Archive of Talks

This Sunday, Sam led a discussion on the topic of Emptiness. The first meaning of emptiness is called “emptiness of essence,” which means that phenomena [that we experience] have no inherent nature by themselves.” The second is called “emptiness in the context of Buddha Nature,” which sees emptiness as endowed with qualities of awakened mind… Read more

This Sunday, Michael played Gil Fronsdal’s dharma talk “Hatred Never Ends Hatred, by Non Hatred Does it end, This is an Ancient Truth” http://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/7454.html The following discussion centered around the ways in which we move skillfully and compassionately in a highly charged atmosphere, without succumbing to antagonism or fear. Read more

This Sunday, Michael led a very timely discussion on the power of speech, as seen from the Buddhist tradition where Wise Speech (or “Right Speech”) is a very important part of the eightfold path. Here’s the link to Oren J Sofer’s talk “Speech as Foundation and Insight”, which we listened to during the sitting. http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/248/talk/28916/… Read more

This Sunday, Michael spoke about the actual practice of meditation and our relationship with it. Our discussion explored different ways we spend time on the cushion, and drew on various teachers’ perspectives about what amounts to meditation. What might the genuine kernel of meditation be?  And, quite apart from traditional trappings, is it religious or… Read more

This Sunday, Mike guided a very involved discussion around Anatta, typically translated into English as “not-self” and a frequent stumbling block for many new to the practice. After all, clearly there is a “self”, and self-denial is the source of much suffering in our culture. The Buddha was not in disagreement with that, but rather… Read more

This Sunday Wendy led the discussion, playing a talk by Tara Brach which included the wonderful Inuit story of the Skeleton Woman. The talk is here: http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/175/talk/38657/   Read more