Archive of Talks

  • 2/09/2014 – 3 Heavenly Messengers

    Sam led the discussion, focusing on the three heavenly messengers – old age, sickness, and death.  Excerpts from the following dharma talks were used (all available on dharmaseed.org): 1) Heavenly Messengers by Narayan Liebenson , 3/23/06 – first 13 min., 2) Natchiketa and the Lord of Death by Jack Kornfield, 9/10/12 – first 9.5 min, 3) Mystery and… Read more

  • 2/02/2014 – Perception

    Margaret guided exploration of Perception. This third of the five skandhas relates us clearly – or not sometimes so clearly – to the outside world. To what degree are we subject to the biases of our perceptions, and to what degree can we gain clarity and perspective on our own distortions, thus taking a step toward… Read more

  • 1/26/2014 – shame and self compassion

    Jessica led our reflections today,focusing on the ways we can meet negative emotions which arise habitually.  Excerpts from a dharma talk by Tara Brach on Self-Compassion provided perspective for the discussion.  For the full talk, click here http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/175/talk/18874/   Read more

  • 1/19/2014 – Maturing in Practice

    This Sunday, Anne B guided our reflections, investigating how our practice ripens as we dedicate ourselves to it over time.  Contributing to the discussion were excerpts from Spirit Rock Teacher Anna Douglas, speaking on “What Changes as We Practice?”  That talk can be found at http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/23/talk/10372/ Read more

  • 1/12/2014 – Finding the wisdom in Anger

    Wendy guided our reflections today, anchoring our focus in excerpts from Pema Chodron’s talks in “No Time to Lose: a Timely Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva,” which is also available in print from Shambhala publications.   Pema’s presentation is structured around the provocative epigrammatic observations of Shantideva, the 8th century Indian Buddhist teacher… Read more

  • 1/5/2014 – Yoga and Buddhism

    Jackie traced for us the historical connections of Yoga and Buddhism, beginning from the Vedas and moving forward through the Upanishads, the teachings of Gautama Buddha, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, which contain among the offered methods of contemplation some of those that Prince Siddhartha would have studied and practiced before… Read more