Archive of Talks

  • 11/10/2013 – Advaita, Non-Dualism, and Buddhism

    Sam led our reflections for this session, focusing on the non-dualistic tradition in Advaita Vedanta and its relation to that strain of Buddhism.  Anchoring the talk was a talk by Rob Burbea, titled “The Wisdom of Non-Duality.” http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/210/talk/10028/ The following zen story (from the book “No Water No Moon” by Osho) was also brought into play:… Read more

  • 11/03/2013 – Tranquility and Insight

    Anne B led our reflections on the links between the two branches of meditation most frequently linked in Theravadin Buddhism, Tranquility and Insight. Read more

  • 10/27/2013 – Open Awareness

    This Sunday, Michael guided our reflections, centering them around a talk by Toni Packer, the revolutionary teacher who centered her work on the natural practice of open awareness.  Can something so simple cultivate insights of depth equal to traditional Buddhist practice?  The talk by Toni that was played is not available on the internet, but… Read more

  • 10/20/2013 – Zen and Daily Life

    Keenan led our reflections this Sunday, anchoring them with a recorded dharma talk by Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Sensei, the head of the Mountains and Rivers Order.  Using a traditional Zen approach to studying the subtleties and implications of a koan, Shugen probed the ways in which our daily lives can be awakened by “Knowing How to… Read more

  • 10/13/2013 – Tea Dharma

    Payton engaged the sangha with Tea Ceremony today,and offers these comments by way of perspective. Making tea, like anything, can be used as a target of meditation. There is a certain ritual nature in making and drinking tea (especially loose tea) that we can use to focus our minds on the present. Honor this moment… Read more

  • 10/6/2013 – Uncertainty

    Joey guided us today, with questions posed in advance and a recorded dharma talk by Norman Fischer, as we explored the way that Not Knowing functions in our experience. the questions to contemplate are    Much of our fear arises from uncertainty, having to tolerate the mysterious unpredictability and surprise of life’s turns.  Often I… Read more