The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF
Buddhism for Liberation and Social Action. We invite teachers from all schools of Buddhism to offer their perspectives on the dharma and its application in modern times, especially for LGBTQIA audiences.
Produced by GBF - The Gay Buddhist Fellowship of San Francisco.
The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF
Am I "Buddhist?" Donald Rothberg
What core Buddhist teachings are reflected in all other wisdom traditions?
As stated in the Kālāma Sutta, known as the Buddha's "charter of free inquiry," Donald Rothberg encourages us not to believe anything simply because we are told to, but rather apply our own experience and discernment.
He encourages us to embrace the very practical core teachings of Buddhism and consider how those resonate with other religious traditions.
He explores the foundations of our teachings in familiar Buddhist language, framing them in terms of:
- Ethics
- The heart practices (compassion, loving-kindness, joy, etc.)
- Wisdom
He then looks at the essence of each and how they can be expressed very simply in ordinary, practical language that goes beyond Buddhism.
WATCH the full talk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ZLIg05F38
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Donald Rothberg, Ph.D., is a member of the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Center, a guiding teacher for the Marin Sangha in San Rafael, California, and a regular teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, California, Southern Dharma Retreat Center, InsightLA, and New York Insight.
He teaches retreats and groups on concentration and insight meditation practice, lovingkindness practice, transforming the judgmental mind, mindful communication, working skillfully with conflict, and socially engaged Buddhism.
He has practiced insight meditation since 1976, and has also received training in Tibetan Dzogchen, body-based psychotherapy, and trauma work. He has helped guide many six-month to two-year training programs in socially engaged spirituality, both Buddhist-based and interfaith, and is the author of The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World, and the co-editor of Ken Wilber in Dialogue.
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CREDITS
Audio Engineer: George Hubbard
Producer: Tom Bruein
Music/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter