Blue Lotus Meditation and Mindfulness Center, 11108 Eagle View Drive, Brainerd, MN (2026)

12/27/2025

Being soft with yourself is an act of quiet courage. In a world that constantly urges us to push harder, judge faster, and measure our worth by productivity, gentleness becomes a form of wisdom. When we soften toward our own struggles, we acknowledge our humanity and allow space for healing rather than resistance.

Softness does not mean weakness or avoidance. It means meeting our thoughts, emotions, and limitations with compassion instead of harshness. When we respond to ourselves with patience, we create the conditions for clarity and growth. Just as a plant grows best in nourishing soil, the heart unfolds when it is treated with care.

Each moment of self-kindness is a step toward balance and inner peace. By being soft with ourselves, we learn to move through life with greater ease and understanding, extending that same gentleness outward to others. In this way, softness becomes not only self-care, but a gift to the world.

12/24/2025

May this Christmas be a time of warmth, reflection, and gentle joy for you and your loved ones. In the quiet moments of the season, may you find space to rest the heart, soften the mind, and appreciate the simple blessings that are so often overlooked in the busyness of life. May peace be felt not as something distant, but as something present and alive within you.

As we gather with family, friends, and community, may we remember the power of kindness, patience, and compassion. Even small acts of goodwill can become lights for one another during this season. May this day remind us that love grows when it is shared freely, and that harmony begins with how we meet each moment and each person.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas filled with peace, gratitude, and hope. May the spirit of this season carry forward into the coming days, inspiring generosity, understanding, and care for all beings.

With Metta,

Vladimir

12/22/2025

In a world that often feels fractured and loud, this reflection invites you to return to what is timeless, steady, and unshakable, the Dharma. Together, we’ll explore how grounding ourselves in the Buddha’s teachings can soften reactivity, nurture clarity, and help us meet division with a calm and spacious heart. Through simple, accessible guidance, you’ll be encouraged to rest in the qualities of mindfulness, compassion, and right view, even when the world around you feels unsettled.

Whether you’re new to the path or deepening a long-standing practice, this session offers a gentle reminder that the Dharma is always here as a refuge. By turning inward with honesty and presence, we rediscover our natural capacity for wisdom, steadiness, and care. May this reflection support you in holding the world with more understanding and holding yourself with kindness.

We invite you to walk this path with us. Together, we’ll explore teachings, guided practices, and reflections that nurture the heart and mind. Follow us to learn how the Dharma can become a guiding light on your journey, easing your suffering and opening the way to a more peaceful, awakened life.

Sathu. Sathu. Sathu.
Buddham Saranam Gacchami

****************************************************************************************************
Vladimir imparts the Buddha's Dharma with warmth and skill, filling the world's deep need for loving-kindness, compassion, and empathy.

To learn more visit us at: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

Looking for a way to help guide others? Become a Blue Lotus Aspirant here: https://bluelotusmeditation.us/continue-your-journey

YouTube Supporting Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWeAcmKhx9y37XDpvn4xPA/join

US Tax deductible donations may be offered here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=88BRNH3K7Y7FQ

12/19/2025

As you may have noticed we haven’t posted a lot this week. That is because I’ve been sick with the flu or cold. I’m on the mend now and thought I’d talk about how important it is to care of yourself when you’re not feeling well.

Taking care of yourself when you are sick is not a departure from the Dharma; it is an expression of it. The Buddha taught that this body, though impermanent, is the very vessel through which awakening is cultivated. When illness arises, meeting it with gentleness and care is an act of wisdom. To rest, to seek treatment, and to nourish the body is to recognize conditions as they are, rather than pushing against them through aversion or denial.

The teachings remind us that suffering (dukkha) has many forms, including physical pain. When we ignore illness or force ourselves to continue as if nothing is wrong, we often add unnecessary mental suffering on top of what is already present. Mindful self-care allows us to soften resistance and to relate to pain with awareness rather than struggle. In this way, illness becomes not an obstacle, but a teacher—inviting patience, humility, and compassion toward our own experience.

Caring for oneself while sick is also an expression of loving-kindness (mettā) directed inward. Just as we would not expect a dear friend to exhaust themselves while unwell, we are called to extend the same kindness to our own body and mind. This may mean slowing down, asking for help, or letting go of expectations about productivity. Such actions weaken the habit of self-judgment and strengthen a heart that knows how to respond wisely to suffering.

Finally, tending to your health supports the wider field of interdependence. When we care for ourselves responsibly, we are better able to care for others and less likely to cause harm through neglect or burnout. The Buddha praised balance and moderation, reminding us that the Middle Way applies not only to practice, but to daily life. To rest when sick, to heal when healing is needed, is to walk this Middle Way with clarity, compassion, and respect for the precious conditions that sustain the path.

Sathu. Sathu. Sathu.
Buddham Saranam Gacchami

****************************************************************************************************
Vladimir imparts the Buddha's Dharma with warmth and skill, filling the world's deep need for loving-kindness, compassion, and empathy.

To learn more visit us at: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

Looking for a way to help guide others? Become a Blue Lotus Aspirant here: https://bluelotusmeditation.us/continue-your-journey

YouTube Supporting Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWeAcmKhx9y37XDpvn4xPA/join

US Tax deductible donations may be offered here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=88BRNH3K7Y7FQ

12/17/2025

Morning Guided Meditation and Q&A

12/12/2025

As we head into the weekend many of us find ways to unwind, relax, and forget about our troubles. Oftentimes this behavior compels us to spend money we don’t have all for the sake of a ‘good time’. As such we generate suffering because we regret what we’ve done and are no longer able to pay for necessities or save for the future.

What does Buddha say about how we may avoid losing our hard earned money?

From the Sutra ‘Advice to Sigalaka’ he teaches:

“What six drains on wealth do they avoid? “Drains on wealth” is apāyamukha, literally “openings for departure”. This is emphasized here since Sigālaka wants to be a good son and not squander the family fortune. Habitually engaging in the following things is a drain on wealth: consuming beer, wine, and liquor-intoxicants; roaming the streets at night; frequenting festivals; gambling; bad friends; laziness.

We invite you to walk this path with us. Together, we’ll explore teachings, guided practices, and reflections that nurture the heart and mind. Follow us to learn how the Dharma can become a guiding light on your journey, easing your suffering and opening the way to a more peaceful, awakened life.

Sathu. Sathu. Sathu.
Buddham Saranam Gacchami

****************************************************************************************************
Vladimir imparts the Buddha's Dharma with warmth and skill, filling the world's deep need for loving-kindness, compassion, and empathy.

To learn more visit us at: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

Looking for a way to help guide others? Become a Blue Lotus Aspirant here: https://bluelotusmeditation.us/continue-your-journey

YouTube Supporting Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWeAcmKhx9y37XDpvn4xPA/join

US Tax deductible donations may be offered here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=88BRNH3K7Y7FQ

12/11/2025

We will all face difficult times in our lives so it’s important to know how to be skillful in our approach to these challenges. But what are the benefits of mindfulness that we can expect to nurture?

Below are five grounding skills that developed through a well-nurtured mindfulness practice that strengthen our resiliency:

1. Mindfulness steadies the mind in difficulty.
By returning to the breath or body, mindfulness interrupts overwhelm and brings you back to the present moment, helping you respond rather than react.

2. Mindfulness reveals impermanence.
Seeing that all experiences arise and pass weakens the grip of fear and uncertainty, allowing challenges to feel workable instead of fixed.

3. Mindfulness builds emotional awareness.
Noticing feelings as they arise—without judgment—creates space between stimulus and response, strengthening inner stability.

4. Mindfulness deepens compassion.
As you become kinder toward your own struggles, you naturally meet life with a softer, more resilient heart that bends without breaking.

5. Mindfulness cultivates clarity and wise action.
A clear, non-clouded mind sees options, possibilities, and the next wholesome step, even amid stress or turbulence.

We invite you to walk this path with us. Together, we’ll explore teachings, guided practices, and reflections that nurture the heart and mind. Follow us to learn how the Dharma can become a guiding light on your journey, easing your suffering and opening the way to a more peaceful, awakened life.

Sathu. Sathu. Sathu.
Buddham Saranam Gacchami

****************************************************************************************************
Vladimir imparts the Buddha's Dharma with warmth and skill, filling the world's deep need for loving-kindness, compassion, and empathy.

To learn more visit us at: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

Looking for a way to help guide others? Become a Blue Lotus Aspirant here: https://bluelotusmeditation.us/continue-your-journey

YouTube Supporting Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWeAcmKhx9y37XDpvn4xPA/join

US Tax deductible donations may be offered here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=88BRNH3K7Y7FQ

12/10/2025

https://youtu.be/JUoI7-jXvEE

We are delighted to share a heartfelt milestone with our community: our YouTube channel has reached 500,000 subscribers. This moment reflects far more than a number, it is a testament to the shared intention of cultivating mindfulness, compassion, and Dharma-centered understanding in a world that deeply needs it. Each subscription represents a person choosing to slow down, breathe, and engage with teachings that nurture clarity and peace. For that, we offer our sincere gratitude.

As we celebrate this achievement, we are reminded that our path continues forward with renewed purpose. Your presence inspires us to keep offering teachings, meditations, and reflections that support inner transformation and collective well-being. May this milestone serve not as a destination, but as encouragement to deepen our shared practice, uplift one another, and continue walking the path with kindness, wisdom, and an open heart. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey.

We invite you to walk this path with us. Together, we’ll explore teachings, guided practices, and reflections that nurture the heart and mind. Follow us to learn how the Dharma can become a guiding light on your journey, easing your suffering and opening the way to a more peaceful, awakened life.

Sathu. Sathu. Sathu.
Buddham Saranam Gacchami

****************************************************************************************************
Vladimir imparts the Buddha's Dharma with warmth and skill, filling the world's deep need for loving-kindness, compassion, and empathy.

To learn more visit us at: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

Looking for a way to help guide others? Become a Blue Lotus Aspirant here: https://bluelotusmeditation.us/continue-your-journey

YouTube Supporting Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWeAcmKhx9y37XDpvn4xPA/join

US Tax deductible donations may be offered here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=88BRNH3K7Y7FQ

12/08/2025

Join us for a special live Dharma talk celebrating Bodhi Day, the day the Buddha awakened to the truth of suffering, its causes, and the path to liberation. Together, we’ll explore the historical significance of this sacred day as well as its living relevance for practitioners today. Whether you’re new to Buddhism or a long-time student of the Dharma, this session offers a beautiful opportunity to deepen your understanding.

During this livestream, we’ll reflect on the Buddha’s journey beneath the Bodhi tree and how his awakening can inspire our own path toward wisdom, compassion, and mindful living. You’ll be invited to contemplate how enlightenment unfolds not in perfection, but in courageous honesty, clarity, and steady practice. We will also share meaningful teachings, guided reflections, and a space for gentle inner inquiry.

As always, our live community gathering includes an open Q&A segment, allowing you to ask questions in real time and engage with others who are also walking the path of awakening. We welcome you to be part of this peaceful and supportive experience as we honor Bodhi Day together. May this talk bring insight, tranquility, and renewed inspiration to your practice.

We invite you to walk this path with us. Together, we’ll explore teachings, guided practices, and reflections that nurture the heart and mind. Follow us to learn how the Dharma can become a guiding light on your journey, easing your suffering and opening the way to a more peaceful, awakened life.

Sathu. Sathu. Sathu.
Buddham Saranam Gacchami

****************************************************************************************************
Vladimir warmly and skillfully passes on the Buddhas Dharma to a world in need of loving-kindness, compassion, and empathy for the benefit of all living beings.

To learn more and for free mindfulness and mediation resources visit: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

Looking for a way to help guide others? Become a Blue Lotus Aspirant here: https://bluelotusmeditation.us/continue-your-journey

YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWeAcmKhx9y37XDpvn4xPA/join

US Tax deductible donations may be offered here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=88BRNH3K7Y7FQ

12/08/2025

Bodhi Day is a deeply meaningful celebration that honors the awakening of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha upon realizing the true nature of suffering and the path to liberation. This moment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree represents the birth of wisdom, compassion, and the profound possibility of inner freedom. Bodhi Day invites us to pause and reflect on the transformative power of mindfulness and insight in our own lives.

The significance of this day reaches far beyond history, it’s an invitation to look inward. Bodhi Day reminds us that liberation is not found in extraordinary circumstances but in understanding our minds, softening our hearts, and cultivating clarity with each moment. Through meditation, study, and wholesome actions, we follow the same path the Buddha walked, discovering how awareness can illuminate the roots of suffering and open the way to peace.

On Bodhi Day, practitioners often spend time in quiet contemplation, chanting, meditating, or engaging in acts of kindness to honor the Buddha’s enlightenment. It is a day to celebrate wisdom’s light and reaffirm our commitment to living with compassion, patience, and mindful awareness. As we remember the Buddha’s awakening, we also reaffirm the possibility of our own, one breath, one step, one moment of understanding at a time.

We invite you to walk this path with us. Together, we’ll explore teachings, guided practices, and reflections that nurture the heart and mind. Follow us to learn how the Dharma can become a guiding light on your journey, easing your suffering and opening the way to a more peaceful, awakened life.

Sathu. Sathu. Sathu.
Buddham Saranam Gacchami

****************************************************************************************************
Vladimir imparts the Buddha's Dharma with warmth and skill, filling the world's deep need for loving-kindness, compassion, and empathy.
To learn more and for free mindfulness and mediation resources visit: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

Looking for a way to help guide others? Become a Blue Lotus Aspirant here: https://bluelotusmeditation.us/continue-your-journey

YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWeAcmKhx9y37XDpvn4xPA/join

US Tax deductible donations may be offered here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=88BRNH3K7Y7FQ

12/05/2025

Unfettering Ourselves

As we enter this weekend, I invite you to pause and reflect on the subtle ways we may be holding ourselves back. Often, what limits us isn’t the world around us, but the stories we carry, expectations we cling to, fears we quietly nurture, and old memories we have not yet released. These unnoticed tensions become the invisible knots that shape how we move through our days.

This weekend, consider taking a moment to simply sit with yourself. With one steady breath, notice the space that opens between what you feel and how you respond. In that small, sacred pause, we begin to see more clearly: our thoughts are not shackles, our emotions are not cages. They arise, they linger, and they pass. When we meet them with kindness rather than resistance, they loosen on their own.

Let this be a time to soften. A time to release the insistence that life must unfold in a particular way. As we let go, even just a little, we discover a lightness, an ease of heart that has always been available. This is the essence of unfettering ourselves: returning to the simple freedom that rests beneath our habits, our roles, and our worries.

Throughout this weekend, may you allow yourself moments of clarity, gentleness, and renewal. May you notice where the knots are and trust that they can loosen. And may this reflection guide you toward greater freedom, for your own well-being and for all beings whose lives you touch.

12/02/2025

Dear Friends of the Dharma,

We’re delighted to announce our newly upgraded YouTube Supporting Membership program, crafted with care to enrich your Dharma-centered mindfulness journey.

Each membership level offers meaningful perks designed not only to show your support, but also to deepen your practice, strengthen your community connection, and bring more peace, clarity, and inspiration into your daily life.

For just a few cents per day you can help someone that is feeling lost, overwhelmed, and uncertain become introduced to the dharma for a more joyful and fulfilling life. Our dharma centered outreach programs not only have helped people such as yourself but offers refuge to those who haven’t yet realized the extent of their suffering.

Join us and unlock a more intentional, heart-centered path, one that supports your growth, the growth of others, and the mission of Blue Lotus.

Our YouTube Supporting Membership tiers offer these rewarding benefits that may begin to enjoy on the very first day:

Beginning Practitioner
• US$0.99
• Loyalty badges
• Emoji
• 5% Off at The Dharma Institute
• Members-only live streams

Dedicated Practitioner
• US$1.99
• Members-only live chats
• Priority reply to comments
• Members-only videos
• Perks from previous levels
Deep Practitioner
• US$2.99
• Priority Dharma talk suggestions.
• Perks from previous levels

To become a Supporting Member and know you’re helping others follow this link: YouTube Supporting Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWeAcmKhx9y37XDpvn4xPA/join

We invite you to walk this path with us. Together, we’ll explore teachings, guided practices, and reflections that nurture the heart and mind. Follow us to learn how the Dharma can become a guiding light on your journey, easing your suffering and opening the way to a more peaceful, awakened life.

Sathu. Sathu. Sathu.
Buddham Saranam Gacchami

****************************************************************************************************
Vladimir imparts the Buddha's Dharma with warmth and skill, filling the world's deep need for loving-kindness, compassion, and empathy.
To learn more visit us at: www.bluelotusmeditation.us
Looking for a way to help guide others? Become a Blue Lotus Aspirant here: https://bluelotusmeditation.us/continue-your-journey
YouTube Supporting Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWeAcmKhx9y37XDpvn4xPA/join
US Tax deductible donations may be offered here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=88BRNH3K7Y7FQ

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