling, flying
Or tumbling in turmoil I say
“Whoa, so this is what she means”With regards to my practice these days, I too feel like I’m falling, flying or tumbling in turmoil. But the next lyric says something about bouncing into Graceland. That would be nice. Bouncing into Grace Land.
Oh and for some reason, I can’t stop watching sports on TV.
I’m really looking forward to spending these 30 days with all of you. (Also a bit trepidatious.)
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Hi! I’m Suzanne from the upper peninsula of MI. Fallen away Shambhalian. I have done quite a bit of dharma shopping and happy to have landed here in the OHP. I have curated for myself an eclectic practice over the past many years when I have been without a sangha, not quite sure if it has helped or hindered my confusion to dawn as wisdom. In any case, it feels right to be with this group, and to simplify the practice.
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Hello precious songha! I am Jennifer (Jen) White of Pittsburgh, PA.
I have been in the OHP since late 2020, and took the refuge vow I believe in June of 2021. My refuge dharma name is Tepa Lhatso – The Divine Lake of the Teachings. For me, this name was given so that I will carry the aspiration that my mind and heart become like a pure, vast, and sacred lake that holds and perfectly reflects the profound teachings of the Buddha.
I retired from the corporate world in 2024 after the recent deaths of my son and husband. Since that time, I relocated my parents from Texas to Pennsylvania and have been carrying for them in their final years. My mother is going blind and deaf, and my father has stage 4 cancer. I have a daughter who is currently working on her masters at the University of Texas at Austin, and will hopefully be relocating to Pittsburgh with her partner in 2027 to begin work on her doctorate. My Buddhist practice has been the foundation to helping me navigate very difficult events and the day to day challenges that I have experienced over the past years, and am eternally grateful for the OHP and Susan.
I have a formal practice but decided to participate in the 30-Days program to deepen my focus and understanding of my lineage, and be in the spaces of our wonderful teachers, Susan and Crystal. I look forward to practicing with you all each week.
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Hello friends on the 30-days of Dharma journey!
I am Jojo Brody, a mixed media artist(jewelry, painting, collage) living in Portland Oregon. I’m a cat mom, a dancer, gardener, and mama bear to 3 adult humans, not listed in order of importance.
I am so happy to be here with you, deepening my meditation practice (which is feeling much stronger since joining OHP) and receiving daily insights and clarifications on the many intricate aspects of Dharma, being a householder Buddhist and magic making in my everyday life. May my practice be of service in some way to some others, fingers crossed.
I have been with OHP for almost a year and am very grateful to have been able to attend my first retreat in August at Drala Mountain with Susan and Michael Carroll. I am in an OHP circle, an OHP book club that doesn’t seem to want to disband at the end of each book, and I join in on other OHP offerings regularly. These many layers of participation on the Dharma path within a wonderful sangha and with trusted spiritual teacher/friends guiding us have enhanced my sense of well-being and connectedness even during these whackadilly times we live in! Thank you all for being here.
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Greetings all! I am loving all the the faces and stories that are in this beautiful group.my name is Sarvani and I currently reside in Northwestern Michigan. I have followed along with Susan’s meditations for a while now and felt called to dive deeper here to be a part of the sangha. Community feels like the third leg of the stool that is missing for me. A solo practice can only take me so far. The ability to be with others is very joy-full for me.
I am thankful to be here and look forward to getting to know everyone better. I have been a longtime yogini and this heart of mine breaks apart in sorrow and is also opened with curiosity and gratitude on a daily basis.
I attended an Herbal Festival yesterday… a day long event so was unable to meet live. I work with plants and herbs. Growing and tending and making and sharing.
I hope to find the recording for yesterdays teaching here soon.
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Hello Fellow Warriors!
My Buddhist/Meditation journey: I began practicing in 2014 in the Shambhala tradition, and received ordination as a Buddhist Minister there in 2024. My root teacher is Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, a teacher in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. I am also a student of Soto Zen and Roshi Joan Halifax through my formal Buddhist chaplaincy education with The Upaya Zen Center. So….I really love all the schools (and Halloween chocolate!)
For the past few years I have been undergoing my clinical training as a chaplain in Hospice hospitals, trauma centers, and residential living communities in Costa Rica, Oregon, Seattle, NYC and LA.
In August I arrived in East LA for a unit at the Children’s Hospital of LA, and I hit a wall. Like, total burnout from all of the moving, the education, the trauma work, and the 80 hours a week between my chaplaincy work and my full time remote paying gig in the financial markets. Apparently I am not Superman (I don’t know why the lack of a cape and a giant S on my chest were not evidence enough for me already…I guess I’m stubborn)!
In January of this year, when that unit ended, I limped over to Venice Beach planning to stop, take everything off of my plate except my financial work, and to create open ended space and time to reflect on and process all I had been through. To rest and let my soul catch up as they say. To rest in stillness, silence & simplicity.
Three weeks later my father died and I took over navigating life for my ailing mother back in NY. In August, my mother died.
Wowza! What a journey it has been.
I had committed to keeping my calendar empty during this time, but when this opportunity arose for this particular program, it felt like a very supportive and nourishing component to my current process.
So…here you find me!
Thanks for reading this.
Warmly,
Billy
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