Dharma Talks and Sangha Shares

Loving-kindness and Non-harm as a Preliminary

Most of us sit down to meditate and jump straight into watching the breath — but what if a few minutes of preparation made the whole practice easier? In this talk, Travis Hicks explores the idea of preliminary practices, drawing on Mahasi Sayadaw's recommendation of six things worth doing before formal meditation begins. The six include reflecting on your own virtuous conduct, recalling the benefits of practice, cultivating confidence in the teachings, bringing to mind the qualities of the Buddha, practicing a little loving-kindness, and recollecting death as a nudge toward urgency. Travis shares honestly how he has been experimenting with these in his own practice, and makes a case especially for two: metta as a way of softening the heart before settling the mind, and the simple reflection on good things we have done — something our culture, he notes, doesn't make particularly easy. The talk is practical and personal, with a bug catcher making a memorable appearance along the way. About Travis Travis Hicks has been practicing Vipassana meditation since 1995 and teaching since 2005. He completed a two-year teacher training program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center under the guidance of senior teachers in the Theravada tradition. Travis brings a warm, accessible style to the dharma, drawing on both classical Buddhist teachings and contemporary psychology. He leads weekly sittings, daylong retreats, and occasional residential retreats for the IMH community.

Vesak and a Brief Life of the Buddha

Every year on the full moon of May, Buddhists around the world celebrate Vesak — the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, all said to have occurred on the same day. In this talk, Travis Hicks marks the occasion with a walk through the life of Siddhartha Gautama, from his sheltered upbringing in a noble household to his eventual enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Travis traces the familiar arc — the Four Heavenly Messengers, the failed ascetic practices, the decision to simply sit and not move until he found the answer — but tells it in a grounded, unhurried way that brings the human side of the story forward. He closes with the Buddha's final weeks and last words, which return, as always, to the same simple teaching he offered for 45 years: all compounded things pass away, so practice with diligence. A good introduction for those newer to the tradition, and a worthwhile revisit for anyone who hasn't heard the full story told in one sitting. About Travis Hicks Travis Hicks has been practicing Vipassana meditation since 1995 and teaching since 2005. He completed a two-year teacher training program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center under the guidance of senior teachers in the Theravada tradition. Travis brings a warm, accessible style to the dharma, drawing on both classical Buddhist teachings and contemporary psychology. He leads weekly sittings, daylong retreats, and occasional residential retreats for the IMH community.

Brahma Vihara Practice of Mudita (Sympathetic Joy)

Joy isn't a distraction from the spiritual path — according to the Buddha, it's an essential part of it. In this talk, Ginger Clarkson guides the group through mudita, or sympathetic joy, the third of the four brahmaviharas, exploring why it may be the most challenging of the heart practices to cultivate. Ginger reflects honestly on how easy it is to feel genuine warmth toward strangers while still harboring judgment toward others, and how mudita asks us to celebrate the good fortune of others even when we ourselves are struggling. The talk includes a guided meditation sending appreciative joy to others and to oneself, followed by an interactive partner practice where participants share something good in their lives and receive it with an open heart. About Ginger Clarkson Ginger Clarkson is a Community Dharma Leader certified by Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California, where she studied under the mentorship of Jack Kornfield and completed the Dedicated Dharma Practitioner program with Eugene Cash and other senior teachers.

Meditation in Movement: The Alexander Technique

Alexander technique is a body awareness and reeducation method from the 19th century that embodies many principles that overlap with mindfulness meditation and insight through observation. In this talk Tom connects to define practical application while sitting walking and standing as well as meditating. About Tom Lev Tom Lev is a teacher and community builder who has evolved from air traffic control to dance to meditation, guided by the conviction that wisdom must be lived rather than understood. His background in dance taught him that presence and empathy transcend words, a principle he carries into all his teaching and work. He focuses on cultivating stillness and emotional awareness as ongoing practices, offering grounded instruction oriented toward helping people live with more ease and kindness. He serves on the board of Insight Meditation Houston.

Mindfulness of the Body Part 2

In this second talk on mindfulness of the body, Travis Hicks picks up where he left off, covering three more practices from the Satipatthana Sutta: working with postures and energy, mindfulness of the four elements, and contemplation of the body's decay. Travis explores how the choice of posture — sitting, standing, walking, or lying down — relates directly to the energy of the mind, and offers practical ways to bring awareness into everyday movement. He then walks through the elements practice, recategorizing bodily sensations as earth, water, fire, and air — a method he finds particularly alive when practiced outdoors. Finally, he touches on the contemplation of death and decomposition, one of the more challenging practices in the tradition, and offers a simple, grounded way to approach it. About Travis Hicks Travis Hicks has been practicing Vipassana meditation since 1995 and teaching since 2005. He completed a two-year teacher training program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center under the guidance of senior teachers in the Theravada tradition. Travis brings a warm, accessible style to the dharma, drawing on both classical Buddhist teachings and contemporary psychology. He leads weekly sittings, daylong retreats, and occasional residential retreats for the IMH community.