by Rio Branham Intro A phrase that we sometimes say here is that Spiritual Friendships are the whole of the way. I want to dive a little bit deeper into it and what it means to me and why we say it. We usually ask to see who is here for the first time. But…
It’s the Hope That Kills You
by Kelly Branan I want to begin by naming something that may already be in the room today. Many of us are tired. Not just physically tired, but existentially tired. Tired of carrying uncertainty. Tired of waiting for things to improve. Tired of hoping and being disappointed. For some of us, the word hope itself…
Everyday Mind as the Pure Land
by Kelly Branan When we hear the words Pure Land, many of us imagine somewhere else. A distant realm. A peaceful afterlife. A place free from conflict, free from grief, free from the messiness of human life. And if we’re honest, there’s a part of us that really wants that. A place untouched by disappointment….
Recognizing Our Clinging
by Kelly Branan Today I want to talk about clinging, not as an abstract Buddhist idea, but as something intimate, ordinary, and deeply human. Because most of us do not walk around thinking: “Ah yes, today I am participating in attachment and craving.” Clinging rarely announces itself directly. It disguises itself as: It often sounds…
This Is Water: Waking Up from Autopilot
By Laura Rose Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here today. I want to begin this talk with a story– a parable that has stayed with me since I first heard it in high school, and one I still come back to often. It goes like this: There are these two young fish swimming…
Interbeing with the Earth / The Earth in Us, and Us in Each Other
Laura Bennett Let’s begin by settling into our bodies, into the present moment. I know we already did this a bit at the beginning of the ritual but it’s always relevant, and I want to put it in the context of the Earth. Breathing in, breathing out. I become aware of the whole sangha breathing…
Namu Amida Butsu in Our Tradition and in Everyday Life
By Laura Bennett I want to begin with a poem by Mary Oliver: “You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about…
Gratitude as Communion
Gratitude practice isn’t about forcing a feeling — it grows through presence, participation, and deep listening. In Sangha life, simply showing up, serving, and engaging with others can quietly transform how we see our lives. Gratitude arises as recognition of interdependence and support, not obligation. Through mindful awareness and community practice, appreciation becomes less a technique and more a way of meeting reality as it is.
The Delusive Self
Rio Branham How do you come as you are when you’re not happy with who you are? How do you accept the phrase nothing to fix when it feels like things are falling apart? Like my car door handle that broke so now I have to roll down the window and open the door using…
Already Held: The Journey of Self-Compassion
By Laura Bennett Lately, I’ve been on a journey to be more compassionate towards myself. For me, this has meant learning to offer more compassion towards the thoughts, sensations, emotions, perceptions, and habitual patterns that arise. This journey has also naturally lent itself toward learning how to truly receive compassion. When I say compassion here,…
Everyday Nembutsu 