Suburban Dharma

Subodha gives a talk at the IBMC on 2/14/21, Valentine’s Day, about falling in love with meditation and entering into a committed relationship with Buddhist practice by developing the seven factors for awakening. The Khaya Sutta, SN 46:26, is discussed in reference to the seven factors and how their development leads to the abandonment of craving. Subodha also discusses the poet Mary Oliver.

A Dharma talk at the International Meditation Center Los Angeles Zoom Sunday service on 11/29/2020. Subodha discusses the fear and anxiety that he felt being alone in the dark as a child and what Buddhism can teach us about how to overcome fear and terror.

A Dharma talk at the IBMC Zoom Sunday service on 10/18/20. Subodha talks about the importance of being honest and upright about our practice, even in difficult times, with a gentle attitude.

Subodha, still staying socially distant at home, shares his views on meditation. He specifically addresses the absorptions (jhanas) and ekaggata (stillness of mind) in regard to concentration (samadhi). He also shares his experience teaching a children’s dharma school over the weekend and his plans to begin a weekly meditation group.

Subodha gives an informal talk in his home on 5/21/2020. He discusses the importance on cultivating an enjoyment for silence, solo retreating at home, and being more discerning about our media consumption. He also shares upcoming plans for more guided meditation and dharma discussion online through Facebook, Instagram, and Zoom.

This guided meditation was recorded via Zoom on 4/14/2020 for the University of the West Chaplaincy Club and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. This meditation is roughly 10 minutes in length and utilizes the breath to cultivate a calm abiding.

This guided breath meditation was recorded live via Zoom on 3-31-2020 for the University of the West Chaplaincy Club and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The meditation is approximately 15 minutes in length with verbal instruction and periods of silence for the meditator.

In this special episode recorded on 3/21/2020, Subodha is accompanied by his wife Christina. They discuss many topics including right effort, the eight-fold path, meditation, mindfulness of breathing and more! This is a first in a series of Dharma discussions the two plan on sharing throughout the Safer At Home shutdown in California. Any questions, comments, or topic ideas can be sent to subodha@...

A Dharma talk at the International Buddhist Meditation Center Los Angeles on March 17, 2020. Subodha gives a talk on Samvega (an existential dismay and urgency) and Pasada (mental clarity) as useful mental qualities that can be cultivated by reflecting on aging, illness, death, impermanence, and karma.

A Dharma talk at the International Buddhist Meditation Center Los Angeles on 2/16/20. Subodha discusses the Five Faculties with a special focus on the second faculty through the story of Venerable Sona as found in the Numerical Discourses of the Pali Canon.

A Dharma talk at the International Buddhist Meditation Center Los Angeles on 12/15/19. Subodha discusses how he learned the truth about Santa Claus not existing and relates that to how he first understood Anatta (not self) to mean soullessness and how his views have changed.

A Dharma talk given at the International Buddhist Meditation Center Los Angeles on 11/17/19. Subodha discusses the Kasibharadvaja Sutta, in which the Buddha explains to a Brahman farmer how training in the eightfold path is like farming.

A talk at the International Buddhist Meditation Center Los Angeles on 10/20/19. Subodha discusses the Sedaka Sutta from the Samyutta Nikāya. The name he forgot in Pali was Medakathālikā, one he will now never forget again.

A Dharma talk at the IBMC on 9/15/19. Subodha talks about being diligent on the path when we are busy being happy and even when we’re not perfect in our practice.

A Father’s Day Dhamma talk at the International Buddhist Meditation Center Los Angeles on June 16, 2019.

A talk at the IBMC on 4/21/19.

A Dharma talk at the IBMC on 3/31/19.

There are some changes in store for Suburban Dharma in 2019, including a new RSS feed, new recording equipment, production software, and upcoming guided meditations for those interested.

Subodha talks about having a birthday the day after Christmas and mudita, sympathetic joy.

Subodha shares some thoughts on the similarities between the views of the human condition in existential therapy and those found in Buddhism.

Subodha shares some thoughts on how the fetter of conceit manifests on the path and how we might respond to it skillfully.

Subodha shares his views on Buddhism as one of the best forms of self-care. Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, mentioned in the Dhamma talk, can be found at https://www.abhayagiri.org/home/

At Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society on 8/19/18, Subodha discusses a recent news story about psychedelic drugs and Buddhist practice and his belief that the two are not compatible. Many have turned to drugs because they feel that Buddhism has not been enough for them on its own and they feel that their journey in Buddhism has plateaued. Subodha challenges the belief that Buddhist medi...

Subodha gives a talk at the International Buddhist Meditation Center in Los Angeles on 7/15/18 sharing stories of escape, how they failed, and how that ties to Buddhist wisdom. There is no escape. The only way is through.

Subodha shares stories about growing up and the relationship he has with his father in honor of Father's Day.