We take for granted the life of the buddha. We have to acknowledge that there are not many ways to verify the accuracy of the story, and there are also many iterations of how the buddha has been presented over time.

https://youtu.be/pPDsx0TCcJY

https://youtu.be/Xw1Xd20jAy0The emotional dynamic that shows up as negative or useless feelings that we call depression can mean completely different things to people. You may need a psychiatrist or a therapist. It could also, possibly, be addressed by sitting down, holding still and watching the mind is doing.

Enlightened means awake or realized. An outflow is usually seen as something negative that happens when we react to something we don’t like with anger and blame because all we see is the simple cause and effect. Don’t do anything unless you have to. You’re going to have to train your mind to see this.

https://youtu.be/tsUJYW8l_Os

What is the universality of the guru? First you need a living teacher who inspires you. They introduce you to your world, the one you’ve been covering up with your ideas, opinions, your hope and fear, etc.. If you’re able to do that then everything becomes your teacher.

https://youtu.be/A2um5JkHYTQ

Sokuzan was introduced to this practice in 1974 by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche starting with a 10 day solitary retreat. We continue this tradition for varying lengths of time as an opportunity to look at our mind without interruptions.

https://youtu.be/f5wdiZs7KHM

When we return to stillness, we see how crowded the whole thing is and how the mind is overflowing with subconscious gossip. Just watch the thoughts come and go. A willingness to not know is the space that shows up around the thoughts.

https://youtu.be/M7uHfNSwKZY

We take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. The emphasis in this talk is on the Buddha; relating to a teacher. Buddha represents the immediate, living quality of awakening. It’s not something unique, but something universal. Every form is the body of Buddha.

https://youtu.be/kE3G5yrSTys

There is a deep cluster of lies that support an artificial self. Just receive whatever arises without comment. Whatever occurs needs to be seen. You can’t see all of it, but you can see the leading edge - you have to see it yourself.

https://youtu.be/_ROrpU1jeEo

We’re always looking for causation. The ego wants to know why. Stop asking why questions. A “what” question stops at whatever it is you’re questioning. This is done with your awareness.

https://youtu.be/BjucTupxJLs

There are many examples of skillful disruption in our lineage. Sometimes the disconnect can be so strong that the gap between concepts and seeing can’t be bridged through intellect. The disruption that the teacher causes to our conditioned experience with an erratic word or function is meant to bridge that gap.

https://youtu.be/rGeoy72_YVY