Urban Dharma

A talk at True Yoga... An introduction and brief overview on the kinds of mind states found in some forms of meditation and the dying process. The two reference works used were... "Preparing for Death & Helping the Dying" — by Sangye Khadro (available on Urban Dharma for free download - eBooks page) and "The Psychedelic Experience": A Manual Based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead by Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, Richard Alpert (available at Amazon.com).

My interview with Father Alexei Smith... Director of the Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Office of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Father Alexei and his office is a resource used by the Archbishop and the various offices of the Archdiocese in all matters of ecumenical and interreligious issues. You can find out more about Father Alexei and his work at: http://www.archdiocese.la/ecumenical/index.php

This is part 3... My interview with Roshi Wendy 'Egyoku' Nakao, abbot of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Since 1967, ZCLA / Buddha Essence Temple has provided the teachings and practice of Zen Buddhism to all who come and go through its temple gate. The core practice is zazen. Visit the ZCLA web site at: www.zencenter.org

This is part 2... My interview with Roshi Wendy 'Egyoku' Nakao, abbot of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Since 1967, ZCLA / Buddha Essence Temple has provided the teachings and practice of Zen Buddhism to all who come and go through its temple gate. The core practice is zazen. Visit the ZCLA web site at: www.zencenter.org

This is part 1... My interview with Roshi Wendy 'Egyoku' Nakao, abbot of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Since 1967, ZCLA / Buddha Essence Temple has provided the teachings and practice of Zen Buddhism to all who come and go through its temple gate. The core practice is zazen. Visit the ZCLA web site at: www.zencenter.org

Two stories about the wearing and using of Buddhist robes. Part of a talk at True Yoga on wearing and using the Buddhist robes. You can find True Yoga on line at: www.TrueYoga.com

A second presentation to a another class at Chadwick School studying the Book "Siddhartha," a novel of asceticism set in the time of the Buddha. I shared my understanding of Buddhism and answered their many questions. This podcast is the second of four talks I gave at Chadwick School on 5/8/2006. (http://www.chadwickschool.org/)

A presentation to students at Chadwick School studying the Book "Siddhartha," a novel of asceticism set in the time of the Buddha. I shared my understanding of Buddhism and answered their many questions. This podcast is one of the four talks I gave at Chadwick School on 5/8/2006. The students at Chadwick had some great questions, and you're about to hear my answers. (http://www.chadwickschool.org/)

A talk to the UCLA Buddhist Club on THE FOUR IMMEASURABLES: Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy and Equanimity. After the talk we had time for Q &A... This podcast is the talk and the Q & A.

Q & A from my talk on Mindfulness Meditation at True Yoga. There were many questions about Karma, Self and Soul after my talk on mindfulness. This podcast contains those questions and answers. Sorry to say I only had one mic so the questions are hard to hear, but the answers I gave should give you a good idea of what was being asked. Karma, Self and Soul seem to be a sticking point for a lot of folks new to Buddhism. I'm hoping what I had to say on the subject adds some clarity and insight to the question, is it OK for a Buddhist to have a Soul or Self?

A talk on Mindfulness Meditation given at "True Yoga" in Thousand Oaks California. My friend Ericka just moved her True Yoga studio down the street to a new home, with two workout areas and a very nice main room. This was my first talk in the new facility and I was asked to think about speaking twice a month instead of just once. I said yes, and should start the new teaching schedule soon. For more info on Ericka Bryant and True Yoga please visit: www.TrueYoga.com

My interview with Ven. Tenzin Kacho a Tibetan Buddhist nun on being a Buddhist, a nun and a hospital chaplain. On April 1, 2006 I went to Long Beach, California to interview my friend Ven. Tenzin Kacho. The interview turned out to be a little longer than expected, but her journey as a nun is filled with so many interesting twists and turns it could have been three times as long. Her temple web site is - www.tdling.com

My interview with the web master of BuddhaNet.net Ven. Pannyavaro on being a Buddhist, a monk, a web master and his new project "Bodhi Tree" monastery and retreat center. I first met Ven. Pannyavaro in 1998 at the World Fellowship of Buddhist conference in Australia and again a few weeks ago at UCLA. I asked him if I could interview him about his web site, his new project "Bodhi Tree," how he found Buddhism and why he became a monk. Many thanks to Ven. Pannyavaro for his time, his wisdom and his web site.

My interview with Rev. Eko the abbot of Shasta Abbey a Buddhist monastery on what it's like to be a Buddhist, a monk and the abbot. Many thanks to Rev. Eko for his time and wisdom. For more info on Shasta Abbey please visit: www.ShastaAbbey.org

A talk to the UCLA Buddhist Club on the spiritual journey... What to do and how to do it.

Enlightenment vs Nirvana... Mahayana and Theravada... are they the same or different, is one better than the other? Just some of the questions I try and answer in a talk to the UCLA Buddhist club.

A talk given to yoga instructors at True Yoga (www.trueyoga.com) in Thousand Oaks, California on the how's and why's of concentration meditation.

A talk given at One Spirit Center for Conscious Living called, "Going Beyond, Pain and Suffering." I got to sit in with the house band and played some harmonica blues, then singer and songwriter Harold Payne performed an original blues tune.

A talk given at the UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica to the new chaplains on "Buddhist Patient Health Care" and end of life issues. For more information go to: www.kusala.org and click on, "A guide to death, dying and good health in Buddhism."

Part 2 of a presentation to a comparative religion's class at a Catholic High School in Los Angeles on Basic Buddhism - 10/20/2005