Talks 2023
Click on the links below to watch on YouTube or listen to the audio.
January 8, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
Rudi always said, the mind is the slayer of the soul. He did not say that emotions, circumstance, fears or anxieties were slayers. It is the mind that engages, reacts, and projects these forces into a constant war zone that upends life. Find your soul, surrender the mind. Let go.
January 15, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
What do you do when the world is falling apart, the world around you, the world inside you or even your own body--or all at the same time? I only have one answer for that, do the work. Enter the space of surrender and be grateful that you have been shown the doorway into your own embrace.
January 29, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
There is a difference between living deeply or superficially. Pick one.
February 5, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
Prayer is not for making miracles in the material world but to help guide us through the struggles and difficulties that arise along the way. The real miracle is discovering that you are already held and comforted by a Greater Power in every moment of your life.
February 12, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
The death of a student and dear friend and how to serve them on their journey as well as those left behind.
February 19, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
An appreciation of Rudi by his students on his approaching Samadhi day--Tuesday, February 21—the 50th Anniversary of his passing.
February 26, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
An infant in the crib has no story, no idea of the future. It knows the joy of being held, hugged and fed. It experiences moments of hunger, pain, delight and wonder. In its stillness, it knows I AM. That awareness remains present in our lives. It is not to be found in the future. It is always here.
March 5, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
What are "spiritual tests" and how do you pass them? They are not like history exams or final papers in English. They are easier than that and far more important.
March 12, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
On turning 80.
March 19, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
On being lost and being found.
March 26, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
Spirituality can be a security blanket, for better and for worse. Don't cloak yourself in security. Allow security to embrace you. It always will.
April 2, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
The inner voice that so invisibly fills our heads, our emotions and our lives, is not our friend. It is a narrative pattern that can cause undue suffering for a lifetime. You have the power to step out of it. Use that power.
April 9, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
A spiritual tool kit is meant to be used all day. Yesterday I took the family to see THE LIFE OF PI on Broadway, out to two meals, discussed the power of Easter, experiencing death, and listened to a podcast on the emerging power of AI on the drive home. I needed my tool kit every step of the way.
April 16, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
The antidote to misery is within you--whether it is self inflicted or exposure to the growing toxicity of the world. Get to work.
April 23, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
The mind feels suffering where the heart senses blessing. Viewing the world solely through the mind is an unwelcoming path. Learn to step away from your brain to sense the embrace of all things.
April 30, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
It's not about you. It's about us. It's about the collective, the communal us. Serve the us and you serve the Self. You may want to think this is about being spiritual. In fact, it is about being human. Show up. That is our great path.
May 7, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
Artificial Intelligence is already impacting our lives and and is changing the world as we know it. Never has a spiritual practice been more central and important. It is our doorway, our path to the endless mystery of Truth.
May 14, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
Spiritual urgency. Spiritual depth can be deepened with meditation or by sitting in a cave, but the world around you, your daily life, is your spiritual life, and it needs you now. The world is changing fast. This is the time for spiritual work.
May 21, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
The molecular nature of spiritual work and why it is so important as we grow and especially as we age.
May 28, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
Our minds are brilliantly manipulated by forces in the world around us and we are guilty of encouraging and succumbing to them. We can break the cycle by observing these forces with detachment. Meditation offers the tools. Use them.
Rudi always said, the mind is the slayer of the soul. He did not say that emotions, circumstance, fears or anxieties were slayers. It is the mind that engages, reacts, and projects these forces into a constant war zone that upends life. Find your soul, surrender the mind. Let go.
January 15, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
What do you do when the world is falling apart, the world around you, the world inside you or even your own body--or all at the same time? I only have one answer for that, do the work. Enter the space of surrender and be grateful that you have been shown the doorway into your own embrace.
January 29, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
There is a difference between living deeply or superficially. Pick one.
February 5, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
Prayer is not for making miracles in the material world but to help guide us through the struggles and difficulties that arise along the way. The real miracle is discovering that you are already held and comforted by a Greater Power in every moment of your life.
February 12, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
The death of a student and dear friend and how to serve them on their journey as well as those left behind.
February 19, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
An appreciation of Rudi by his students on his approaching Samadhi day--Tuesday, February 21—the 50th Anniversary of his passing.
February 26, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
An infant in the crib has no story, no idea of the future. It knows the joy of being held, hugged and fed. It experiences moments of hunger, pain, delight and wonder. In its stillness, it knows I AM. That awareness remains present in our lives. It is not to be found in the future. It is always here.
March 5, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
What are "spiritual tests" and how do you pass them? They are not like history exams or final papers in English. They are easier than that and far more important.
March 12, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
On turning 80.
March 19, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
On being lost and being found.
March 26, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
Spirituality can be a security blanket, for better and for worse. Don't cloak yourself in security. Allow security to embrace you. It always will.
April 2, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
The inner voice that so invisibly fills our heads, our emotions and our lives, is not our friend. It is a narrative pattern that can cause undue suffering for a lifetime. You have the power to step out of it. Use that power.
April 9, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
A spiritual tool kit is meant to be used all day. Yesterday I took the family to see THE LIFE OF PI on Broadway, out to two meals, discussed the power of Easter, experiencing death, and listened to a podcast on the emerging power of AI on the drive home. I needed my tool kit every step of the way.
April 16, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
The antidote to misery is within you--whether it is self inflicted or exposure to the growing toxicity of the world. Get to work.
April 23, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
The mind feels suffering where the heart senses blessing. Viewing the world solely through the mind is an unwelcoming path. Learn to step away from your brain to sense the embrace of all things.
April 30, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
It's not about you. It's about us. It's about the collective, the communal us. Serve the us and you serve the Self. You may want to think this is about being spiritual. In fact, it is about being human. Show up. That is our great path.
May 7, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
Artificial Intelligence is already impacting our lives and and is changing the world as we know it. Never has a spiritual practice been more central and important. It is our doorway, our path to the endless mystery of Truth.
May 14, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
Spiritual urgency. Spiritual depth can be deepened with meditation or by sitting in a cave, but the world around you, your daily life, is your spiritual life, and it needs you now. The world is changing fast. This is the time for spiritual work.
May 21, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
The molecular nature of spiritual work and why it is so important as we grow and especially as we age.
May 28, 2023 Red Hook, NY (watch, listen)
Our minds are brilliantly manipulated by forces in the world around us and we are guilty of encouraging and succumbing to them. We can break the cycle by observing these forces with detachment. Meditation offers the tools. Use them.