Gay Buddhist Fellowship of San Francisco

09/25/2025

A new dharma talk has been added to the GBF website, podcast and YouTube Channel:

https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/the-hard-work-of-ethical-conduct-daigan-gaither/

In a world rife with violence and intolerance, how do we embody Buddhist ethical practice that balances compassion, wisdom, and courageous action?

When we feel overwhelmed by the state of society, Daigan Gaither suggests focusing on ethical behavior as a foundation for meaningful action. He reminds us that:

1. Buddhist practice comprises three interdependent trainings: ethical conduct (Shīla), concentration (Samādhi), and wisdom (Prajñā).
2. Ethical conduct demands we actively oppose oppression and intolerance rather than remaining neutral.
3. Meditation allows us to explore the lived experience of difficult emotions, allowing them to empower rather than control us.
4. Compassion does not require tolerating harmful behavior; sometimes it means setting boundaries or “loving from a distance.”
5. Sustained engagement requires self-care and community support, guided by the wisdom meditation cultivates.
6. Real-world Buddhist practice involves supporting justice work, educating oneself, and responding appropriately to present circumstances, even if outcomes are uncertain.

As we wrestle with the tension between compassion and confronting harm, Daigan encourages us to balance loving kindness with discernment. His dialogue with the sangha further explores how small acts, rooted in ethical intention, collectively contribute to change.

In a world rife with violence and intolerance, how do we embody Buddhist ethical practice that balances compassion, wisdom, and courageous action?

09/12/2025

The latest dharma talk is now available on the GBF website, podcast and YouTube channel:

https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/what-might-happen-laura-burges/

Laura Burges discusses how being present with our fears can help us break the grip they hold over us so we can develop the courage to live openly and compassionately in uncertain times.

Finding Buddhist truths in stories from many cultures, Laura explores how fear shows up in our lives, reminding us that fear is universal, often rooted in uncertainty, and can feel overwhelming, especially in today’s unsettled world. She highlights that Buddhism offers tools to recognize and sit with fear rather than avoid it, including the practice of “staying” with fear, which helps us face it fully and find courage in the present moment.

Laura also weaves in reflections on bodhicitta—the awakened heart and mind—which invites us to soften rather than harden in the face of life’s challenges. Her overall message is that being present with fear makes it smaller and less paralyzing, using life's uncertainty and loss to help us awaken.

https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/what-might-happen-laura-burges/

07/21/2025

We just learned that teacher and eco-philosopher Joanna Macy passed away on July 19, 2025. She was at home being cared for by her family and friends who encircled and sang to her for her final two hours. She was 96.

Joanna's life teachings became known as "The Work that Reconnects" which can be explored at https://workthatreconnects.org/

She only spoke once at GBF but her talk is very pertinent today:
"In A Dark Time The Eye Begins To See"
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/in-a-dark-time-the-eye-begins-to-see-joanna-macy/

06/18/2025

"Responding to Injustice & Cruelty" with Ian Challis

How might we meet the realities of cruelty and injustice with a grounded and compassionate Buddhist perspective?

In the full talk, Ian Challis suggests that we first acknowledge that witnessing or experiencing cruelty can generate intense emotional responses—anger, grief, fear—and that these reactions are natural.

However, Ian encourages us to avoid being overwhelmed or reactive. Instead, he suggests grounding ourselves in awareness and intention, recognizing that our own suffering in the face of cruelty is an opportunity for deeper practice and connection. He emphasizes that avoiding cruelty doesn’t mean turning away from pain—it means engaging with clarity and care.

Ian shares several guiding principles and reflections to help us in this effort:

1. Recognize shared suffering: Understand that even those who act cruelly are often driven by their own confusion and suffering.

2. Choose wise response over reactivity: Awareness helps interrupt cycles of violence and retaliation.

3. Practice compassion with boundaries: Being compassionate doesn’t mean accepting harm—it includes protecting oneself and others wisely.

4. Stay connected to values: Respond from a place of love, justice, and mindfulness, even when action is necessary.

He also briefly touches on how Buddhist ethics (sīla) and the cultivation of wisdom (paññā) support us in transforming our response to injustice into a path of liberation.
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Listen to the full talk on the GBF website or podcast:
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/responding-to-injustice-and-cruelty-ian-challis/

06/15/2025

A call for elder practitioners to share our experience with the world.

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

09/21/2024

"The True Meaning of Ignorance"

In the full talk, David Lewis explores 'Waking Up to the Nature of Reality' including how we can become aware of our interpretations and misperceptions to fully understand the three characteristics of existence.

Watch or listen to the talk on our website: https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/waking-up-to-the-nature-of-reality-david-lewis/

09/04/2024

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

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/