Archive - Sean Feit Oakeshttps://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/Sun, 30 Aug 2026 21:06:21 +0000en-USSite-Server v@build.version@ (http://www.squarespace.com)The First Teaching: Radical Medicine for a Painful World (Sangha Live)Sean OakesFri, 28 Aug 2026 22:50:23 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/the-first-teaching-radical-medicine-for-a-painful-world-sangha-live677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a920fa2f63f3a3ed234900cGuest teaching at Sangha Live Sunday Sangha, July 19, 2026

The July full moon marks Dhamma Day (Āsāḷha Pūjā), the anniversary of the Buddha’s very first teaching, given to five friends in a deer park 2,614 years ago. This one ancient talk is said to contain the entire path. And it still asks something extraordinary of us: a complete reorientation of how we live. We’ll listen for the fierce compassion at the heart of that original message—and explore how to actually take the medicine, right now, in the middle of everything.

“Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation.”
– Venerable Kondañña, upon hearing the first teaching (SN 56.11)

This talk references Saṃyutta Nikāya 56.11, “Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dhamma”.

Listen and read along to Sean reading the discourse here.

Watch on Sangha Live

]]>Nothing Is to Be Clung to as "I, Me, or Mine"audiotalkvideoSean OakesWed, 26 Aug 2026 03:00:47 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/nothing-is-to-be-clung-to-as-i-me-or-mine677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a949aef4a82787f2e6dae6bOur first night live at The Alembic in Berkeley! I gave a broader than usual intro to me and my lineages, moving into a talk on Right View, emphasizing the Three Characteristics (impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and selflessness), particularly the third. "Nothing whatsoever is to be clung to as I, me, or mine."

We'll be live at berkeleyalembic.org the fourth Tuesday of every month. Locals, join us!

Nothing Is to Be Clung to as "I, Me, or Mine" Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, August 25, 2026

]]>Equanimity ≠ Balance: Eros, Responsivity, and Deep AlivenessMeditation: Full Body BreathaudiomeditationvideoSean OakesWed, 26 Aug 2026 02:00:29 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/meditation-full-body-breath677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a949a29f4ec927f5a6a5487 Meditation: Full Body Breath Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, August 18, 2026

]]>Meditation: Awareness in the Sensory FieldDharma & Psychotherapy with Eva Gold, PsyDSean OakesFri, 21 Aug 2026 06:36:02 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/dharma-and-psychotherapy-with-eva-gold-psyd677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a87f0462494dc212e5ca204While I was away in Thailand this summer, Eva Gold offered three meditations and talks on the relationship between the Dharma and psychotherapy. They are fabulous, and fortunately we got recordings of two of them (the second and third evenings—my apologies for not getting the first). Here they are.

About Eva

Eva Gold PsyD is a psychologist in private practice. Her current interest is in working with psychotherapists–as mentor, consultant, supervisor, or individual therapist. She was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Pacific University School of Professional Psychology where she taught Gestalt therapy for 15 years. A Gestalt therapist since 1978, her lineage includes extensive training with Isadore From, Bob Martin, and in the Graduates Program at Gestalt Training Center—San Diego with Erv and Miriam Polster. The author and co-author of numerous articles and book chapters on Gestalt therapy theory and practice, she also presents nationally and internationally on the intersection of Buddhist psychology and Gestalt therapy. A student of Buddhist psychology, and an Insight (Vipassana) Meditation practitioner for many years, she is co-author of the book Buddhist Psychology and Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Psychotherapy for the 21st Century. Website, Gestalt Therapy Training Center Northwest.

Session #2, July 29

Session #3, August 5

]]>Including Nature and Spirit Beings in our Practice (and the coyotes visited!)Sean OakesThu, 20 Aug 2026 23:42:45 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/including-nature-and-spirit-beings-in-our-practice-and-the-coyotes-visited677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a87892383bd7558b04477c0Recorded live at Spirit Rock, Monday Night Meditation & Talk, Aug 17.

Starting with a meditation connecting us to the natural world around us, and the many kinds of conscious beings that may be there, we explore bringing back animist understandings of the world and the Dharma that have been lost in our modern psychological, individualistic practice. 

(Halfway through the talk, at least two coyotes came down to the hall, hung around outside the windows where people could see them up close, and then sang their howl song for a while. I don’t think the coyote song can be heard on the recording, but it was one of the most delightful parts of the evening, and you’ll see in the middle of talk all of us get excited that they’re there.)

Watch on the Spirit Rock site

]]>Meditation: Central Column BreathingaudiomeditationvideoSean OakesWed, 19 Aug 2026 02:00:58 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/meditation-central-column-breathing677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a8796662494dc212e4c9b46 Meditation: Central Column Breathing Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, August 18, 2026

]]>Meditation: Awareness in the Sensory FieldThe Third Precept: Not Committing Sexual MisconductaudiotalkvideoSean OakesWed, 19 Aug 2026 02:00:31 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/the-third-precept-not-committing-sexual-misconduct-1677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a8796ffbe85b038e8b74005The third lay precept concerns how we move our sexual energy, starting with restraining potentially harmful impulses, and developing into a subtle and powerful mindful inquiry. Eros is woven through so much of our life and interactions—this is the practice that teaches us to be free and vibrant in relation to it, and opens toward the profound insight into selflessness and radical interbeing.

The Third Precept: Not Committing Sexual Misconduct Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, August 18, 2026

]]>Equanimity ≠ Balance: Eros, Responsivity, and Deep AlivenessThe Second Precept: Not Taking That Which Isn't GivenaudiotalkvideoSean OakesWed, 12 Aug 2026 03:00:42 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/the-third-precept-not-committing-sexual-misconduct677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a8795a28b22f2762365852dContinuing with the series on Kamma and Ethics, we explore the second lay precept: not taking that which is not given. We explore boundaries, consent, gift dynamics, and our relationship to the ecosystem we are an inextricable part of.

The Second Precept: Not Taking That Which Isn't Given Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, August 11, 2026

]]>Equanimity ≠ Balance: Eros, Responsivity, and Deep AlivenessMeditation: Breath Energy BalancingaudiomeditationvideoSean OakesWed, 12 Aug 2026 02:00:51 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/meditation-breath-energy-balancing677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a8794bb39323060c34b1c07 Meditation: Breath Energy Balancing Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, August 11, 2026

]]>Meditation: Awareness in the Sensory FieldThe First Precept: Not Taking LifeaudiotalkvideoSean OakesWed, 15 Jul 2026 03:00:32 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/not-taking-life677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a8793f4be85b038e8b69d96We continue our series on Kamma and Ethics with a look at the first lay precept: "to refrain from taking the life of any living creature." We talk about bugs, eating, abortion, and how to bring this precept into your practice as an active inquiry.

The First Precept: Not Taking Life Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, July 14, 2026

]]>Equanimity ≠ Balance: Eros, Responsivity, and Deep AlivenessMeditation: Breath Energy Through the Whole BodyaudiomeditationvideoSean OakesWed, 15 Jul 2026 01:00:46 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/meditation-breath-energy-through-the-whole-body677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a8793124af5c21993ec3f18 Meditation: Breath Energy Through the Whole Body Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, July 14 2026

]]>Meditation: Awareness in the Sensory FieldEthics as the Whole PathaudiotalkvideoSean OakesWed, 08 Jul 2026 03:00:15 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/ethics-as-the-whole-path677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a54389f31513a7c6e67614eWe start our series on the precepts and the ethical practices with an overview of their renunciate aspect, and how we might think about ethics as more than just part of the path to awakening, but the engine behind the entire thing.

Ethics as the Whole Path Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, July 7, 2026

]]>Equanimity ≠ Balance: Eros, Responsivity, and Deep AlivenessMeditation: Lovingkindness Through the Sensate FieldaudiomeditationvideoSean OakesWed, 08 Jul 2026 02:00:11 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/meditation-lovingkindness-through-the-sensate-field677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a5437e76afdef3dd85f496f Meditation: Lovingkindness Through the Sensate Field Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, July 7, 2026

]]>Meditation: Awareness in the Sensory FieldAMA: Sangha Questions and TopicsaudiotalkvideoSean OakesWed, 01 Jul 2026 03:00:27 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/ama-sangha-questions-and-topics677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a48459b6255cd272dfcb34bWe did an "Ask Me Anything," and the questions were about acceptance vs discernment, wise action in relation to desires and outcomes, and ended with reflections on caregiving and grief.

AMA: Sangha Questions and Topics Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, June 30, 2026

]]>Equanimity ≠ Balance: Eros, Responsivity, and Deep AlivenessMeditation: Awareness With DiscernmentaudiomeditationvideoSean OakesWed, 01 Jul 2026 02:00:11 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/meditation-awareness-with-discernment677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a4844d7ced1c6648662200e Meditation: Awareness With Discernment Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, June 23, 2026

]]>Meditation: Awareness in the Sensory FieldThe Middle Way as Non-DoingaudiotalkvideoSean OakesWed, 24 Jun 2026 03:00:48 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/kamma-kamma-kamma-kamma-kamma-s4anr677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a418ff4e4bbe82de366edadThe "Middle Way" between sensual indulgence and mortification as a way to think about stillness, non-doing, and the end of kamma. How attention gets caught by sensory stimuli, both pleasurable and painful, and how resting in awareness can be an expression of the middle way between extremes, and the entire path.

The Middle Way as Non-Doing Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, June 23, 2026

]]>Equanimity ≠ Balance: Eros, Responsivity, and Deep AlivenessMeditation: Awareness in the Sensory FieldaudiomeditationvideoSean OakesWed, 24 Jun 2026 02:00:11 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/meditation-awareness-in-the-sensory-field677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a418d3b32e61d4c30cbfa2f Meditation: Awareness in the Sensory Field Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, June 23, 2026

]]>Meditation: Awareness in the Sensory FieldKamma Kamma Kamma Kamma Kamma...audiotalkvideoSean OakesWed, 17 Jun 2026 03:00:54 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/kamma-kamma-kamma-kamma-kamma677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a381d3aa6515150259c924aActions and their impacts, the spectrum of trauma and privilege, resolution vs healing vs forgiveness vs cessation.

Kamma Kamma Kamma Kamma Kamma... Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, June 16, 2026

]]>Equanimity ≠ Balance: Eros, Responsivity, and Deep AlivenessMeditation: Stillness as Equanimity PracticeaudiomeditationvideoSean OakesWed, 17 Jun 2026 02:00:16 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/meditation-stillness-as-equanimity-practice677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a381c605f060a490029d7ac Meditation: Stillness as Equanimity Practice Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, June 16, 2026

]]>Meditation: Stillness as Equanimity PracticeIt's Not Your Fault (Or Is It?)audiotalkvideoSean OakesWed, 10 Jun 2026 03:00:50 +0000https://www.seanfeitoakes.com/archive/its-not-your-fault-or-is-it677ef541008f8d092faa5bdc:677efe7208cacd61bf007211:6a2c9cfe439df10b339a2413Formal equanimity practice hinges on the teaching of kamma, which means action, but more precisely "action that has ethical weight and has an impact for the doer." This is why the phrase emphasizes how we are the owners of our own actions and that our actions are what we inherit, or carry forward through time. We do have agency—we make choices, and we form intentions to act differently than our impulses and reactivity try to demand of us.

At the same time, our choices are conditioned, arising out of the available material of the past, other people's actions, the environment, and all the choices we've made up to this point. The thing that makes this not determinism is that conditions are not causes. If the past were a cause, our choices would be caused by what has already happened, inevitable, not malleable. Because the past is only a condition, there is this strange gap where we can resist the momentum of conditions and do something new.

The heart of wise effort in all its forms is learning to resist conditions and impulses that might lead us into habitual bad choices, coming up with actions that are not our nervous system's first choice. Understood in this way, the entirety of our practice is a kind of renunciation. Moment by moment we resist impulses that we know don't lead to peace, and by acting on wiser intentions, create the possibility that future better conditions will make future choices easier. To whatever degree you've managed to make a habit of kindness, focus, wise choices around eating, speaking, thinking, and all the rest, you can know that your practice is growing stronger.

Tonight we'll look at the teachings on kamma, and what they suggest for how we think about our own agency, choices, and intentions..

It's Not Your Fault (Or Is It?) Sean Oakes

Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online, June 9, 2026

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