Archive of Talks

  • Meeting the climate of fear

    For many Americans, the current political climate generates degrees of fear, ranging from a background level of worried concern to a constant state of dread.  And once they get a purchase on the psyche, these states can be self-perpetuating, like a chronic disease.   The Buddha often represented himself as a physician—for example, diagnosing the nearly universal Read more

  • Knowing when to act on emotions

    Sitting with our thoughts and emotions is one of the first skills taught to beginners along our path. We learn how to be with difficult feelings without acting on the impulses that have controlled us our whole lives. However, the Buddha never said we should not act, only that we should act skillfully. How can Read more

  • Getting Practical about Practice

    What is the difference between practicing music and practicing meditation?  According to Dharma Teacher Brian Lesage, they can be more similar than we might at first imagine.        We may become bored with repetition, but also repetition with the smallest variations can become sources of new insights and innovations. Using Lesage’s talk as a starting Read more

  • Looking Within For Guidance

    This week, our Sangha considered a talk by Jack Kornfield on the Mahaparinibbana Sutta which is a collection of stories about the Buddha’s last year. A theme throughout the talk is looking within for guidance. Sam presented this talk for us all to explore. You can listen to the full talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/73180/ Jack reads Read more

  • Energizing and Deepening our Spiritual Practice

    Even steady and committed spiritual practice can be energized from a slight shift of perspective, and the vipassana practice that most of us follow is no different. Michael guided our reflections this Sunday as we explored a practice adjacent to our own Early Buddhist style that can bring a new dimension to our meditative and Read more

  • Resolving the Paradox of Self and No Self

    Perhaps the deepest puzzle of Buddhist practice is the apparent contradiction between the concept of no self—no inherent unchanging, independent “me,”  . . . . . . and at the same time our experience of our own agency, being responsible for our choices, and accumulating good or bad kamma as a result.   If there is no Read more