PODCAST · religion
Tea with Mara
by 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.
Episodes
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How Lucky Are We?
"How Lucky Are We?" is a Dharma talk and brief guided meditation that asks what a little illustrated skeleton have to teach us about life, death, gratitude, and happiness? Inspired by Christian Watson's beautifully illustrated book How Lucky Am I?, this talk explores the universal wisdom found in...
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The Emancipation of The Boundless Heart
"The Emancipation of The Boundless Heart" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha about what it would be like to cultivate a heart without limits. Not simply a kinder or more compassionate heart, but one that no longer decides who is worthy of our care. In this talk, we explore the Buddha's...
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Getting To Know You
"Getting To Know You" is a Dharma talk and brief guided meditation on how you can really know someone. We ask how well do we really know the people around us? And how often do we decide who someone is based on a single moment, a first impression, or something we saw online? In this talk, we…
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Let Go And Don't Know
"Let Go And Don't Know" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on what the Buddha taught about uncertainty, wise attention, and knowing which questions are worth pursuing. Drawing on several suttas, we discover that wisdom isn't about having all the answers. Sometimes it's about recognizing...
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Are You Dying To Know About Rebirth
"Are You Dying To Know About Rebirth" is a Dharma talk and brief guided meditation in which I share all that I don't know about rebirth, reincarnation, and rebirth linking. The truth is nobody knows a did they do they can't prove it.So in this talk we try to talk about the ideas that various...
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Tilting Toward Happiness
"Tilting Toward Happiness" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on a concept in gaming called being “tilted.” Something goes wrong, frustration takes over, and suddenly we’re so focused on the outcome we want that we start behaving in ways that make it even harder to get there. Turns out,...
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Do You Even Train, Bro?
"Do You Even Train, Bro?" is a Dharma Talk and brief guided meditation on spiritual bypassing and the ways we can sometimes use Buddhist teachings to avoid the very things our practice is supposed to help us face. We cover how sometimes, acceptance can become resignation, equanimity can be…
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True Story
"True Story" is a Dharma talk and brief guided meditation about learning to separate what actually happened from what the mind adds to it, how papañca (mental proliferation) can turn one unpleasant moment into an entire bad day, and how gratitude can help us see everything that is true about an...
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Who Do You Think You Are?
"Who Do You Think You Are?" is a Dharma talk and brief guided meditation on Imposter Syndrome and something the Buddha called Māna. I saw Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers in tears in an interview because he didn't feel like he was good enough for the players he wanted to play with on his solo...
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Never Be Lonely Again
“Never Be Lonely Again” is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha exploring the difference between loneliness and being alone. You can be physically alone while carrying a whole room full of people around in your head. You can be surrounded by people and still feel completely lonely. And, in a...
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Welcome Back, Stay Awhile
"Welcome Back, Stay Awhile" is a Dharma talk and brief guided meditation offered in the MindfulnessVR community on the Four Right Efforts. The Buddha taught that our practice isn't simply about finding our way back when we've wandered off the path. We can learn to recognize what pulls us away…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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…
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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,...
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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
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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!...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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.…
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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....
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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...
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Within You, Without You
"Within You, Without You" is a great Beatles song...and also the name of the Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha tonight on the topic of the differences between fear based beliefs and experience based spiritual practice. We start out by clearing up some common misconceptions about Buddhism…
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Not Picking Up What I'm Putting Down
"Not Picking Up What I'm Putting Down" Is a Dharma Talk and brief guided meditation on the difference between carrying something and controlling it, why the mind clings to burdens that no longer serve us, and how the Buddha's teachings point toward a deep form of relief found through through...
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Radar Rider
“Radar Rider” was a short Dharma talk offered for Heavy Metta Chicago on the topic of escapism, entertainment, mindfulness, and the stories we disappear into. When Jay invited me to lead the session, I was excited because obviously I love the Dharma, but as a kid I also loved to escape into the...
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The Living's Easy
"The Living's Easy" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on the topic of nourishment, presence, and making the most of the fleeting moments of our lives. As summer begins, vacations loom, children grow up, and life shifts around us, we often find ourselves holding both joy and a sadness…
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Jealous Again
“Jealous Again” is a Dharma talk offered at Mindfulness VR on the topics of jealousy, envy, comparison, chronic illness, and the tenderness that often lives beneath those experiences. We discuss the difference between jealousy and envy, why the mind compares itself to others so naturally, and how...
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When We Stand On Unsteady Ground
“When We Stand On Unsteady Ground” is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on how we can actually practice when things feel heavy, uncertain, painful, or overwhelming. Without focusing on any one specific kind of suffering, this talk explores practical Dharma-based ways to steady ourselves...
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Something Has Changed
"Something Has Changed" is a Dharma Talk and brief guided meditation offered at MindfulnessVR on the subtle and often surprising nature of genuine happiness. Sometimes transformation appears in a simple moment where we suddenly realize, “I think I’m actually okay.” This talk explores contentment,...
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Mother Matters
“Mother Matters” is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha exploring the many dimensions of motherhood, care, grief, gratitude, and the maternal heart. Mother’s Day is not always simple. For some, it is joyful. For others, it carries loss, longing, regret, complicated relationships, or deep...
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Another Chapter
"Another Chapter" is a Dharma Talk and brief guided meditation on the topics of change, impermanence, and letting go. This talk was inspired by my favorite social book tracker app shutting down. It's been my favorite place for over a year, and it's closing up shop. This made me think of the...
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Mid-Life Crisis or Spiritual Awakening?
"Mid-Life Crisis or Spiritual Awakening?" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on the topic of saṁvega ...the spiritual urgency that arises when we begin to clearly see aging, impermanence, mortality, and the unsatisfying nature of trying to build lasting happiness from changing…
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The Four Kinds of Friends
"The Four Kinds of Friends" is a Dharma talk and brief guided meditation on a topic inspired by another recent talk, after which the discussion arose about how to handle difficult friends. The Buddha actually had some very specific kinds of advice he offered around this, so we dove into it in…
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The Most Sublime Bookshelf
"The Most Sublime Bookshelf" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on the topic of the Four Brahma Viharas. In this talk, we explore loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity; the practical ways the Buddha taught that the heart can meet the world. Framed here by…
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The Suffering of Expectation
"The Suffering of Expectation" is a Dharma talk offered at the Two Hands Sangha about how we suffer because of the expectations we place on things. Particularly when we ask someone for help, and we expect a certain answer, that is a recipe for suffering. It means we aren't really asking for...
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The Direction of Perfection
"The Direction of Perfection" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on the topic of doing the best we can with what we have where we are. It's about the Paramis (or The Ten Perfections), but really it is ultimately about how our imperfection is actually just perfectly perfect as it is. I...
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Questions about Anxiety and Anger
"Questions about Anxiety and Anger" is a mix between a Dharma talk and a guided meditation. I showed up without a talk prepared, or even a topic in mind, and the community asked how to "prevent the anxiety of an impending event" (paraphrasing) and "How to deal with a coworker who spoils the mood…
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Reduce and Renew
"Reduce and Renew" is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha exploring the idea that transformation doesn’t necessarily come from adding something new, but from letting something go. On Easter, many people are reflecting on renewal and new life, we’ll take a Buddhist look at what it actually...
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The Direction of Support
"The Direction of Support" is a talk offered for the Virtual Reality community MindfulnessVR about how sometimes in life the direction of support gets a little unclear. We all need guidance. We all need connection. We all need people who can help hold us when things feel heavy. But in healthy...
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W.A.R.
"W.A.R." is a Dharma talk offered at Two Hands Sangha on the topic of the walls we build, the ways we see the world, and the responsibility we carry for what comes next. Drawing from a high school musical presentation of Hadestown, Frank White's Overview Effect, and the reality of collective...
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The 4H Club
"The 4H Club" is a Dharma talk and brief guided meditation about how probably all of us have or will experience harmlessness, harm, harmfulness, and if we are lucky...heedfulness in our lifetimes. We talk about the life of Angulimala and some lessons we can learn from him. Ultimately, this talk…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
HOSTED BY
George Beecher
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Tea with Mara have?
Tea with Mara currently has 290 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Tea with Mara about?
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.
How often does Tea with Mara release new episodes?
Tea with Mara publishes regularly with 290 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Tea with Mara?
You can listen to Tea with Mara on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Tea with Mara?
Tea with Mara is created and hosted by George Beecher.
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