The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF

The Path to Freedom in an Ever-Changing World How can we find lasting peace when everything in our lives—from our favorite shops to our own bodies—is constantly changing? In this talk, Walt Opie explores impermanence, the "bedrock" of Buddhist teaching, showing us how our suffering often comes from fighting a reality we cannot change. He explains that our brains are hardwired to look for...

Rev. Liên Shutt explores how the Buddhist path of wisdom can help us fully celebrate and embody our identities as queer people.  The concept of prajna (wisdom) is not an abstract theory, but as an interactive way of being that honors our lived experiences. Liên breaks down the traditional three levels of wisdom and maps them onto the queer journey, showing how we move from simply seeking informati...

Eve Decker explores the vital necessity of cultivating joy not as a way to ignore suffering, but as a spiritual practice to maintain internal balance and equanimity. It is an internal ease independent of external circumstances. By embracing her personal mantra, "right now it's like this," Eve invites us to meet the present moment with intimacy and kindness, rather than reactivity or...

Finding a sense of lightness and joy ? Mary Stancavage explores the vital necessity of cultivating joy as a spiritual practice to maintain internal balance and equanimity in a world marked by violence, cruelty, and despair.  Drawing on the wisdom of The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, she argues that joy is an internal ease that remains independent of external circumstances. By emb...

How can we prevent our hearts from hardening against a brutal world and instead use our own imperfections as a bridge to connection? Joe Goode addresses this by arguing that while political or social resistance is necessary, the act of opposition can unintentionally cause us to harden, losing touch with the vulnerability where love and intimacy live. He suggests that instead of trying to "fix...

How can we maintain a steady heart and a sense of purpose when the systems we rely on seem to be collapsing and the world feels overwhelmed by conflict? René Rivera shows us that equanimity is not mere "composure" or "evenness of temper" -- a misunderstanding that can lead to suppressing anger in order to remain perfectly calm. Drawing on a three-month retreat in South Africa,...

How can we maintain a compassionate heart in a world defined by conflict?   Sean Feit Oakes shows us how we can use the Brahma Viharas —the "immeasurable" states of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity— to provide an internal sanctuary from the "poisons" of greed and hatred.  He explains that the Buddha taught these practices as the essential foundation for wisdom, inviting us...

Daigan Gaither helps us examine how we can remain deeply engaged with a suffering world without losing our sanity, despite the "fire hose" of constant information and activism.  He explores the phrase "it's okay to not be okay" as a living practice rather than a mere platitude. Drawing on his experience as a Zen priest and long-time activist, Daigan explains that the Buddh...

How can we maintain a steady heart and a sense of purpose when the world around us is in conflict?  Victoria Austin introduces us to the concept of a "posture of peace," which she defines not merely as a physical sitting position but as an enduring internal state. Drawing on stories of individuals facing extreme challenges—from the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis to recovery from traum...

Onryu Mary Stares helps us understand why external peace is impossible without first addressing the "war" occurring inside—the aggression and destructive emotions within our own heart. She offers several key approaches to support this effort: Navigating the Kleshas : Mary identifies aggression as a "cold, critical, and fixed" mind and encourages practitioners to acknowledge thi...

How can we cultivate a heart that remains open and loving regardless of the external circumstances we face?  In this talk, Sean Feit Oakes explores the Brahma Viharas , also known as the "divine abodes" or states of the heart, as a comprehensive framework for answering this question. He explains that while the Buddha is often associated with wisdom, these practices of love are foundation...

Exploring the Buddha's nine causes of spiritual and personal development, Kevin Griffin identifies one that is the foundation for all the others: community and spiritual friends. He notes that once a person has good friends, it can be expected that they will naturally become moral, hear the dharma, have energy, and become wise. But this presents a paradox: while noble friendships are describe...

How can we cultivate a mind that stays steady, open, and responsive even when life becomes unpredictable? In this talk, Beth Mulligan explores equanimity as a living practice rather than a distant ideal. She frames equanimity as the quiet strength that allows a person to meet experience without collapsing into overwhelm or tightening into resistance. Speaking with warmth and clarity, she describes...

What stories do we tell ourselves when life feels overwhelming, painful, or uncertain? Steven Tierney invites us to look closely at the narratives that shape our experience—especially in moments of grief and fear. Reflecting on the recent loss of Jeff Lindemood, he shows how the mind rushes to create stories about unfairness, danger, and identity, and how Buddhist practice helps us pause long enou...

What if “liberation” isn’t an escape from the world’s pain, but the most grounded way to meet it? In Part 2, Ian Challis continues his exploration of the journey from samsara (the spinning wheel of greed, hatred, and delusion) toward nibbāna —not as a far-off trophy, but as an orientation we can practice right here. He frames refuge (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) as a real-time source of strength rather...

What does it take to finally say, “I’ve had enough of being swept around by life,” and begin walking a path toward real freedom? Ian Challis invites us to first take a grounded look at samsara—the restless, exhausting cycle of craving, aversion, and wandering that shapes so much of human experience. Ian describes samsara not as a moral failing but as the natural turbulence of being human: the push...

What if the imagination itself could become a doorway to compassion, ease, and awakening? Danadasa begins by grounding listeners in the Tibetan practice of tonglen—breathing in the suffering of oneself and others as dark smoke, and breathing out cool, healing moonlight. Rather than treating this as a grim or burdensome task, he reframes it through the imaginal realm: a space where metaphor, poetry...

When will we realize that peace isn’t something we create, but something already here—quietly waiting for us? That’s the thread David Lewis follows in this winter‑solstice talk, weaving together poetry, Buddhist teachings, and reflections on the natural world. He begins by exploring how solstice traditions mirror dharmic values: stillness, silence, and the movement from darkness toward light. Draw...

What does it mean to give something freely, without expecting anything in return?   In this talk, Marcia Lieberman introduces us to the Japanese word kubari —a term for paying attention to others, as well as a twig used in flower arranging.  Drawing from both cultural insight and Buddhist teachings, she shares how kubari expresses a kind of mindful generosity that is not transactional, but attuned...

In this quietly powerful talk, Jokai Blackwell reflects on how Zen practice invites us into a deeper intimacy with life — not by escaping discomfort, but by softening our resistance to it. He shares personal stories and teachings from Zen and early Buddhism that reveal how clinging to control or certainty only increases suffering. Instead, Jokai encourages listeners to cultivate a practice of surr...

What does it mean to “be awareness” rather than simply observing it?  Dorothy Hunt invites us to see awareness not as something separate from thoughts, feelings, or experiences, but as the very ground of being that is already present. Grounding her reflections in both tradition and poetry, she illustrates how awareness reveals itself in every moment, whether through beauty, suffering, or the ordin...

What does it mean to truly awaken—and how do we live with full awareness in every moment, even in the face of impermanence?  Eugene Cash's warm, playful, and deeply sincere style invites us into a rich exploration of mindfulness, death, and the immediacy of life. Drawing from the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Eugene emphasizes the experiential nature of awareness, encouraging us to feel ou...

Jennifer Berezan reflects on the necessity for courage, compassion, and the power of community in uncertain times. Even to simply stop and sit with what is requires bravery—especially amid aging, societal unrest, and personal struggles. She emphasizes meeting the moment with “loving awareness,” as Jack Kornfield taught, and encourages us to find refuge in practice, even when the world feels heavy....

When seen with clarity, the dharma sheds light on nearly every aspect of our daily lives.  In this highly engaging talk, Eve Decker explores in plain language how Buddhist teachings can help us deal with our daily struggles. By highlighting the intersection of Buddhist wisdom and neuroscience, she shows how ancient teachings align with modern psychological frameworks. Eve emphasizes that the Buddh...

Self-compassion is a vital part of the Buddhist path, especially here in the West.  Here, Walt Opie shares personal stories and reflections on how difficult it can be to extend kindness toward ourselves, especially when we’re caught in patterns of self-judgment or perfectionism. Walt emphasizes that self-compassion isn’t selfish—it’s foundational. When we treat ourselves with care and understandin...