https://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/9545.html - 30 minutes
In this inspiring and hilarious talk, Gil Fronsdal goes through three major Buddhist values: (1) consumerism is not a Buddhist value; contentment is. (2) Acquiring material possessions is not a Buddhist goal; acquiring wholesome, inspiring states is. (3) Fulfilling all our desires is not possible; to be free from all desires is possible.
https://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/9556.html ~ 12 minutes.
In this short Dharmette, Gil Fronsdal unpacks two great Zen stories. I find that Gil’s decades’ of training in both the Theravada and Zen monastic traditions allow him to provide a very unique perspective on practice.
When things are thrown at us by life, instead of jumping to conclusions, we can ask: is that so? When society and others rush us to conclusions about our life and situation, we can say: we shall see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSBt2OpYvYA&t=307s - 8 minutes
In thie talk Zen Roshi and Insight Meditation teacher Gil Fronsdal brings to light two beautiful poems by Shantideva of India and St. Francis of Assissi in response to the question of what is left when we completely let go of our small, egoistic selves. Are we left to be spiritual blobs or is there a lot more to give and do?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPT34BM5Rzk - 12 minutes
In a world that is falling apart from ecological destruction, political turmoil, climate change, and violence on an unprecedented scale towards animals and humans, how can we protect ourselves in such an unstable world?
“Virtue, generosity, and good-will; we don’t harm other people”
“Wherever you go, your goodness is going to come with you”
https://dharmaseed.org/teacher/9/talk/51305/ - 50 minutes
This Dharma talk is given by Ajahn Sucitto. I remember thinking “this is the best Dharma talk I have ever heard” after listening to this talk. Of course, this is not the first time I have had that thought after a talk that inspires a truly skillful and wise way of navigating reality. After initially listening to this talk, I went on to listen to it 3 times over the next couple days after the initial time I had heard it, because I was so inspired by it; each time I listened to the talk I learned something knew from it.
This talk helped me to accept and include the uncomfortable things that we all experience every day and to realize the importance of including everyone and everything in my experience.
