We all have teachers who've inspired us to see life in a new way. Who have been your inspirations? What have you learned from them? I thought I'd share some ways that instructions from two of my teachers--Ram Dass and HWL Poonja (Papaji)-- have shaped how I see the world and how I practice. The talk includes a recording of a significant dialogue from 1990 with Poonjaji that reconnected me with my joy. Here is a link to the dialogue of the Poonjaji satsang where James asked the question https://docs.google.com/document/d/16TnL2Zev-6r_mZPrgdSxSTaYLoyzdLOg3CnJ2U3D6C8/edit?tab=t.0 Here is a link to the video on Youtube that is over an hour long https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrjspK5fHiQ. James is at 23:38

Suffering is the Buddha's 1st Noble Truth. Sometimes it can feel like it's all too much, especially in these days of extreme unpredictability. Legitimate reactions of anger, confusion and discouragement can lead to feeling of hopelessness or resigned acceptance. How can we use the practice to not only skillfully hold those feelings, but to transform them into wholesome uplifting responses such as courage, trust and compassionate action?

This talk explores the place of Devotion in practice and what it means to look at reality through the lens of Sacred Perception.

Seeing sacredness, not only around us, but focusing inside the one who is perceiving. This mind/body (YOU) that is interacting with the world around it. I use Ram Dass's practice of seeing beyond this mind/body by abiding in the perspective "I Am Loving Awareness". This is where the devotional and non-dual meet. To aid in this exploration James shares some powerful cuts from the album Ram Dass, a collaboration of Ram Dass's voice and teachings with background music by East Forest, who will be offering a hybrid concert "Echoes of Ram Dass" at Spirit Rock October 19, 2025.

With so much violence and insensitivity all around us, we can lose touch with our love for what is sacred. All that is required is a heightened sensitivity to tune into what is always around us.

Most of us like to have some sense of security thinking planning ahead or knowing what to expect can help us be more at ease. But the real freedom comes from realizing we really don't know how things will unfold. Although that might seem unsettling, it can allow us to be more at ease with the fundamental unpredictability of life.

Your practice affects everyone around you. When you see your practice in this wider context, it evokes a whole dimension of inspiration and “joyful responsibility“ to cultivate wisdom and compassion within us. In this world with so much suffering—including the climate crisis and injustice in the world—more than ever we need to keep this in mind and see ourselves as “bodhisattvas in training“.

Practices to hold our suffering and to see our innate goodness

Working with the Anapanasati Sutta in some depth. There are 16 steps in four tetrads that the Buddha lays out regarding how to practice this way. It is more than simply keeping one's attention on the experience of breathing. Some of the steps will likely surprise you. I thought it would be interesting to hear how the Buddha himself practiced using the breath and then practice together as he suggested. Anapanasati Sutta Majjhima Nikaya #118 https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html Anåpånasati- Summary of the Four Tetrads (16 steps) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yE2GiJtr3nnMGR_2YYOEA7eZ9W02ti52PD5abYF_Ius/edit?tab=t.0 Thich Nhat Hanh Video TNH explaining the 16 steps (28 minutes) https://youtu.be/inPkOzo_8XQ?si=nKp94lysBPxn4od_ Ven Analayo Audio guided meditations successively building on the tetrads. Last one includes all four. Mindfulness of Breathing with Bhikkhu Anālayo https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/resources/breathing-audio/ Written Overview Analayo - Understanding and Practicing the Ānāpānasati-sutta https://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?t=30301 Bhikkhu Bodhi's videos going through the sutta in detail. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=49266cf56d93934f&sxsrf=AE3TifMAPbSxpASPFg4H_3u7YewNOi0UgA:1753423263992&q=Bhikkhu+Bodhi+mn+118&udm=7&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ1Y6MJ25_tmWITc7uy4KIeiAkWG4OlBE2zyCTMjPbGmP8dNHyekGOBzxjAdPhnrqrkFMVvRmyqhKdJnNaG3AkXT9BEIxM7mvWZQG3bFq0xYNXOHnKszVdt00PEHYlRCcNfQMctmXagH2kmQdDS-r99NNUO7KPPqfaJdzNdnznKA2npV8j&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiV_KnWqteOAxVFIxAIHdP6MTkQtKgLKAJ6BAgVEAE&biw=1309&bih=738&dpr=2.2