Our reactivity to situations often takes over and determines how we feel and act. However, if we can pause before reacting, we may have a very different experience. In this talk Mary discusses how we need to recognize how nothing in our reaction will change the situation, but how our reactions will impact our level of dukkha.

Recorded Nov. 1, 2025 in the virtual world

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In this talk Mary reflects on the idea of emptiness which can be thought of as an absence of attachment to self or I, Me and Mine. This freedom can seem elusive, but we can recognize it in our daily lives as we work on letting go.

Recorded Oct. 9, 2025 in the virtual world

After Buddhism by Stephen Batchelor

Pay Attention, for Goodness' Sake by Sylvia Boorstein

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Reflecting on a piece of writing from Kittasaro, Mary talk about the 'gap between thoughts' which is so important but also something that we miss most of the time. It's when we make the effort to release the habitual thinking mind that we make space for deep knowing and wisdom to arise. This is the path to liberation and awakening.

Recorded Oct. 4, 2025 in the virtual world

America's Racial Karma by Larry Ward

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The development of Wisdom is a key component in Buddhist teachings and practice. It is not just knowledge of facts, but is a deep and embodied understanding of the nature of experience. Wisdom, Wise View and clear seeing are necessary for our awakening and liberation. Mary discusses wisdom and how we cultivate it in our daily lives.

Recorded September 25, 2025 in the virtual world

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Inspired by aquotes, Mary reflects on how we contain multiplicities and can hold them all at once. We can experience suffering, and also awe. We can experience grief, and also gratitude. It's when we get stuck on one experience and block out others, that we are not fully present. Buddha's teachings invite us to be present for the fullness of our humanity. With the chaos around us today, this is a good reminder to stay grounded and present to each moment. When we make space for suffering, we're also making space for awe.

Recorded Sept. 20, 2025 in the virtual world

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A few reflections on impermanence and fixed views. There is no formal dharma talk this week.

Recorded Sept. 15, 2025 in the virtual world (and near Zurich, Switzerland)

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Wise Intention is the second factor of the Eightfold Path and can help to guide our journey from dukkha to liberation. However good our intentions can be however, sometimes we get caught up in expectations about how those intentions are supposed to play out which simply increases our dukkha. In this talk Mary discusses wise intention and letting go of our agenda of shoulds and have to's.

Recorded Sept. 4, 2025 in the virtual world

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In reflecting on 17 years of teaching the Saturday Afternoon Sit, Mary also talks about the invitation to check in with our spiritual practice every decade or so. We often want to see immediate results to whatever we're doing, but deepening our spiritual practice and cultivating wisdom and compassion takes time. We may see some immediate results, but often liberation and freedom are a long game.

Recorded August 30, 2025 in the virtual world

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Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.