Dave Smith Dharma

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Talks and meditation instructions from Dave Smith, Dharma Teacher, Mindfulness Trainer, Secular Humanist...recovering buddhist. These talks and instructions are offered to you free of charge. If you are moved by generosity, and would like to support me in my livelihood, making a donation would be g…

dave smith


    • Sep 17, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 41m AVG DURATION
    • 446 EPISODES

    4.9 from 93 ratings Listeners of Dave Smith Dharma that love the show mention: dharma, buddhist, dave, practice, modern, talks, relatable, thanks.


    Ivy Insights

    The Dave Smith Dharma podcast is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in Buddhism and meditation. As a long-time practicing Buddhist, I was introduced to Dave's teachings by a friend and have found them to be excellent and influential in my own spiritual journey. One of the best aspects of this podcast is Dave's genuine and down-to-earth delivery. He shares his direct experiences, foibles, and struggles, making it relatable and inspiring for listeners like myself. There is no pretense in his teachings, which opens the door for all of us to engage with the material on a deeper level.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is that Dave's teachings are thoughtful and accessible. He presents complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand, making them applicable to everyday life. His vulnerability, humor, compassion, and grace shine through in each episode, creating an engaging and enjoyable listening experience. I have found his guidance and instructions to be incredibly helpful in my own practice.

    Additionally, Dave has a unique talent for distilling Buddhist concepts from the original texts into relatable lessons for modern life. He bridges the gap between traditional teachings and our everyday experiences with wisdom and depth. This has deepened my understanding of meditation and Buddhism as a whole.

    Furthermore, I had the opportunity to meet Dave during one of his retreats at the Durango Dharma Center, which was an enlightening experience. This personal encounter only solidified my appreciation for his teachings even more.

    However, one potential downside of this podcast might be that it may not appeal to those seeking traditional reflections on Buddhist practice or more academic dharma talks. Dave's style is relatable without losing depth, but some individuals may prefer a more scholarly approach.

    In conclusion, The Dave Smith Dharma podcast is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking guidance on their spiritual path. It offers thoughtful teachings delivered with vulnerability and humor that make them relatable to everyday life. Dave's ability to distill complex concepts into practical lessons is exceptional, and his influence has been transformative for many listeners. I am grateful for the impact this podcast has had on my own practice and strongly recommend it to others seeking dharma talks and guided meditations rooted in the original Buddhist texts.



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    Latest episodes from Dave Smith Dharma

    Wide path/deep path: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2026 48:50


    From Vallecitos. Reflections on everyday dharma. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Metta karuna: guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2026 50:52


    Metta karuna guided practice, evening session from Vallecitos. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    metta-karuna: overview

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2026 26:55


    Evening metta session, vallecitos. Overview of practice kindness/compassion. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Contact-feeling-knowing: practice overview

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2026 17:32


    Overview of practice session. Vallecitos retreat. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    More than a feeling: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2026 62:23


    Talk on from Vallecitos. 9-15-2026 https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Bramha Vihara Heart: talk/Shannon Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2026 49:20


    Talk two, metta vipassana retreat/Montana w/ Shannon Smith. https://bozemandharmacenter.org/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Mind training basics: guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2026 24:14


    Practice session. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Reimagining the path: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2026 58:59


    Final talk, reflections on the eight fold path. https://bozemandharmacenter.org/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    reimagining path talk
    metta, right view, and dependent origination: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2026 57:11


    Talk one, metta vipassana retreat/Montana. https://bozemandharmacenter.org/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Desire to be free: Overview and guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2026 50:43


    Opening evening session from Vallecitos. Dhamma chanda/sila overview and guided practice. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Overview of mind training: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2026 31:46


    Morning one practice overview, Bozeman Dharma Center Metta Vipassana Retreat. https://bozemandharmacenter.org/location-and-hours/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Metta overview and guided: Shannon Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2026 15:37


    Metta session with Shannon Smith, overview and guided. https://bozemandharmacenter.org/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Really real: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2026 20:12


    From our Sunday mentoring group. Feel free to join us if you dare... https://www.davesmithdharma.com/mentoring https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Heavy Metta: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2026 24:39


    Heavy metta. Offered to the crew at Heavy Metta Chicago. Thanks Jay!   https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Insight: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2026 48:56


    What is Insight? hmm... https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Gratitude,mudita, appreciation, joy: talk and guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2026 56:47


    All things gratitude - evening heart practice from Vallecitos.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Perspectives on right view/dependent origination: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2026 59:11


    A talk on right view as it pertains to dependent origination amongst other important items - Enjoy!  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Trust the process: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2026 60:33


    Second night talk at Vallecitos Retreat with Vance Pryor. Trusting the process, thus I have heard.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Metta/Sila: Overview and Guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2026 61:09


    Evening metta practice, day one at Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center with Vance Pryor.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Knowing: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2026 19:26


    From the Sunday mentoring group. To find out more click HERE. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Samadhi - to collect & connect: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2026 21:24


    Reflections on a key term found within the Insight tradition. From the Sunday mentoring group, join us HERE. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Unwise consideration: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2026 20:09


    Time and time again, the Buddha refused to answer the BIG questions. Buddhism did not take that advice -- here are the questions the Buddhas says are irrelevant to awaking. Thus I have heard.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    The story of redemption, liberation pt. 2: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2026 56:09


    Final talk at RMERC. Metta Vipassana retreat. The Dharma is a story of redemption, not salvation.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Dave and Mark Miller convo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2026 61:53


    I put this on my dave smith dharma as well as Secular Dharma Foundation because it is so GOOD! Mark earned his PhD and Master's degrees in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh under the legendary cognitive philosopher Andy Clark, focusing heavily on the embodied and predictive brain. Today, his work spans across multiple prestigious global institutions. He serves as a Senior Research Fellow at Monash University's Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies in Australia, is an Instructor and Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto within their Psychology and Cognitive Science departments, and acts as a Visiting Researcher at Hokkaido University's Centre for Human Nature, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience in Japan. He is also the Lab Manager for U of T's Consciousness and Wisdom Lab. Alongside his frequent collaborator, Dr. John Vervaeke, Mark works directly at the bleeding edge of 4E Cognition and Predictive Processing—exploring how our brains act as active, prediction-generating engines rather than passive observers. Whether he is breaking down the rigid cognitive loops of addiction and despair, hosting The Contemplative Science Podcast, or leading his groundbreaking 8-week course, Generations of Joy on The Lectern, Mark is dedicated to bridging rigorous computational neuroscience with ancient contemplative wisdom. https://lectern.johnvervaeke.com/ https://www.markdmiller.live/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    sila bramha vihara: overview and guidede

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2026 38:48


    Deep within the Burmese tradition, sila as a contemplative practice. RMERC.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Liberation pt. 1 seed/fruit: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2026 60:14


    Talk two from Rocky MT Eco Dharma. Liberation.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Mindfulness, perception, right view: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 62:23


    Talk one from Rocky Mt Eco Dharma.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Desire and Faith: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 57:32


    talk one from the metta vipassana retreat in LA. Desire and faith are explored.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Metta Vipassana: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 33:53


    Given after the Metta Vipassana Retreat thru Insight LA with Melissa McKay. This talk was given at the Center on Olympia in Santa Monica https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Mind -- the thing that you are:Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 61:06


    Talk 2 from Metta Vipassana LA. The mind aka the thing that you are.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    five faculties: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2026 44:51


    Given for the essential dharma online course.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Place & Ground: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 31:18


    From Monday night class at the Durango Dharma Center: https://www.durangodharmacenter.org/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Thinking: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2026 18:45


    From the Sunday Mentoring Group. To join the mentoring program you can find out more HERE https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Noble Quest(ion): talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2026 32:50


    A talk on the Noble Question (MN 26). Given at Insight Denver. https://www.insightdenver.org/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Authenticity (meaning crisis): talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2026 59:16


    From a live event in the fall of 2025. A youtube video, uploaded audio here due to high demands. You are welcome.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Creativity: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2026 20:08


    The overlooked power of the creative mind. Religion hates this kind of thing... https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Searching for Nanavira: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2026 19:29


    Come sit at Vallecitos! Ñāṇavīra Thera (born Harold Musson, 1920–1965), an English monk whose work is a cornerstone for those interested in the intersection of the Pali Suttas and phenomenological philosophy. He is best known for his radical, "vertical" approach to the Dhamma, which bypasses traditional commentaries to focus on the immediate structure of personal experience.The primary collection of his later work is titled "Clearing the Path", which includes his seminal book and his extensive correspondence. Notes on Dhamma (1960–1965): This is his most influential work. It consists of highly technical entries intended to correct common misinterpretations of the Suttas. He famously discarded the "three-life" traditional model of paṭiccasamuppāda (dependent arising) in favor of a structural, timeless interpretation. vThe Phenomenological Approach: Ñāṇavīra used the tools of Western existentialists—like Sartre, Heidegger, and Kierkegaard—not as a substitute for the Dhamma, but as a way to clear away "objective" or scientific biases. He argued that the Dhamma must be understood from a "vertical" view—looking directly into the abyss of one's own existence. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Right Effort: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2026 43:44


    Unpacking the teachings of right effort aka samma vayama.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Addiction Economy/Sangha Live: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026 38:38


    Always a big thanks to Sangha Live!  https://sangha.live/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Random Dharma: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026 19:35


    From the Sunday mentoring group. Consider joining us: https://www.davesmithdharma.com/mentoring/     https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Talk: mindfulness/metta interwoven

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2026 9:18


    How do the bramha viharas fit into the satipatthan? A person description.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Talk: The shame of small fears

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 19:26


    Buried in my zoom folder, sometime 2025.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Talk: The shame of small fears

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 19:26


    Found in a random zoom folder, sometime 2025. Check out my substack: HERE https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    View: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 19:43


    https://www.davesmithdharma.com/ https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharma Thank you for subscribing. 

    Talk: Transformation

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2026 20:54


    Sunday morning reflections on this overused and under defined term. To join these live session, consider our mentoring program.https://www.davesmithdharma.com/mentoring/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Meaning crisis: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2026 59:31


    From the 2025 archives. More to come on this soon. Check out posted 2026 programs : https://linktr.ee/davesmithdharma https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Metta Vipassana: guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2026 30:08


    From NYE retreat, Bay St. Louis. Flowering Lotus: https://www.floweringlotusmeditation.org/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Metta Vipassana: talk & overview

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 21:58


    Metta-Vipassana is an integrated practice that unites the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Vipassana) with Metta practices (Brahmavihāras). Vipassana meditation (insight or mindfulness practice) connects the richness of our shared human experience with the immediacy of moment-to-moment awareness. As the body and mind learn to settle, intuitive wisdom emerges. This wisdom allows us to fully open to the entirety of each moment, both within and around us. By cultivating this openness, we increase our capacity and interest in meeting life's joys and sorrows with ease and presence.Metta practice (kind-friendliness) calls forth and strengthens beautiful spiritual emotions within the heart: kindness, care, joy, and equanimity. Mindfulness of these qualities helps bring them to full fruition. This process directs our life's energy toward awakening our full potential, providing a stable foundation for contentment, purpose, and meaning...thus I have heard. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/schedule/  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Citta: guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 21:07


    Get some. Collect and connect.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Citta, generative & resonant: overview of practice

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 22:47


    The mind, its structure and functionality aka citta.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Trust, Faith, Confidence, Refuge: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 52:18


    Night one talk. NYE retreat in Bay St. Louis.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

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