Logistics:
When: 2nd & 4th Mondays, from 7:00-8:30+ (see below for more info)
Where: Awakenings Wellness Studio @ 1016 SE 12th Avenue Portland, OR 97214
Cost: Gift Economy / donation
RSVP: Just drop in / no RSVP needed
Future Evening Themes:
We’re currently on a series going through the Satipatthana Sutta, the Buddha’s Discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, which is quite possible the most influential meditation text of all time. Here’s the schedule:
6/9/25 — Foundations of Buddhist Mindfulness
6/23/25 — Mindfulness of the Body
7/14/25 — Mindfulness of Feeling-tone
7/28/25 — Mindfulness of Mind
8/11/25 — Mindfulness of the Hindrances
8/25/25 — Mindfulness of the Awakening Factors
9/8/25 — Mindfulness of the Sense Doors
9/22/25 — Mindfulness of the Aggregates (aka the sense of self)
10/13/25 — Mindfulness of the Noble Truths
Brief Overview
We’re a Portland-based Buddhist community that puts special emphasis on deep dharma, the integration of practice into daily life, the relevance of both liberating meditation & heartful ethics, as well as creating the conditions for a real sense of sangha / community.
After the sit and a short talk, roughly half the evening is spent in meditative co-contemplation, including 1-on-1 conversations that go beyond the surface, large group discussions, and Q&A.
Evening Flow
7:00-7:30pm — Lightly guided meditation
7:30-8:30pm — A blend of formal teaching, large group discussion, and small group discussion
At 8:30pm, we’ll wrap up the official gathering, and you can either depart or stick around for casual conversation and tea until 9:00pm.
Logistical Notes / How To Find Us:
Parking can be a little difficult, so plan to arrive 5 to 15 minutes early to get situated.
When you approach the building, walk down the rampway on the left of the building; it will lead to the community room where we’ll be.
Cost:
Offered on the gift economy (aka, generosity or donation).
Your presence is the biggest gift, though if you’re able, monetary contributions are always appreciated & help keep the ship afloat. For more info on why I choose to teach entirely on donation, check out this article on “the gift economy.”
Donations can be made in person or electronically via this link.
Teacher Bio:
A former Theravādin Buddhist monk, David Sudar has spent over 3 years on intensive meditation retreats, including a 21-month retreat in Myanmar with his core teacher, Sayadaw U Tejaniya. Since 2018 he has also been studying with Vipassana teacher, Carol Wilson. He currently teaches Buddhism & meditation full-time, both locally and online. Visit here for a more complete biography.
Teaching Orientation:
We’re rooted in the Theravada Buddhist / Insight Meditation tradition. We center around the Noble Eightfold Path, the earliest teachings found in the Pali Canon, as well as a contemporary sensibility. The three resources that most capture the teaching style you’ll find in this group are:
- Relax & Be Aware by Sayadaw U Tejaniya. This is my favorite meditation guide, as it brilliantly lays out a down-to-earth meditation approach, based on awareness & wisdom, that we can apply every moment of our lives.
- The Issue at Hand by Gil Fronsdal. This book offers a very readable, brief, and excellently written overview of the Buddhist path. You could skip right to this chapter for a comprehensive yet succinct overview of the style of Buddhism we practice.
- Insight Dialogue by Gregory Kramer. This is a 14-page guide to practicing mindful conversations — it informs the group exercises we do together.
Past Schedule for Path of Sincerity Sangha:
2025
5/26/25 — Contemplating Friendship
5/12/25 — Relational Dharma
4/28/25 — A Map of the Path — Generosity, Ethics & Meditation
4/14/25 — Gratitude & Reciprocity
3/24/25 — Contemplating Death
3/10/25 — The Purpose of Life
1/12/25 — Touching Emptiness
2024
12/8/24 — Spiritual Urgency
11/10/24 — Blasting the Lantern of Love
10/24 – Wisdom-Fueled Love
9/24 – A Learning Mindset
8/24 – Awareness Holds Everything
7/24 – The Essence of Sangha
6/24 – The Dhamma in a Nutshell
5/24 – The Life of the Buddha
4/24 – The Three Refuges
From 2022 to 2024, we paused the regularly meeting in-person sangha and focused more on the daily virtual sangha, as well as live courses and daylong retreats. Below was the schedule for the first few years.
2021
All talks since June 2020 are available here for streaming/download.
1/11/22 – Complete Commitment
12/28 – Doubt as a Hindrance
12/14 – Restlessness as a Hindrance
11/30 – Sloth & Torpor as a Hindrance
11/16 – Aversion as a Hindrance
11/2 – Sensual Desire as a Hindrance
10/19 – Introducing the Five Hindrances
10/5 – The Open Awareness Method
9/21 – Buddhist Relaxation
9/7 – The Purpose of Meditation
8/24 – Exploring Awareness – U Tejaniya Style
8/10 – The Five Spiritual Faculties – Indriyas
7/27 – The Right Attitude for Meditation
7/13 – Meditation in Daily Life
6/29 – Concepts vs. Reality
6/15 – A Meditator’s Three Jobs
6/1 – The Heart of Insight Meditation
5/25 – The Four Noble Truths
5/11 – The Gift Economy
5/4 – Buddhist Generosity
4/27 – Buddhist Gratitude
4/20 – The Views that Feed our Attitudes
4/6 – Sublime Attitudes in Relationship
3/30 – Equanimity as a Sublime Attitude
3/23 – Appreciative Joy as a Sublime Attitude
3/16 – Compassion as a Sublime Attitude
3/9 – Loving-Kindness as a Sublime Attitude
3/2 – Overview of the Sublime Attitudes (Braham Vihārās)
2/23 – On Spiritual Practice
1/19 – Buddhist Faith & Conviction
1/12 – Disenchantment & Dispassion
2020
1/19 – Buddhist Faith & Conviction
1/12 – Disenchantment & Dispassion
1/5 – Awakening & Enlightenment
12/29 – Equanimity Awakening Factor
12/22 – Concentration Awakening Factor
12/15 – Tranquility Awakening Factor
12/8 – Joy Awakening Factor
12/1 – Effort Awakening Factor
11/24 – Meditative Investigation Awakening Factor
11/17 – Mindfulness Awakening Factor
11/10 – Introducing the Seven Factors of Awakening
11/3 – Election Dharma
10/27 – The Culmination the Eightfold Path
10/20 – Right Concentration
10/13 – Right Mindfulness
10/6 – Right Effort
9/29 – Wise Friendship
9/22 – Wise Consumption Pt.3
9/15 – Wise Consumption Pt.2
9/8 – Wise Consumption Pt.1
9/1 – Right Livelihood
8/25 – Right Grieving
8/18 – Wise Sexuality
8/11 – Right Action
8/4 – Practicing Right Speech w/ Insight Dialogue
7/28 – Right Speech
7/21 – Overview of Buddhist Ethics (Sila)
7/14 – Right Intention
7/7 – Right View Pt.4 – Impermanence
6/30 – Right View Pt.3 – How to Hold Views
6/23 – Right View Pt.2 – Karma
6/16 – Right View Pt.1 – Supramundane
6/9 – Noble Eightfold Path Overview
6/2 – The Dharma of Social Justice
5/26 – Compassion
5/19 – Third Noble Truth
5/12 – Second Noble Truth
5/5 – First Noble Truth
4/28 – The Middle Way
4/21 – Four Noble Truths Overview
4/14 – Approaching Practice with Sincerity
4/7 – Taking refuge in the Sangha
3/31 – Taking refuge in the Dhamma
3/24 – Taking refuge in the Buddha
3/17 – The Three Refuges Overview
1/27 – The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (pt 5. on the Satipatthana Sutta)
1/13 – The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (pt 4. on the Satipatthana Sutta)
2019
12/30 – The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (pt 3. on the Satipatthana Sutta)
12/16 – The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (pt 2. on the Satipatthana Sutta)
12/2 – The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (pt 1. on the Satipatthana Sutta)
11/18 – Gratitude & Opening to Life
11/4 – The What, Why and How of Equanimity (Parami #10)
10/21 – The What, Why and How of Goodwill & Kindness (Parami #9)
10/7 – The What, Why and How of Resolve & Determination (Parami #8)
9/23 – The What, Why and How of Truthfulness (Parami #7)
9/9 – The What, Why and How of Patience (Parami #6)
8/26 – The What, Why and How of Energy & Effort (Parami #5)
8/12 – The What, Why and How of Wisdom & Discernment (Parami #4)
7/29 – The What, Why and How of Renunciation (Parami #3)
7/15 – The What, Why and How of Ethical Conduct & Integrity (Parami #2)
7/01 – The What, Why and How of Generosity (Parami #1)
6/17 – Introducing an 11 Week Exploration of the Spiritual Perfections (Paramis)
6/03 – What Is Meditation? (this is a serious question!)
5/20 – Integrating Yoga & Buddhism
5/06 – The Experience of Awareness
4/22 – The Most Radical Teaching in Buddhism
4/08 – Turning Stupid Awareness into Wise Awareness
3/25 – Is Faith the New “F” Word?
3/11 – The Future Isn’t Real and Rent Is Due on the First
2/25 – On Samadhi: The Difference Between Rock Climbing & Meditation
2/11 – The Buddhist Approach to Anger
1/28 – The Why of Meditation & Spiritual Practice