Tuesday, February 10, 2026
On Spiritual Friendship w/ Amanda Espinoza
What does “spiritual friendship” mean from the perspective of the Buddhist tradition, and how is it cultivated in practice? This week, Amanda Espinoza will explore the Buddhist literary tradition, insights from contemporary teachers, and her own reflections on spiritual friendship—especially why it is such a vital dimension of the path.
Amanda will draw in particular from two early Buddhist discourses—the Upaddha Sutta (SN 45.2) and the Mitta Sutta (AN 7.35)—which highlight the central role of wise and caring companions in the life of practice. For those interested, here is a LINK to a short collection of excerpts on “admirable friendship” (kalyāṇamittatā), which Amanda will also touch on.
Upcoming Schedule
February 17: Handshake Practice (Joanna Kelly)
February 24: Tricycle’s Daily Dharma (Karen Garrido)
March 3: On the Simile of the Heartwood Sutta (Jim Garrido)
March 10: On Dukkha, Pt. I (Joan Wilkins)
March 17: On Dukkha, Pt. II (Joan Wilkins)
March 24: Lojong (“Cultivating the mind”) (Wendy Farrow)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(1) Just 3 Spots Remaining! March Retreat with Vance Pryor
The Winston-Salem Dharma Community is honored to welcome back Vance Pryor for our upcoming retreat, Seeing Clearly: The Four Noble Truths. After his 2024 visit received rave reviews, we are thrilled to have him guide us once again. The retreat is at the serene St. Francis Springs Prayer Center from March 26–30, 2026
Due to a few recent cancellations, three spots have just opened up. If you’ve been considering joining us, now is the perfect time. Please complete this form as soon as possible, and we will be in touch shortly to confirm your registration.
(2) The Monthly Practice Discussion Group meets on the last Tuesday of each month (next gathering February 24, 5:30pm)
The last Tuesday of each month, we will host a monthly peer-led Practice Discussion Group where members can share their experiences with Practice. We’ll share joys, frustrations, and questions about our practice as a way of checking in and supporting each other in Practice. All are welcome, whether they have a dedicated home practice, an occasional home practice, or no home practice at all.
(3) Walking Meditation in Miller Park–Fridays at Noon
Bosco will also be leading a walking meditation practice at Miller Park in Winston-Salem (400 Leisure Lane) on Fridays at Noon. Bosco will arrive at 11:45 and start a normal-paced mindful walk at Noon for 30 minutes. Anyone is welcome to join. For further information, contact Bosco via email at devonmfarr@gmail.com.
(4) Resource for Past Talks
On the WSDC website, we post many previous Dharma talks to listen to as you would a podcast. Here is the LINK to that page.
(5) WSDC Retreat Schedule UPDATE! (2026-29)
The Winston-Salem Dharma Community will continue to host periodic retreats for members and non-members alike. Here is a preliminary list of retreats planned for 2026 and 2027. We will provide additional details and registration schedules as these dates approach. But for now, you can “pencil them in” if interested. All of these retreats will take place at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, NC.
- March 26-30, 2026 (four nights)–Vance Pryor, teacher..
- October 4-9, 2026 (five nights)–Winnie Nazarko, teacher.
- February 21-25, 2027 (four nights)–Matthew Brensilver, teacher
- October 5-10, 2027 (five nights)–Teacher TBA
- January 30 -February 3, 2028 (four nights)–Teacher TBA
- January 10-14, 2029 (four nights)–Matthew Brensilver, Teacher
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SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, INFORMATION, AND LINKS TO PAST TALKS & HANDOUTS (http://wsdharmacommunity.org/)
In addition to general information about our group, the website offers an easy-to-reference calendar, event listings, online resources, contact information, and an easy way to sign up for this weekly newsletter. Feel free to share this link with friends or anyone who may be interested in learning more about meditation practice or Buddhism.