Most of humanities problems arise from a hyper-developed sense of self. Yet do we really have a self? A century from now, will my existence have made any difference? What matters? How can we lighten up a sense of self and be nothing?
This episode with Doug Kraft was recorded in November 2016, at a retreat given in Hawaii.

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Dhamma gifts reflect the ways we are already enlightened and the ways we are most vulnerable. Through them we connect with the core of life itself.  Ahimsaka’s story illustrates how our natural sensitivities can be both gifts and hindrances.

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The jhanas are the Buddha’s map of how the mind-heart unfolds from quiet joy to the edge of enlightenment. Each stage includes and transcends its predecessors. This talk describes how to recognize and work this map and beyond.
This episode with Doug Kraft was recorded in 2017 at a retreat given in San Juan Bautista, CA.  

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When faced with difficulty, we instinctively tighten up. The tension focuses our attention onto the world around us to go after something we want or get away from something threatening. But sometimes there is no solution out there: There are no other jobs. The disease has no cure. The relationship strain is unresolvable. The friend who died just isn’t returning. These are the truly difficult times. To thrive during truly difficult times we have to turn our attention inward and learn how to be with the instinctual tightening in a relaxed and open way.
This episode with Doug Kraft was recorded at a service given by the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento.  

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 This three-part talk is a 3-way conversation between our direct experience, the Buddha’s comments on experience, and science. It explores the components of phenomena (khandas), how to work with them, and ways to skillfully alleviate suffering. This episode is part 2 of 2.
This episode with Doug Kraft was recorded in 2017 at a retreat given in San Juan Bautista, CA. 

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This three-part talk is a 3-way conversation between our direct experience, the Buddha’s comments on experience, and science. It explores the components of phenomena (khandas), how to work with them, and ways to skillfully alleviate suffering. This episode is part 1 of 2.
This episode with Doug Kraft was recorded in 2017 at a retreat given in San Juan Bautista, CA.

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We will never fully overcome the hindrances that obstruct our meditation until we can view them as genuine friends rather than foes to be vanquished. This presentation uses story and dialog to explore how hindrances can help strengthen awareness.
This episode with Doug Kraft was recorded in 2017 at a retreat given in San Juan Bautista, CA.

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This discussion uses the Four Noble Truths as the core of four ennobling questions to be explored in dialog. They are: • How does life rub you the wrong way? • How do you relate to difficulty? • Where do you find contentment? • What helps?
This episode with Doug Kraft was recorded in 2017 at a retreat given in San Juan Bautista, CA.

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Everything has a cause, and that cause has a cause. Like following a string of dominoes, Dependent Origination traces suffering to its roots. This talk shows how to recognize and work with these links. It’s the Buddha’s core teaching.
This episode with Doug Kraft was recorded in 2017 at a retreat given in San Juan Bautista, CA.

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The awareness jhānas are the Buddha’s map that leads from ordinary awareness to freedom from a self, from joy to profound peace, from effort to ease. This talk provides a general orientation to the jhānas as well as the specific stages.
This episode with Doug Kraft was recorded in 2016 at a retreat given in San Juan Bautista, CA.    

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