Archive of Talks

  • Avija

    This week Stephen led our Sangha’s discussion, examining the depth of the concept of “Avija”. Early Buddhism sees Avijja (Ignorance/Misunderstanding)/Confusion/Delusion/’Not Getting It’) as the root cause leading to suffering. Avijja is seen as including misconceptions regarding the nature of reality, especially regarding Impermanence, Suffering, and Non-Self/Emptiness. Such misunderstandings lead onwards to the pursuit of grasping… Read more

  • Our North Star

    Britt guided our reflections this week, exploring our personal North Stars. Reconnecting with what brought us to practice, and probing why we continue to do so, can affirm and reinvigorate our commitments to awakening into presence. Britt played a talk by Michele McDonald called “Spiritual Urgency and Awakening – Touched Completely by the Universe 18”… Read more

  • Skillful Effort: not too much, too little, but just right

    Today Mike B offered a presentation centered around a dharma talk by Shaila Catherine, a teacher mainly known for her work in concentration. But the talk today was much more wide ranging, covering the many different aspects of Wise Effort. She made clear that a wide spectrum of effort can be appropriate in meditation, from… Read more

  • Sense of Identity: where does it come from?

    This week, Margaret guided our reflections as we continued the theme of identity from Lorilee’s Sangha last Sunday. Margaret played excerpts from a talk by Rodney Smith: http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/148/talk/38402/ Below are some quotes which were used during the discussion. When you hear your inner voice, 
forget it.
 -Hyoen Sahn Krishnamurti: “It is the truth that liberates, not… Read more

  • Freedom from inherent bias based on identity

    This week, Lorilee led our Sangha discussion based on her current exploration of identity and bias in all types of relationships. She began by playing a brief video illustrating the layers of judgement we place on people and situations. The video showed unsuspecting couples coming into a movie theater filled with tough-looking biker dudes and… Read more

  • Compassion, Pain, and an Open Heart

    Mike Blouin led our reflections this past Sunday, aided by a talk by Michele Macdonald, with whom he attended retreat this May.  Difficulties such as pain and overwhelm can prompt in us a response of compassion rather than evasion, if we have come to understand the spirit of Kwan Yin (Guanyin), the buddhist patron of mercy.… Read more