The Big Three: Money, Sex, and Intoxicants in Everyday Life (online)

Let’s be real – money, sex, and intoxicants are everywhere. Whether we like it or not, they’re part of life. At some point, most of us try to manage them, or we avoid them, give into them, or pretend we’ve got them under control—and usually, we’re not talking openly about it, especially not in polite circles. But what if, instead of sidestepping these “big three,” we actually let them in, just like we bear witness to everything else in life?

In this four-week practice group, we’ll step into how these three areas show up and, more importantly, how we can actively work with them as part of our spiritual path. This isn’t therapy or a recovery group, and its not about judging or fixing. It’s about recognizing these powerful forces for what they are through the lens of the Dharma and learning how to navigate them with more skill. Through mindful reflection, honest conversations, and some Dharma wisdom, we’ll explore how these “unmentionables” shape our lives and how we might transform them in a way that’s realistic, practical, and even freeing. No fluff, no “perfect Zen master” vibes. Just real talk, real practice, and discovering healing in parts of life we don’t usually bring into our practice spaces.

What We’ll Do

1. Strengthen Awareness: Take an honest look at both cultural and personal relationships with money, sex, and intoxicants—seeing things as they are, without sugarcoating.
2. Foster Compassion: Start softening the edges of how to approach these often hidden parts of life, for yourself and for others, without putting ourselves or others down, but with understanding, honesty, and care.
3. Practice Mindfulness: Learn to face whatever comes up—whether it’s financial stress or compulsive consuming, overpowering desires, or habits that no longer serve you—with awareness and presence.
4. Encourage Integration: Take these insights into your life and begin working with them in real, practical ways.

Dates

Start: Sunday February 2, 2025, 12 -3pm Eastern Time
Tuesdays February 4, 11, 18, 2025, 7-8:30pm Eastern Time
End: Sunday February 23, 2025, 12 -3pm Eastern Time

Facilitator

Brian Joshin Byrnes is the guiding teacher of Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community. He brings real-life experience, warmth, and a down-to-earth style to the practice, making it accessible to people who, like him, live with a lot of questions and are searching for insight and growth in the ordinary areas of our lives.

Dana Practice: 

We make a reciprocity request of $108-216 for this month-long practice group. Within this requested sliding scale, you may determine your own aspirational donation commitment. No one will be excluded for inability to offer something. This is not tuition; it is how we support the community and provide for others who cannot afford its offerings, as well as cover the costs of our social action programs, like Gather.

Register:

To register for this program click here