Archive of Talks

  • Emptiness—further dimensions

    Our sangha is in the midst of a series of explorations of Emptiness, which Sam began last Sunday.  This week, Michael guided an unpacking of the famous Heart Sutra, which brings a Mahayana perspective: Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form.   Payton and visiting Dharma Teacher Cara Lai will round out the series in the subsequent weeks.   Join us… Read more

  • The mind, a flawless crystal

    Sam guided our sangha this Sunday.  Inspired by a quote from Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol (1781–1851) — “The mind’s nature is vivid as a flawless piece of crystal – intrinsically empty, naturally radiant, ceaselessly responsive” — we considerd other writings and listen to excerpts of some relevant dharma talks. Here’s Sam’s notes: In a sangha run by Max or Don,… Read more

  • A Flash of Truth about our World

    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

  • Centrality of the body

    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

  • An Appropriate Response

    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

  • Forgiveness – ending and beginning again

    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