Suburban Dharma

A Dharma talk at the International Buddhist Meditation Center Los Angeles on 12/12/21. Subodha reflects on the importance of simplicity and contentment on the path especially as it relates to the hectic holiday season.

A Dharma talk at the IBMC Sunday service on Zoom 11/21/2021. Subodha talks about the problem with the modern temptation to view traditional Buddhism as repressive and unnecessary in the pursuit of a peaceful mind. He shows how the precepts, especially those kept by dedicated lay disciples of the Buddha on the four moon phases, are taken on voluntarily to emulate the way of life of the Noble Ones, those who have achieved liberation. In this light, the precepts are about freedom.

A talk at the International Buddhist Meditation Center Los Angeles Sunday service on 10/10/21. In memory of his late friend, Subodha gives a Dharma talk on the seven treasures as a guide to living and dying well.

A Dharma talk at the International Buddhist Meditation Center Los Angeles Sunday Zoom service on 9/12/21. Tragedies large and small are discussed, including the attack on September 11. The five hindrances are framed as coping mechanisms for troubled times. And then some tactics for working with the five hindrances are offered.

A Dharma talk at the IBMC Sunday service on Zoom, 8/15/21. Subodha shares how the lesson he is preparing for the kids in Dharma school on the Eightfold Path reminded him of a book he read over twenty years ago called Way of the Peaceful Warrior. He then contrasts one of the teachings from the book about the present moment with the Buddha's teachings on "appropriate attention" showing how the Buddha teaches a purposeful directing of the mind to realizing the Four Noble Truths in meditation.

A Dharma talk at the IBMC Sunday service on Zoom 7/25/21. Subodha shares some of his thoughts on teaching the Noble Eightfold Path to children at an online Dharma school. This leads to a reflection of how Buddhism and the Eightfold Path encompass one's whole life.

A Dharma talk given at the IBMC Sunday Service on Zoom, 6/20/21. The Buddha's lessons on developing path factors to a reliable happiness and transcend suffering and stress are shared as a contrast to the popular view that the stresses of life are to be accepted.

A Dharma talk at the IBMC Zoom Sunday Service. Subodha talks about the five aggregates not as an objective description of a human being, but as the Buddha's explanation of why we suffer and how to find liberation by changing the activities of the mind by abandoning desire and developing dispassion.

A Dharma talk at the IBMC Sunday service on Zoom, 4/25/21. Subodha discusses the Devadaha Sutta (SN 22:2) as a good summary of the path and why we follow it. He also talks about meditation and its role in measuring progress, looking at heart and mind. When developing skillful mental qualities and abandoning unskillful mental qualities, how does the heart feel? Is it heavy, like dragging a cart behind you, or light like your shadow that follows you?

Subodha gives a Dharma talk at the IBMC Zoom Sunday service on 3-7-21. He shares life lessons with his grandfather and lessons that the Buddha…

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…

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…

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…

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, … Continue reading "Special Episode: Covid Chronicles Part One"

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.