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,…
Tag: Buddhist practice
Attend to All and Each
Chris Leibow’s dharma talk invites us to embrace the Buddhist mantra “come as you are” through Namu Amida Butsu, focusing on compassion, interdependence, and mindful presence. He reflects on the meaning of attending to ourselves and others within a unique, trans-ectarian Buddhist fellowship inspired by Pure Land teachings. This talk blends poetry and ancient wisdom to guide listeners toward awakening and wholeness in everyday life.
Embracing Impermanence – Mono No Aware –
In Chapter 32 of the Diamond Sutra, the Buddha teaches impermanence through poetry, likening our conditioned existence to dew, lightning, and dreams. This dharma talk reflects on impermanence (anicca), grief, and gratitude, inviting us to embody—not merely understand—the fleeting nature of life and to meet it with tenderness and presence.
The Dharma of Creativity
By Rio Branham I want to talk about an idea expressed in this quote from Rev. Gyomay Kubose, Living in oneness with [the] Buddha’s teachings is a creative life in which everything becomes meaningful. I’ve been coming across this idea in lots of different places, that a spiritual life, awakening, enlightenment, is related to creativity…
Is not impermanence the very fragrance of our days?
Good morning. So the title of this dharma talk is actually a quote from Rainer Maria Rilke: “Is not impermanence the very fragrance of our days?” I love this quote because it reminds me that our impermanence is what gives life meaning. The fleeting, unknowable, ephemeral, impermanent nature of being alive can bring heartbreak and…
Hide Self View
By Kimmy Dojinyo Sensei Hi, welcome, and thank you for being here with us in community. Today, I want to share how much I have been thinking about myself—specifically, my delusion of self. This Dharma Talk idea first came about during a Zoom meeting several years back, shortly after the COVID lockdowns, when a large…
Build-a-Buddhism: Choosing what spirituality means to you
By Rio Branham I want to start by talking about a favorite book of mine. The Alchemist by Paulo Cuelho. It’s a story about a boy named Santiago who decides to leave all he has and all he’s known behind to follow a dream. Without knowing much about what will come of his pursuit, he…
Not knowing is the most intimate.
Not Knowing – I would like to start today’s Dharma talk with one of the most famous of the Zen Koans – Attention! Master Dizang asks Fayan,“Where have you come from?”Fayan replies, “I pilgrimage aimlessly,”“What is the purpose of your pilgrimage?” asks Dizang.“I don’t know,” replies Fayan.“Not knowing is the most intimate,” remarked Dizang.At…
Sangha As Practice
I want to start today’s talk with one of my favorite teachings of the Buddha found in the Upaddha Sutra in the Pali Canon. This story involves Ananda, the Buddha’s cousin and attendant, who has been with him for many years. As they rest during their journey, I can envision him glancing over the assembly…
On Humility: The Path of Studentship
DHARMA TALK by CHRISTOPHER KAKUYO Today, I want to share a few thoughts on humility. Some years ago, I came across a profound teaching by Nubuo Haneda in his book Dharma Breeze. In the first chapter, he recounts the origins of the Shin Buddhist tradition when Shinran meets his teacher, Honen. Here is the passage….
Everyday Nembutsu 