Archive of Talks

  • Another dimension of Metta – Fearlessness

    When we endeavor to practice metta, we may be drawn to the gentle side of lovingkindness.  However, there is another face of kindness that perhaps gets overlooked but merits a deeper exploration and attention: fearlessness.  This Sunday, Jessica built on last week’s discussion on kindness and compassion, sharing a talk by Christina Feldman who offers that the… Read more

  • Keeping connected to our Hearts

    How do we stay present to the suffering around and within us and not lose heart?  This time needs us – the world needs us.  As we navigate the many unknowns in this time of pandemic and experience the world around us grasping for assurance and stability (often through blame and judgment) it can be difficult… Read more

  • Equanimity and the unknown

    In struggling with the many current unknowns, we are reminded that we can face anything if we focus on the present moment and meet what comes our way with equanimity.  Equanimity is a key spiritual faculty which allows us to face the known and the unknown, the ecstasies and the despairs, with steadiness and lightness. Equanimity helps… Read more

  • Loving our Hindrances

    As we live our daily lives, in times of health and happiness or in times of great fear and uncertainty, we will encounter the Buddha’s classic Hindrances. Indeed, any experience we really notice is probably infused with a Hindrance of some kind. But the name of these phenomenons may be misleading. By paying a more… Read more

  • Experiencing body mind and art to explore the dharma

    This week Joey led our reflections through different modes, beginning with a guided body scan; here is a link to the body scan by Koshin Paley Ellison, Soto Zen teacher and Co-Guiding Teacher of the New York Zen Center of Contemplative Care (also the author of Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up). Scroll down past… Read more

  • Dharma as Refuge in the Time of Coronavirus

    Patrick guided our reflections this week, focusing on the ways we can use the current circumstance to strengthen our practice, drawing on excerpts from a talk by Zohar Lavie. Dharma can be a refuge, a resource, and a call to action. Lavie offers practical wisdom for using this unique time we have in the best possible… Read more