Archive of Talks

It seems as if big questions about social justice and equity are arising every day, with big consequences for large numbers of people.   How does our individual personal karma intersect with interest in social justice?   Does understanding causality as described in the Buddhist idea of dependent arising illuminate the unfolding of social action as well… Read more

 “Metta”  is one of the four Bhramaviharas or Divine Abodes, and is most often translated as loving-kindness. In a world with seemingly stark polarities, metta invites us to love without exception, even when it feels impossible.  Yet, through the training of the heart, there is discernment: to love wisely, not blindly. Can metta be an act of… Read more

This week, Sam shared parts of a video recording of a recent talk by Joseph Goldstein on “Why we meditate”.   He discusses how it’s not just for peace of mind but also for understanding how our mind works,  how habits dominate our minds, how the mind can be trained, and how the mind can be made our… Read more

Every moment of life is filled with a constant stream of experience. Some pleasant, some unpleasant, some neutral, and we aren’t really AWARE of most of it. We just “wake up” every so often and discover a world around us that has a particular bearing on our heart. Then we struggle through that world until… Read more

In all that we do or say or experience – what becomes our Karma, and what simply passes by and drops away?  Are there behaviors we can’t help enacting? What does the voice in our head repeat and repeat?  Is there a way precisely that irksome repetition can become the raw material for transforming our own lives?   Sometimes met… Read more

What is the opposite of freedom?  Exploring this question leads to insights into the 2nd noble truth regarding craving.  Are craving and desire the same?  If not, how to tell the difference?  How exactly do we let go of craving as the Buddha instructs?  Is the path just a grim struggle until nirvana, or can… Read more