Archive of Talks

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

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

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

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

This Sunday, Payton led the Sangha’s discussion on the topic of the Five Hindrances, and how they might be more like teachers rather than problems in our life. The talk he played was by Vinny Ferraro at Against the Stream Meditation Center and is available here: https://www.againstthestream.org/podcasts/the-five-hindrances-6/ “Our neurosis and our wisdom are made out… Read more

This Sunday, Patrick guided our reflections, exploring how awareness of feeling tone (pleasant, unpleasant, or neither; called vedana in Pali) can help cultivate a warm heart and a greater internal awareness. A short talk by Gil Fronsdal helped to illuminate this understanding of both worldly and spiritual feeling tones, and the benefits of distinguishing between… Read more