Tea with Mara

"There in the Balanced “Engagedness” takes a deeper look at equanimity and clears up some common misunderstandings. Often thought of as passive or detached, we explored how equanimity is actually an engaged balance, staying present with life’s ups and downs without being shaken or pulled off-center. It’s not about standing still while the world moves—it’s about moving with it, from a place of steadiness and wisdom. Enjoy!

"Love The Actor, Fight The Action" wraps up a series of a few talks about where we might find ourselves these days with the world in such upheaval. Last week we spoke about pausing, and sitting in that with no need to rush to action. This week, we turn toward that action and make sure it's informed by compassion. These last three talks will hopefully serve many of us through difficult social challenges we may face in the coming years. I hope it is of a benefit to you. Enjoy!

"Holding Space With Grace" is a dharma talk offered at the Two Hands Sangha based on a community member question. It also dovetails nicely off of the last talk. That talk was about pausing and being with your experience with no feelings of needing to rush into action. This talk is about how to hold space for others who might not be handling things as well as you are. At its heart, it's about the difference between equality and equity, and how to sit with someone in their discomfort without the need to fix things for them. I hope this is somehow helpful for you and that you enjoy the listen!

"Times Like These" is a dharma talk and guided meditation (28:15) on giving yourself permission to sit with whatever you're feeling right now, knowing that it's perfectly ok to do that, and when you're ready, practicing in a way that meets your where you are. Allowing and acknowledging, followed by compassion you are capable of. These two simple practices meet you where you are. I hope they serve you in the times ahead, and that they are beneficial.

"Waiting To Exhale" is a Dharma Talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on the topics of coping with the stress we create around impending outcomes, and the way we deal with that outcome when it arrives, whether it's our preferred outcome or not. We draw from The Sallatha Sutta and the Lokavipatti Sutta for wisdom and we hope that this talk is helpful and beneficial for you this week. Enjoy!

"Harmless, Harmed, Harmful, Heedful" is a Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation on this 2024 Halloween about the infamous serial killer from the Buddha's time, Angulimala. I hope this is fun, and also helpful. There's a lot of powerful lessons in his story (not the least of which is a story of redemption). Enjoy!

"It Takes Two To Tango" is a dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on the topic of strong fixed views, particularly when they are mired in delusion, and how to work with that. With the election looming in the USA, and wars raging, and mis/dis information spreading our friends, family, and relationships are often suffering right now, and can seem impossible to heal. They aren't, but nobody said it was easy. I hope this talk will help all people find peace and healing. Enjoy!

"Now I Know What I Got" is a lyric from a Cinderella song...but more importantly it's a Dharma talk and guided meditation (31:49) on the topic of moving from generosity (last week's talk) into gratitude. Specifically, gratitude as the other side of the coin from generosity and how the two are part of a beneficial cycle we can use in our daily lives. Enjoy!

"Need A Little Patience" is a Dharma Talk offered at Two Hands Sangha, about patience. More specifically, about learning to rest in the moment, and let wisdom arise before rushing into judgment or action. I hope this is helpful, and I promise I only quote GnR briefly once. ;) Enjoy!

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"Sustaining Generosity" is a Dharma talk on the topic of generosity and all it's aspects, with a (rare for me) focus on the financial aspect as it has become a hot topic lately in our community (IYKYK). :) Though I offered this talk with a specific community purpose in mind, the message applies to all spiritual communities and might help soften the heart and mind around the often uncomfortable topic of financial donations and give you some ways to work with it, and some insight into its necessity. Enjoy!