Infinite Smile

This is the second installment of Michael’s discussion of Chapter 10 of After the Ecstacy the Laundry, by Jack Kornfield. This conversation centers around how the Path is paved with a series of mista…

This is the first installment of Michael’s discussion of Chapter 10 of After the Ecstacy the Laundry, by Jack Kornfield.

In tonight’s talk, Michael discusses practicing in the face of threat. Uncovering stillness even in the face of it all means that we enter into and see out of Dharma eyes. He links his discussion to …

In tonight’s brief talk, Michael, once again discusses the Sufi teaching of “dying before we die.” How, for instance do we deal with living in the “real world” and dying into the Ultimate Reality? As…

In tonight’s talk, Michael discusses concepts brought up in chapter eight of Jack Kornfield’s book, After the Ecstacy the Laundry. The discussion centers around having our initial exposure to spiritu…

In tonight’s talk, Michael discusses how the maps of enlightenment are never the territory of Awakening. Then he shows us how the Dzogchen approach of ground, path, and fruition of the Dharma lead us…

In tonight’s talk, Michael discusses the issues that can be associated with the enlightenment experience known in Zen as satori. Questions and comments deal with Shunryu Suzuki’s assertion that he ne…

In tonight’s talk, Michael discusses the internal tendencies that keep us from opening to Awakening. Questions and comments deal with an observing mind acting as an enlightened mind; recognizing ego …

In tonight’s talk, Michael discusses Chapter 5 of Jack Kornfield’s book, After the Ecstacy the Laundry. In between distractions from Michael’s dog Sumi, and a strained sound system, the discussion de…

In tonight’s talk, Michael considers the fifth anniversary of September 11th. Listening and seeing both self and others from an expansive rather than a contracted view supports the unfolding of the P…

In tonight’s talk, Michael considers Eihei Dogen’s map of Awakening. First we study the self, then we forget the self, and in doing this we are enlightened by all things. Questions and comments deal …

In tonight’s talk, Michael reviews the basic steps of our Path leading toward Awakening. He begins with our sense of separation and then points to that which is beyond it. Opening lessens the intensi…

When we really begin to let our lives become spiritual laboratories, we can uncover our preferences. When we uncover our preferences, we can expose our attachment to the veils that keep Spirit from o…

According to the Buddha all life is characterized by suffering, impermanence, and no self. In tonight’s talk, Michael uses the poem “Invictus” by Wm. Earnest Henley in order to point us in the direct…

There’s a huge difference between what we think about things that arise in life and how we feel about them. In tonight’s talk, Michael offers us some suggestions on how we can practice relaxing in th…

What should we do about seduction as we walk the spiritual Path? Not just physical seduction, but intellectual, emotional, and even spiritual seduction. In tonight’s talk, Michael suggests that seduc…

The Buddha taught that enlightenment is nothing other than the “end of suffering”. In tonight’s talk, Michael points out that “forgiveness” is nothing other than letting go of stories, identities, an…

In tonight’s talk, Michael suggests that cutting through the veils that hang between ourselves and Awakening involves getting beyond the inertia of habitual mind patterns. “Hal”, as is said in Sufiis…

What happens when we confuse the map with the territory? In tonight’s talk, Michael suggests through the words of Suzuki Roshi, that our stillness practice is a “general housecleaning of our mind.” Q…

Is ten minutes enough time to meditate in order to apprehend the Middle Way? How about twenty minutes? An hour? In tonight’s talk, Michael suggests through the words of Descartes, the Koran, and Moha…