Empty Mirror: Awake, Forgiving, Free

Forgiveness is the greatest generosity we can give ourselves.  We come to it by wisely seeing that the harm in the world, whether it originates within ourselves or others, comes from ignorance. So there is nothing to fear and nothing to forgive.  We can…

Polish the Moon & Sweep the Clouds

What stops us from realizing Truth? We face the human condition besieged with obstacles in the mind that can be overcome with a total commitment to giving up our many forms of addiction. We learn to stay present and to develop the enlightenment factors…

Come to the Edge

In our meditation practice, we journey inwards to come to the edge and see ourselves as we really are. To do this, we have to cultivate special qualities, the paramis or perfections. And so we learn to grow a silent harmless space within ourselves…

Fall Apart, Fall Apart, Rise Anew

Intuitive wisdom develops gradually as we learn more and more to drop the story and view the flood of impermanence in the silence of the mind. Eventually we will be able to answer the question: what remains after the work of purification? A talk…

How Do I Save That Moth?

The Winter of the World is here… How do we bear it? What does the mind need in order to open to the teachings? Dana. Sila. Generosity and virtue. Cultivating generosity, starting with the material, can mature into acts of sharing one’s time, energy,…

On the Cross of Our Illusions – A Guided Dying Meditation and Reflections

To simulate the natural process of death is to experience the impermanence of the five aggregates and a pure awareness that knows the inherent emptiness of things as they truly are. Dying is a potent doorway for liberation of mind and the best death…

The Currency of COVID: Protection from Harm Through Spiritual Awakening

Waking up to our spiritual wealth, we learn the true currency of COVID – it is not fear and frailty but courage, compassion, loving-kindness, community and connection. We see what is protection for ourselves and for each other, dwelling with the Dhamma, the Truth,…

Boundless Metta in Difficult Times: A Guided Meditation

We can develop boundless quality of Metta in difficult conditions. A guided meditation during Waking Up to the Peace in Our Hearts Monastic Retreat at Insight Meditation Society Retreat Centre in 2013.

Joy Is Hidden In Sorrow

Every moment is an opportunity to transform ourselves by understanding things as they really are and opening to the natural law of life and death. We learn what death is and how to find true peace by following the Noble Eightfold Path and living…

Entering the Gate: Four Spiritual Powers

Though our spiritual paths are many and varied, we can all practice with enough present moment awareness, faith, energy and commitment to realize the boundless nature of the heart that seemed at first beyond our reach. Satipañña Insight Meditation Toronto (SIMT) Retreat, Chapin Mill,…