The Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF

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 our bodies, notice our breath, and rec...

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.

In her signature style, Jennifer we...

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 Buddha was, in many ways, a master psychol...

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 understanding, we’re better able to show up for ...

In this talk, Steven Tierney emphasizes living with integrity as the core of Buddhist practice.

He helps us reflect on living a meaningful and compassionate practice that is responsive to our unique life situations while benefitting both ourselves and others.

Steven defines integrity as aligning thoughts, words, and actions with core values while living for the benefit of others.

• Integrity means wholeness and completeness, derived...

In a world rife with violence and intolerance, how do we embody Buddhist ethical practice that balances compassion, wisdom, and courageous action?

When we feel overwhelmed by the state of society, Daigan Gaither suggests focusing on ethical behavior as a foundation for meaningful action. He reminds us that:

1. Buddhist practice comprises three interdependent trainings: ethical conduct (Shīla), concentration (Samādhi), and wisdom (Pr...

Laura Burges discusses how being present with our fears can help us break the grip they hold over us so we can develop the courage to live openly and compassionately in uncertain times.

Finding Buddhist truths in stories from many cultures, Laura explores how fear shows up in our lives, reminding us that fear is universal, often rooted in uncertainty, and can feel overwhelming, especially in today’s unsettled world. She highlights t...

Human connection brings an inherent amount of suffering with it, so how do we cultivate equanimity in interpersonal relationships?

In this talk, Matthew Brensilver reflects on the deep human need for belonging. Yet an unavoidable tension arises because no person or relationship can fully satisfy craving or end suffering. He explains that understanding this unsatisfactoriness helps us realistically approach relationships without expe...

As practitioners, how can we respond when things fall apart?

Larry Robinson invites us to find refuge and stability amid chaotic and uncertain times by leaning into the core Buddhist teachings and practices. He frames our current historical moment as a “dark age” where things seem to fall apart, but reminds us that history moves in cycles and renewal always follows. 

Larry highlights the importance of taking refuge in the Three Jewel...

How can we transform suffering and self-centeredness into compassion and wakefulness?

In this talk, Gary Ost explores a practical path to emotional freedom and authentic connection -- something that he developed on his personal journey into Tibetan Buddhism, especially through the Shambhala Lojong teachings and Tonglen. 

He shares how he discovered and embraced practices that cultivate compassion and wakefulness, and explains the oft...

How can we simplify our life and our mind amid today’s overwhelming digital distractions and misinformation?

Here David Lewis explores the timeless relevance of Buddhist teachings in our modern, often chaotic world. He begins by reflecting on how suffering ushers many people toward the dharma, yet his own initial curiosity was about the nature of reality and truth, which he found deeply resonant in Buddhism’s investigative spirit. 

D...

Renunciation is sometimes misunderstood as involving dramatic sacrifices or rejecting the world.

In this talk, Danadasa emphasizes that it’s actually about creating spaciousness in the heart and mind for deeper clarity and connection. It’s less about deprivation and more about redirecting our energy toward something more meaningful and peaceful.

He shares how, in the Buddhist path, renunciation helps loosen the grip of craving and ha...

What does it mean to live with an undefended heart?

Here Mary Stancavage’s explores the profound practice of living what she has been investigating for years. She begins by acknowledging that we all build emotional armor as a response to pain and suffering, often unconsciously, to protect ourselves from further hurt. This armor manifests as fixed views, fear, judgment, perfectionism, and numbing behaviors, which ultimately isolate u...

Michaiel Patrick Bovenes invites us on a spiritual journey to reconnect with our “Capital S” Self — the soul’s eternal essence — instead of staying trapped in ego-driven identities shaped by society. He explains that true spirituality isn’t about rituals or rigid beliefs, but about cultivating an authentic, living relationship with the divine energy that flows through us, around us, and beyond us. By integrating our inner masculine...

How can our Buddhist practice make a difference in the face of all the challenges of the modern world?

Drawing on his decades of experience as a teacher, activist, and meditator, Donald Rothberg issues an urgent call to integrate the deepest aspects of Buddhist practice with the pressing needs of our time. By uniting meditation, ethics, emotional work, joy, and conscious action, he maps out a path that combines inner development wit...

How do the works of Shakespeare echo the teachings of the Buddha?

In this heartfelt talk, Matthew Perifano reflects on the transformative power of language as he intertwines his lifelong love of Shakespeare with his journey through Buddhism and the AIDS epidemic. He begins by framing the dharma as more than just teachings—truth, practice, and a deep refuge—and connects it to the power of Shakespearean language. Matthew highlights ho...

What role does grief play in our understanding of impermanence? 

Dave Richo opens with the foundational Buddhist concept of impermanence, reminding us that everything—relationships, beliefs, identities—changes and ends. Drawing on teachings from Zen master Dogen, Dave shares how impermanence is not a flaw but actually embodies our Buddha nature. In this light, change becomes not just acceptable but sacred. Dogen's view that “th...

How might we meet the realities of cruelty and injustice with a grounded and compassionate Buddhist perspective?

Ian Challis suggests that we first acknowledge that witnessing or experiencing cruelty can generate intense emotional responses—anger, grief, fear—and that these reactions are natural.

However, Ian encourages us to avoid being overwhelmed or reactive. Instead, he suggests grounding ourselves in awareness and intention, rec...

How does a Buddhist make use of the aphorism "Let go and let God?"

Liên Shutt shares a deeply personal and reflective talk centered around the phrase "Let Go and Let God," inspired by a cross-stitch left by her adoptive mother. Drawing from both her Buddhist and Christian influences, Liên explores how this phrase bridges her upbringing with her Zen practice. She reflects on the pain and insight of not resonating ...