Archive of Talks

Today, Payton led the discussion on mindfulness of emotions, as defined by Gil Fronsdal in his talk of the same name. The talk is available from Audio Dharma here: http://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/7306.html Gil spoke about using the acronym “RAFT” to pause and work with strong emotions as they appear in our minds and bodies. The acronym refers… Read more

This Sunday, Zac led a discussion by exploring the concept of Happiness as it is understood in Buddhist philosophy and practice. Some questions which were explored: What does happiness mean in the Buddhist context? What are various ways it is understood in the teachings? What is the “highest happiness”? Why is there so much emphasis on… Read more

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