Archive of Talks

  • The Posture of Meditation

    Following the recent theme of Anatta and letting go of self, this week Joey guided an experiential meditation based on Will Johnson’s work The Posture of Meditation and ended with comments by Rev. angel Kyodo williams to spark a discussion. The played talk is available here: https://onbeing.org/programs/the-world-is-our-field-of-practice-apr2018/ Read more

  • The Importance of Nothing

    This week, Zac led our Sangha examining the concept of “nothing to do”. He played a talk by Gil Fronsdal, available here: https://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/8989.html Here are some of Zac’s other notes: Saṁyutta Nikāya 12:15: That things exist, O Kaccayana, is one extreme of view. That things do not exist is another. Rejecting both these extremes, the… Read more

  • Original Face

    This week, Payton took a different look at the concept of not-self which we have been discussing by considering the classic Zen koan, “Original Face”. It is first presented in the Platform Sutta, This very moment, before thinking good or bad, show me your original face. Payton began with excerpts from a talk by Max… Read more

  • Two Truths

    This week Sam led our discussions as we have continued on the theme of anatta (not-self), but also have sought to reconcile this abstract truth with the plain truth of everyday life. Sam played excerpts from a talk by Eugene Cash entitled “The World of Dew: A Talk on The Two Truths”. It is available… Read more

  • Somatic Meditation

    Last week our focus was on Anatta/non-self. This week Joey built on that topic, drawing from a tradition of somatic meditation developed by Reggie Ray and articulated in a dharma talk by Adam Baraz. The talk includes exercises in somatic meditation that allow for a sense of expansion and spaciousness beyond the tight ‘selfing’ many… Read more

  • Non-self: Buddha’s Second Discourse

    This past week, Sam guided the Sangha’s discussions. We listened to a talk by Joseph Goldstein, as well as one of his guided meditations, on the Buddha’s second discourse. In particular, we considered how dukkha arises as a consequence of identification with the body and with consciousness. “Dukkha and Non-Self” by Joseph Goldstein,  2/9/18, IMS… Read more