Dear friends,

Today we continue a talk given by Sister Hang Nghiem. She offers The Four Diligences as a way to practice taking care of the seeds in garden of our mind. So often we are concerned with the seeds and gardens of others; our sister reminds us to take time to recognize and tend to our own seeds.

Now, enjoy this moment to stop and look deeply.

Dear friends, Today we share a talk given by Sister Hang Nghiem. She offers practical advice on how to practice -- by closing our eyes a little bit. In a literal sense, when we can do this during sitting meditation and when we have difficult emotions, but also figuratively when we are going about our daily lives. May we recognize our limits and take good care of ourselves. Now, enjoy this moment to stop and look deeply.

Dear friends, Today we continue a series of talks by Brother Phap Hai on The Eight Verses of Mind Training. Our brother invites us to return to the earth of our practice with the second and third verses: "Whenever I interact with anyone, may I consider myself as lower and from the depths of my heart may I consider the other person as a treasure." "In everything I do, may I look deeply into my mind and as soon as I recognize a mistaken view that endangers myself or others, may I practice diligently to embrace and to transform it." Now, enjoy this moment to stop and look deeply.

Dear friends, Today we share a talk by Brother Phap Hai. He shares insights on our culture of consumerism and discusses how it applies to our practice. Over our time as a practitioner, we may have accumulated some layers of practice. Our brother encourages us to let go of these layers, these formalities and return to the essence of our practice. Now, enjoy this moment to stop and look deeply. (If you prefer the full 1-hr talk, it is available here.)

Dear friends, Today we continue Brother Phap Hai's talk from Deer Park Monastery. He introduces The Eight Verses of Mind Training to help us practice and transform. Over the course of the next few months, our brother will offer all the eight verses for us. Today, the first verse: "May I always cherish all sentient beings and consider that compared to a wish-fulfilling jewel, they are far superior for liberating my heart." Now, enjoy this moment to stop and look deeply.

Welcome to the Deer Park Dharmacast. Dharma flowing from the Ocean of Peace.

Today we share a talk by Brother Phap Hai, shortly after his return to Deer Park from Europe. Our brother reminds us of the the meaning of the word: gratitude. To feel gratitude is to know what has been done for us. May we look back and look inside to remember.

Now, enjoy this moment to stop and look deeply. (The full 1-hour talk is also available here.)

Dear friends, Welcome to the Deer Park Dharmacast. Dharma flowing from the Ocean of Peace. Today we continue to share a talk given by Sister Man Nghiem at the recent Wake Up retreat. Our sister reflects on the idea of building our true home and asks us what we have chosen to build that home out of. Knowing to nourish ourselves with the Four Nutriments, we can build a solid home to withstand huffing and puffing from anyone and anything outside. To hear more about the Wake Up movement, go to wkup.org. Now, enjoy this moment to stop and look deeply.

Dear friends, Today we share another dharma talk from the recent Wake Up retreat for young people. Sister Man Nghiem reflects on how her definition of happiness has limited her actual happiness. She shares stories of her journey to realizing the Four Noble Truths, or as she calls them, The Fabulous Formula. For more on the Wake Up movement, go to wkup.org. Now, enjoy this moment to stop and look deeply.

Dear friends, Today we share the second half of a talk given by Brother Phap Ho at the recent Wake Up retreat for young adults. Our brother speaks to the beginners and those with Beginner's Mind as he introduces concepts of the practice: mindfulness, concentration, insight, aimlessness, impermanence, and interbeing. To hear more about the Wake Up movement, go to wkup.org. Now, enjoy this moment to stop and look deeply.

Dear friends, Today we share the first half of a talk given by Brother Phap Ho at this year's Wake Up retreat for young adults. Our brother shares about his early childhood heroes and how, for him, heroism is different from what's portrayed in popular media. We can be heros for the ordinary things we do in extraordinary ways. For more on the Wake Up movement and to find a local sangha, go to wkup.org. Now, enjoy this moment to stop and look deeply.