Online: The Art of Deep Listening from Buddhist and Quaker Traditions
with Valerie Brown
Saturday, August 22nd, 2026 | 10:00am – 1:00pm ET
Most of us listen with an agenda. We listen to respond, to fix, for confirmation. But what happens when we listen from a deeper place? Both Buddhist and Quaker traditions offer practices for exactly this: learning to stay present before we know what to say.
Dharma teacher Valerie Brown has spent three decades practicing at the intersection of these two contemplative paths, first as a student of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh and later as a member of the Religious Society of Friends. In this workshop, she’ll introduce deep listening as it appears in both traditions: a way of reflection and exploration that connects our inner life to outward action without forcing (or needing) answers.
Through guided meditation, shared silence, and contemplative questioning drawn from both traditions, participants will explore how to sit with what is unfinished, listen below habitual thought, and let deeper knowing emerge at its own pace.
Open to practitioners at all levels. No prior experience with either tradition is needed.
Note: This program will be recorded. The recording will be sent to all registrants after the program, so please feel free to sign up even if you cannot join in real time.
Online Registration:
Please register below. If you are able, registering at the “Supporter” level enables others to attend at the “Subsidized” level. Thank you for your generosity! (Please note that the registration price includes a base level of teacher support, and you will have the opportunity to donate more after the program.)
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Bring a Buddy: If you are a member of our Circle of Friends, you’re invited to bring a Dharma buddy to this program for no additional cost. Simply select “1” from the drop-down next to the Bring a Buddy level, and enter your special discount code (provided in your Circle of Friends welcome email) to reduce the price to that of a single, standard registration. This registration will grant attendance for you and your buddy.
Volunteering
All of our programs rely on volunteers to support our teachers and staff with various tasks and responsibilities. Volunteering allows you to participate in our programs at no cost. To inquire about volunteering opportunities, please fill out our inquiry form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Teacher(s)
Valerie Brown
Valerie Brown is a Buddhist-Quaker Dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition, author, facilitator, and executive coach. She focuses on leadership development and mindfulness practices, emphasizing diversity, social equity, and inclusion. Formerly a lawyer and lobbyist with a twenty-year high-pressure career, Valerie now supports leaders and nonprofits in building trustworthy, authentic, compassionate, and connected work environments.