This dharma talk explores the concept of oneness. It is common for Buddhists to consider the concept of not-self: there is no I nor me, rather we are a whole Here we consider what this means pragmatically, in our day to day life, through the example of how people come together during times of great stress. The dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on August 18th, 2019.For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/Find us on Facebook at...

This dharma talk explores what it means to live in the moment. How do we identify what action we should engage with to be in the current moment? How do we balance having a plan for the future with living in the moment? This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on August 25th, 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

This dharma talk explores the sessionation from suffering that arises when we let go of selfish grasping. Loenard Cohen's comments and thoughts on a zen practice are used as the basis for the discussion. This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on July 7th, 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

This dharma talk explors the meaning of Zen. It discusses what it means to live in fully in each moment. Consideration is given to some of the common misconceptions about Zen.   This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on July 7th, 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

What is Buddhism? This dharma talk explains the core principles of Buddhism - the four nobel truthes and the eight fold path. These concepts are discussed from the Pragmatic Buddhist postion that utilizes  Western pragmatism to understand the dharma.   This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on June 23rd, 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

When we feel discomfort with another, it is us who brings the discomfort and not them. This dharma talk explores what it means to accept that discomfort and use it as the first steps to change.   This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on June 16th, 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

This dharma talk explores the challenge of understanding emotional presence. This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on June 9th, 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

What are the different faces of compassion? Do we use a different face of compassion for ourselves than the one we show others?   This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on May 19th 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

What does it mean when someone calls themselves an agnostic?   This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on May 5th 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

Images of serenity are synonymous with zen. This talk explores the relationship between skilful action and serenity: when is taking action the serene thing to do? This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on May 12th 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

A personal transition can be a very challenging time. What does it mean to be present during the transition? This dharma talk explores the meaning of presence during a personal transition. It emphasises how sitting zazen can help, the difference between having goals and selfish grasping, and why trying to simply float about the changes is unlikely to be successful. This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on June 2nd 2019.   For more information,...

The teaching of the Atthakavagga often to not focus on practice. This dharma talk focuses on the concept of sati (being mindful). The resulting discussion looks at how to take a practice off of the cushion and into everyday life. The Atthakavagga sutras are some of the most ancient and scholars believe they are closest to the Buddha's teaching. They are practical sutras with little mysticism. These talks are based on a collection of five English translations, where there was substantial...

When thinking of impermanence, it is easy to focus on when situations coming to an end. However, for true impermanence, the arising stage of a situation is just as important as its passing away. This dharma talk explores the meaning of impermanence through consideration of the spring season. This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on April 22nd 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook...

This dharma talk explores the fundamental meditation practice of Buddhism. How do we approach the inevitable thoughts that arise during meditation? This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on April 15th 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

When we feel annoyed with something, or someone, it is us who brings the annoyance. The thing or the other person simply is, and it is we who are annoyed. This dharma talk presents a new parable to help explore our annoyances through the concept of not-self. The following discussion focuses on how we can reduce our suffering that originates in our annoyance and frustration.   This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on March 24th 2019.   For more...

Our Sangha often makes reference to the acceptability of burning the sutras. But if burning the sutras is acceptable, what is sacred? This Dharma talk explores the meaning of sacred to Pragmatic Buddhists.   This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on March 24th 2019.   For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/   Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

What does it mean to be happy? This talk explores how the four noble truths can help us understand happiness. This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on March 17th 2019. For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/ Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

Spending time with yourself can be challenging. Freed of the distractions and external inputs we have to look inwards. This is not always a comfortable experience. This talk using Chapter 64 of the Tao as a springboard to discuss how we look inwards to understand who we are. This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on March 10th 2019. For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/ Find us on Facebook...

What is the role of religious belief for a Western Pragmatic Buddhist? The dharma provides us with a context for being a Buddhist. This talk explores our dharma context and how we identify an appropriate middle path for our lives. There was a problem with the recording this week, and the podcast cuts out suddenly at the end. This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on March 3rd 2019. For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/ Find us on...

What does the body tell us about our nature? It is easy to say that we should see past our physicality and focus on our spiritual being. But is it right to dismiss a significant element of ourselves? This dharma talk presents the Buddha's views on the body. It explores the meaning of our physical form. The discussion explains that a person's worth is not understood through their body. This talk is the fourth in a series based on the discourses of the Athakavagga. The Athakavagga sutras are...

Everybody mourns a loss in a different way. There is no wrong or right way to mourn. This dharma talk explores how the parinirvana sutra that describes Buddha's death can help us approach loss. This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on February 17th 2019. For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/ Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

Why don't we offer ourselves the same compassion we offer to others? Often when evaluating ourselves we are very critical. We say things to ourselves that we would never say to another person. This dharma talk explores how we can offer the same compassion to ourselves as we do to others. This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on February 10th 2019. For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/ Find us on Facebook...

This dharma talk discusses dogma, traditions, and ritual. How can different tradions be combined to a modern, pragmatic philosophy? This talk is the third in a series based on the discourses of the Athakavagga. The Athakavagga sutras are some of the most ancient and scholars believe they are closest to the Buddha's teaching. They are practical sutras with little mysticism. These talks are based on a collection of five English translations, where there was substantial disagreement the Pali...

What is the meaning of karma? Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to those who have done wrong. Karma as more than a cosmic ledger that ensures everyone gets their just deserts? This talk explores the pragmatic Buddhist's view. This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on November 11th 2018. For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/ Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/

Despite localized examples to contrary, the flow of society is towards increasing compassion, peacefulness, education, and connectivity. How do the upheavals and good fortunes in our personal life experience fit with this general flow of social karma? This dharma talk took place at the Central Ohio Center for Pragmatic Buddhism on December 2nd 2018. For more information, please visit us at http://www.cocpb.com/ Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RainbowSanghaColumbus/