A day before Thanksgiving, we explore the central importance of cultivating generosity (dāna) and gratitude (kataññutā), and their interrelationship. The Buddha teaches (AN 2.11): "These two people are hard to find in the world. Which two? The one who is first to do a kindness, and the one who is grateful and thankful for a kindness done.” We look at a number of ways to practice to cultivate generosity and gratitude, and some of the nuances and complexities of such practices, including the importance of gratitude as a practice in difficult circumstances. Ultimately, these two practices teach us to rest more and more with a sense of interdependence and what Thich Nhat Hanh calls “interbeing.”

This talk discusses how to practice mindfulness externally as a participant in the world. Buddhist principles for social engagement are reviewed

Investigation of dhammas

Una plática en español, ofrecido a la comunidad de Montaña Despierta en Xalapa, Veracruz, México

Turning point in the Buddha's life. Reflections on mindfulness of breathing. Supports of samadhi. The great return, discovering the treasures of the heart.

What is there when we let go of clinging to a limited view of self... When we let go of greed, ill will, and delusion.

Meditation with Chanting

How admitting to not knowing frees us to live in the wonder of our true nature.

San Francisco Insight (SFI)

Metta Retreat

Led by Mark Nunberg, Shelly Graf, Wynn Fricke, and Gabe Keller Flores The Buddha says that any position one takes including being attached to not having any fixed views is “a thicket of views, a wilderness of views, a contortion of views, a writhing of views, a fetter of views. It is accompanied by suffering... and does not lead to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation; to calm, direct knowledge, full Awakening…” In this daylong workshop we will reflect together how necessary and unavoidable it is to use identity to illuminate the social dynamics of our lives, and at the same time how easy it is to become attached and confused by identity, taking it to be more than what it is. The same is true in terms of how the mind relates to any views. There is no way to function in the world without views about this and that. The relevant question is how one can use views without the suffering that comes with attachment. This recording contains the following parts - in order they are: 1 - Guided Meditation with emphasis on recognizing mind states and perceptions of oneself led by Shelly 2 - Introductions by teachers and participants: Name 1-5 identities that arise in our minds conscious or not, useful or not, led by Shelly 3 - Introduction to the workshop and the Buddha’s teachings on Views by Mark followed by Q&A 4 - Panel Presentation: Each teacher discusses skillful use of identity in their lives, 5-10 minutes each, followed by large group discussion facilitated by Gab

What it is, how it manifests, and how to transform it.

Metta retreat

Exploring clinging and release with a focus on vedana: knowing worldly and unworldly pleasant, unpleasant and neutral feeling-tones, and understanding why the Buddha placed so much importance on the experience of unworldly feeling-tone as a support for the deepening of dharma practice

Reflections and guided meditation.

How do we hold identity in Buddhism?

In past weeks I've been pulling inspiration from the Satipatthana Sutta, the foundational teachings on mindfulness. I've been linking them to some of it's underpinning truths of change, impermanence, suffering, and freedom from it. I'd like to continue on this thread for tomorrow's talk and bring in the third foundation, the foundation of the mind.. We'll explore how, when we aren't lost in it, the mind is a fascinating subject for our attention. When we understand our mind more fully, we can more fully understand who we are. We'll use this theme to understand better the truth of self and not-self.

Exploring terrain of practice as the mind meets impermanent, unreliable experience.

Metta retreat

Balancing effort - relaxation and arousing energies.

Anatta: perceiving emptiness in the 5 khandhas, exercising wise attention

This meditation awakens our senses through a body scan and listening to sound, and then invites us to rest in the presence that spontaneously knows the changing stream of experience. Relaxing back and letting everything be just as it is, reveals the natural presence that is our true home.

Listening is our gateway to intimacy with our inner life, each other, our earth and spirit. These two talks look at the ways that listening gets blocked and the teachings and practices that help us cultivate the gift of a deep and healing listening presence.

This recording also includes Gavin Milne

This talk discusses the role of concentration in meditation, and how to skillfully cultivate it

This talk uses an interpretation of a Jataka Story as an introduction to the reflection on opening to impermanence on the path of awakening.

Buddhist Studies guided meditation led by Shelly Graf

Second week of 2-week Buddhist Studies course led by Shelly Graf. This is the discussion and q&a portion.

This talk explores the two truths doctrine of Nagarjuna in a way that makes it relevant for our lives and our practice.

San Francisco Dharma Collective

The moonlight of awakening shinning through as we let go of clinging