Student Talks

January 17, 2021: We are unquestionably living through one of the most unstable times in modern memory. This is extracting a stressful toll on most of us while simultaneously many of our usual coping strategies aren't available. Sangha member Andrew Smith shares some thoughts on bringing this moment to the dharma.

On January 3, 2021, sangha member Dirk Johnson spoke about Yeshe Tsogyal (8th Century CE), whom many consider to be the first Tibetan, male or female, to achieve enlightenment. In one way or another, virtually all Dzogchen lineages trace back to her. Her importance to the establishment and continuation of Buddhism in Tibet is incalculable.

On December 20, 2020, sangha member Roberta Silveira shares her history on the Buddhist path, while intertwining a few mahasiddhi stories. Ultimately, her talk is on confidence, faith, and determination.

On December 6, 2020, sangha member James Meyer explored motivation to practice. Whether we are trying to go on an exciting vacation, looking for a new job, helping a family member thru college or trying to liberate our mind from mental afflictions and confusion, motivation is key to maintaining ongoing effort and accomplishing our goals.

On November 22, 2020, sangha member Morris Newman talked about how Buddhism has many points of comparison with other spiritual paths, including the mystical Jewish tradition of Hasidism. As in Buddhism, Hasidism relies heavily on an oral tradition of anecdotes and saying of celebrated spiritual leaders. Morris, who spent six years living and studying in a Hasidic community in his 20s, retells many of the stories he heard personally, and relates them to Dharma practice.

On November 8, 2020, sangha member Autumn Payne shared a look inside a her busy life. She's a mother of two young children, a business owner, an educator, a wife and a refuge student of Lama Jinpa. Finding time for meditation, also called, the "training" is challenging, but the opportunity for Buddhist practice when life is busy is plenty. In this talk, Autumn will explore how the dharma is practiced in her daily life and how obstacles can become the way of the path.

On November 1, 2020, sangha member Susan Farrar explored, "Finding Bodhicitta: I know I want to know, but I'm not too sure what it is, so I'm seeking it out. By listening again to Lama Jinpa's dharma talks and LRDC community members' talks and stories, I'm hearing a whisper of what it might be."

On October 25, 2020, sangha member Doug Kleinsmith talks about Love and Justice, and how the combination of the two is bodhisattva work, that is, skillful means. It takes work to learn and to build these skills. This is bodhisattva work!

On October 18, 2020, we were joined by our close friend Jesus Sanchez. Jesus is a member of Quetzalcoatl Citlalli Aztec, who shared their sacred dance and blessings with Lion's Roar in the Fall of 2019. Jesus shared with us more of the traditions and history of this lineage.