Tea with Mara

George Beecher

Audio recordings of live Dharma Talks and Meditations offered in Virtual Reality for the Together with TRIPP community, and the Two Hands Sangha by Rev. George Beecher.

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21 episodes
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Avg 46 min
English

Episodes 21

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Monday · 49 min
Only A Step Away
"Only A Step Away" is a Dharma talk and very brief meditation suggested in the 11th hour in MindfulnessVR by one of our community members. I walked into our gathering without a Dharma talk planned and moments before we started, someone asked about finding your direction again after letting other people pull you away from your path. So we talked about wandering, distraction, relationships, boundaries, personal responsibility...and beginning again. Getting distracted isn't failure, it's simply a part of the practice. And no matter how far you think you've wandered, the path is never more than one step away. I hope this is helpful for you. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
August 17 · 44 min
Pillars of Thought
"Pillars of Thought" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on the topic of Intentions, and of moving from stagnant thoughts (Pillars of thought) to actions which have an arc or a lean toward action. How many things in your life have you been meaning to do? Sometimes what we think is an intention may actually just be a pillar of thought. It may be important, but it’s standing perfectly still. Genuine intentions lean toward action. https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
August 12 · 48 min
The BuJo Buddha
"The BuJu Buddha" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on the oddly aligned topics of Bullet Journaling and the teachings of the Buddha, and Mahasi Sayadaw's method of Noting Practice. As I recently turned to physical journaling using the BuJo method as a way to escape the bonds of electronics in a portion of my life, I was surprised to find that the practice popularized by Ryder Carroll was surprisingly similar to noting practice in the Dharma. And here we are. :) I promise I'm not trying to sell you on the idea of journaling or BuJo specifically...even though it might sound like it. I am only offering that there is great value in reflecting on your day, noting your experience, and beginning again. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
August 11 · 48 min
No, I Am My Father
"No, I Am My Father" is a Dharma talk and brief meditation offered in MindfulnessVR on why Disney holds such a powerful allure for adults? Most assume it's about escaping reality. But maybe it’s about our very human longing for joy, wonder, story, connection, and a world intentionally designed around happiness. In this episode, we explore the surprising Dharma hiding beneath the magic: why stories matter, why wonder matters, how our surroundings shape the mind, and why even the most carefully crafted “happiest place on Earth” can’t create happiness for us. What if the happiest place on Earth isn’t a place at all. https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
August 10 · 48 min
The Delicious Itch
"The Delicious Itch" is a Dharma talk and brief meditation inspired by the Sirens in The Odyssey and a lovely Instagram post I saw by a young man named Esteban. It's about the persistent voice insisting that happiness exists somewhere other than here. The Sirens sound remarkably like Māra to me. They don’t have to drag us away from our lives. They only have to tempt us enough to keep listening. So, in this talk we explore craving, regret, papañca, impermanence, Māra, and the Buddhist practice that lets us recognize the song without following it. I hope you enjoy the talk, and I think I'm done doing talks on The Odyssey now. Maybe. https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
August 7 · 47 min
Intention Is Everything
"Intention Is Everything" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha inspired by Christopher Nolan's recent movie The Odyssey. We had VR friends visiting from the MindfulnessVR community, and I asked what they might like to hear a talk on. They said anything in the ethics realm, and I prepared a talk. Then I saw The Odyssey, and was inspired to include some of that 3000 year old marvel. I tweaked the talk to include some about "Zeus' Law" and here we are. I hope this talk - which is largely about kindness, ethics, and intention - will give you some food for thought. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
July 27 · 46 min
It's That Time Again
"It's That Time Again" is a Dharma Talk offered in MindfulnessVR about birthdays and how they can sometimes get you down. A beloved community member recommended the topic because he struggles on his birthday, always leaning toward focusing on all that he has failed to do or not accomplished, instead of seeing all the good he has done and all the joys present in his life. We love him and did this talk with him in mind, but who can't use a reminder like this on every day of the year? I hope you enjoy the talk! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
July 27 · 49 min
Jimothy Didn't Choose
"Jimothy Didn't Choose" is a Dharma Talk about free will, and whether or not we have it. I hope you'll find it helpful. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
July 20 · 54 min
Loving Without Losing Yourself
"Loving Without Losing Yourself" is a Dharma talk and very brief guided meditation on the topic suggested by a community member of how to deal with a parent who is extremely hostile toward you. But in a broader way it's just about how to develop healthy boundaries and hold them, and how to find compassion for difficult people. I hope you'll find some fit in your own life for this one if you need it. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
July 14 · 47 min
An Unfinished Life
"An Unfinished Life" is a Dharma talk inspired by a friend of mine who had a few questions. The common thread across them all, that I saw, was about growth, and about the perfection of imperfection. I don't know if this directly addressed all of her questions, but it definitely was a talk I enjoyed sharing. An Unfinished Life is also something we are all living out every day and may we always be treating it so! I hope you will find some help or inspiration within this talk, and I deeply thank my friend for sharing her questions and conversation with me. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
July 11 · 40 min
Stretch Toward Giving Heed
"Stretch Toward Giving Heed" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha inspired by the movie Disclosure Day. While I tried hard not to spoil any of it, the overall meaning - or at least my view of it - is shared. This talk is about paying attention, and I hope you will get some benefit from it. I believe it's something the whole world desperately needs right now. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
July 6 · 42 min
Freedom Fighters
"Freedom Fighters" is a Dharma talk and super brief meditation on the five hindrances ("freedom fighters" because they fight our efforts to free ourselves!). It's hopefully a helpful look at the things that get in our way, and it was inspired by discussion following last week's talk. I hope you find it helpful. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
June 30 · 46 min
Use Your Time Wisely
"Use Your Time Wisely" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on the topic of doing non-doing. We talk about boredom and the benefits of sitting and doing absolutely nothing, instead of filling our time with habit driven busywork.I hope this will be useful in your practice. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
June 28 · 45 min
The Agitation of Joy
"The Agitation of Joy" is a Dharma talk and brief guided meditation on the topic of how even joy can sometimes feel painful, and an exploration of how that actually works. This topic was suggested by a community member who received great news, but then couldn't sleep all night which was the pain they endured. We discuss why and how to work with that. I hope you find it useful! Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
June 23 · 41 min
The Greatest Gift
"The Greatest Gift" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha inspired by Father's Day and the many different ways the day can be held and felt for people. And also about how the Buddha might have addressed these many ways. I hope you find some value or comfort in this talk and that it can serve you in some way. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
June 19 · 52 min
Guarding The Garden
"Guarding The Garden" is a Dharma talk and brief guided meditation based on the wisdom imparted by author Z.S. Diamanti in his wonderful cozy fantasy book "Guard In The Garden". From the first quote I highlighted, where one character tells another "Everyone has loads to be thankful for if they have the eyes to see it. And, when we’re filled up with gratitude, it often overflows as kindness." I knew I would end up doing a talk on this topic. Diamanti is a veteran, and expresses the eternal wisdom through his protagonist Felton who is a wounded warrior adjusting to civilian life after serving in the Dwarves military. I fell completely in love with this book, and I hope you will indulge me as I use many of the quotes from the book to hopefully show that the dharma can arise anywhere, including the pages of a cozy fantasy book. I hope you enjoy this talk as much as I enjoyed offering it. I'll post a link below to purchase the book directly from the author if you want to get even more out of it! I definitely recommend that you do! Enjoy! ⁠https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com⁠ ⁠Guard in the Garden by Z.S. Diamanti⁠
June 18 · 31 min
Freedom Without, Freedom Within
"Freedom Without, Freedom Within" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha reflecting on the celebration of Independence Day by exploring a different kind of freedom. Two hundred and fifty years ago, a nation declared its independence from a distant ruler. But what about the rulers we still carry within? The voice of self-criticism. The pull of craving. The grip of fear. The stories we tell ourselves about who we are and how life is supposed to be. The Buddha spoke often of true freedom from the greed, hatred, and delusion that keep us trapped even when no one is holding us captive. I hope you enjoy this talk! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
June 15 · 46 min
The Stories We Live Inside
"The Stories We Live Inside" is a Dharma talk exploring the stories we tell ourselves, the identities we cling to, and how we can begin to see that our stories are not the same thing as reality. We may find that freedom can come from loosening our grip on the stories we've been carrying too long. I hope you will find something useful in this talk. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
June 8 · 39 min
I Thought I Was Right, But I Was Certain
"I Thought I Was Right, But I Was Certain" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha about how, when we're young, we often feel remarkably certain about things we have barely experienced. We know what love is. We know what happiness means. We know how life works. Then life happens. Marriage. Children. Loss. Success. Failure. Friendship. Aging. And slowly we discover that reality is far more complicated...and far more beautiful...than our theories about it. In this talk, we'll explore how wisdom is less about knowing the answersand more about learning to hold our answers lightly. We'll look at certainty, humility, Beginner's Mind, and the freedom that comes from realizing we might not know as much as we thought we did. Enjoy! https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
June 6 · 52 min
Buddhism Still Ruins Everything
"Buddhism Still Ruins Everything" is a Dharma talk about misconceptions, curiosity, and personal responsibility. A starting place perhaps for someone considering a Dharma practice. Raised Catholic, disillusioned by religion, and spending years searching for something that felt true, I eventually discovered the Dharma in a book about mindful eating. What I found wasn't a new belief system. It was a practical path for understanding suffering, identifying its causes, and learning how to live with a little more wisdom and a little less confusion. In this talk we cover some of the most common misunderstandings people have about Buddhism, whether it conflicts with other religions, why meditation isn't about stopping your thoughts, why the Buddha wasn't asking for worship, and why I jokingly say that Buddhism ruins everything. Because once you start seeing things clearly, you can't go back to not knowing. And that turns out to be sometimes inconvenient and always beautiful. Enjoy!

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