u/Numerous-Actuator95

There are some things I wish Poilievre would push harder on, but ultimately I appreciate that he has refused to take the Party the same way that Doug Ford has taken the Ontario PCs. Just because the boomers and sub-urban soccer moms don’t like Poilievre’s image doesn’t mean he should just over and embrace being Liberal Lite. Having the word “conservative” in your name means nothing if you’re not fighting to conserve anything.

I’m asking because so far in my city, I have come across only one (Gelug) temple that has a publicly listed structured curriculum for newcomers. The other temples seem to have weekly events which are open to the public but don’t really seem catered to someone with minimal exposure to Buddhism, let alone Vajrayana. Are there events and classes that are not publicly listed that are intended to catechize newcomers to the practice like myself?

Who am I?

As per the title , a 31 year old man. East European by descent, full-time hospital and event security guard by profession (you may have seen me doing security at OssFest most recently). Possible future university student and graduate. Above all else - a quiet introvert.

What am I looking for?

It’s not easy being a quiet introvert in this town. I do have friends, but not necessarily a group of people I can just call upon to attend different events taking place in the city with me. If you too identify as a quiet introvert - then I would cordially invite you to connect with me so we can form friendships and have meaningful experiences together.

If so, where can I find them?

We all know how that there can be no meditative stability without pançasīla as the foundation. How were you able to make sure that your partner was onboard with the prohibition on killing, lying, stealing, sex outside of committed relationships and substance use?

So I used to work event security at a patio bar before I was told by upper management that I was not a good fit for their business and now I’m in training to do tactical security at a hospital in Toronto. I will be equipped with handcuffs, but no baton as per site policy. This is Canada, so pepper spray is off-limits unless I’m police. How screwed am I?

First off, I live in Toronto, Canada. I received direct introduction into the Dzogchen tradition by a teacher who mainly teaches online in 2024. As a result, most of the activities of that community take
place online. I love my teacher, but I can’t say I love the fact that I would have to be prepared to travel great distances to connect with fellow sangha members in-person. As a result, I’ve decided to look into in-person Zen offerings nearby, as the style of Dzogchen meditation that I practice is most similar to the Zen-style of just sitting or open awareness. One teacher of a place which I contacted made it very clear that he felt like his sangha would be better off not having me in it, because at best I would be coming there to just sit without fully committing to the communal life of said community. Considering that I’ve already checked out the Toronto Zen Centre as well as a local Korean Zen temple and did not feel at home in either, I’m wondering if it makes sense for me to continue trying to find a place in a Zen community?

I personally have been blessed with a highly skillful teacher, however since he lives quite some distance away from me, our interactions are entirely online. I have met a few people who practice in the same style as I do in-person, but that number is very small and most members of my sangha are scattered across North America and Europe. Due to the lack of in-person community, I am hoping to find a Zen sangha with whom I can sit with in-person, as I find that trekcho is at least outwardly quite similar to the Zen practice of "just sitting". How about yourselves?

As a former Theravadan, my ambition was to liberate myself from suffering by entering the stream. There are also countless esoteric practices from just about every religious tradition under the sun. Not asking anyone to try and convert me per se, but I am wondering how people got to the place where they were like “Aha, this is the way!”

I work as event security at an upscale patio bar where several fights have erupted recently. I have also been tasked with escorting several intoxicated patrons off the premises. For my own safety as well as that of my team, the patio bar staff and the patrons that go there, I feel obligated to learn how to hold my own in a fight. I have recently began attending Krav Maga and Muay Thai classes (the Muay Thai classes incorporate sparring into the curriculum). Is this enough? What are some other strategies or resources that have worked for people?

Started this journey in 2024 knowing next to nothing by receiving direct introduction into Dzogchen, through someone who had once been a student of Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche and his Dzogchen Community. I’ve since met a few other Dzogchen teachers like Lama Lena and Keith Dowman. Have also received both in-person and online teachings from several other Vajrayana teachers. I began heavily doubting the instructions of my root teacher for no good reason than the fact that some other people whom I was vaguely aware of were teaching things differently. Now I feel like I’ve lost interest in all Dharma practice. What’s the best way to deal with burnout?

Looking to meet with people who are currently actively training in a martial arts discipline be it Muay Thai, Karate, Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Tae Kwan Do, Krav Maga, wrestling or even boxing. I’ve been training on and off for several years and have recently taken the leap of signing up to a gym after an extended stretch of sedentary living. It’s important for me to have a community of people to help keep me accountable as I focus on committing to practice. Let me know if you’re interested in forming a Toronto Martial Arts WhatsApp group or something.

I just started at a gym that offers both Krav Maga and Muay Thai classes. There is a dedicated sparring “class” specifically for Muay Thai techniques that is open to students at all levels. However, there is no such option offered for people wanting to spar using Krav Maga techniques. The rationale of the head instructor is that since Krav Maga is essentially a no-holds barred defence system, it would simply be too risky to allow for Krav Maga-based sparring. Did I just join a McDojo?

Just started doing event security for a patio and bar in downtown Toronto. Pay is $$22.50 an hour. I don’t have a completed post-secondary degree in anything. Is there any way I can make a career out of this in Toronto or nah?

Hello friends,

I am a Dzogchen practitioner in the tradition of Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, with an online sangha and a living guru who gave me direct introduction. A dharma friend of mine recently recommended that I check out a meditation app that was recently published by a teacher known as Christopher 'Hareesh' Wallis. It looks very interesting, but here's what I don't understand - Dzogchen initiation (known as direct introduction or pointing-out instructions) have to be given by a living teacher to a student (ideally in the same place) in real-time. A recorded video or a meditation app don't cut it. I'm wondering why Hareesh doesn't teach tantra based on a similar principle?

I have treatment-resistant depression for which I a number is medications for. After an episode involving suicidal ideation, I was referred to a mental health institution that provides experimental treatment. Despite being 31 and not ever having a psychotic break, I was told that having a cousin with bipolar is enough to disqualify me from a psilocybin trial. What do I do next? I’m tempted to procure some from alternative sources but that would involve me having to gradually wean myself off my current regimen medication.

I’m a Dzogchen practitioner in the tradition of the late, great Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. Before that, I was an Orthodox Christian. Last week, I heard that there were some other people from my tradition in the Toronto area who were all meeting up for a collective practice known as a Ganapuja or tsok. Guess where it turned out the venue for the event was! It was the common room of a University of Toronto building where I had once met for fellowship meals with my past church community!

Now fast forward until today - I am sitting outside a restaurant waiting for an event to start - when I notice my first year math professor there! At first I thought I must be hallucinating because I studied in a different city than the one I live in now, but then I looked up his photo and it was obvious that it was him.

What is the universe trying to tell me?