The capacity to be touched by and love goodness is, in some sense, the heart of spiritual practice. Something in us loves the truth and is drawn to goodness around us. It makes us yearn to activate the good inside. It requires commitment to choosing wholesome qualities as our default instead of being drawn to the forces of attachment, aversion and ignorance within us.
This talk explores how spiritual friendship encompasses the entirety of Buddhist practice, examining how we become intimate with ourselves, others, and the world through connection and accompaniment. Drawing on suttas, poetry, and personal stories, it reveals how talking about the dharma, offering presence to one another, and cultivating tenderness through difficulty are essential paths to awakening.
This dhamma talk, guided meditation, questions and responses was offered on 29th of November, 2025 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!”
00:14 - Guided Meditation
28:03 - DHAMMA TALK
51:43 - Q&A
When we offer mettā to ourselves, we're not trying to transform our experience into unconditional self-love—we're learning to love the parts of ourselves that don't want to love us back. This practice invites us to recognize all our parts because when we can love the fragmented parts of ourselves, we begin to see ourselves as sacred beings, and in knowing ourselves deeply, we come to know Kuan Yin.
