A few days after the Pittsburgh Synagogue bombing by an anti-semitic white nationalist, we practice and discuss the radical communal prayer called mettā (Loving-kindness, benevolence, friendliness). How radiating mettā to All Beings, including the difficult ones, is the same as praying for world peace. Meditation: Breath, whole body, and radiating mettā to all beings (10.30.18) Talk: Mettā is a prayer …
Based in our recent exploration of the Diamond Sūtra and the ideal of the Bodhisattva, we begin a series of discussions of what I’ll call the Great Demons, the systemic ills we struggle with and which so clearly are conditions for global suffering right now. We’ll work with three core models for understanding systemic ill, all of which I’ll explain …
The Great Demons: Systemic trauma & social action Read More »
I’ve been wanting to do this series for a long time. We’re taking several weeks to study our way slowly through the beautiful Mettā Sutta, the Discourse on the cultivation of Friendliness, or Loving-Kindness. It’s a joy to discuss, and we’re learning to chant the sutta as well. Here are the talks and meditations from each week of the series, …
The 4 blessed healing states known as the Divine Abodes, or Divine Abidings (brahmavihāra) are among the most beloved practices in the Buddhist system. We spent a month on them this summer, looking at the power of heart practice on the Liberation process. The meditations use a simple form of the “radiating” style taught by Ajahn Anālayo. We ended with …
The 4 Divine Abodes (brahmavihāra), plus gratitude Read More »
After the sudden passing of Buddhist teacher Michael Stone. Meditation: Center of Gravity, breath
Immediately after giving this talk at Haas Business School on the historical issues and philosophical problems around the conception of mind and body as separate, I zipped on my bike over to Satsang and talked about romance and grasping. Bang! Pow! Meditation On intimacy
Part of a series on social justice issues, we look here at the profound virtue of tolerance, and how it can be developed through the practices of mettā and renunciation. Meditation I gave “basics” meditation instructions this evening:
The doctrinal list known as the 10 Perfections, or pāramī, has only a small place in the earliest layer of the Buddhist teachings, but by the time the Pāli Canon was being fully assembled and the Mahāyāna revolution was well-underway, the list became one of the central frameworks for describing the qualities that aspiring Buddhas, or “Bodhisattvas” should cultivate. The Jataka Tales …
10 Perfections (pāramī) to Cultivate on the Path Read More »
Here’s some background on this terrible fire that shocked our community. I knew someone who died in it, and people in the Satsang community also lost friends. The talk touches on grief and mourning, and the room was really heavy. I’m glad we had the space to gather.
Talk: Responding to the tragedy in Orlando. (6.16.16)
May the forces of delusion
not take hold, nor
weaken my resolve.
(Sharing of Merit)