Dave Smith Dharma

Follow Dave Smith Dharma
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

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


    • Oct 20, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 42m AVG DURATION
    • 386 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.



    Search for episodes from Dave Smith Dharma with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Dave Smith Dharma

    Greed, hatred, confusion: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2025 47:43


    talk given for Insight Denver, via zoom: https://www.insightdenver.org/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Metaphor of Entrapment: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2025 20:39


    This talk was given for the Sunday mentoring group session. It discusses the role of metaphor, pointing to the fact the the primary metaphor is one of entrapment NOT pain and suffering. If you are interested in the mentoring program HERE https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Inner Conflict: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2025 31:58


    Given as part of the Monday night series at the Durango Dharma Center. https://www.durangodharmacenter.org/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Gratitude/awareness: overview and guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2025 34:34


    Morning 3, guided gratitude as awareness practice. Montana retreat, Bozeman Dharma Center.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Handful of leaves: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2025 42:42


    Final talk, Montana retreat, Bozeman Dharma Center.   https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Metta: overview and guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2025 57:15


    Evening 2 bramha vihara session, metta. Montana retreat, Bozeman Dharma Center.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Bramha Viharas and the 4 noble truths (tasks): Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025 55:06


    Talk number 2 from the Montana retreat, Bozeman Dharma Center. The integration of the bramha viharas and the four noble truths.  https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

    Cultivating awareness: overview and guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025 51:16


    Day 2, morning session. Cultivating awareness. Montana retreat, Bozeman Dharma Center 

    Sila: overview and guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025 54:07


    Evening 1 heart practice session. Overview of sila-bramha-vihara with guided instructions.

    Entering the Stream: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025 60:08


    Talk 1 from Montana retreat, Bozeman Dharma Center. 

    Intro to Awareness: overview & guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2025 54:30


    Morning 1 overview and instructions. Bozeman Dharma Center Retreat. 

    3 trainings: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2025 56:34


    Final talk from Vallecitos. The three trainings of the 8 fold path are outlined and described. 

    Ilimitables: Overview and guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2025 56:41


    Evening heart practice from Vallecitos. Compassion in appreciate as they are outlined in the abhidharma (manual on Buddhist psychology)

    Bramha-vihara: overview & guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2025 53:32


    Evening Bramha vihara session with a focus on metta/kindness. Check out my program at the Ghost Ranch in November. HERE

    Mindfulness: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025 63:54


    Talk 1 from Vallecitos "natural awareness" retreat. If you find these episodes useful, please consider dropping me some support. You can venmo or paypal at this page: https://www.davesmithdharma.com/contact/

    Talk: Redemption

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2025 19:34


    Faith (again): talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2025 42:15


    From Big Heart City Friday night class. 

    Beautiful theory of MInd pt 2: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2025 67:11


    Second talk at RMERC. 

    Beautiful theory of mind pt. 1: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2025 61:28


    Living in the world: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2025 47:43


    Talk 3 at RMERC. Natural Awareness Retreat. 

    Metta: talk and guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2025 56:08


    Gratitude: Overview and guided

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2025 57:50


    Over of gratitude and guided practice from Vallecitos. 

    Progress on the path: short reflection...

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2025 17:53


    From the Sunday weekly mentoring group. If you are interested in our mentoring program you can find out more HERE

    Four foundations of mindfulness: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2025 59:07


    The talk is from Vallecitos, and covers the teaching on the four foundations of Mindfulness. 

    Faith: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2025 56:55


    Final talk at Vallecitos - July 2025. 

    Mindfulness & the addiction economy: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2025 35:25


    Given at Wild Heart in Nashville, just before the Southern Dharma retreat. 

    8 fold Path: Entire Course Audio

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025 254:31


    Full audio sessions from my 4 week course for New York Insight. Begins with an overview of 4 noble truths, intro sessions, conversations with Stephen Batchelor and then live teaching sessions from the course. If you find these audio offerings of benefit please consider dropping me some cash. This shit takes a lot of time, everything is appreciated. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/contact/

    Authenticity...Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2025 41:21


    2 talks put together from the Sunday mentoring program. Find out more HERE

    Path without a destination: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2025 60:42


    Talk three from retreat at Southern Dharma, mindfulness and the four noble truths. 

    Brahma vihara's and the four noble truths: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2025 52:33


    Talk two from retreat at Southern Dharma, mindfulness and the four noble truths. 

    The issue at hand: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 57:53


    Talk one from retreat at Southern Dharma, mindfulness and the four noble truths. 

    talk hand talk
    Good in the beginning, middle, and end. Talk: Shannon Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 22:26


    This talk was given for Big Heart City.During this talk Shannon offers perspectives on the Dharma as being good in the beginning, middle, and end. Many thanks to Vinny for the invite. Enjoy. 

    Mindfulness and the Addiction Economy: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 41:06


    Given for my good friends at Sangha Live: https://sangha.live/dharma-library-archive-sunday-sangha-recordings/ . This talk offers current perspectives on the world and how we might relate to it, without all the victimhood. 

    Talk: Sudden & Gradual

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 39:02


    Found within the Zen tradition, this talk explores the paradox of a sudden awakening followed by a gradual cultivation. It explores the idea of what does it mean to "practice". This was given in person at the Durango Dharma Center. https://www.durangodharmacenter.org/ 

    8 fold path: talk(s)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 355:35


    This is by far the longest and most thorough talk on the 8 fold path that you will ever find. 5:55. I spliced it all together here for you because it is what I do. If you want to offer some support and send some $$ my way. Much appreciated. https://www.davesmithdharma.com/contact/

    fold path talk
    Four kinds of Mindfulness: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 24:48


    Existential, therapeutic, contemplative, ethical. 

    Dark Dharma: rant 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 21:30


    Due to much chatter amongst the crowd, I have further unpacked my thoughts around the previous rant. Come and see fo yo self. 

    Dark Dharma: rant...

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2025 19:31


    The dark side of the Dharma is real, and mostly ignored. Some thoughts on the matter. 

    Addiction Economy: talk (PSA)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 20:54


    This talks highlights the reality that the attention economy is over, we are now in the addiction economy. You have been warned. Double down on your practice. This talk was given at the DSD mentoring group. If you are interested in joining you can check out this LINK. 

    Path and View: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 59:45


    Final talk from my NYE Retreat in Bay St. Louis Mississippi. Thanks to Flowering Lotus Meditation. https://www.floweringlotusmeditation.org/Join my Wednesday Night class: Dharma Live/Online sign up for free.  HERE

    Relevance: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 19:59


    A talk from my Sunday mentoring group. You can find out more HERE

    Practice Overview: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 27:17


    Meditation instruction overview from morning session day 1. Flowering Lotus Meditation, NYE retreat in Bay Louis Mississippi. 

    Explaining vs. Training: Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 20:45


    First mentoring session of 2025. From my Sunday program. We do have space for new students. You can find out more: https://www.davesmithdharma.com/mentoring/

    Interview: Maureen Fallon-Cyr

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 51:14


    Maureen Fallon-Cyr, LCSW is a clinical social worker, meditation teacher, and certified Hakomi therapist. She has worked as a mindfulness-based psychotherapist with children and adults for over 30 years, specializing in trauma, somatic release work, and depth psychology. A lover of Dharma, she has sat multiple long retreats and served on the teaching council of the Durango Dharma Center for eight years, teaching meditation, mindfulness 12-Step work, mindful parenting, and householder practices. Weaving together her practices of mindfulness and psychology, she developed Essence-OrientedTM Release Work, outlined in her new book, Reimagining Success: Manifesting Happiness and Fulfillment. With her husband Mark, who is a psychiatrist, they have developed True Success For All, a program that empowers people to more fully realize their potential and what it means to live a truly successful life. Website:  True Success For All      https://www.truesuccessforall.com/Upcoming Training in Essence-Oriented Therapy True Success Boston Training

    Secular 8 fold

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 55:00


    Talk number 5 Big Bear Retreat.  A secular perspective on the 8-fold path. Compliments to Stephen Batchelor. 

    Dharma Approach: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 32:31


    This the opening talk from the Big Bear, sure hearts' release retreat. It covers my approach to the practice. 

    Entering the Stream: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 54:39


    Talk number 4 from the Big Bear Retreat. It covers the idea of stream entry and nibbana. 

    Complete Perspective: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 57:09


    Talk 2 from the Big Bear retreat. Refections on right view as a complete perspective.  A secular vision. 

    Arising of Reactivity: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 57:51


    Talk number 3, Big Bear Retreat. This talk covers the entire dimension of the 2nd noble truth. Without the noble truth crap. 

    Middle way: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 20:19


    This talk discusses how to cultivate a middle way between the having mode and the being mode. This talk was given at my weekly Dharma Live/Online class. You can sign up for free HERE.

    A crisis of meaning: talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 17:20


    The opening talk for the recently updated Dharma/Live Online class. You can now join for no fee. The class is offered as a drop in anytime type of thing. You can do that here: SIGN-UP

    Claim Dave Smith Dharma

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel