Infinite Smile

Michael discusses how it is that we can carry a practice that allows for us to "get there" in terms of waking up. Among the most necessary approaches to this process is to deconstruct the reality we live in from a personal perspective, at least. This is most easily done by exploring the 5 senses (sight, taste, touch, hearing, and feeling) followed by the 6th sense (Asian teaching points to thought on this sense). The 7th sense involves our sense of time (past and future), the 8th sense involves what we might call the Seer, or the Witness. Even this sense is followed, and held openly by another, 9th sense, although even calling this a "sense," misses the mark. Still, the Path is revealed as this approach unfolds. Michael covers much of this and goes into greater detail on this topic in his book, Awake In This Life.

Michael discusses how it is that we can carry a practice that allows for us to "get there" in terms of waking up. Among the most necessary approaches to this process is to deconstruct the reality we live in from a personal perspective, at least. This is most easily done by exploring the 5 senses (sight, taste, touch, hearing, and feeling) followed by the 6th sense (Asian teaching points to thought on this sense). The 7th sense involves our sense of time (past and future), the 8th sense involves what we might call the Seer, or the Witness. Even this sense is followed, and held openly by another, 9th sense, although even calling this a "sense," misses the mark. Still, the Path is revealed as this approach unfolds. Michael covers much of this and goes into greater detail on this topic in his book, Awake In This Life.

This evening's talk spans poetry, rock 'n roll, awareness, friendship, and how we can meet our experiences during the Holiday season with care and purpose. In fact, Michael argues, "awareness itself, is gratitude."

This evening's talk spans poetry, rock 'n roll, awareness, friendship, and how we can meet our experiences during the Holiday season with care and purpose. In fact, Michael argues, "awareness itself, is gratitude."

Among the most important aspects of spiritual work is our sense of community. It can inspire us and keep us focused on the needs of the moment. It can also remind us of how necessary it is to make friends with our fear, thus allowing for our actions to be sourced from an undivided sense of purpose.

Among the most important aspects of spiritual work is our sense of community. It can inspire us and keep us focused on the needs of the moment. It can also remind us of how necessary it is to make friends with our fear, thus allowing for our actions to be sourced from an undivided sense of purpose.

So often we find ourselves working to build things that we see as beneficial: a life, a relationship, a home, or even a philosophy that might work to offer us shelter from the chaos of contemporary living. In this talk, Michael offers us a chance to examine this process and consider an alternative. Recognizing what is always, already, in play can shed light on recognition as opposed to creation.

So often we find ourselves working to build things that we see as beneficial: a life, a relationship, a home, or even a philosophy that might work to offer us shelter from the chaos of contemporary living. In this talk, Michael offers us a chance to examine this process and consider an alternative. Recognizing what is always, already, in play can shed light on recognition as opposed to creation.

As the poet, Atticus points out, we are often very complicated beings. This shows up especially in relationships. While any relationship can be a challenge, our intimate relationships are especially good at helping us uncover our attachments. This is at once a challenge and a gift, in terms of spiritual practice. In this talk, Michael discusses relationships and how they offer us opportunities to integrate spiritual teaching.

As the poet, Atticus points out, we are often very complicated beings. This shows up especially in relationships. While any relationship can be a challenge, our intimate relationships are especially good at helping us uncover our attachments. This is at once a challenge and a gift, in terms of spiritual practice. In this talk, Michael discusses relationships and how they offer us opportunities to integrate spiritual teaching.

What is loss and where does the fear associated with it come from? What about anger? What is grief? How do we best cope with these general attributes of loss and the negativity that it inspires? This evening's podcast goes to the heart of this very human experience.

What is loss and where does the fear associated with it come from? What about anger? What is grief? How do we best cope with these general attributes of loss and the negativity that it inspires? This evening's podcast goes to the heart of this very human experience.

It all happens here, in this very body. While it's critical we not get lost in its desires, enlightenment doesn't happen in any other place. Alex Grey

It all happens here, in this very body. While it's critical we not get lost in its desires, enlightenment doesn't happen in any other place.

So often we can feel closed off from ourselves, the world, and those around us. In this talk, Michael discusses another option that leads us on a decidedly different spiritual and psychological trajectory, even when situations are difficult.    

So often we can feel closed off from ourselves, the world, and those around us. In this talk, Michael discusses another option that leads us on a decidedly different spiritual and psychological trajectory, even when situations are difficult.    

It's all about relationships. Seriously. Everything is related, interdependently, to everything else. Enjoy the podcast of this talk.

It's all about relationships. Seriously. Everything is related, interdependently, to everything else. Enjoy the podcast of this talk.

Topics such as dealing with negativity, difficult people, and situations that challenge us are covered in this talk.

Topics such as dealing with negativity, difficult people, and situations that challenge us are covered in this talk.

Enjoy this evening's talk on the integration of spirituality into real life experiences, including shopping and politics.

Enjoy this evening's talk on the integration of spirituality into real life experiences, including shopping and politics.

Enjoy this evening's talk, spanning a wide range of spiritual topics.

Enjoy this evening's talk, spanning a wide range of spiritual topics.

Enjoy this evening's talk on how perfection shows up in the strangest ways.

Enjoy this evening's talk on how perfection shows up in the strangest ways.

This evening's talk covers a range of topics but centers around the idea that hopelessness offers us freedom. This is covered by Pema Chodron in her book, When Things Fall Apart.  

This evening's talk covers a range of topics but centers around the idea that hopelessness offers us freedom. This is covered by Pema Chodron in her book, When Things Fall Apart.  

What happens when we really stop? Really. Stop. This question can guide us into an openness that may fundamentally alter our lives. Imagine life without the sniff & scurry, the shake, rattle & roll. Imagine a life where we get past our tendency to chase our own tails. Breaking our addiction to movement, that so many of us have, helps us get past suffering... which is at the core of the Buddha's teaching.

This evening’s discussion centers around Michael’s proposal that our identification with ideas, objects, feelings, our bodies, our histories and our perceived destinies will always block any kind of stable awakening.

In this evening's talk, Michael describes the benefits of sangha as a shortcut to uncovering our pre-existing enlightened mind. He further goes into the ways that Awakening manifests in each of us as a series of qualities that show up as being at once conscious and, at the same time, spontaneous. In other words, this talk describes how qualities of flexibility, not knowing, questioning, simplicity, the recognition of what is always prior to mind and body, surrender, patience and discipline. Additional topics include, the fallacy of conflating Buddhism with New Age practices, and getting a sense of our internal freedom we often refer to as the Witness.

In this evening’s talk, Michael describes the benefits of sangha as a shortcut to uncovering our pre-existing enlightened mind. He further goes into the ways that Awakening manifests in each of us as a series of qualities that show up as being at once conscious and, at the same time, spontaneous. In other words, this talk describes how qualities of flexibility, not knowing, questioning, simplicity, the recognition of what is always prior to mind and body, surrender, patience and discipline. Additional topics include, the fallacy of conflating Buddhism with New Age practices, and getting a sense of our internal freedom we often refer to as the Witness.

In this evening’s talk, Michael describes the benefits of sangha as a shortcut to uncovering our pre-existing enlightened mind. He further goes into the ways that Awakening manifests in each of us as a series of qualities that show up as being at once conscious and, at the same time, spontaneous. In other words, this talk describes how qualities of flexibility, not knowing, questioning, simplicity, the recognition of what is always prior to mind and body, surrender, patience and discipline. Additional topics include, the fallacy of conflating Buddhism with New Age practices, and getting a sense of our internal freedom we often refer to as the Witness.

In this evening’s talk, Michael describes the benefits of sangha as a shortcut to uncovering our pre-existing enlightened mind. He further goes into the ways that Awakening manifests in each of us as a series of qualities that show up as being at once conscious and, at the same time, spontaneous. In other words, this talk describes how qualities of flexibility, not knowing, questioning, simplicity, the recognition of what is always prior to mind and body, surrender, patience and discipline. Additional topics include, the fallacy of conflating Buddhism with New Age practices, and getting a sense of our internal freedom we often refer to as the Witness.

In this mashup of two talks, Michael uses the phrase from Dogen Zenji’s, Instruction to the Cook, where he suggests that each grain of rice be handled carefully, “as if it were your own eyes.” Treating our lives this way helps us awaken to the truth that any Tathagatha, or person who actually sees reality, can embody. This embodiment is a gift. Something referred to hal in Arabic, or satori, in Zen is this very gift. But we must earn it. We do this by being open and available vessels that carry this teaching with greater potency the more we sit still. This is how we care for our practice… as if it were our own eyes.

In this mashup of two talks, Michael uses the phrase from Dogen Zenji’s, Instruction to the Cook, where he suggests that each grain of rice be handled carefully, “as if it were your own eyes.” Treating our lives this way helps us awaken to the truth that any Tathagatha, or person who actually sees reality, can embody. This embodiment is a gift. Something referred to hal in Arabic, or satori, in Zen is this very gift. But we must earn it. We do this by being open and available vessels that carry this teaching with greater potency the more we sit still. This is how we care for our practice… as if it were our own eyes.

What happens when we are in the midst of disagreement?  This can apply to a marriage, a friendship, a community or (perhaps especially) a legislative debate or an election. The Buddha had some thoughts on this as noted in the famed Quarrel of Kosambi, where he offers some guidance. Engaging in the practice of right speech and right thought can do wonders, according to the teaching. The same applies to the ways in which we deal with our own practice. There are several blocks, by the way, that inhibit the openings that meditation can offer each of us as practitioners.  

What happens when we are in the midst of disagreement?  This can apply to a marriage, a friendship, a community or (perhaps especially) a legislative debate or an election. The Buddha had some thoughts on this as noted in the famed Quarrel of Kosambi, where he offers some guidance. Engaging in the practice of right speech and right thought can do wonders, according to the teaching. The same applies to the ways in which we deal with our own practice. There are several blocks, by the way, that inhibit the openings that meditation can offer each of us as practitioners.  

Michael asks the audience in this week's talk, what it is they think that enlightenment will bring them. He then goes forward to suggest that enlightenment will bring nothing to our experience that we don't already have. But its realization can fundamentally alter the course of our lives. Weaving this in to the beauty and the stresses of the holidays the Dharma talk centers around how it is that we can offer up, as Yunmen suggests, an "appropriate response" in the midst of it all.

Michael asks the audience in this week's talk, what it is they think that enlightenment will bring them. He then goes forward to suggest that enlightenment will bring nothing to our experience that we don't already have. But its realization can fundamentally alter the course of our lives. Weaving this in to the beauty and the stresses of the holidays the Dharma talk centers around how it is that we can offer up, as Yunmen suggests, an "appropriate response" in the midst of it all.

While several of Michael's students have gone through the trials and tribulations of going through the shuso ceremony, where students offer up (among other things) their first Dharma talk, David Fitzgerald was the first to have his inaugural talk to the community recorded. An artist, a father, a retired informational technologist, a poet (as you'll soon hear) and an all-around great guy, David's talk is a reflection of deep wisdom and timeless beauty. Cheers and nice work, David.

While several of Michael's students have gone through the trials and tribulations of going through the shuso ceremony, where students offer up (among other things) their first Dharma talk, David Fitzgerald was the first to have his inaugural talk to the community recorded. An artist, a father, a retired informational technologist, a poet (as you'll soon hear) and an all-around great guy, David's talk is a reflection of deep wisdom and timeless beauty. Cheers and nice work, David.

So what is it that gets in the way of Awakening? If we are already Awake, why don't we feel it? According to Michael, wisdom traditions seem to offer up some suggestions. Among the most important pointer is stillness itself. Without stillness there can be no authentic awakening. Period. This simple fact, according to Michael, points us, at least in Buddhist terms, toward the 4th Turning of the Wheel. In his talk he references Ken Wilber's recording titled, The Five Reasons You're Not Enlightened, where the the simple question, "If it's all Spirit then why am I not Awake", is addressed. Each of the turnings of the Wheel of Dharma is briefly addressed in Michael's talk. Put simply, we miss the Great Perfection because we're so busy clinging.

So what is it that gets in the way of Awakening? If we are already Awake, why don't we feel it? According to Michael, wisdom traditions seem to offer up some suggestions. Among the most important pointer is stillness itself. Without stillness there can be no authentic awakening. Period. This simple fact, according to Michael, points us, at least in Buddhist terms, toward the 4th Turning of the Wheel. In his talk he references Ken Wilber's recording titled, The Five Reasons You're Not Enlightened, where the the simple question, "If it's all Spirit then why am I not Awake", is addressed. Each of the turnings of the Wheel of Dharma is briefly addressed in Michael's talk. Put simply, we miss the Great Perfection because we're so busy clinging.

If we're willing to follow our fear and our negativity with our whole being, according to Michael, we are offered an opportunity to awaken. The loosening of our individual consciousness into a universal awareness is the byproduct of an authentic meditation practice that helps us face these fears and negativity with grace. Watching the bondage inherent in our individual consciousness, he continues, allows for the Freedom of universal awareness to open through us. Practicing this "watching" supports the development a virtuosity for each of us no matter what we might be facing. In the face of all threat, all danger, all stories we find that there is an invitation to evolve past what has always held us back from realizing what is forever beyond anything we see as limiting.  

If we're willing to follow our fear and our negativity with our whole being, according to Michael, we are offered an opportunity to awaken. The loosening of our individual consciousness into a universal awareness is the byproduct of an authentic meditation practice that helps us face these fears and negativity with grace. Watching the bondage inherent in our individual consciousness, he continues, allows for the Freedom of universal awareness to open through us. Practicing this "watching" supports the development a virtuosity for each of us no matter what we might be facing. In the face of all threat, all danger, all stories we find that there is an invitation to evolve past what has always held us back from realizing what is forever beyond anything we see as limiting.  

In this talk, Michael walks meditators through the rough stages of spiritual ascendancy. With practice, he shows, the egoic structures as their practice deepens. He goes on to suggest that the felt-sense of what's real is what we call, "love." Also, he talks about the spiritual journey, from his own writing, where he suggests that we have a chance to recognize that everything is an extension of who and what we think we are. We see, as he suggests that from the nondual perspective, we are extensions of all things that ever arise in our awareness. This witnessing awareness, rather than something that is a dissociative experience, is instead something that is profoundly integrated. While in his talk he uses a whiteboard in his talk, all of it relates to the Infinite Smile Sangha logo.  

In this talk, Michael walks meditators through the rough stages of spiritual ascendancy. With practice, he shows, the egoic structures as their practice deepens. He goes on to suggest that the felt-sense of what's real is what we call, "love." Also, he talks about the spiritual journey, from his own writing, where he suggests that we have a chance to recognize that everything is an extension of who and what we think we are. We see, as he suggests that from the nondual perspective, we are extensions of all things that ever arise in our awareness. This witnessing awareness, rather than something that is a dissociative experience, is instead something that is profoundly integrated. While in his talk he uses a whiteboard in his talk, all of it relates to the Infinite Smile Sangha logo.  

The more we can forgive, the deeper our practice becomes.

The more we can forgive, the deeper our practice becomes.

The Zen saying "Drinking this cup of green tea, I stop the war" offers us a chance to explore our own relationship with war. While it may sound passive and irresponsible on the surface, how we meet even the most basic activities internally, supports how we meet things, especially conflict, externally. So how do we meet war? Are we "anti-war" and, thus, at war with war? Or are we "pro-peace," where we are not at war with war? This exploration is especially relevant in today's world, where its population is touched so often, and so deeply, by armed conflict. So what do you feel totally committed to supporting that isn't about clinging? What would inspire you to freely serve? How can we meet the idea of war and defense in the 21st Century. How can we be compassionate and loving in this process no matter what?