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PODCAST

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF

Buddhism for Liberation and Social Action. We invite teachers from all schools of Buddhism to offer their perspectives on the dharma and its application in modern times, especially for LGBTQIA audiences.Produced by GBF - The Gay Buddhist Fellowship of San Francisco.

religion & spirituality buddhism

All Episodes

47:28

Joy & Compassion in the Face of Overwhelm - JD Doyle

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/10/06

When the world gets to be a little too much for us, how can we keep from shutting down?JD Doyle shares that the key lies in returning to our interconnectedness. JD ties this beautifully with the practice of the brahmaviharas (the four immeasurables: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity). JD explains that when we feel overwhelmed by the suffering we witness or experience, turning to these qualities helps us stay grounded. By cultivating loving-kindness and compassion, w...

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51:02

Intimacy with Yourself - Daigan Gaither

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/10/01

How can we become truly present and engage with each moment we experience?In both interpersonal relationships and self-reflection, Daigan Gaither advocates for an open, curious approach where we allow things to be as they are, rather than forcing them to fit preconceived notions. This approach, he suggests, fosters deeper connection and understanding with ourselves and others, as well as with the world around us.Daigan explains that we often misinterpret our emotions by labeling them (e.g., c...

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61:07

What Makes GBF Tick? - Volunteer Appreciation Day

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/09/30

A look under the hood of GBF, how things work, and those who keep it all together. COVID put huge strains on our group, and this is a time to recognize and thank the individuals who held up the roof beams and made GBF stronger in the process.You'll be surprised at how much goes on behind the scenes and gain appreciation for GBF as an organization and sangha including:Lining up speakersAnnouncing & facilitating each meetingSetting up the recordings & Zoom equipmentHosting and providing...

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52:32

Gay Sexuality and Buddhist Dharma - Eric Kolvig

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/09/15

How can we reconcile our sexuality with Buddhist practice? (Recorded June 11, 1995)Following on the heels of the AIDS crisis, in 1995 societal shame about LGBTQ sexuality was quite prevalent. Eric Kolvig emphasized that Buddhism is an ethical system focused on reducing suffering, not a moral system with judgments of good and evil. Arguing that repressing sexuality doesn't work, he challenges us to engage with it skillfully whether choosing celibacy, monogamy, or multiple partners.Eric sh...

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53:59

Waking Up to the Nature of Reality - David Lewis

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/09/08

What did the Buddha mean when he spoke of ignorance?In this talk, David Lewis discusses the essence of mindfulness and the core principles of Buddhism, emphasizing direct experience over intellectual understanding. He explains that the Buddha avoided metaphysics and focused on how things work, promoting meditation as a means of gaining wisdom. He underscores that ignorance in Buddhism is not about a lack of information but rather the failure to see things clearly in the present moment. Ignora...

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55:30

No Way Out? - Steven Tierney

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/08/25

When we feel stuck or overwhelmed by society, how can we find joy and courage?Steven Tierney asks us to challenge the notion that we are stuck with no way out. He emphasizes that rather than avoid the difficult, we can find a way through by embracing Buddhist teachings and practices.This can include:Living with Intention:Drawing from Victor Frankl and Thich Nhat Hanh, he underscores the importance of embodying the teachings and living with intention.Joy and Bliss in Buddhist Practice:He exami...

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57:41

Am I "Buddhist?" Donald Rothberg

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/08/18

What core Buddhist teachings are reflected in all other wisdom traditions? As stated in the Kālāma Sutta, known as the Buddha's "charter of free inquiry," Donald Rothberg encourages us not to believe anything simply because we are told to, but rather apply our own experience and discernment. He encourages us to embrace the very practical core teachings of Buddhism and consider how those resonate with other religious traditions. He explores the foundations of our teachings in familia...

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54:37

Seven Secrets to Connecting with Others - Michaiel...

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/08/11

As spiritual beings grounded in oneness, how do we overcome the tendency to feel separated while in human form?In this practical talk, Michaiel Patrick Bovenes shares reminders for finding connection.Connecting with others depends on how we are being:Be open and presentBe curious rather than criticalBe understandingBe vulnerable - "consciously uncomfortable"Own your value, realizing that you matter.Seek the good in othersBe discerning - discover early if it's not a good fitTips for practical ...

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63:22

The Sacred Tapestry of Your Life - Dorothy Hunt

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/07/28

If we are an expression of the whole, why does life feel so personal? In a talk that examines duality, Dorothy Hunt asks us who and what we really are. Is our awareness something that belongs to us as a separate 'me', or is it instead something that arises from our experience of reality? She likens reality to an enormous unending tapestry on a loom, consisting of interwoven strands that give rise to the whole. The vertical cords are the 'warp' - the stable structure that det...

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54:40

A Bridge Over Troubled Water - Laura Burges

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/07/21

How can we use our practice to see us through troubled times and remain a light against the darkness? Laura Burges encourages us to see Buddhist practice as a laboratory, a place to experiment with our own experience. Drawing from the book, "Buddhism Without Beliefs" by Stephen Batchelor, she likens the Four Noble Truths to a diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment for the challenges facing us and the world. If they were contained in bottles, each would come with a simple instruction label:Life i...

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56:37

The Brahma Vihāras (Divine Abodes) - Walt Opie

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/07/14

The divine abodes, also known as the Brahma Vihāras in Sanskrit, are four supreme emotions or mental states that are emphasized because of the Buddha's teaching that "whatever one frequently ponders on, that will become the inclination of their mind." In this talk, Walt Opie examines these four and offers the "near and far enemy" of each one. The commentaries on the Brahma Viharas explain that each of the four qualities has two "enemies." The far enemy represents the opposite mental state, wh...

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52:17

The Truth of Old Age, Sickness, Death and Awakening -...

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/06/30

How have the Four Heavenly Messengers led you to the path of the dharma? In this talk, Bob Stahl shares his own experience with these messengers and how they changed the course of his life in the midst of being a very confused young man without direction. He encourages us to consider the conditions and events that have appeared in our own lives to shepherd us toward awakening. ______________ Bob Stahl, Ph.D., founded eight Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs in medical cen...

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57:54

Gay Pride and Our Ordinary Life - Liên Shutt

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/06/23

Can we find meaning and pride in our ordinary lives? In this talk, Liên Shutt contrasts the extravagant events in our lives with the everyday moments and asks us to consider if we can drop our expectations of how things should be and instead allow them to exist just as they are. This is the definition of Buddhist wisdom or Prajña, which translates as "knowledge of things as they are."She quotes Sekkei Harada Roshi in "The Essence of Zen:""Things that we can see and hear do not exist because w...

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53:03

The Pure Love of Metta - John Martin

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/06/16

How can we cultivate an undefended heart that is open and caring? John Martin shares that the true nature of our heart is inherently pure and loving. However, we need to practice to cultivate this purity. Some of the practices he shares include:Being aware of our intentions.Using metta phrases.Radiating metta.______________ John Martin teaches Vipassana (Insight), Metta (Loving Kindness) and LGBTQIA+ meditation retreats. He leads an ongoing weekly Monday evening meditation group in ...

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51:12

Loneliness - Melvin Escobar

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/06/09

In this talk, Melvin Escobar looks at the loneliness and separation prevalent in our world. Especially for LGBTQI individuals, this has roots in both the individual level as well as the structural level, such as the way families may ask us to hide parts of ourselves in order to find acceptance. The societal hierarchies we encounter also contribute to a sense of separation. However, Buddhist teachings on our interconnectedness help us see that separation is a fiction. Melvin looks at...

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48:45

The Thousand Natural Shocks - Laura Burges

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/06/02

How can Buddhist philosophy help us address the everyday suffering we encounter in a human body - the accidents, falls, missteps, mistakes, broken bones and broken hearts? In this talk, Laura Burges recounts her own experience following a recent fall and injury. She shares practices and reminders that can be helpful when we experience "The thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to" of which Hamlet spoke. Among these are:1. Notice that you are safe in this moment.2. Love your i...

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53:32

The Role of Pleasure in Our Practice - René Rivera

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/05/23

Can turning away from pleasurable experiences actually limit our practice?In this talk René Rivera shares that there are wholesome states that signal we are on the path to awakening. However the pleasurable states often get a "bad rap" in Buddhism as something to be avoided so as not to trigger craving. René summarizes the importance of pleasure by quoting Betty Martin:"Pleasure is a powerful change agent. Pleasure helps you make friends with your body and that changes the sense of who ...

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55:02

Awakened Fearlessness - Dale Borglum

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/05/12

How can our relationship with fear deepen our practice?In this rich talk, Dale Borglum explains that in fear, we are separated from our feeling of unity. Yet, all true contemplative traditions teach that the end of the spiritual path brings us to the realization that all is one. He speaks of the two main spiritual paths: Devotion and Self-Inquiry.Both share the practice of meditation to realize oneness and the fact that we are not the contents of our thoughts or experiences. To appr...

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47:24

Wise Speech in Difficult Times - Tom Baker

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/05/05

Why is wholesome speech one of the hardest precepts to navigate?In this talk, Tom Baker explores the many nuances of wise conversation, including:The ways our words cause sufferingThe intoxicating aspect of slander and gossipThe mindfulness component of watching our speechListening with our whole presenceOur responsibility to speak out against injusticeOvercoming our reluctance to speak up for ourselvesA Buddhist perspective on freedom of speech______________ Tetsugen Tom Baker is a Soto Zen ...

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51:14

The Dance of Change - Syra Smith

The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF ·

2024/04/28

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