Dharma Talks

Buddha’s teachings on the “Five Hindrances” (Grasping, Anger, Laziness/Lethargy, Restless/Worry, and Doubt) and how they impact our meditation practice is one the most important teachings given regarding training the mind.…

While there are many apps, books, and techniques for introducing children to Mindfulness practices, some techniques are very simple, almost intuitive and easy to teach. Lillian Pransky is a mom,…

The Buddha recommended reflecting on five essential truths that, when performed daily, and subject to contemplation, reinforces our awareness of impermanence and leads to our freedom from greed, hatred and…

1 incarceration may teach you some skills. Did you learn any? 2 Will any of these skills help you on the outside? 3 How many of you will have a…

Maezumi Roshi asked a student who was also a carpenter to remodel their zendo. After a suitable amount of time had passed, Roshi asked the student when it might be…

In Montana on September 27th, 2015 I tried to see the ”super moon” which was combined with a lunar eclipse. I figured I should try because this combination of events…

His Holiness The Dalai Lama made a statement recently on Rebirth/Reincarnation. He stated that he might not be “reborn”. This is excerpt from Reuters: “The 14th Dalai Lama, in exile…

While the path to spiritual liberation is clearly marked for us, it is a long and difficult journey. In spite of determined efforts to cultivate and sustain our meditation practice,…

We all experience difficult emotions. These are primarily two types; craving/wanting and anger/resentment/fear. Our usual response to craving is to do whatever it takes to get it, then we feel…

Forgiveness and gentleness go hand in hand. In fact, it’s hard to imagine gentleness forgiveness and hard to imagine true forgiveness without a gentleness component. The 2014 Winter Olympics was…

Buddha taught five “Boundless Mind States” of loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. He likely put loving-kindness first because it is an open hearted goodwill toward all beings. By placing compassion…

In a short Sutta in the Udana collection, Buddha gives advice to his attendant Meghiya on the five supports for the development of spiritual maturity. In the Sutta Meghiya is…

Right Speech ( Kind, gentle, not harsh, not divisive, truthful, not idle) Right Tweet Right Blog Right email Right facebook Right voice mail Right texting Right  facial gestures Right Mudra…

Our intentions plant the seeds for both happiness and suffering. Buddhist teachings offer four sublime seeds for the cultivation of true happiness. They are called the Divine Abodes; loving-kindness; compassion;…

Mindfulness is not limited to meditation. Eating is a source of nourishment, enjoyment, socialization as well as an opportunity to be mindfully present. Below are some questions regarding eating and…

The  teaching of dependent origination (DO) is one of the heartwood teachings of the Buddha. In describing the 12 steps of this cycle he outlined how it is that we…

The Buddha's Words on Kindness (Metta Sutta) This is what should be done By one who is skilled in goodness, And who knows the path of peace: Let them be…

Once upon a time there lived a stonecutter, who went every day to a great rock in the side of a big mountain and cut out slabs for houses. He…

Why am I talking about this? Taking teachings into our lives. Not just sitting meditation or getting Samadhi! Concentration is door to Awareness and Awakening  IN THIS VERY LIFE The…

When the Buddha took up the task of promoting the welfare and happiness of all beings he did so by teaching both householders and monastics how to live in accordance…

Let’s start with the premise that we all want to be happy. Happiness is living in harmony with the truth of this unfolding present moment. Our mindfulness practice trains the…

We may wonder why is it that we meditate? It seems like such a simple activity as sitting and watching the breath rise and fall would have very little benefit…

There is a practice in the Thai and Burmese tradition called Wisdom Resolutions. This is taught in the West by teachers such as Jack Kornfield and others in the Theravada…

I recently read a book entitled “Double Take” written by Kevin Michael  Connolly. Kevin was born in 1985 in Helena Montana and was a typical young man in every way…

Having a spiritual practice isn’t easy. It requires a desire for peace and clarity, effort, continuation/persistence and reflection to see if we are on the path. A recent psychological study…

This week we will examine our relationship with Truthfulness. Truthfulness is one of the 10 Paramis (perfections/adornments) of a mind moving toward freedom from greed, hatred and delusion- a peaceful…

Hello Sangha members. I hope you all are well, happy and at peace. Autumn is the time of year when we begin to notice seasonal changes all around us. Have…

This Third Foundation of Mindfulness is difficult to meditate upon for several reasons: 1. It is very subtle. 2. It changes much faster than the body or feelings. 3. One…

Doubt is one of the Five Hindrances that the Buddha discusses in the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness found in the  Foundation of Mindfulness Sutta also known as Satipatthana Sutta. The…

My teacher once told me “this entire spiritual practice is about death”. He didn’t elaborate and I didn’t ask for an explanation (probably should have). But as time has passed…

Reflections for Meditations Sometimes I go about in Pity for myself And all the while A great wind blows me across the sky. This could easily have been a text…

There are four focuses of the Paramita (Perfection of Mind) of Determination. They are; Generosity, Peace, Truthfulness and Wisdom. Wisdom (clarity) arises from many sources and practices but asking questions…

If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear. Pooh’s…

Mudita (Pali)  (Appreciative Joy) is the joy that arises in us as a result of the happiness and good fortune of others. This is our free sample of enlightenment. Since…

Mindfulness of thinking continues the effort to broaden the field of awareness. Thoughts can be primarily words, primarily images or a combination. Anything imagined is regarded as a thought. Our…

Mindfulness of Mental states continues the effort to broaden the field awareness and to see more clearly how our minds function. Mental States are a series of moments of awareness…

(Try practicing this for 10- 15 minutes daily) •           Settle into a comfortable sitting position. •           Close your eyes, either partially or completely. •           Soften the muscles in your face…

One of the most revered mind states in Buddhist practice is the four practices of the Brahma Viharas (also known as the Divine Abodes). The mind states of Loving-kindness, Compassion,…

Diamond Sutra Thus shall you think of all this fleeting world: A star at dawn, a dewdrop in the morning sun, A bubble in a mountain stream; A flash of…

There are many teachings about Karma. Most of them define karma as “action”. In some teachings karma is meant to explain everything that happens and that our past actions (our…

There is sutta called Piyajatika Sutta (From One Who is Dear Sutta ) that created quite a commotion). The sutta describes a householder whose son had died and was unable…

Buddha described Eight Factors on a path to liberation from greed , hatred, and ignorance. They were meant to encompass every aspect of our lives. Right Livelihood is the third…

We bring peace to the world one person, one moment and one word and action at a time. We do this with our smile, our generosity, our kindness, compassion, and…

There are 10 paramis/paramitas (perfections of the mind) in the Theravada tradition. They are adornments of the mind; qualities that we develop as our spiritual practice ripens. They have as…

In a discourse given by the Buddha, he outlined five subjects that should be contemplated often. They are: •    I am subject to aging; I have not gone beyond aging.…

Ring the bells that still can ring.
    Forget your perfect offering.
      There is a crack in everything.
                           That's how the light gets in.      Leonard Cohen The Five lay precepts are…

Equanimity occurs in a number of lists in the Buddhist teachings. And where it occurs it is almost always the last item on the list. I like to pay special…

Most religions (as institutional practices) are an attempt to reconcile the existential issues surrounding life, death, sickness, suffering etc. Buddha didn’t tech “Buddhism” nor did Christ teach “Christianity”. They taught…

Mindfulness is not limited to meditation. Eating is a source of nourishment, enjoyment, socialization as well as an opportunity to be mindfully present. Below are some questions regarding eating and…

Direct Experience. The teachings of Buddha have as one of its fundamental tenets that these teachings should not be believed because of a teacher or because others follow the teachings…

Most people have aspirations for peace and clarity in their lives. Most of us have many aspirations for lots of things!  But it’s one thing to have an aspiration (a…

Settle into your sitting position. •    Close your eyes, either partially or completely. •    Soften the muscles in your face and around your eyes, your shoulders, arms and hands, your…

The Buddhist tradition emphasizes Sunyata, or radiant and infinite openness/emptiness. The Bodhisattva (awakened/ing being) epitomizes the union of wisdom and compassion with an unselfish attitude manifesting as actions in the…

Take a few deep breaths Now let the breath become shorter and calmer Pay attention to wherever you feel the breath. It may be at the nose tip, the chest…

When Siddhartha Gautama realized enlightenment and release from the grasp of greed, hatred and confusion, among many things he had an entirely new perspective on the uses (and also the…

Protection, Reassurance, Blessing, Fear Not Abhaya in Sanskrit means fearlessness. Thus this mudra symbolizes protection, peace, and the dispelling of fear. It is made with the right hand raised to…

This week choose and practice one or more of the basic tenets of Nonharming described below. This will greatly strengthen mindfulness. Work with that precept daily and with meticulous care…

Most of us want something! We may want happiness, peace, clarity, joy, excitement, enlightenment and so on. We might even want an end to wanting. Buddha taught that we can…

(Adapted from “Awakening the Buddhist Heart” by Lama Surya Das) This exercise is devoted to setting aside one day to devote to Right Speech. We will commit to using speech…

It is important to understand that these are guidelines for your practice, not rules. Attitude: •    Don’t expect anything: Just sit back and see what happens. •    Don’t strain: Don’t…