Urban Dharma

This is part 1... My interview with Roshi Wendy 'Egyoku' Nakao, abbot of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Since 1967, ZCLA / Buddha Essence Temple has provided the teachings and practice of Zen Buddhism to all who come and go through its temple gate. The core practice is zazen. Visit the ZCLA web site at: www.zencenter.org

Two stories about the wearing and using of Buddhist robes. Part of a talk at True Yoga on wearing and using the Buddhist robes. You can find True Yoga on line at: www.TrueYoga.com

A second presentation to a another class at Chadwick School studying the Book "Siddhartha," a novel of asceticism set in the time of the Buddha. I shared my understanding of Buddhism and answered their many questions. This podcast is the second of four talks I gave at Chadwick School on 5/8/2006. (http://www.chadwickschool.org/)

A presentation to students at Chadwick School studying the Book "Siddhartha," a novel of asceticism set in the time of the Buddha. I shared my understanding of Buddhism and answered their many questions. This podcast is one of the four talks I gave at Chadwick School on 5/8/2006. The students at Chadwick had some great questions, and you're about to hear my answers. (http://www.chadwickschool.org/)

A talk to the UCLA Buddhist Club on THE FOUR IMMEASURABLES: Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy and Equanimity. After the talk we had time for Q &A... This podcast is the talk and the Q & A.

Q & A from my talk on Mindfulness Meditation at True Yoga. There were many questions about Karma, Self and Soul after my talk on mindfulness. This podcast contains those questions and answers. Sorry to say I only had one mic so the questions are hard to hear, but the answers I gave should give you a good idea of what was being asked. Karma, Self and Soul seem to be a sticking point for a lot of folks new to Buddhism. I'm hoping what I had to say on the subject adds some clarity and insight to the question, is it OK for a Buddhist to have a Soul or Self?

A talk on Mindfulness Meditation given at "True Yoga" in Thousand Oaks California. My friend Ericka just moved her True Yoga studio down the street to a new home, with two workout areas and a very nice main room. This was my first talk in the new facility and I was asked to think about speaking twice a month instead of just once. I said yes, and should start the new teaching schedule soon. For more info on Ericka Bryant and True Yoga please visit: www.TrueYoga.com

My interview with Ven. Tenzin Kacho a Tibetan Buddhist nun on being a Buddhist, a nun and a hospital chaplain. On April 1, 2006 I went to Long Beach, California to interview my friend Ven. Tenzin Kacho. The interview turned out to be a little longer than expected, but her journey as a nun is filled with so many interesting twists and turns it could have been three times as long. Her temple web site is - www.tdling.com

My interview with the web master of BuddhaNet.net Ven. Pannyavaro on being a Buddhist, a monk, a web master and his new project "Bodhi Tree" monastery and retreat center. I first met Ven. Pannyavaro in 1998 at the World Fellowship of Buddhist conference in Australia and again a few weeks ago at UCLA. I asked him if I could interview him about his web site, his new project "Bodhi Tree," how he found Buddhism and why he became a monk. Many thanks to Ven. Pannyavaro for his time, his wisdom and his web site.

My interview with Rev. Eko the abbot of Shasta Abbey a Buddhist monastery on what it's like to be a Buddhist, a monk and the abbot. Many thanks to Rev. Eko for his time and wisdom. For more info on Shasta Abbey please visit: www.ShastaAbbey.org

Miss Timms an 8th grade history teacher contacted me about speaking to 8th graders on being a Buddhist and a monk. This is the talk I gave on 3/1/2006 at Chadwick School to the 8th grade history class on being a Buddhist and a monk. http://www.chadwickschool.org/index.cfm

A talk on Walking Meditation given to the UCLA Buddhist Club. I was invited to lead a walking meditation at the Change of Heart weekend retreat (2/3 to 2/5/2006). This talk came from that experience. From the web site... The weekend of Feb 3rd to Feb 5th will change our hearts and minds alike. We will create a tent city and spend the entire weekend outdoors to better understand what it is like to be without a home, without family to turn to, and without the comforts we take for granted in our daily lives. We do this to build empathy for our fellow homeless brothers and sisters who spend every night out on the streets. We will sleep in cardboard boxes and will eat only the food that is donated to us. We will participate in many activities and workshops to learn more about global poverty, homelessness, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and other social causes to nurture our minds as well as our hearts. - http://www.bethecause.org/coh/

Questions and answers from a workshop at the Spirituality and Healing in Medicine Conference - Boston, December 2005. A variety of topics were covered... Sex, death and dying, karma, heaven, the problem with oneness, etc. This conference was sponsored by the Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education and George Washington University. A complete list of conference presentations can be found at: http://www.conferencerecording.com/aaaListTapes.asp?CID=SAB25

A talk to the UCLA Buddhist Club on the spiritual journey... What to do and how to do it.

Enlightenment vs Nirvana... Mahayana and Theravada... are they the same or different, is one better than the other? Just some of the questions I try and answer in a talk to the UCLA Buddhist club.