Reflections on metta and the power of ordinariness in cultivating this friendliness and goodwill in the heart-mind.

Starting retreat with honoring ancestors of land, lineage, and family of origin. Grounding and embodied sense of taking refuge.

Thoughts on the cultivation of practice and also the naturalness of our own goodness. Includes a reading of St. Francis and the Sow at the end.

A talk exploring the second refuge of the Dhamma. Possible frames for the practice: path as authenticity, path as truth, path as secure attachment, path as beauty.

Short reading from college essay exploring spiritual beauty. Discovering the dhamma that is beautiful in the beginning, beautiful in the middle, and beautiful in the end.

Short intro and chanting of Karaniya Metta Sutta in Pali and in English

Reading from Father Gregory Boyle's "Tattoos on the Heart." Learning our own loveliness.

How equanimity helps us navigate life in retreat and in the world

Homage to Jane Hirshfield and reflections on how the path grows our equanimity, and also our humanity

Reflections on emptiness and the unfabricated.

Introduction to paticcasamuppada and Jane Hirshfield's reflection on the human condition.

Teachings on the 12 links of dependent origination, including chanting and stories. Description of how we get off the chain, dukkha and the end of dukkha.

Stories from Father Gregory Boyle, reflections on love