Gay Buddhist Fellowship of San Francisco

03/26/2026

The latest dharma talk is now available online:
"The War Within: Transforming Aggression into a Pure Heart" with Mary Stares

https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/the-war-within-mary-stares/
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*Onryu Mary Stares* helps us understand why external peace is impossible without first addressing the "war" occurring inside—the aggression and destructive emotions within our own heart. She offers several key approaches to support this effort:

• *Navigating the Kleshas*: Mary identifies aggression as a "cold, critical, and fixed" mind and encourages practitioners to acknowledge this and other destructive emotions (pride, craving, jealousy, and ignorance) rather than skipping over them

• *The Wisdom of Manjushri*: She uses the imagery of the bodhisattva Manjushri and his sword to illustrate how wisdom can be "cutting" and clear without being aggressive, provided it is used with a "pure heart" to perform appropriate actions

• *Practical Tools for Peace*: A number of actionable methods for maintaining a peaceful internal posture during conflict are discussed, such as the *STOP practice* (Stop, Take a breath, Observe, Proceed) and Pema Chödrön’s guidance to remain "embodied, present, and kind."

• *Transforming Personal Conflict*: Through personal stories of facing workplace hostility and homophobic harassment, Mary demonstrates how meeting aggression with awareness and sadness—rather than counter-aggression—can prevent the creation of negative karma and lead toward wholeness and relationship

Onryu Mary Stares helps us understand why external peace is impossible without first addressing the “war” occurring inside—the aggression and destructive emotions within our own heart. She offers several key approaches to support this effort:

03/05/2026

"Community: The Crucial Ingredient for Awakening" with Kevin Griffin
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/community-the-crucial-ingredient-for-awakening-kevin-griffin/

Exploring the Buddha's nine causes of spiritual and personal development, Kevin Griffin identifies one that is the foundation for all the others: community and spiritual friends. He notes that once a person has good friends, it can be expected that they will naturally become moral, hear the dharma, have energy, and become wise.

But this presents a paradox: while noble friendships are described as the entirety of the holy life, the Buddha also warns that deep attachments can lead to suffering and grief.

Drawing from his extensive background in 12-step recovery and the Dharma, Kevin argues that practitioners must find a middle way between isolation and codependency. Insight arises through the practice of being present with others so long as we maintain the wisdom to let go of clinging.

The discussion concludes with a peer-led dialogue where participants reflect on balancing self-reliance with the need for compassionate, empathetic support systems.

02/24/2026

"Cultivating Equanimity" with Beth Mulligan
https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/cultivating-equanimity-beth-mulligan/
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How can we cultivate a mind that stays steady, open, and responsive even when life becomes unpredictable?

In this talk, Beth Mulligan explores equanimity as a living practice rather than a distant ideal. She frames equanimity as the quiet strength that allows a person to meet experience without collapsing into overwhelm or tightening into resistance. Speaking with warmth and clarity, she describes how this quality grows not through detachment, but through intimacy with our own moment‑to‑moment experience—especially the parts we’d rather avoid.

Beth highlights several practical doorways into equanimity, each grounded in mindfulness and compassion. She explains how the mind’s habitual reactions can soften when we learn to recognize them early, and she offers simple ways to steady attention when emotions surge. Key themes include:

• Understanding the difference between indifference and balanced presence
• Recognizing the “eight worldly winds” and how they shape reactivity
• Using the body as an anchor when the mind becomes turbulent
• Allowing joy and difficulty with equal care

The result is a talk that invites listeners to see equanimity not as a final achievement, but as a trustworthy companion that grows each time we meet our lives with honesty and kindness.

02/08/2026

02/05/2026

Watch or listen to the full talk on our website, podcast or YouTube channel https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/why-practice-part-2-nibbana-ian-challis/

02/02/2026

Thank you to all the volunteers who have kept GBF thriving for nearly 35 years! 👏

We are pleased to welcome 3 new members to the GBF Board of Directors:

Clint Seiter
Ricky Robertson
Tom Bruein

They join our existing volunteer members:
Cass Brayton
Grecia Haigwood
Marcus Rooney
Matthew Perifano
Richard Azzolini

Thank you for keeping GBF a force in spreading the dharma to LGBTQI communities the world over.