Podcasts

How is it that we can have experiences of Grace and Awakening but then fall back into the places of contraction? In tonight's talk, Michael points out Dogen Zenji's "3 Leaks" as a way for us not to defile our opening to the Deep Singularity. Also recognizing the 3...

What happens when attachments are subtle? In tonight's talk, Michael suggests that giving our full attention to our preferences allows us to walk along what Nagarjuna called the Middle Way. Questions and comments deal with reconciling one's religious upbringing with...

How can we ever become truly intimate with our emotional and physical pain? Or, in Buddhist terms, how can we welcome Mara? . In tonight's talk Michael suggests that our pain is often a better guide along the Path than pleasure. Countless sages have spoken to this but...

How can we open our hearts and minds as wide as the night sky? How can we practice being unafraid of not knowing? . In tonight's talk Michael suggests that we meet all positive and negative experiences with total openness. This "non-position" generates a quietude and...

So how do we become intimate with our moment to moment experience? How can we slow down? As a college student, Michael found that the film Koyaanisqatsi suggested that a way towards balance must be found if we're to live consciously. This is the topic of tonight's...

Would Christ and Buddha have agreed that surrendering to the uncertainty of circumstantial living helps us walk with enlightened feet? In this short talk Michael suggests that the 23rd Psalm points to this walk. Creating an intimacy with uncertainty allows us to "not...

How is it that almost everything we do is in the service of feeling greater connectivity? In this talk Michael uses quotes by Plotinus and Suzuki Roshi in order to point us toward that in us which is always connected and never separate from anything. Once this...

How can we ever conceive the Truth if it's totally beyond conception? In this talk Michael offers a personal account of his teacher using the koan "Shaoushan's Three Phrases" in order to help him go beyond the mind. Michael also discusses how, in addition, to...

Is there a way to simplify any of this? What do the basics look like? In this talk Michael breaks these timeless teachings down into some simple themes, beginning with Yasutani Roshi's explanation of our fundamental delusion. From here there is an exploration of the...

What about love? In this talk Michael suggests that Big Love has nothing to do with our understanding and craving of the rush that small love brings. In fact, he uses the words of Rumi to point out how what is really necessary for Big Love to inform all of our...