Along with being one of the 10 paramis (or primary qualities of mind and heart that we are urged to practice), wisdom (prajna) holds a special place in the teachings because it is also one of the three main major pillars of practice. (The other two are virtue, and meditative depthor absorption.) Of these three, wisdom is seen as most central, since this is exactly what we are cultivating during meditation to counter it’s opposites: delusion, confusion, and self-deception. During this talk, Shell explores this 4th parami. (*This is the 5th talk in a 10-talk series on the 10 Paramis)

There is often a mistaken belief that the practice of “renunciation” involves a type of strict repression, denial, or even punishment. But in the Buddhist tradition, it is none of these things.

In fact, the words most often used to describe the result of practicing renunciation (nekkhamma) are: release, freedom, and liberation. The idea is that when we practice letting go, instead of something being lost, something is actually gained.

And, our continued practice of renunciation can lead us to an even greaterhappiness … often called the “sacred dimension of liberation.”

Shell explores this 3rd parami or "perfection" in this 3rd talk in a 11-talk series on the paramis.

The Pali word sila (virtue, or morality) is derived from the word for “bed,” and is considered the bedrock - or foundation - upon which the rest of our spiritual practice is built. Yet, these ethical guidelines are less “though shall not do these things,”and more of a map to help us deeply investigate our own mind, body and heart to recognize which actions lead to suffering (for both self and others), and which lead to more joy and freedom. In this talk, Shell explores this 2nd parami, or "perfection." (This is talk #3 in a series of 11 on the 10 Paramis)

The Buddha taught that if we are really committed to discovering more peace and joy in our lives, the very first thing we need to practice is dana, or generosity, which involves a deep letting go – a release of our strong grip on greed, aversion, and deluded thinking. We also need to consider what we are offering … Are we “giving” others our patience, kindness, and understanding? Or, are we offering them something else? During this talk, Shell explores the 1st parami, or “perfection” – the rich practice of dana. (*This is talk #2 in an 11-talk series on the Paramis, or Perfections.)

“Wherever You Go, There You Are” – As the title of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s book tells us, our happiness doesn’t come from the things that we own, or where we live, or what we have in this life - it comes from the qualities of mind and especially of heart that we’ve cultivated.

In the teachings, the Buddha urged us to practice 10 of these qualities that he considered “priorities of supreme importance” on our path towards finding freedom from stress and suffering.

In this talk, Shell offers an overview of these ten - the “paramis” or “perfections” - in anticipation of a series of 10 talks on each of them.

Often during our practice we are asked to consider the question: “Who am I?” or “What is my real self?” To help us answer these questions, the teachings urge us to closely examine and contemplate what are called the 5 aggregates, or skandhas … things that appear to form the physical and mental continuum of an individual life, or … the way the Buddha describes the totality of what constitutes the “world” and the “self.” This talk explores these 5.

The teachings show us that setting healthy boundaries with others is an important skill that can help us to live with more joy and ease in our lives - but of course, this isn’t always easy. Students often ask: “The teachings point to the concept of annata, no-self … so, why is there a need for boundaries? The Buddha urges us to care for others like a mother might care for her only child … so, why do I feel selfish or cruel when I say no?” This talk explores what the teachings have to say about these questions and more as they relate to the question of protecting our limits.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, this talk explores the topic of love by diving into the Acrobat Sutra, a story and teaching that points to the importance of caring for yourself, which in turn transforms into an act of caring for others.

This talk explores what is considered a kind of underground Buddhist classic: the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day” starring actor Bill Murray. Embedded in the story are some of the most common (and profound) of the Buddha’s teachings, including things like samsara, karma, beginner’s mind, and hope … among other teachings.

Whenever we sit down to meditate, an important question we can ask ourselves is, “why am I practicing?” Or, “What am I looking for?” We can also consider asking: “who” am I practicing for? … Are we practicing for others, but not ourselves? Are we practicing for ourselves, but not for others? This talk explores the Buddha’s thoughts on these answers from the Firebrand Sutta, and offers us fodder for even more inquiry into both our practice, and our lives.