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Public talks

Walking with the Buddha: The Noble Path to Liberation

Reading the teachings of the Buddha can be inspiring: learning the Buddha's Four Noble Truths (that suffering is part of life, that fixation is the cause of suffering, that suffering can be resolved and there is a path that leads to the end of suffering) can help us feel hopeful about our lives. But how do we practice? How do we recognize causes of suffering in our lives, and how do we learn to let them go?

This teaching will review the Buddha's Eightfold Noble Path and how we can enact right conduct and mindfulness in our everyday lives.

A Source of Unending Joy

Modern sages advise us to “follow our bliss” and “stop and smell the roses” as we live our busy lives. But often we wonder how to find our bliss and live our joy. This talk, based on Buddhist philosophy and psychology, will examine how we discover joy in our lives and carry it with us always.

Buddhism in the Real World (Buddhism in Daily Life)

When we think of Buddhism, we might call to mind images of Shakyamuni Buddha, sitting peacefully on a lotus flower, and wonder how the teachings of such a person might help us in the busy “real world” we inhabit. This program will describe how Buddhist teachings apply to everyday situations, including the workplace, the home, and the classroom.

Building Peace, One Life at a Time

When faced with the complex and painful world situation, it might seem hopeless – that the world and its inhabitants are caught in an inescapable web of conflict and suffering. This lecture will describe the Buddhist view of conflict and peace-making, and offer suggestions on how each person can take peace into their own hearts and bring it to the world at large.

Compassion in Tough Times

In a time when financial and energy resources seem to be dwindling, more wars appear to be breaking out, and tensions run high in families and communities, it’s hard to find one’s center and find a place of peace in a world of turmoil. The historical Buddha Shakyamuni shared strong advice for times like these: reach out and benefit others. This talk will discuss the meaning of his advice, and how we can apply it to our own lives in difficult times.

Cultivating an Awakened Mind in Life and Death

The teachings of Tibetan Buddhism remind us of the preciousness of our life, and its great promise: if we can tame our minds, we can experience peace and happiness in this life, and face adversity and even death with a sense of compassion and grace.

By familiarizing ourselves with the many examples of impermanence in our lives, we can begin to engage (and perhaps even calm) the fear of loss and change that can prevent us from living life to its fullest.Topics include basic Buddhist ideas about life and death; contemplation on impermanence, and how meditation practice can bring more awareness and enjoyment to life.

Making Life a Spiritual Journey

One modern spiritual teacher once said that all of us are on a spiritual journey, but not all of us agree to “get with it” and make that journey all the way to the end!

Busy lifestyles, families, jobs – all can make our lives seem so jam-packed that meditation practice and spiritual endeavors seem almost impossible. Outer and inner busyness can make us feel frantic, and leave us feeling snared in worldly ties.

But with the application of a few short phrases, we can make even the busiest life a journey that gives us purpose. We will review those phrases, and discuss ways to make them real for us.

Meditation in Daily Life

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s hard to take a moment for ourselves – there’s so much to do, and so many distractions demanding our time. The practice of quiet sitting meditation, based on techniques more than 2,600 years old, can help create a place of quiet and rest for us in the busy world. If practiced regularly, meditation can bring a sense of health and well-being, and give us insight into the ways we unnecessarily complicate our lives, providing us with an avenue for change.

This talk will include historical background on meditation as well as a simple meditation instruction, followed by a brief meditation and discussion.

Taming the Human Heart

(Paraphrase of Trungpa’s “Dharmic Person” talk, or could be about Six Perfections)

A description of this talk is being prepared for the website.
Meanwhile, please email for that description.

The Core of Self-Worth

It’s widely believed that a healthy sense of self-worth is necessary for personal well-being. But how do we cultivate such a feeling? And how do we help others to see the goodness in themselves? This talk explores the Buddhist view of self-worth, and offers ways for us to develop a healthy sense of self that allows us to see the good in others, too.

The Gentle Power of Love

A description of this talk is being prepared for the website.
Meanwhile, please email for that description.

Working with Anger

Among the most destructive of all afflictive emotions, anger is a source of challenge (and sometimes frustration) for many of us. It might feel natural, and even necessary, to respond with anger when we hear about injustice, or are ourselves the victims of injustice. But is anger useful? Is it helpful? Does it, by itself, correct injustice? And what of the objects of our anger? Are they what we think they are? Are they good or bad of themselves? This talk will cover the origins of anger according to Buddhist psychology, and offer some strategies for working with this powerful emotion.

Working with Difficulties

A description of this talk is being prepared for the website.
Meanwhile, please email for that description.

Other topics will be considered – just ask!