Tea with Mara

"We Know The Way" is a dharma talk and brief guided meditation that draws on the wisdom of The Buddha, with a little help from Einstein and Moana, to help us understand how we don't have to suffer at the holidays because of past family trauma and storylines that we are stuck in. We can use the practice to write new storylines and give us our happiness and joy back. I hope this lands for someone who needs it. Enjoy!

"Reflections Of The Way Life Used To Be" is a dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on the topic of reflection. Looking back at our year using mindfulness and clear comprehension to see how we met moments in our past year, to inform how we wish to set intentions for the coming year (next week at our Intention Setting Ceremony). I hope you will enjoy and please feel free to message me if you have intentions you would like to have me light a candle for if you can't join us next week. See you then!

"What The Hell Am I" is a Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation on practicing with sickness. When we’re feeling unwell the Buddha reminds us that sickness is part of being human, and that our minds can stay clear and compassionate even when the body is struggling. By noticing discomfort without pushing it away, and by extending kindness, sickness becomes a teacher, guiding us toward deeper understanding, patience, and connection. Enjoy!

"The Acorn And The Oak" is a dharma talk and brief guided meditation on the topic of Interconnectedness, or Interbeing, in a very broad accessible way. I've noticed lots of examples of this lately, and many community members discussing it, so I thought I would offer some thoughts on this wonderful topic. I hope it is of some use in your life. Enjoy!

"Unwrapping Vulnerability and Boundaries" is a dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on Bodhi Day exploring how to find balance between being open-hearted and protecting our personal well-being during the holidays. By understanding balance between these two, we can show up more authentically, deepen connections, and care for ourselves—even in the most hectic season. Enjoy!

"Pain And The Brain" is a dharma talk and brief guided meditation on various kinds of pain and how the dharma can help us work with them. We talk about meeting physical aches, emotional heartache, and mental strain with open-hearted presence instead of running away. We learn to pause and ask, “How can I meet this moment with wisdom and compassion?” I hope you'll enjoy this talk!

"The Grateful Heart (The Lost Episode)" is a Dharma talk and guided meditation (30:20) offered on 11/28/24 in Virtual Reality. This talk was lost during editing and recovered today. We explore gratitude as a way of deepening our connection to others, cultivating resilience, and opening the door to greater joy and freedom. I hope you'll enjoy!

“Survive And Thrive For The Holidays” is a dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha about how the holiday season can be a time of joy and connection—but also stress, conflict, and exhaustion. In this session, we explore how to recover from the challenges of Thanksgiving and prepare mindfully for the weeks ahead. Drawing on the Buddha’s teachings, we’ll discuss practical tools for reflecting on holiday experiences, restoring balance, and setting intentions rooted in kindness, generosity, and simplicity. Discover how mindfulness, self-compassion, and loving-kindness can transform the holiday chaos into a meaningful and nourishing time for yourself and those around you. Enjoy!

"Mindfulness Is A Hoe" is a dharma talk on a community question last week of how to work with worry and anxiety related to situations where we are so worried about something bad happening, that we actually end up creating the conditions for that bad thing to happen! It's a great question and I hope I it will be helpful. We all experience something covered in this talk and I trust it will be useful for each of us. Enjoy!

"Trust Begins When Actions Match Words" is a dharma talk and short meditation (35:30) on Trust. We explore the nature of trust—what it means, how it is built, how it is broken, and how it can be rebuilt based on the teachings of the Buddha with a little help from Pete Buttigieg. I hope you enjoy and find this helpful in your life.