Gay Buddhist Fellowship of San Francisco

Gay Buddhist Fellowship of San Francisco GBF hosts teachers who speak on the intersection of the dharma and queer life in modern times.

Our gatherings every Sunday at 10:30am in San Francisco (and on Zoom) are a forum that brings together teachers from diverse Buddhist traditions to speak on the application of the dharma in modern times. Following our program, those who are interested usually walk somewhere local together to socialize over lunch. For detailed directions, copies of our newsletter, or 700+ free recorded talks, pleas

e visit our website:
http://www.gaybuddhist.org

To receive email notices about speakers at our Sunday sittings, social activities and other sangha news, you may also join our Google group at https://groups.google.com/g/gaybuddhists

10/19/2024

How does compassion differ from either pity or the rush to fix things?

In the full talk JD Doyle looks at how can we keep from shutting down when the world gets to be a little too much for us.

JD shares that the key lies in returning to our interconnectedness. They tie this beautifully with the practice of the brahmaviharas (the four immeasurables: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity). JD explains that when we feel overwhelmed by the suffering we witness or experience, turning to these qualities helps us stay grounded. By cultivating loving-kindness and compassion, we can face challenges without closing off emotionally.

Listen to the full talk on YouTube or our website:
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/joy-and-compassion-in-the-face-of-overwhelm-jd-doyle/

10/01/2024

"Deconstructing the Self" with Daigan Gaither

In the full talk, Daigan explores "Intimacy with Yourself," explaining that we often misinterpret our emotions by labeling them (e.g., calling a physical sensation "anxiety") and then react to those labels instead of the actual experience. This creates layers of stories and emotions, leading us further from the original feeling.

He encourages us to stay curious about our experience, letting go of certainty and rigid identities, and allowing the experience to tell us what it is. By doing so, we avoid creating fixed identities or stories about ourselves and our emotions, which can lead to suffering.

Watch or listen to the full talk on our website:
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/intimacy-with-yourself-daigan-gaither/

09/30/2024

"Individual differences are not better or worse, merely different. If we forgo judging, we come to understand that each of us has a unique predicament that requires a unique journey. While we share the overall journey, everyone’s particular experiences are his or her own. No set of experiences is a prerequisite for enlightenment. People have become enlightened in all ways. Just be what you are. "

Ram Dass, Love Serve Remember

"Right now... it's like this."~ Vinnie Ferraro
09/04/2024

"Right now... it's like this."
~ Vinnie Ferraro

Something for your Labor Day in San Francisco?
09/02/2024

Something for your Labor Day in San Francisco?

08/28/2024

"Our Actions Are All That We Possess"

In the full talk, Steven Tierney asks us to challenge the notion that we are stuck with no way out. He emphasizes that rather than avoid the difficult, we can find a way through by embracing Buddhist teachings and practices.

This can include:

- Living with Intention
- Joy and Bliss in Buddhist Practice
- Investigation and Self-Understanding
- Developing Courage
- Moving Through Pain

Watch or listen to the full talk on our website:
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/no-way-out-steven-tierney/

08/23/2024

"Should We Believe the Teachings of the Buddha?"

As stated in the Kālāma Sutta, known as the Buddha's "charter of free inquiry," Donald Rothberg encourages us not to believe anything simply because we are told to, but rather apply our own experience and discernment.

In the full talk, he encourages us to embrace the very practical core teachings of Buddhism and consider how those resonate with other religious traditions.

He explores the foundations of our teachings in familiar Buddhist language, framing them in terms of:

1. Ethics
2. The heart practices (compassion, loving-kindness, joy, etc.)
3. Wisdom

He then looks at the essence of each and how they can be expressed very simply in ordinary, practical language that goes beyond Buddhism.
______________
Watch or listen to the full talk on our website:
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/am-i-buddhist-donald-rothberg/

08/16/2024

"Seven Secrets to Connecting with Others" with Michaiel Patrick Bovenes

As spiritual beings grounded in oneness, how do we overcome the tendency to feel separated while in human form?

In this practical talk, Michaiel Patrick Bovenes shares reminders for finding connection.

Connecting with others depends on how we are being:

1. Be open and present
2. Be curious rather than critical
3. Be understanding
4. Be vulnerable – “consciously uncomfortable”
5. Own your value, realizing that you matter.
6. Seek the good in others
7. Be discerning – discover early if it’s not a good fit

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You can watch or listen to the talk on our website:
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/seven-secrets-to-connecting-with-others-michaiel-patrick-bovenes/

It's finished!
08/04/2024

It's finished!

08/03/2024

"The Sacred Tapestry of Your Life" with Dorothy Hunt
If we are an expression of the whole, why does life feel so personal?

In a talk that examines duality, Dorothy Hunt asks us who and what we really are. Is our awareness something that belongs to us as a separate 'me', or is it instead something that arises from our experience of reality?

She likens reality to an enormous unending tapestry on a loom, consisting of interwoven strands that give rise to the whole.

> The vertical cords are the 'warp' - the stable structure that determines the shape of the tapestry, akin to our true nature -- that unchanging awareness for which each person is a vehicle.

> The horizontal threads, known as the 'weft,' constantly change to provide color, texture and variety, much like the moment-to-moment experiences, thoughts and words in our lives.

Just as a wave cannot be separated from the ocean, no single thread can be removed without affecting the whole.
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Watch or listen to the full talk on our website:
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/the-sacred-tapestry-of-your-life-dorothy-hunt/

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