Archive of Talks

The Heart Sutra, with its proclamation that Form and Emptiness are identical, is among the most famous, widely read and frequently chanted of Buddhist texts. Over the centuries, practitioners have found it both puzzling and inspiring. Steve guided our reflections on this powerful Sutra this Sunday, drawing on excerpts from a talk by Gil Fronsdal… Read more

Carrying into everyday life the wisdom of retreat or of an intensive period of meditation and study at home can be a challenge. Yet we can shape our experience in ways that preserve insights gained. Just back from an extended stay in Europe, Eveline shared with us parts of a talk given by Nathan Glyde… Read more

We are familiar with the central role of craving (Pali: tanha) in the dharma. The Buddha discussed three distinct kinds of craving. The first kind is the craving for sensual pleasure; the second is the “craving for existence”, or “craving to become” (bhava-tanha); the third kind is the craving for non-existence. At the Sangha this… Read more

How can we most effectively explore life’s existential questions using Buddhist meditation and mindfulness practices? Will pursuit of greater knowledge and certainty about Buddhist teachings lead to more profoundly meaningful living? Jane guided our reflections this Sunday, with particular reference to revered dharma teacher Stephen Batchelor (author of Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist), who offers another… Read more

Metta — loving kindness or friendliness — is a foundational theme  in Early Buddhism and from the beginning has been understood as essential to a balanced practice.  In addition to cultivating the heart, metta has always also been framed as an excellent way to develop deeper samadhi, unity of mind. This week, Sam guided our… Read more

The times we are living in seem far more uncertain than many of us have previously experienced.  Yet the Buddha’s teaching is that uncertainty is the norm, and that we can learn how to meet it with skill and an open heart.  This week, Ron guided our reflections on uncertainty and its relation to our… Read more