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The Glare Behind You
Michael works with a koan called “This Buddha, That Buddha,” in which he talks about how to stop. Our culture needs to stop. Michael compares calming practices and insight practices.
Oyster Swallows the Moon
Michael gives a talk based on the koan “Oyster Swallows the Moon,” exploring how we need to respect our hard shell, learn how to open, and practice simplicity. He also talks about consumerism and insomnia.
Buddha’s Last Words
In the Zen tradition, there is a saying, “Reaching the mystery is nothing but breaking through and grabbing an ordinary person’s life.” The mystical experience turns out to be this present moment. Part of a series of talks on the
Emptiness, Self, Depression & Narcissism
Michael gives a talk on the ways mindfulness meditation can help with the spectrum of mental illness and also some signs to watch out for as practice deepens.
Relax Your Mind
Michael talks on the importance of relaxing your mind and how patience and relaxation give rise to enthusiasm. The talk is based on chapter 8 of Shantideva’s Guide to a Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. Ways of seeing your parents, how
What Can We Know?
Michael reads some core teachings of the Buddha that describe the limits of what we can know. How can we practice deeper than creating new beliefs?
Buddhism Before Religion
The Buddha’s stance is anti-religious in a certain way. He uses what’s in religious practice to undo religious belief. The Buddha creates strategies, not dogmas. The more you go back into the old texts, the further away you get from
Patience is a Practice of Attunement
Long-term practice requires patience more than discipline. Practice frustrates our results oriented mind. You need patience to stay with life for the long haul. The paradoxes of karma.
The Ivory Tower of Love
It’s harder to practice conditional love than unconditional love. Try loving one person for a very long time. In this podcast episode, Michael gives a talk on Shantideva. As kids, our parents are attuned to our needs. As adults, lovers
Intensifying Relationships and the Politics of Love
Michael talks about the difference between mindfulness and being self-conscious, Shantideva’s practices for exchanging your self with others, and suggestions for long-term practice.
Your Crushing Elephant Mind
What should we do with our anger? Venting anger is one of the worst ways to cool down. Outbursts of rage typically pump up the emotional brain’s arousal, leaving people feeling more angry, not less angry.
How to Work with Strong Moods
Michael discusses Chapter 5 of the Shantideva and the way negative emotional mood swings cannot hold together for very long without thoughts. How we have to inject stories into our moods to keep them afloat; and the practices for transforming
About the Community Library
Michael was a great archivist and the Community Library was—and continues to be—a labour of love. Everything in the Community Library is available for free. Anyone, anywhere can have instant access to material that will help them deepen their practice and contribute to a culture of compassion and collaboration.
Libraries are places where we gather alone together. They are known to be places of refuge for seekers, as well as those who are marginalized. This library is no different. It helps us nourish our beautiful, international community without walls. Now, it will also help keep Michael’s legacy alive.