Dr. Rebecca Li

Cultivating Compassion for Ourselves

On Sunday, May 14th, 2023, after meditation we watched excerpts from a Talk by Chan teacher, Dr. Rebecca Li, about cultivating compassion and loving-kindness for ourselves. The teacher mentioned that […]

The Most Basic Truths

On Sunday, March 12th, 2023, after meditation we watched a Dharma talk from Jack Kornfield entitled “The Most Basic Truths: Gateways to Freedom“. In this talk, Mr. Kornfield discusses a […]

Zenju Earthlyn Manuel

Boundlessness and our fear of it

On Sunday, February 12, 2023, after meditation, we listened to a Dharma talk by Soto Zen teacher, Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, on “Boundlessness.” Zenju first clarified that boundlessness could not be […]

Jack Kornfield

Seeing Anew, with Beginner’s Mind

On Sunday, January 8, 2023, after meditation we listened to a Dharma talk podcast by Vipassana teacher, Jack Kornfield, on “Seeing Anew.” Starting by quoting Shunryū Suziki Roshi: “the goal […]

Bhante Sujatha

Handling Difficult Thoughts and Emotions

On Sunday, December 11, 2022, after meditation we watched a Dharma talk from Bhante Sujatha entitled “A Buddhist Approach to Handling Difficult Thoughts and Emotions.” In his talk, Bhante Sujatha […]

Domyo Burk

Gratitude as a Dharma Gate

On Sunday, November 13, 2022, after meditation, we listened to the talk “Gratitude as a Dharma Gate“ by Dharma teacher Domyo Burk. In her talk, Domyo explained how gratitude could […]

Ven. Ajahn Brahm

Facing Difficult Situations in Life

On October 9th, 2022, after meditation, we watched a Dharma lecture by Ajahn Brahm titled: “Facing Difficult Situations in Life.” Ajahn Brahm taught that when we face crises and other […]

Issan Koyama

Relating Koan Lessons to Daily Life seeing cause & effect + staying in here-n-now

On Sunday, September 11, 2022, after meditation we listened to a Dharma talk from Issan Koyama offering insights into two kōans, the Wild Fox kōan and Rinzai’s Blind Ass. In […]

Pema Chödrön

Getting Unstuck – Know Your “Shenpa”

On August 14, 2022, after meditation, we learned from Dharma teacher Pema Chödrön about the concept of “shenpa”, how it related to our suffering, our feeling of being “stuck”, and […]

Khandro Rinpoche

Effortlessness in Practice

On July 10, 2022, after meditation, the group watched three short Dharma teachings by Her Eminence Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, all of which were given in response to practitioners’ questions, […]

Shohaku Okumura

Goal vs Direction: Zazen is Not About Progress

On June 12, 2022, after meditation we listened to a Dharma talk – “Zazen is Not About Progress” – from Shōhaku Okumura about the difference between a goal and a […]

Chozen Bays Roshi

The Basics: From Sitting Postures to Mindful Eating

On May 8, 2022, after meditation, we shared a collection of short talks by Chozen Bays Roshi with practical advice on the most basic practice how-tos: “From Sitting Postures to […]

Fred Eppsteiner

Adversity, Path of Awakening

On April 10, 2022, after meditation, we shared a talk on the Tibetan Lojong teaching of: “Turning Adversity Into the Path of Awakening” by Fred Eppsteiner. In his talk, Fred also […]

Tathaaloka Bhikkhunī

The Role of Bhikkhunīs

On March 13, 2022, after meditation, we honored Women History Month by sharing a talk from Ven. Tathālokā on the topic of “The Role of Bhikkhunis.” After meditation, we briefly shared the […]

Mindfulness : “Freedom from Being Caught in the Past or the Future”

On February 13, 2022, after meditation, we met online for a Teachers’ Corner session to learn from the recently departed Zen Master Thich Nhất Hạnh about the practice of “Mindfulness”. […]

Master Bon Soeng

The Four Great Vows

On January 9, 2022, after meditation, we studied the topic of “The Four Great Vows.” Before watching the Dharma Talk by Zen Master Bon Soeng on The Four Great Vows, […]

Dr. Larry Ward

Practicing with Our Hindrances

On December 11, 2021, after meditation, we listened to excerpts from Dr. Larry Ward’s talk titled “Unshakable Deliverance of the Mind”, on how to practice with the Five Hindrances. Dr. Ward explained that the goal of our practice is to achieve “a mind that is unshakable” and a mind that is “delivered… from itself.” To achieve unshakable deliverance, we must develop an awareness of our mind, and the power to reshape it toward compassion and kindness, and this process calls for us to practice with the Five Hindrances.

Ven. Bhikku Boddhi

Praise and Blame

On November 13, 2021, after meditation we listened to a talk from the Venerable Bhikku Bodhi about a piece of the Buddha’s advice for our speech. In particular, the Buddha […]

Ayya Santussika

Giving It All You’ve Got

On October 9, 2021, after meditation we watched a Dharma talk by Ayya Santussika titled: “Giving It All You’ve Got.” The teacher quoted Ajahn Chah who said that in everything […]

Roshi Gaelyn Godwin

Edges and Boundlessness

On September 11, 2021, after meditation we watched a Dharma talk by Roshi Konjin Gaelyn Godwin about Edges and Boundlessness. The talk was originally delivered to the Tallahassee Chan Center […]

Ven. Ajahn Brahm

Dealing with Sickness

On August 14, 2021, after meditation we listened to a talk from Venerable Ajahn Brahm about a talk about Dealing with Sickness. Everyone gets sick at some point in their […]

Ven. Ajahn Brahm

Embracing Uncertainty

On July 10, 2021, after meditation we met online for a Teachers’ Corner session on the topic of “Embracing Uncertainty” At Teachers’ Corner last Saturday, we watched excerpts from a […]

Dalai Lama & Thupten Jinpa

Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form

On Saturday, June 12, 2021, our Teachers’ Corner was focused on the famous line in the Heart Sutra: “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form…“, with teachings from H.H. The Dalai […]

David Listen

“The Core Principles of Buddhadharma” by Guest Teacher David Listen

On May 29, 2021, Chan/Zen teacher, David Listen, joined us to guide meditation and give a Dharma Talk via Zoom. He expounded on the Three Dharma Seals (impermanence, selflessness, nirvana). These describe how things truly are; and when we cannot let go of our desire for permanence or a sense of an independent self, we suffer. He explained how nirvana or “true nature” is not a “thing” we can see or attain, but simply describes our capacity to fully realize the truths of impermanence and selflessness, thereby unleashing our full potential for compassion and wisdom.

Andrea Fella

Wise Livelihood

On Saturday, May 8, 2021, the topic for Teachers’ Corner was “Wise Livelihood.” After meditation, we listened to a dharma talk by the teacher Andrea Fella about “Wise Livelihood“ (often […]

Joan Halifax & Domyo Burk

Grief

On Saturday April 10, 2021, the topic for Teachers’ Corner was “Grief.” For seated meditation, we started with a 10-minute guided meditation on “Encountering Grief” by Roshi Joan Halifax followed […]

Photo of Ven. Pannavati Bhikkhuni smiling

Forgiveness

On March 13, 2021, after meditation we met online for a Teachers’ Corner session about “Forgiveness.” At Teachers’ Corner last Saturday, we listened to excerpts from Ven. Pannavati Bhikkhuni’s talk […]

Taiun Michael Elliston Roshi

Dōgen’s Fukan Zazengi (Universally Recommended Instructions for Zazen)

On February 13, 2021, after meditation we learned more about “zazen”, or Zen meditation, through a text called the “Fukan Zazengi“, or the “Universally Recommended Instructions for Zazen” in English. […]

Ajahn Brahm

How to Prioritize?

On January 9, 2021, after meditation we met online for a Teachers’ Corner session on the topic of “How to Prioritize?” At Teachers’ Corner last Saturday, we listened to a […]

Sensei Joshin Byrnes & Matthew Kozan Palevsky

Living by Vow

On December 12, 2020, after meditation we heard a dharma talk about the concept of vow, which figures prominently in Mahayana Buddhism. At Teachers’ Corner last Saturday, we heard a […]

Ajahn Brahmali

Practice with Attachment / Clinging / Grasping

On November 14, 2020, after meditation, we discussed one of the fundamental causes of our suffering — Attachment / Clinging / Grasping, and how to work with it in our […]

Teacher Misconduct

On October 10, 2020, after meditation, we shared several teachers’ responses on the issue of Teacher Misconduct in student abuse. We hope their advice will guide us in learning the […]

Ven. Thubten Chodron

Unskillful Speech : Idle Chatter

On September 12, 2020, after meditation we learned more about Right Speech (Samma vaca), one of the elements of the Buddha’s Eightfold Noble Path, through a closer examination of one […]

Mary Stancavage

Letting Go of the Second Arrow

On August 8, 2020, after meditation, we learned about a core Buddhism teaching about human suffering — the Second Arrow. At Teachers’ Corner last Saturday, we read the sutta (Samyutta […]

Guo Gu / Dr. Jimmy Yu

Being Present

On July 11, 2020, after meditation, we learned about what “Being Present” means for practitioners of the Buddhadharma. At Teachers’ Corner last Saturday, we listened to a recent Dharma talk […]

Tenzin Palmo & Kittisaro

Transforming Suffering

On June 13, 2020, after meditation, we learned from two different teachers on the topic of Transforming Suffering. At Teachers’ Corner last Saturday, we listened to two Dharma talks, one […]

Ajahn Brahm & Sharon Salzberg

How to Deal with the Feeling of Guilt?

On May 9, 2020, after meditation, we learned from two teachers about the feeling of Guilt and the Buddhist perspective on how to deal with it. At Teachers’ Corner last […]

Rebecca Li, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Thubten Jampa, Ngo Khong

Buddhist Practice in this Pandemic: Allow Joy into Our Heart & other advice from Dharma teachers

On Apr. 11th, 2020 was our “Teachers’ Corner” week, and we took this opportunity to share a recent Dharma talk given by a Chan teacher Dr. Rebecca Li, in response […]

Thích Nhất Hạnh & Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

Dealing with Anger

On Mar. 14, 2020 after meditation, we learned from three different teachers about Anger. At Teachers’ Corner last Saturday, we watched two short video teachings and read a short article, […]

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche & Pema Chodron

Impermanence

On Feb. 08, 2020 after meditation, we heard from two different teachers about Impermanence. During our “Teachers’ Corner” session, we read a couple pages from Thích Nhất Hạnh’s book and […]

Ajahn Brahm

Listening

On Jan. 11, 2020 after meditation, we learned about the importance and the challenges of Listening from Dharma teachers Ajahn Brahm and Toni Packer. During our “Teachers’ Corner” session, we […]

Gratitude

On Nov. 30, 2019, Alan gave a special presentation on an very important Buddhist practice: Gratitude. Following is the outline of ideas he presented with links to the source articles […]

Karma

Last Saturday, on Nov. 9, 2019, Kayla presented on the topic of Karma. Kayla’s presentation was followed by a lively group discussion on the topic at length – not just […]

Interdependence

Last Saturday, on Nov. 2, 2019, Stephen generously shared his research on a well-known Buddhist concept: Interdependence. He led us through an inspiring discussion session after meditation. Following is the […]

The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism : Knowledge

Last Saturday, on Oct 12, 2019, we studied the tenth of The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism — Jñāna (Knowledge). To learn more about the very last Paramita, we shared […]

Ven. Thubten Chodron

The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism : Power / Strength

Last Saturday, on Oct 05, 2019, we studied the ninth of The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism — Bala (Spiritual Power / Strength). We first read an excerpts from the […]

Venerable Domyo Burk

The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism : Vow / Aspiration

Last Saturday, on Sept. 14, 2019, we studied the eighth of The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism — Praṇidhāna (Vow / Aspiration). After a brief intro. on the vows of […]

The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism : Skillful Means

Last Saturday, on September 7, 2019, we studied the seventh of The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism — Upāya (Skillful Means / Expedient Means). We first defined Upāya. Then we […]

The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism : Wisdom (Part 2)

Last Saturday, on August 10, 2019, we dived deeper into our study for The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism — Prajñā (Wisdom / Insight). We first read a few excerpts […]

The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism : Wisdom (Part 1)

Last Saturday, on August 3, 2019, we studied The Ten Paramitas of Mahayana Buddhism — Prajñā (Wisdom / Insight). Following meditation, we started Dharma learning session with a quick overview […]