Dharma Talk by Mark Nunberg April 2, 2006

Dharma Talk by Mark Nunberg

Renunciation: The Joy of Letting Go

Renunciation is a metaphor for the entire spiritual path. The attitude of renunciation arises from a deep understanding that all things change, that nothing can be held in any lasting way. Understanding this deeply we let go. Renunciation is ultimately not a burden, rather there is a lightness and joy when we learn to live in accordance with the way things are. Freely giving and receiving in life is a possibility whenever we understand that clinging is an inappropriate and unnecessary burden.

Mark Nunberg is Guiding Teacher at Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis. Mark began mindfulness practice in 1982 and has been teaching meditation since 1990. He and his wife, Wynn Fricke, founded Common Ground Meditation Center in 1993 for people interested in Buddhist mindfulness practice. Mark has studied with both Asian and Western teachers in several traditions including practicing as a monk for five months in Burma. His primary teachers have been Joseph Goldstein and the other Insight Meditation teachers who teach at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Massachusetts. Mark continues to be a devoted student of Buddhist practice, putting aside several months each year for intensive retreat practice.

This talk, like all events offered at the Center, is given on a dana
basis, ?dana? being the Pali word for generosity. Buddhist teachings
have been passed down over the centuries in the spirit of generosity, and the Northfield Buddhist Meditation Center tries to continue this
practice. We depend on donations for operation of the Center, and we hope participants will experience this generosity and respond in kind with financial support the Center as well as our teachers. At all events we have two donation baskets: one for the Center, and one for the teacher.