I Thought I Was Right, But I Was Certain

I Thought I Was Right, But I Was Certain

"I Thought I Was Right, But I Was Certain" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha about how, when we're young, we often feel remarkably certain about things we have barely experienced. We know what love is. We know what happiness means. We know how life works. Then life happens. Marriage. Children. Loss. Success. Failure. Friendship. Aging. And slowly we discover that reality is far more complicated...and far more beautiful...than our theories about it. In this talk, we'll explore how wisdom is less about knowing the answersand more about learning to hold our answers lightly. We'll look at certainty, humility, Beginner's Mind, and the freedom that comes from realizing we might not know as much as we thought we did. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com [https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com]

Buddhism Still Ruins Everything

"Buddhism Still Ruins Everything" is a Dharma talk about misconceptions, curiosity, and personal responsibility. A starting place perhaps for someone considering a Dharma practice. Raised Catholic, disillusioned by religion, and spending years searching for something that felt true, I eventually discovered the Dharma in a book about mindful eating. What I found wasn't a new belief system. It was a practical path for understanding suffering, identifying its causes, and learning how to live with a little more wisdom and a little less confusion. In this talk we cover some of the most common misunderstandings people have about Buddhism, whether it conflicts with other religions, why meditation isn't about stopping your thoughts, why the Buddha wasn't asking for worship, and why I jokingly say that Buddhism ruins everything. Because once you start seeing things clearly, you can't go back to not knowing. And that turns out to be sometimes inconvenient and always beautiful. Enjoy!

Within You, Without You

"Within You, Without You" is a great Beatles song...and also the name of the Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha tonight on the topic of the differences between fear based beliefs and experience based spiritual practice. We start out by clearing up some common misconceptions about Buddhism, and then talk about how fear based beliefs cause harm, while wisdom and experiential practices lead to happiness. We covered a lot of ground. And we wrapped it up with the Beatles. I hope that this talk will help heal your wounds and incline you toward happiness. Question everything (including this), and see for yourself what your beliefs lead you toward and what your actions lead you toward. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com [https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com ]

Not Picking Up What I'm Putting Down

"Not Picking Up What I'm Putting Down" Is a Dharma Talk and brief guided meditation on the difference between carrying something and controlling it, why the mind clings to burdens that no longer serve us, and how the Buddha's teachings point toward a deep form of relief found through through wisdom, discernment, and learning what can finally be set down. I hope you find it useful! Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com [https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com]

Radar Rider

“Radar Rider” was a short Dharma talk offered for Heavy Metta Chicago on the topic of escapism, entertainment, mindfulness, and the stories we disappear into. When Jay invited me to lead the session, I was excited because obviously I love the Dharma, but as a kid I also loved to escape into the fantasy art worlds of the magazine that inspired the HMC logo, Heave Metal. Peppered with my love of the magazine and movie, we explored the differences between restoration and avoidance, how media can both nourish and numb us, and what it means to enjoy art, fantasy, books, music, and stories without losing ourselves completely inside them. The Dharma does not ask us to reject imagination or beauty, but simply to remain awake within them, and to remember to come home again. I hope you will enjoy this one as much as I did, and go check out the beatiful community over at Heavy Metta Chicago [https://www.instagram.com/heavy.metta.chicago?igsh=dWdtd2N6ZGJhYzBu]! Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com [https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com]