COURSE

Dharma Of A Flower: Awakening In The Here And Now

In this course, you will embrace and comprehend the nature of reality within the here and now. You will examine your thought processes to understand how and why thoughts lead to actions and learn to incorporate the laws of impermanence and cause/effect into your life. You will also see how to nurture personal joy, maximize your time, develop meaningful relationships, cultivate silence and stillness, release expectations, practice mindfulness of breath and movement, and realize the interdependence of all phenomena so you can live an illuminated and purposeful life.

Consciousness Spirituality Concentration Traditional Buddhism Religion Buddhism Spirituality Wisdom Health & Happiness Happiness Awakening Spiritual Presence Breathing Meditation Flow Performance

Meet your Teacher

Brian Hyman

Malibu, CA, USA

Brian Hyman is a yoga instructor, meditation guide, dharma teacher, author, and father. His innovative work, which combines yogic philosophy, Buddhist wisdom, and timeless insights from various spiritual traditions, has been featured in articles and interviews in Whole Life Times, Mantra Wellness + Health, Yoga Digest, Origin, Malibu Times, Sober Gratitudes, Sobriety Corps, Inspiring Stories of Joy, and Yoga And. Brian has been teaching yoga and mindfulness as part of the therapeutic team at a prominent treatment center for addiction recovery in California since 2012. Brian’s other Insight Timer courses include Recovery: Principles for a Purposeful Life, Cultivating a Heart of Gratitude, Yogic Principles for Transformation, Yogic Wisdom for Modern Times, Finding Happiness & Inner Peace, and The Dharma of Recovery: 5 Powers. Brian’s forthcoming book Recovery will be available in 2024.

10 Days

884 students

4.9 stars

13 min / day

Wisdom

English

Lesson 1

The Flower

In this lesson, we examine the instrument used to transmit prajna or deep wisdom. The Buddha utilized a flower – something natural, beautiful, and joyful. The flower represents interdependence since, without sunshine, rain, soil, and water, a flower cannot exist. Similarly, we will recognize the principle of interdependence as we become aware of our human existence since without our ancestors, air to breathe, food to eat, and other factors that contribute to life, we cannot exist.

Lesson 2

The Smile

In this lesson, we talk about the reaction to the teaching. Kashyapa smiled when the Buddha held up the flower. The teaching was then complete; or, perhaps it was just beginning; or, perhaps the wisdom that was imparted had always been inside Kashyapa, and the flower simply awakened an inner awareness of what he already knew to be true. We also discuss how smiling is a joyful, outer, energetic expression of peaceful, everlasting, inner illumination which does not have a beginning or end.

Lesson 3

The Law of Impermanence

In this lesson, we discuss the fact that a flower does not live long. It must cease to exist, just as human beings must also cease to exist. The flower teaches impermanence. It teaches us to value, honour, and treasure the preciousness of life and every moment we get to be here in human form. Since all life forms are natural to decay and die and pass from this realm of existence into the next, we will learn not to waste time on earth but to use it to find our purpose and to love and serve others.

Lesson 4

The Teacher-Student Relationship

In this lesson, we discuss how the role of a teacher is to guide each student home to themselves. We talk about the codependent nature of the relationship between someone who has knowledge and those who seek it. We discuss skilful means utilized to transmit teachings since every student is different and requires specific tools to learn what is needed upon any individual path toward enlightenment or transformation.

Lesson 5

The Community

In this lesson, we discuss the power and importance of community. Kashyapa was standing amongst fellow disciples when this teaching occurred. A collective energy is cultivated when likeminded seekers gather for unitive purposes. Without the support and safety of his fellow monks, Kashyapa may not have understood the teaching of the flower. And without the presence of friends upon similar paths toward emancipation, we will learn that we might not be able to learn what we need to know within this lifetime.

Lesson 6

The Atmosphere of Silence

In this lesson, we discuss the physical setting of the story. The events happened outside in nature amidst silence. We discuss how silence is crucial if we are to hear the inner calling of our true nature so we can comprehend internal messages. We learn how outer distractions within our contemporary world can drown out our inner voice, and that we may never hear messages from the heart unless we cultivate silence and befriend its qualities. Additionally, the flower sermon was transmitted wordlessly. Therefore, we will discuss how to communicate truth in simple and humble ways, with or without words.

Lesson 7

The Present Moment

In this lesson, we discuss the importance of being in the present moment if we are to learn and grow and spiritually develop. If Kashyapa was not physically present, he would have missed this transformative encounter with the Buddha. If Kashyapa were not also mentally, emotionally, or spiritually present, he would have unlikely received this teaching that liberated him. We will practice specific meditations to learn how to fully dwell in the here and now.

Lesson 8

The Release of Expectations

In this lesson, we discuss how to let go of what we think we wish to receive or know; and how to let go of when we wish to receive such things. We will learn to remain humble and open-minded so that whatever comes into our lives can be observed as a teaching to help us on our path. We will learn to accept all words or wordless moments as noble instances and as opportunities to practice coming home to ourselves.

Lesson 9

The Mindfulness of Movement

In this lesson, we learn how stillness affords us opportunities to uncover truth within the reality of now. Kashyapa was physically still when he saw the Buddha; the Buddha was also still. Without physical stillness, the mind cannot relax or remain open to receive and discern truth. We will also learn how and when mindfulness of movement are appropriate so that we can move about the world with integrity. Additionally, we will honor the power of our senses and their abilities to sense what abides within both the historical and ultimate dimensions.

Lesson 10

The Oneness of Existence

In this lesson, we talk about what truly happened when the Buddha and Kashyapa recognized sameness and suchness within the presence of each other. This was indeed a momentous occasion amidst a noble silence. We will learn how to comprehend all moments as teaching moments, all living beings as connected entities, and all hearts and minds as unified. We will also meditate on the fact that all individual life purposes coincide to create the world we live in.

4.9 (33)

Recent Reviews

gibby

August 11, 2025

One of the most effective and enjoyable courses I've taken on Insight Timer. One I will return tonagain and again. Thank you for the flower and the smile 🙂‍↕️

Chad

April 23, 2025

Enjoyed this course very much wish it was longer. Thank You

Olivia

May 25, 2023

Thank you for the beautiful lessons

KatieG

April 8, 2023

Bryan offers another wonderful course with many insights and opportunities for deep reflection. I love the cadence of his narration, his thoughtfulness, very direct approach, and how he will inevitably land on the “homework” (my word for it not his!) of “let’s make this personal.” Yes, let’s! 🙏🏼❤️

February 27, 2023

A lovely and heartfelt exploration. I learned a lot, especially about expectations creating suffering. Thank you!

Anne

February 4, 2023

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