Buddhist Wisdom from a Beloved Teacher

Speaking during the runup to the 2020 election, Joanne points us to the tools to take care of our own consciousnesses during difficult times. She reminds us that we always have a choice: to contribute to the hell realms on earth, or to create heaven for ourselves and others. The talk includes the Plum Village song “The Realm of the Mind.”

Dharma talk originally given on October 13, 2020, to the Mind Tamers Sangha, Rhode Island.

Joanne takes us through the process of transforming our anger, showing ourselves nothing but lovingkindness and understanding so that we can offer that to the world. The talk begins just after a guided meditation of sending metta — lovingkindness — to ourselves and others, to which she refers.

Dharma talk originally given on June 8, 2010, to the Mind Tamers Sangha, Rhode Island.

Joanne gives an overview of the first six of the 14 Mindfulness Trainings, showing that they are guidelines for us, to help us choose our actions wisely as we go through our lives. She shows us how they can guide us to avoid causing more suffering in the world, and to transform our own.

Dharma talk originally given on August 14, 2012, to the Mind Tamers Sangha, Rhode Island

Dharma talk originally given on July 13, 2020, to the Peaceful Waters Sangha, Rhode Island.

Joanne addresses the commercialization of “mindfulness” in the culture at large, warning us that simply to learn how to calm ourselves down isn’t going far enough. She explains that we must go one step further and embrace our suffering – rather than merely putting a lid on it –– and look deeply into its causes and conditions. Only by doing so can we transform our suffering, and become free.

Dharma talk originally given in July, 2013.

Joanne shares the practice of mindfully following our breath, which gives us the opportunity to stop, rest and calm ourselves, unifying our mind and body. By doing so we give ourselves a greater chance of exercising free will, allowing us to respond skillfully when suffering arises. *The talk is followed by a guided meditation.

Dharma talk and guided meditation given at the Hartford Day of Mindfulness on November 5, 2011.

Joanne uses the song "At the Foot of the Mountain" and at story by Thich Nhat Hanh to illustrate how we are made of every single element of the cosmos. We learn that only through an awareness of our ultimate interconnectedness are peace, harmony, and fearlessness possible.

The song “At the Foot of the Mountain” is sung by the Nuns of Plum Village, from the recording "Mountains" available from Blue Cliff Monastery.

Talk given at the Hartford Day of Mindfulness, November 5, 2011.

Joanne shares the relationship between mindfulness practice and social change with the community of artists at the Rhode Island School of Design, in Providence, in 2011. The complete title of her talk is: “Creating Peace in Ourselves, Making Peace in the World: When Turning Inward Isn't Turning Away.”

Talk given at the Rhode Island School of Design on September 25, 2011.

Helping us to live in greater harmony with the people we love, Joanne reminds us that the bedrock of our practice is to come back to ourselves to take responsibility for our own happiness, so that we can co-create happiness with those around us.

Dharma talk given at a Family Day of Mindfulness in Rhode Island, in June 25, 2011.

Joanne provides a brief introduction to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, the Buddhist precepts as shaped and made current by the Plum Village Tradition founded by Thich Nhat Hanh.

From a Dharma talk given on June 28, 2011.

To learn more, visit joannefriday.com.