Archive of Talks

Most of us are aware that Samadhi reaches far beyond the western idea of concentration, and the explorations of Samadhi by Christina Feldman and Yahel Avigur confirm that understanding and show some unexpected vistas to which this practice can lead us.   The deep connection of Samadhi to insight reminds of why the Buddha himself Read more

As if the world not obeying our wishes wasn’t hard enough, we are often completely surrounded by noise. Sometimes that noise takes the form of literal sounds: phone calls, the charismatic TV, the shouted town meeting. Increasingly that noise is textual: email, text messages, social media. And ever present is the noise of the mind: Read more

The Buddha’s instructions on Satipatthana meditation begin with a deep look into our own bodies.  This can be a problematic beginning for many, especially in our culture with its emphasis on appearance, ethnicity, and race – not to mention the ways that “the body keeps the score” of traumas endured.  Drawing on a talk by Chas DiCapua this Read more

“Taking refuge” in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha is sometimes thought of as “becoming a Buddhist,” a once and for all public affirmation of one’s commitment.  For others it is a quiet inner dedication, whispered almost silently each morning while bowing at one’s cushion, before beginning the day’s practice.  Steve, also drawing on a talk by Tara Read more

Last week, the description of the Buddha’s middle way — between asceticism and sensual indulgence — came up. This Sunday, with Sam’s guidance, we delved further into the Buddhist middle way as a path between ignorance and knowledge, and between existence and non-existence of the “self”.  Sam played excerpts from the following four talks. Sharon Salzberg, 6-19-87 https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/43178.html Ayya Read more

Living in light of the Dharma is often pictured as a journey, from here to there, with disruptions, detours, and difficulties along the way to be avoided as much as possible.  But interruptions to the journey and pauses in our progress can of themselves be of real value.  Michael guided our reflections as we explore what interruptions Read more