Infinite Smile

In this evening's talk, Michael talks about our potential struggle with realization and recognition of Enlightenment in the face of karmic activity.

In this talk given to Lafayette California's ITP Group, Michael talks about getting past the "I-sense".

In tonight's talk, Michael talks about finding comfort in chaos.

In tonight's talk, Michael talks about changing our relationship to what the mind perceives as mistakes.

In tonight's talk, Michael talks about how the phrase, "Be, Here, Now" says the same thing three times.

In tonight's talk, Michael talks about his seven day retreat at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center.

In tonight's talk, Michael discusses the incomplete nature of what he calls small self being. When our orientation is kept down by the fire of our addictions to egoic thinking and movement, we lose a felt sense of stillness that has the potential to awaken us in any situation. He also goes on to speak of stillness as a way of uncovering a peace that doesn't leave us even in the face of grand challenges.

In tonight's talk, Michael discusses what he calls the "Four A's" of awareness, acceptance, availability, and authenticity. Living from the Four A's we free ourselves from the contracted activity and limited thinking of the small self.

In tonight's talk, Michael discusses the ways in which we are blind to what is truly beautiful in ourselves, others, and the world no matter what the situation might be. Seeing through all that veils the inherent beauty from our site develops a deeper sense of integrity and completion within us.

Tonight Michael talks about facing the terror of our own mortality with integrity. This allows for each of us to lead a deeper life.

In tonight's talk, Michael talks about the importance of getting a teacher, a teaching, and a group of spiritual friends. He also goes into how attempts at killing the ego wipes out the potential for Awakening. So then how do we measure our experience against those among us who are Awakened? This and issues like spiritual skepticism, groups of spiritual friends, and intention are also covered.

In tonight's talk, Michael offers us his rather unorthodox interpretation of Zen's Ten Oxherding pictures.

In tonight's talk, Michael talks about how our everyday mind points us toward Awakening. Putting ourselves into an alert space means that we can't allow ourselves to simply become numb to life. Nor can we indulge our stories or the negativity that arises in our normal circumstances. In fact as we fully meet our lives and allow for anything to arise, we can open to what is True beyond our own stories. Looking at the challenges of our practices and our day-to-day lives allows us to get into a space where we can see our negativity. At the seeing of our negativity, we can disidentify from it. This disidentification is our Freedom from suffering.

Falling into our habitual patterns can get in the way of any meaningful practice. In tonight's talk, Michael suggests that we explore these slips since they, like all other situations, offer us awakening. Having the courage to stand in this light of consciousness helps us see clearly and see through whatever might keep us locked in the normal delusion and prevent us from meeting life with our Original Face.

"You want the shortcut?" Michael asks in tonight's talk. "Let go of all things personal and watch all the things that the small self is doing on the stage of mind." This awareness is whole, complete and timeless. Rest there and watch everything change.

"The stories that we've been told, as well as the stories we tell ourselves, can hinder Awakening to the Truth beyond the stories," Michael says in tonight's talk. Opening to a practice that puts us in the middle of what ever stories we might cling to is exactly the Path we can take in order to approach our lives with the deepest integrity possible.

"The rarefied air forces us to let go of the stuff we don't need," Michael says in tonight's talk. "Truth beyond name and form shows up as we climb higher up the Mountain of Spirit and turn up the heat on our practice." This is hard work. In the midst of it all, our work is to renounce our craving. This helps us develop a different relationship with our craving. This new relationship spontaneously brings the entire Dharma home.

"Everybody has everything they need for enlightenment," says Michael in tonight's talk. "You'll never find Awakening to happen any place other than right here." The minute we see and meet things as they are, we are open. When we are open there is no longer any pushing. The recognition of this pushing is not pushing, rather it is a direct path to the Source of who we truly are.

"Don't throw your preferences out the window," says Michael in tonight's talk. "Study them in order to see how they lead to attachment." Michael further explains how we get in the way of Awakening by creating yet more Karma, or tangle as he often says. The way out of this trap is to become aware of three qualities: all things are temporary, all things depend on our imputation, all things are Spirit in action.

As important as a good teacher is, we also must consider how critical a meditation practice is as we walk the Path. In tonight's talk, Michael explains how we can help this process along by being careful in how we practice. As we practice with care, we get to come back into the world more deeply integrated with all that is around us. This is exactly what happens when, instead of doing meditation, we let meditation do us.