Yama #6 Ksama (Forgiveness & Zen)
Does a dog have Buddha nature?
Wu! says Joshu.
Zen & the Art of Forgiveness
Ksamā
Yama #6 of the Classical Yogic Tradition
What is Classical Yoga?
This back-to-basics series of gatherings in pursuit of truth (Sat-Sangha) addresses the fundamentals of the yogic philosophy and practice, through a systematic approach to the cultivation of awareness and spiritual practice.
Through these gatherings you will learn to overcome cycles of body-mind suffering, and skillfully engage life in order to reap the fruits of your practice, thereby creating a life according to your own personal vision of joy.
This month’s topic is: Ksamā (क्षमा) Forgiveness (patience, forbearance, competence), the sixth quality of virtue cultivated as part of the broader ethical framework of the restraint practices known as Yamas (guidelines for spiritual practice)
Ksama is much more than a way to cultivate inner peace, release negative emotions, and reduce suffering, but involves patience and real presence, too—an active attention to life engagement that defines how you show up for yourself in all that you do.
We’ll also explore these topics in the context of Zen Buddhism and discover how the overlap of these traditions permeates your life, and how you can intentionally weave them into a deepening of your practice.
What You’ll Experience:
- Guided Meditations: Engage in meditative practices designed to help you reflect on your alignment with life, enabling you to own your autonomy and authority over your choices and cultivate a sense of fulfillment and wellbeing.
- Deep Discourse: Rich discussions that explore the implications of harmony, radical neutrality, and dispassion across various wisdom traditions. Discover how the concept manifests in daily life and relationships, and the subtle ways we may unintentionally “greed” for more and more—or less and less—through unconscious communication and behavior.
- Scholarly Insights: Benefit from scholarly references that deepen, not only your understanding of Ksama, but also the broader tradition of classical yoga itself. Cultivate insight into the tradition, and yourself, through this penetrating correlation of the 6th Tantrik Yama with the Wisdom of the Eastern masters of Chi and Flow.
Featured Guided Meditations:
- Tea & Koan
- Minding the Gap (w/ mantra chanting)
A life-defining engagement with the foundations of classical wisdom traditions.
As each satsanga in this series is building upon the content of the last, you are encouraged to have a look at the recordings of past sessions available in the program library.
**If you register for all the events, you will receive all recordings including the events you have not attended.
Satsanga Themes (Past) & Coming Up:
- Non-violence, Self-care & Cultivation of Awareness
- Truth, Truthfulness & Radical Honesty
- Non-Stealing (Kabbalah & the Book of Radiance)
- Energy Alignment and Kundalini Sadhana
- Non-Attachment & Sacred Geometry
- Zen & the Art of Forgiveness
- Mental Fortitude & Constancy
- Compassion & Kindness
- Integrity & Sincerity (MAY 2025)
- Cleanliness, Purity & Measured Diet (JUNE 2025)
*DISCLAIMER* Participating in yoga and/or yoga philosophy classes, including but not limited to the guided meditations therein, involves inherent psycho-physical risk. These risks include, but are not limited to, physical injuries (e.g., strains, sprains, or fractures), emotional distress, or psychological discomfort arising from the meditation process. Understand that meditation may bring up strong emotions or unresolved issues. By enrolling in this class, you confirm that you are aware of and understand the inherent risks involved in yoga and guided meditation, and are aware that your participation is voluntary and that you are responsible for your own well-being during these activities.
You must log in and have started this course to submit a review.
Course Content
This Satsang was incredible for me personally.
It felt like it really helped things to clarify. It recontextualized my relationship with the yamas.
A shift in perspective where apparent lack of restraint is seen to have been a sacred acts of surrender. All necessary and purifying in its perfect time.
Difficult to describe, but very great stuff.