A new talk has been added to the GBF website, podcast and YouTube channel:
Living With Integrity – Steven Tierney
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 benefiting 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 from Latin meaning "whole"
- Encourages self-reflection and internal alignment with personal values
- Moves us beyond intellectual understanding to embodied practice
Practical Applications
- Replacing to-do lists with "to-feel" lists (focusing on desired feelings rather than tasks)
- Reducing doom scrolling and social media consumption
- Practicing "We Care" - balancing self-care with caring for others
Buddhist Practice in Daily Life
- Emphasizing that Buddhist teachings should be verified through lived experience
- Promoting engaged Buddhism that flows from contemplative practice
- Living the Bodhisattva vows through everyday interactions
Key Concepts
- Upaya (skillful means) - teaching in multiple ways to reach different people
- Nimbleness of spirit - knowing when to speak up versus when to listen
- Being present and compassionate rather than getting overwhelmed by external events
Steven concludes by referencing the Buddha's belief in the innate nobility and compassion of all beings, suggesting that negative qualities are learned rather than inherent.
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