Archive of Talks

This Sunday we watched a video of Brother Phao Linh teaching about the Diamond Sutra. He specifically addressed the notion that human beings have an identifiable and bounded lifespan. He challenges several assumptions we hold about our lives having a beginning and an ending. He describes the great understanding and love that can come to us when… Read more

At the base of all the subtlety of Buddha’s most extensive meditation instructions, rests contemplation of the body.  Jackie guided us this week as we explore various dimensions of mindfulness of the body, and the insights that these can yield.        Our period of meditation was framed by Jill Shepherd and Eugene Cash talking on Contemplation… Read more

A monk asked Yunmen, “What is the teaching of a lifetime?” Yunmen replied “An appropriate response.” (Blue Cliff record, case 14) This first Sunday of the new year we spent some time sharing how we are feeling about the world, and from that place of group mindfulness, discussed what it means to have an appropriate… Read more

As endings approach — the end of a life, the end of a year, there is a natural longing to clean the slate and rediscover true equanimity. The path to inner peace often leads straight through Forgiveness–and the year’s end offers a good occasion to look inside to see who you might forgive.  It is… Read more

Max guided our reflections this Sunday, focusing on Right or Wise Effort. Much of the effort we expend can be wasted or even counterproductive because it has not been wisely shaped.  Keenly aware of this, the Buddha had a great deal to say about how to shape our efforts by preparing the ground in our states… Read more

Guided by Don, this week we explored the sublime as it appears in our everyday life. A talk by Stephen Batchelor was at the center of our exploration, taking us through and beyond particular meditative techniques to something much more accessible: the deep appreciation of life in its best present moment. The reality of death… Read more