In Zen tradition there is a Dharma talk that is referred to as a teisho. It is a commentary by a Zen master on a koan--a question meant to provoke the great uncertainty that can help an individual enter into a deeply reflexive space. A teisho is not dualistic, but an exploration of what there is to be known about a particular phenomenon. Such an exploration accords perfectly with the spirit of the Dharma and responds perfectly to the situation in which it is given, especially in meeting the needs of the listeners.

At Third House, we are exploring the idea of entering together into the reflexive space, taking a journey that we co-create in community, going to where we all agree we need to go. The Community Dharma Exchange is a journey we will go on together, intentionally exploring the difficult things that have not been well explored as a community: inclusivity and the lack thereof, access and inequity, moving forward and being left behind.

We are growing together into an amazing cultural Mecca that brings arts and scholarship together as few other places do. But we face growing pains as well, and the Community Dharma Exchange is a safe space in which we can endure those pains together making meaning of the changes we experience together through Gainesville’s emerging story.

Join us on Tuesday, July 3rd, at 8 PM at Third House Books for our first Community Dharma Exchange. Let’s set the stage and build this community space together to serve our collective needs.