Archive of Talks

  • Inclining the Mind Towards What is Working

    Surrounded by bad news, in media’s algorithmic echo chambers — how can we find and nurture the joy that is our birthright? The practice of Mudita gives us countless opportunities to savor happiness as we celebrate the good fortune of others.  And such cheering information is available if we seek it out.  Lorilee framed our discussion… Read more

  • Beyond Self or NoSelf – new perspectives

    Michael, drawing on the teaching of British dharma teacher Martin Aylward, centered the discussion this Sunday on the evolution of our relation to the dharma as our lives unfold. As we observe how our own practice has changed over time, we might come to see how it resonates with different phases of the life of… Read more

  • The Dart: Understanding Vedana

    The basic disposition of human beings is to avoid unpleasant or painful feelings, and to seek more and more pleasant feelings, believing that doing so provides lasting happiness. Vedana, or feeling tone, arises in the moment of each sense contact and is experienced in one of three ways: as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. Each of… Read more

  • Stillness of the mind

    This week, Don guided our reflections on the relations (more complex that we might think) between meditative stillness and the way our mind usually operates: “Monkey Mind”, always looking for the next pleasure or trying to get away from the latest problem. We discussed the concept of samādhi as the Buddha meant it in his… Read more

  • The Illusion of Control

    It’s no mystery that life is filled with unpredictable things. From the mundane issues of household objects breaking to the complex and life-changing issues of ill-health and injustice, we are bombarded by problems that need fixing. Depending on our mindset, we may find ourselves drawn to fixing every problem we encounter (Craving!), running away or… Read more

  • Are we Called by the Dhamma, or Freed by it?

    Does the Dhamma call us and guide us to a kind of action, or does it free us to act more spontaneously with whatever arises?  Drawing on a talk in which Gil Fronsdal explores this distinction with subtlety and insight,  Ellen guided our reflections on this question and its implications for each of us, as we pass… Read more