Course Description

Money, sex, and intoxicants are everywhere. Whether we like it or not, they’re part of life, culture, and almost everything we see, take in, and participate in. At points in life, most of us spend a lot of time trying to manage them, avoid them, or pretend we’ve got them under control—and usually, we’re not talking about it with others, and even more rarely in Zen circles. Instead of sidestepping these “big three,” we are going to bear witness to our interesting, potent, and multidimensional relationships with these three inner and outer forces.

In this four-week practice group, we’ll just begin scratch into how these three areas show up and,
more importantly, how we can actively work with them as parts of our spiritual path. This isn’t
about judging or cleaning up the mess—it’s about seeing these powerful forces for what they are
and learning how to work with them more skillfully as part of our own process of growing in
wisdom, care, and compassion. Through mindful reflection, honest conversations, and drawing
from Dharma wisdom, we’ll explore how these otherwise “unmentionables” influence our lives
and how we can engage with them in a way that’s real, practical, and even liberating.

Our Commitment To Each Other

It’s important for each of us to trust our own instincts about what to share, when to share it,
and with whom. Participation in conversations is always an invitation, never a requirement,
and no one is expected to disclose anything that feels uncomfortable. Our meetings will not
be recorded, and we ask all group members to commit to maintaining confidentiality.
Together, we aim to create a respectful and supportive space where we can safely explore
these sensitive topics with dignity.

Group Objectives

1. Cultivate Awareness: Develop mindful attention to personal and societal views on money, sex,
and intoxicants.
2. Foster Compassion: Deepen empathy and understanding toward oneself and others in relation
to these topics.
3. Practice Mindfulness: Use Zen practices to align actions with core values and integrity.
4. Encourage Integration: Offer tools and insights to carry forward into everyday life, fostering
ongoing transformation.