Archive of Talks

When we’re all sitting together, it may look like we’re all doing the same thing. But of course there are many different styles of levels of practice going on. This Sunday Michael guided us as we explored several models typical among our sangha, with a look at ways in which these methods have traditionally been… Read more

Steve writes, “I have recently been appreciating the elegance of the Noble Eightfold Path. In this teaching we find the hub, the spokes, and the wheel of the whole of the Buddha Dharma. It is the Middle Way. The Noble Eightfold Path is the ‘path’ that is the Fourth Noble Truth. Each of the eight… Read more

Sangha is held to be one of the three jewels of Buddhism. The Buddha invites us to “take refuge” in sangha as an aspect of the path to freedom. It is a place where we can be held, supported, comforted, and also encouraged to live with compassion, generosity, and metta. Additionally, sangha moves us away… Read more

Most spiritual traditions have an origin story of humankind, often conveying life as intertwined with the world itself.  At the time of the Buddha, this included reference to our connection with the four earth elements – earth, wind, water, and fire – that can be viewed as both comprising and surrounding us at all times.  … Read more

Think of the Four Noble Truths not as propositions that we must know, but as invitations to take actions that can transform our lives.  Jackie based this Sunday’s session on the teaching of Tuere Sala, a contemporary Dharma teacher who provides a clear perspective on identifying and dealing with suffering on an individual level, getting to… Read more

The Buddha taught many different practices for wisdom and compassion, but one which is not often discussed is how to set appropriate boundaries for one’s self and others. And yet, this was actually a core of the early Dharma and is essential to both our wise action in the world and our mental health. This… Read more