Archive of Talks

How do we turn the ship heading towards disaster?  Joanna Macy, who passed away recently, was one figure who popularized the idea of “The Great Turning,” in which we collectively turn away from our habitual self-centered way of being in the world to a connection based on awareness of our interdependence.   For decades, she led… Read more

After his encounters with sickness, old age and death, Siddhartha Gautama’s sought answers to life’s suffering from the best-known spiritual teachers of his time.  His quest led him to pursue rigorous disciplines in ancient India’s tradition of ascetic “sramanas“, yogis who believed in a direct experience of realization through practices like breath retention and mastery… Read more

Aimlessness as spiritual path?!  We might dismiss such a notion out of hand, until we learned that it was recommended highly by Thich Nhat Hanh, and that he was pointing to a style of practice that is  also signless.  And empty.   Does such an eccentric approach interest us? or make us suspicious?   Using excerpts from a talk by… Read more

Much of our life seems to be consumed with making decisions, important or trivial: What to eat? what to wear? whether to stay in a job or leave it?  whether to stay in a relationship or prepare for an exit?  Coffee or tea?  How to practice, and how much? We might say, and even believe, “I decide” this… Read more

      Our starting place in the BuddhaDharma is almost always marked by Craving – for all sorts of goals, spiritual, psychological & material.   The promise of the Path is that there is a reliable way to move in the direction of Freedom and Awakening.  Sam guided our discussion this week of a key… Read more

      One of the bright promises of the BuddhaDharma is that we can shape our own mind states. And rather than just wishing for good results, there are paths and practices which we can follow to arrive at this capacity.            Ellen shared part of a talk by James… Read more