By GBF
Buddhism for Liberation and Social Action. We invite teachers from all schools of Buddhism to offer their perspectives on the dharma and its application in modern times, especially for LGBTQIA audi
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The podcast currently has 861 episodes available.
How can we make the Four Immeasurables (aka the Brahmavihārās or divine abodes) more present in our daily lives?
In this talk, Jennifer Berezan explores these four virtues—loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity—integral aspects of Buddhist practice. She emphasizes their universal relevance, encouraging us to cultivate these qualities to foster deeper connections and inner peace.
Jennifer enriches her discussion with musical interludes, using songs to embody each of the Four Immeasurables:
Through her music, Jennifer offers a heartfelt and accessible approach to these profound teachings, inviting listeners to integrate them into daily life.
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Jennifer Berezan is a unique blend of singer/songwriter, producer, and activist. Over the course of ten albums, she has developed and explored recurring themes with a rare wisdom. Her lifelong involvement in environmental, women’s, and other justice movements as well as an interest in Buddhism and earth-based spirituality are at the heart of her writing.
Find her at https://jenniferberezan.com/
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To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/
There you can:
CREDITS
Audio Engineer: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
In this departure from our usual dharma talks, David Moreno guides us in weaving sitting practice with the Tantric practice of Yoga Nidra and the energetic practice of Qi Gong. These processes augment and integrate meditation into moving mindfulness. Yet, they are complete meditations in themselves. Throughout this session, he encourages us to allow the movements to help us “feel more, think less.”
WATCH this interactive talk and find the quotes that David shares on our website:
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/somatic-meditation-the-anatomy-of-practice-david-moreno/
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David Moreno, RYT 500, YACEP, SFT, has taught at international yoga conferences, festivals, universities, and teacher trainings worldwide. He continues his study in Tantra, Ayurveda, meditation and Qi Gong. He is known for his depth, keen sense of humor and timing, making his teaching both playful and informative. His yoga commentaries have been published in Yoga Journal, Yoga International, LA Yoga Magazine, and Common Ground. His dance criticism and performing arts journalism are featured in Culture Vulture. David is also an ordained minister.
He also teaches day-long and weekend-long mindfulness movement and sitting retreats, called Deliberate Stillness, at Green Gulch Zen Center.
Learn more at https://moryoga.com/retreats/deliberate-stillness-daylong-2024/
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To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/
There you can:
CREDITS
Audio Engineer: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
How can we continue to stretch our sense of loving-kindness to include all beings?
In this talk, Dave Richo explores the practice of loving-kindness (metta) in Buddhism, emphasizing its expansive nature. Using an analogy from Romeo and Juliet, Dave explains that love is boundless, reaching beyond our immediate relationships to encompass all beings. He introduces the concept of concentric circles, where love radiates from ourselves to our close ones, those we are neutral toward, marginalized individuals, and even those we struggle with, eventually encompassing all beings. The core idea is that as we give love, it grows in abundance, benefiting both us and others.
Dave encourages us to include in our loving-kindness practice:
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David Richo, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, writer, and workshop leader. He shares his time between Santa Barbara and San Francisco, California. Dave combines psychological and spiritual perspectives in his work. His latest book is "Ready: How to Know When to Go and When to Stay." (Shambhala, 2022). The website for books, talks, and events is www.davericho.com.
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To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/
There you can:
CREDITS
Audio Engineer: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
When the world gets to be a little too much for us, how can we keep from shutting down?
JD Doyle shares that the key lies in returning to our interconnectedness. JD ties this beautifully with the practice of the brahmaviharas (the four immeasurables: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity). JD explains that when we feel overwhelmed by the suffering we witness or experience, turning to these qualities helps us stay grounded. By cultivating loving-kindness and compassion, we can face challenges without closing off emotionally.
JD encourages finding sympathetic joy—the ability to take pleasure in others' happiness—even when we're struggling ourselves. This practice shifts our perspective, allowing us to connect with joy rather than being consumed by negativity. JD also emphasizes equanimity, helping us maintain balance and compassion even when we feel like the weight of the world is too much. Through these practices, we develop resilience and stay open-hearted in the face of overwhelm.
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JD Doyle serves as a core teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) and has served as a board member and was the cofounder of the LGBTQI meditation group. JD is in the Spirit Rock Meditation Center teacher-training program and was in the Dedicated Practitioner Program (DPP2) and the Community Dharma Leader Program (CDL4). JD has practiced Buddhism since 1995 in the U.S., Thailand, and Burma.
For over twenty-five years, they worked as a public school teacher focusing on issues of equity and access. JD holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Cornell University and a master’s degree in Language and Literacy and Sociocultural Studies from the University of New Mexico. JD identifies as gender non-conforming. They are committed to celebrating the diversity of our human sangha, addressing the impact of racism on our communities, expanding concepts of gender, and living in ways that honor the sacredness of the Earth.
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You can watch the video on our website or YouTube:
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/joy-and-compassion-in-the-face-of-overwhelm-jd-doyle/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_b6VuZ_LNY
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To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/
There you can:
CREDITS
Audio Engineer: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
How can we become truly present and engage with each moment we experience?
In both interpersonal relationships and self-reflection, Daigan Gaither advocates for an open, curious approach where we allow things to be as they are, rather than forcing them to fit preconceived notions. This approach, he suggests, fosters deeper connection and understanding with ourselves and others, as well as with the world around us.
Daigan explains that we often misinterpret our emotions by labeling them (e.g., calling a physical sensation "anxiety") and then react to those labels instead of the actual experience. This creates layers of stories and emotions, leading us further from the original feeling.
He encourages us to stay curious about our experience, letting go of certainty and rigid identities, and allowing the experience to tell us what it is. By doing so, we avoid creating fixed identities or stories about ourselves and our emotions, which can lead to suffering.
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Rev. Daigan Gaither (he/him) began Buddhist practice in 1995 in the Vipassana (Insight) tradition, then began studying Zen in 2003. He received Lay Ordination in 2006 where he was given the name Daigan or “Great Vow,” and received Priest Ordination in July 2011.
Daigan speaks internationally on a variety of topics particularly around gender, sexuality, social justice, and their intersections with the Dharma. He also sits or has sat on a number of boards and committees that serve community needs and further social justice causes.
Daigan has a BA in Philosophy and Religion from San Francisco State University, and an MA in Buddhist Studies (with a chaplaincy certificate and a certificate in Soto Zen Buddhism) from the Graduate Theological Union and the Institute of Buddhist Studies.
He lives in San Francisco, CA and identifies as a disabled, queer, white, cis male. Learn more at https://queerdharma.net
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To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/
There you can:
CREDITS
Audio Engineer: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
Can turning away from pleasurable experiences actually limit our practice?
In this talk René Rivera shares that there are wholesome states that signal we are on the path to awakening. However the pleasurable states often get a "bad rap" in Buddhism as something to be avoided so as not to trigger craving.
René summarizes the importance of pleasure by quoting Betty Martin:
"Pleasure is a powerful change agent. Pleasure helps you make friends with your body and that changes the sense of who you are in the world, and your sense of self worth, value and compassion. Many fears and inner conflicts resolve. That is why it is often said that pleasure heals."
He also leads the sangha in an exercise to explore an everyday object with one's hands. The intent is to find the ways in which we may find nourishment by introducing the act of noticing. Focusing on pleasurable sensations is a good way to begin because that's where our mind naturally gravitates anyway.
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René Rivera is a meditation teacher, restorative justice facilitator, and leader, working and learning in all the spaces in-between race, gender, and other perceived binaries, as a queer, mixed-race, trans man.
René teaches heart-centered, trauma-informed meditation, at the East Bay Meditation Center and other meditation centers. He has co-led the first residential meditation retreats for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people. René is a restorative justice facilitator for the Ahimsa Collective, working to heal sexual and gender-based violence.
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To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/
There you can:
CREDITS
Audio Engineer: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
How can we reconcile our sexuality with Buddhist practice?
(Recorded June 11, 1995)
Following on the heels of the AIDS crisis, in 1995 societal shame about LGBTQ sexuality was quite prevalent. Eric Kolvig emphasized that Buddhism is an ethical system focused on reducing suffering, not a moral system with judgments of good and evil. Arguing that repressing sexuality doesn't work, he challenges us to engage with it skillfully whether choosing celibacy, monogamy, or multiple partners.
Eric shares several insights from his own exploration of sexuality and spirituality:
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Eric Kolvig, Ph.D. was a teacher in the Vipassana Buddhist tradition for 30 years, from 1985 through his retirement in 2015.
A gay man, he was one of the first teachers to foster queer sanghas, leading meditation retreats offering public talks around the United States and abroad.
Eric had a particular interest in “grassroots dharma,” building spiritual community in democratic, non-authoritarian ways, and he led retreats in the wilderness. He was one of the first teachers who was open about using Dharma to cope with severe mental illness.
He worked with many teachers but primarily with Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg in the lineage of Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma, and also with Richard Clarke in the Zen lineage of Roshi Philip Kapleau.
After retiring as a dharma teacher, he moved to rural New Hampshire to lead a contemplative lifestyle. After an illness, Eric died on July 2, 2024.
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If you are interested in more from this wise elder of the LGBTQ community, find links to additional resources available by Eric Kolvig, along with a complete transcript of this talk at:
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/gay-sexuality-and-buddhist-dharma-eric-kolvig/
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To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/
There you can:
CREDITS
Audio Engineer: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
What did the Buddha mean when he spoke of ignorance?
In this talk, David Lewis discusses the essence of mindfulness and the core principles of Buddhism, emphasizing direct experience over intellectual understanding. He explains that the Buddha avoided metaphysics and focused on how things work, promoting meditation as a means of gaining wisdom. He underscores that ignorance in Buddhism is not about a lack of information but rather the failure to see things clearly in the present moment. Ignorance is linked to being caught up in thoughts rather than perceiving the present reality, leading to suffering.
David discusses:
David emphasizes that these insights are tools for waking up to the nature of reality, leading to freedom from suffering. Meditation serves as a practice to cultivate awareness and wisdom, helping us to live in harmony with the true nature of things.
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To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/
There you can:
CREDITS
Audio Engineer: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
When we feel stuck or overwhelmed by society, how can we find joy and courage?
Steven Tierney asks us to challenge the notion that we are stuck with no way out. He emphasizes that rather than avoid the difficult, we can find a way through by embracing Buddhist teachings and practices.
This can include:
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Steven Tierney (Kai Po Koshin) is a Dharma transmitted teacher in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi. Steven has a new Sangha: Oceans Compassion Sangha and also practices with Gay Buddhist Fellowship, Meditation in Recovery at SFZC, Great Spirit Sangha, SFLGBTQA Sangha, and the Hartford Street Zen Center.
Steven believes that we can find wisdom, compassion and awakening wherever good people come together for practice, healing, service and joy. Dr. Tierney is a psychotherapist in private practice and Professor Emeritus in Counseling Psychology at CIIS.
He is a Certified Addiction Specialist and has been named a Diplomate in Clinical Mental Health by the American Mental Health Counselors Association. He is also a certified suicide prevention and intervention trainer, providing workshops, classes, and consultations. Steven can be reached at 415-235-1061 or [email protected]
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To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/
There you can:
CREDITS
Audio Engineer: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
What core Buddhist teachings are reflected in all other wisdom traditions?
As stated in the Kālāma Sutta, known as the Buddha's "charter of free inquiry," Donald Rothberg encourages us not to believe anything simply because we are told to, but rather apply our own experience and discernment.
He encourages us to embrace the very practical core teachings of Buddhism and consider how those resonate with other religious traditions.
He explores the foundations of our teachings in familiar Buddhist language, framing them in terms of:
He then looks at the essence of each and how they can be expressed very simply in ordinary, practical language that goes beyond Buddhism.
WATCH the full talk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ZLIg05F38
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Donald Rothberg, Ph.D., is a member of the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Center, a guiding teacher for the Marin Sangha in San Rafael, California, and a regular teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, California, Southern Dharma Retreat Center, InsightLA, and New York Insight.
He teaches retreats and groups on concentration and insight meditation practice, lovingkindness practice, transforming the judgmental mind, mindful communication, working skillfully with conflict, and socially engaged Buddhism.
He has practiced insight meditation since 1976, and has also received training in Tibetan Dzogchen, body-based psychotherapy, and trauma work. He has helped guide many six-month to two-year training programs in socially engaged spirituality, both Buddhist-based and interfaith, and is the author of The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World, and the co-editor of Ken Wilber in Dialogue.
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To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/
There you can:
CREDITS
Audio Engineer: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
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