Drawing in the Buddhist teaching of dependent co-arising, this talk explores what it means to belong to a living world

Gratitude is a quality and virtue that is like a hidden treasure. It is a spiritual force that brightens our existence and leads to inner harmony. Gratitude can bring an incredible amount of joy into our lives. It makes us happy.

Exploring the practices of gratitude-gathering and joy-savouring as supports for staying balanced amidst life's challenges

A story-rich reflection on generosity, gratitude, and shared joy. Through teachings and lived experience, explore how giving becomes a refuge for the heart.

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

A reflection on how boundless Metta naturally becomes gratitude and generosity. Grounded in early teachings, elemental presence, embodied practice, and the simple movement of a heart learning to give freely.

This talk occurs five days after Joanna's death at age 96, and two days after Donald attended a wake for Joanna at her home, saying good-bye to her. Donald first met Joanna Macy in 1977, while still a student. When he moved to Berkeley, California in 1988, he helped start a neighborhood daily meditation group of ten households, including that of Joanna and her husband Fran. So he got to know Joanna and Fran as friends and neighbors. In 1991, he first trained in her approach, later called "The Work That Reconnects" and offered this work in different venues. Over the years, they have stayed friends and colleagues, and sometimes taught together. In this talk, Donald gives a sense of the trajectory of Joanna's life and work, showing photos of Joanna spanning her life-time and interspersing stories of training with Joanna and using her practices and perspectives in his own teaching. He focuses in the second part of the talk on the four aspects of the "spiral" of her teaching: (1) starting with gratitude, (2) honoring our pain for the world, (3) seeing with new eyes, and (4) going forth into the world. We close with a brief account of Joanna's wake from two days before the talk, and a video recording from the wake of group singing about the "Great Turning." The talk is followed by discussion and closing intentions. For the slides shown during the talk, see document 318, below.