Abhayagiri Monastery: James Baraz's most recent Dharma talks: Recent Episodes
James Baraz
I try to convey that the wisdom and compassion we are looking for is already inside of us. I see practice as learning how to purify our mind and heart so we can hear the Buddha inside. In doing so, we naturally embody the dharma and help awaken that understanding and love in others we meet.
I try to use the formal teachings as a doorway for people to see the truth in themselves. I feel I'm doing my job when people look into themselves to come to their own deep understandings of the truth, access their own inner wisdom and trust in their "Buddha-knowing," as Ajahn Chah called it, which is different from their intellectual knowing.
The Buddha-knowing is a deeper place, underneath the concepts, which is in touch with the truth, with our seed of awakening. I want practitioners to have more and more confidence in, and familiarity with, that deeper place of knowing. It is accessing this dimension of our being that becomes the guide to cutting through the confusion caused by greed and fear. We have everything we need inside ourselves. We do not need to look to a teacher when we remember who we really are.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This week has been a test for anyone who values kindness, compassion, and equanimity. It's understandable to get lost in fear, confusion and despair. This is when spiritual practice is needed most. How can we use our practice to develop a balance of mind in unpredictable circumstances, and relate to those who have very different perspectives from ours without getting caught in "othering"?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This Thursday is Halloween night. It's definitely scary times so I thought we could explore working with fear. Join us online.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Alan Watts wrote a classic book The Wisdom of Insecurity. With the election in the States a few weeks away, dealing with significant uncertainty is on the minds of most everybody. Join us as we explore the topic of dealing with major uncertainty as Dharma practice together.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) How might you let Life play you like an instrument? In this talk James shares the evening with Sarah-Marie Hopf, a good friend, dedicated practitioner, coach and meditation teacher who shares about her journey of progressively deepening trust in the dharma and our True Nature and opening to what wants to flow effortlessly from the mystery into form. Becoming an unexpected singer-songwriter, she shares the origin story of her first album “Modern Mantras” which was inspired by songs that came through her spontaneously during a month long Spirit Rock retreat.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The title of the evening is "Love, Serve, Remember". On October 13th, Spirit Rock hosts a special event Celebrating Ram Dass: Love Serve, Remember with Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, Krishna Das and others. Those three words were the instructions Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass' guru gave to him: "Love Everyone, Serve Everyone, and Remember God."
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha taught that mindfulness is the most direct way to overcome suffering and realize the highest happiness. This talk explains power of mindfulness and why it is so liberating.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Awareness is not only spacious and wakeful, compassion is also an inherent component. Expressing care to address the suffering in the world is understood to be an essential part of practice. This talk explores the greater implications of this understanding especially at this critical time of global dukkha on so many levels.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) By opening to the perspective of everything arising and passing away in the space of awareness we see through the illusion of separation, directly experiencing anatta, the selfless nature of reality. We also let go of identifying with hindrances and and other ways we identify with the natural unfolding of experience. This talk includes an exploration of the Kashmir Shaivism text "Realization of Our True Heart."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) I look forward to being with our community and exploring the teaching on the "Four Mind Changing Reflections." These four reflections become a great motivation reminding us to use our time wisely to deepen our practice. I hope it gives a boost to your own practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This Thursday, May 23rd is Wesak, the most special day in Theravada Buddhist countries (Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka). The full moon in May is said to be the day that the Buddha was born, became enlightened at the age of 35 and died at the age of 80. The three holiest of days all rolled into one! On this Wesak, we can reflect on who this person was, what he discovered on his journey and the legacy he's left us.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha spoke of like-minded friendship as "the whole of the spiritual life." He encouraged us to take refuge in the Sangha.What makes community so powerful? Have you ever been part of a group that felt quite magical, where it was more than merely a collection of individual members? What are the ingredients that make a group like that come together?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) April 22 is Earth Day. How can we express our care and appreciation for life on this planet through meaningful action? I look forward to exploring this with you at our Thursday sangha.I hope you join us.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Most of the Buddha's disciples whose names we are familiar with, such as Ananda and Sariputta, are men. The Buddha also had women disciples who were wise and profound practitioners like Mahapajapati, the Buddha's aunt/foster mother, responsible for the establishment of the order of nuns or Patacara, revered teacher, who tragically lost her family and eventually became fully enlightened. “If the measure of a human life is a chance to have significance that extends beyond itself, then we’ve hit the jackpot. We are alive at game time on the planet, when everything we value is genuinely threatened, when it’s time for all hands on deck.” —Terry Patten, A New Republic of the Heart
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Pema Chödrön writes: "It's not impermanence per se, or even knowing we're going to die, that is the cause of our suffering, the Buddha taught. Rather, it's our resistance to the fundamental uncertainty of our situation. Our discomfort arises from all of our efforts to put ground under our feet, to realize our dream of constant okayness. When we resist change, it's called suffering. But when we can completely let go and not struggle against it, when we can embrace the groundlessness of our situation and relax into its dynamic quality, that's called enlightenment, or awakening to our true nature, to our fundamental goodness." Let's investigate the underlying feeling of insecurity to see how it can be used as a path to real freedom.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We can easily lose our mindfulness when we are experiencing a transition from a change of activity in our daily experience to major shifts in our life. In truth we are always in transition. This talk explores the power of bringing consciousness to transition as focal point of our practice.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Although devotion plays a significant role in Monastic Communities and Tibetan practices it is not something often discussed in lay communities. Yet devotion can be a major source of inspiration which can fuel our practice. How can we access it and have it moisten our sincerity of motivation?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) This guided meditation, originally created by Joseph Goldstein, shifts the subject of attention from objects to the awareness that knows.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) With so many strategies and messages about how to practice, how do we know the "right" way to practice? The Buddha said ultimately you should "be a lamp onto yourself." This comes down to trusting the wisdom inside. How can we discern the wisdom voice from the voices rooted in fear and confusion? This talk includes the 5 strategies offered by the Buddha to work skillfully with distracting thoughts.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Wise Effort points to the importance of balance as well as the weakening unwholesome and cultivating wholesome states. This talk explores both aspects of this key practice issue.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Journey of Awakening is a process of discovering all the beautiful qualities that are uniquely expressed through you--the Buddha within that you take refuge in. It also involves understanding all the habits of mind that get in the way--including our fears, resistance, and identification with our experience. This talk describes the importance of opening to all of these places we usually hide from and the beneficial qualities that support that journey.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Sometimes it feels as if our practice is taking one step forward and two steps back. Or two steps forward and two steps back. In this talk I want to explore the process of awakening in the context of understanding the trajectory of practice.Even though it might not seem as if much is happening or that you're truly growing, it's happening anyway. However, there are some things to know about how the process works that can help you develop patience, confidence and inspiration.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We all know the unpleasant feeling of self-consciousness. It is one thought away from self-judgment, self-criticism and a whole spectrum of “Selfing” thoughts. This week I want to share with you a simple and effective practice to cut through this painful negative mental habit which, when utilized, takes the “self” out of self-consciousness.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed an uplifting transition to 2024. I'm delighted to invite you to join me in welcoming author and Dharma teacher Oren Jay Sofer for an evening of online practice and exploration based on his new book, Your Heart Was Made For This: Contemplative Practices to Meet a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love. What does the contemplative path have to offer our aching hearts in a rapidly changing world beset with challenge? What can our practice offer beyond personal benefits?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) As we come to the last gathering of the year, join us online as we will reflect on this moment together--looking back at the past year, seeing where we are right now and getting in touch with our vision for the upcoming year. We will mark this time together with an end-of-year ritual and support each other in our intentions for the New Year. Please bring a candle, some pare and a writing implement.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This Thursday our meeting will take place just as we arrive at this year's Winter Solstice (7:27pm Pacific Time). This longest night of the year has given rise to many holidays of light (Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Soyal, the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians, and many others). We will explore accessing the light within as we experience the solstice and navigate the shadow within us and in the world.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The barrage of frightening headlines every day often leave us with feelings of despair, hopelessness and negativity. While it's important to feel connected to the suffering all around us, it is equally important to nourish ourselves by opening to the goodness in life--both inside and around us. This helps us skillfully create a larger container so that we are not overwhelmed by the dukkha but rather can process it with balance and skill.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Refuge is a word that is often used in Buddhist teachings. We long to feel safe and protected from inner and outer harm. When everything seems out of control where can we find true refuge? How can the practice help us hold it all? This talk refers to a highly recommended conversation on the Mideast situation between two women (one Israeli, one German) who give communication trainings based on Nonviolent Communication: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K16F_lL4N1w.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Israeli Dharma Teacher Stephen Fulder joins James and shares about the current crisis in Israel and Gaza
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Sabbāsava Sutta "All the Taints" (Majjhima Nikaya #2). The Buddha teaches seven methods for restraining and abandoning the "taints", the fundamental defilements that keep us in suffering.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This discourse by the Buddha' is called "One Fortunate Attachment" (Majjhima Nikaya Sutta #131). Although the Buddha spoke of attachment as being the cause of suffering, he did teach there is one attachment that is wholesome and leads to the highest happiness. We will explore this wholesome attachment and see how it can be applied to everyday life
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James and Eve are delighted to host the first in person meeting at the Berkeley Buddhist monastery since Covid changed our lives. In addition to a Dharma talk and exploration about Sangha, Eve brings her guitar and shares some music.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A classical text from Kashmir Shaivism entitled "Realization of Our True Heart" or Pratyabijñāhṛdaya, describes in a few lines how we and everything in physical form is simply an expression of Divine Play of the universe –what in Hinduism is called the lila or dance of consciousness. This talk explores one perspective of the Mystery, that which cannot be named.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Although devotion plays a significant role in Monastic Communities and Tibetan practices it is not something often discussed in lay communities. Yet devotion can be a major source of inspiration which can fuel our practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Learning to delight in the happiness of others.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Learning to work skillfully with fear can change if from enemy to ally in our practice, since it is often a signal of moving from the familiar to new territory. As we learn to let go of the illusion of control we transform fear into genuine trust.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This guided meditation, originally created by Joseph Goldstein, shifts the subject of attention from objects to the awareness that knows.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Every moment of mindfulness we are weakening the forces of greed, hatred & delusion (roots of suffering) and strengthening the forces of non-greed (letting go & generosity), non-hatred (loving-kindness) and non-delusion (wisdom). This talk explains how that works.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Two aspects of Wise Effort are explored: 1) how do we know if we're doing too little, too much or just enough with regard to effort in practice? and 2) the four aspects of wise efforts are discussed with particular emphasis on the importance of cultivating and increasing wholesome states.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) An end of year reflection and ritual that includes letting go of the past--not the lessons but the baggage that may come with them--and visioning the future--what we want to create for ourselves moving forward.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We explore going through the dark as an essential element of coming into the light. How can we grow through our own journey of facing challenges while staying committed to facing in the direction of greater light.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddhist writer Wei Wu Wei wrote: "True humility is the absence of anyone to be proud." We are often humbled by life. How we handle it can either lead to defeat or profound growth. We explore how being humbled can deepen our capacity to open to all of our experience and strengthen our confidence and trust as we align ourselves with something greater than ourselves.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Our Dharma community is processing sad news this week that has sent a shock wave through the sangha. One of our respected teachers who led movement at many Spirit Rock retreats and mentored many students in the practice took her life after a long bout with health issues that affected her mental well-being. A truism of the law of impermanence is that "anything can happen at any time." I want to use this event as an opportunity to explore how the practice can help support us when a sudden major loss happens.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Do you ever act on behaviors that you know don't support well-being but you choose to act on them anyway? I'm sure we all do. But how can we skillfully relate to that after the fact without self-judgment or self-recrimination? What are practices and teachings that help us to be patient as we go through this process of purification?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Kaye Cleave is a sangha member and film producer of the award-winning movie Catherine's Kindergarten. Catherine’s Kindergarten is the story of Kaye's emotional journey to confront her grief after the death of her only child, juxtaposed with her physical journey to a Nepalese mountain village to open a school in memory of her daughter. It is a truly moving experience. I'm proud to be part of Kaye's journey and in the film. Kaye will share some of her story of how the practice helped her process her grief and transform it into compassionate action. We share a clip of the movie and discuss the process of how we can turn heartbreak into meaning.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Practice is more than stress reduction or finding calm within ourselves. A natural expression of a wise heart is the wish to relieve suffering not only in ourselves but in others and in our world. As Thich Nhat Hanh teaches: "Compassion is a verb."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha said, "Good friends are the whole of the spiritual life." But what does it mean to be a good friend? In the Sigalovada Sutta the Buddha describes different kinds of friendship including what a true friend is, what it is not, and how a true friend supports you in your spiritual practice. We will explore being there with others in a way that helps you and them grow.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk explores the deeper meaning of "Taking Refuge in the Buddha." This is not simply honoring or being inspired by the historical figure who lived 2,500 years ago. Until we see the Buddha right inside of us we are missing the point of what that teacher was trying to have us awaken to. We will look at various teachings that point to discovering the Buddha within.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Some aspects of metta practice along with metta for self, loved one, neutral and all beings
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In one discourse the Buddha taught that suffering can be a causative factor for faith to arise. However, that is not always the case. In fact, often suffering leads to bitterness, fear, and ill will. Why is it that, for some people, suffering is the catalyst to begin their spiritual journey and for others it's leads to negative patterns that contribute to a society filled with divisiveness, fear and "othering." We'll explore this mysterious process
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A follow up to a recent talk that focused on death and dying. This talk explores the other four of the Five Daily Reflections (also known as the Five Remembrances): aging, illness, loss and karma. It includes practices and discussion on how we can include them regularly in our Dharma practice, which the Buddha highly recommended.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha gave a teaching on five different methods he recommended to work with disturbing thoughts. When we are mindful of the thinking process it's possible to see thoughts simply as mental fabrications. However, when we get caught in them and the body gets activated, we spin out in the story and are caught in a negative emotional response. We become identified with those mental formations and can more easily get lost. When that happens, the Buddha offers these five strategies as skillful techniques to deal with the confused mind.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Sometimes the hardest person to send metta to is oneself. This guided meditation invites us to see ourselves through a loved one's eyes to see who we really are.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) After establishing our anchor or home base in the meditation we can expand the field beyond the breath to skillfully include other body sensations and sounds.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In his teaching on The Four Wise Efforts, the Buddha taught us to maintain and increase wholesome states (kusala) when they arise. This talk explains how to make that a central part of our practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This Earth Day week we share an evening of gratitude and celebration for our natural world. When we get in touch with our love for something we are more motivated to care for it. Rather than going into the dire situation that most of us are all too familiar with, we can get connected with the beauty of the world that is our home We share a clip on the natural world and the experience of gratitude, which starts with an adorable little girl talking about the wonder of exploring nature instead of watching a screen followed by Brother David Steindl-Rast on gratitude. Although it is audio only you can still here the magic in the words. To see the video here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpkEvBtyL7M
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha suggested reflecting regularly on five aspects of life called the Five Reflections (also called the Five Remembrances). This talk focuses on what he called "the most supreme of all meditations": mindfulness of death or maranasati. Although contemplation of one's death might seem unsettling or scary, when undertaken as a conscious practice it can be extremely enlivening and even liberating.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk explores the topic of Clear Comprehension (sampajañña in Pali) a powerful Dharma teaching on four different aspects of practice. In the Satipatthana Sutta the Discourse on the Four Foundation of Mindfulness, with regard to each foundation, the Buddha says the following: "Here, bhikkhus (practitioners), a bhikkhu (practitioner) lives contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful, having overcome, in this world, covetousness and grief..." Clear comprehension means more than just having bare attention. Understanding and applying these four facets of Clear Comprehension can support a real deepening of our Dharma practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Many people are experiencing stress and anxiety these days. Heartbreaking scenes of victims of the Ukraine invasion and other conflicts, potential escalation of war, political divisiveness or personal challenges all create an atmosphere of tension that is in the air. How can we use our practice to calm the mind and create space to hold it all without getting overwhelmed?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) When a leader has the welfare of the people as a priority the country prospers. When a leader cares only for themselves the country declines. This talk explores the Buddha's teaching on the qualities that make a good leader, the influence a leader has on the people and the story of an actual leader who underwent a transformation from a feared merciless ruler to one of great wisdom and compassion. We discuss how these teachings apply to our contemporary world.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is particularly sad and disturbing Although there are conflicts like this happening around the world, an unprovoked invasion from one of the strongest military countries in the world into a European country that could feasibly escalate into another world war is deeply unsettling. We explore as a community how our practice can help us hold all the feelings that may be arising. Includes a 7 minute clip of Joanna Macy explaining her Spiral from her "Work that Reconnects."
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Your practice affects everyone around you. When you see your practice in this wider context, it evokes a whole dimension of inspiration and “joyful responsibility“ to cultivate wisdom and compassion within us. In this world with so much suffering—including the climate crisis and injustice in the world—more than ever we need to keep this in mind and see ourselves as “bodhisattvas in training“.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Equanimity is on many lists is thee teachings--always the last on every list which shows it's importance as the culmination of the mind that can be with all things. Cultivating a balance and centeredness in the midst of our joys and sorrows we can know the peace that the Buddha encourages us to experience.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Mudita for friend who's having great happiness self, benefactor, and neutral categories
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha taught that one should cultivate and, when possible, maintain wholesome states. This talk explores teachings on cultivating states of well-being and how to deepen them in our practice.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Being in the present requires us to open to all experience, the beautiful moments and the challenging ones. This talk explores essential qualities that help us not only accept the moment, but embrace and even love it as our true refuge.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In order to open the heart and extend kindness and compassion to others we need to soften the places of contraction through practicing forgiveness. This guided meditation invites us to practice forgiving ourselves– our body, our mind, and our heart – and then extending it towards others as well.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In order to open the heart and extend kindness and compassion to others we need to soften the places of contraction through practicing forgiveness. This guided meditation invites us to practice forgiving ourselves– our body, our mind, and our heart – and then extending it towards others as well.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) A guided meditation on deepening concentration using the breath as the primary object.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Five Spiritual Faculties in the Buddha's teaching give a clear description of the natural unfolding of practice unfolds over time. It also describes the process over the course of a month-long intensive retreat.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The great Vietnamese Master, Thich Nhat Hanh, passed away on January 22nd at the age of 95. Thay, as he was known to his students, was one of the most influential Buddhist masters in modern times.We spend the evening exploring his teachings and honoring his spirit. A short clip of him teaching is included as part of the evening.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Equanimity or Upekkha is a highly valued quality in Buddhist teachings. It is one of the Four Divine Abodes, one of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, one of the Ten Perfections and on a number of other lists. When highly developed it is the precursor to the experience of awakening. But what is equanimity? How can we cultivate it in our meditation practice? Even more, how can we access it in our daily life, especially in times like these with so much uncertainty, fear and sadness over the suffering in the world? We will explore various aspects of equanimity that can be pragmatically applied to our life off the cushion.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) As the year comes to an end, we mark and celebrate this transition point by reflecting on where we are in our lives and consciously get in touch with our vision for the coming year. The Buddha talked about the power of having Wise Intention and "Clear Comprehension of Purpose" to keep us facing in the right direction. As a community we can support each other through reflecting on what we've learned in 2021 and share a ritual to call forth our vision for the coming year.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) When the days are shortest and darkness is all around, we have holidays to help us remember the light. In this talk we reflect on the heart practices of gratitude, forgiveness and love that help us stay connected to the light inside and around us.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) How can we keep open and stay engaged when our hearts are breaking and we just want to shut down? How can we cultivate a "no-matter-what commitment" as Terry Patten teaches? How can we develop "Active Hope" as Joanna Macy calls it. That is the topic of this week's exploration. The talk includes a powerful 20-minute conversation between Joanna Macy and Thanissara that took place a month before this recording.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Beloved Philosopher, Teacher and Sacred Activist Terry Patten sadly passed away a few days before this talk. His last book, A New Republic of the Heart, is an inspiring teaching on how to face the global crises we are in. As he went through his own final journey he shared how one can face death with courage, wonder, grace and trust. It was a blueprint for how to meet the pain and sorrow of the world with those same qualities. This talk includes a powerful, clear, deeply moving clip excerpt of Terry's last teaching a week before he passed plus some of his teachings that have touched so many.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A great Zen treatise says that someone truly enlightened is "without anxiety about non-perfection." It's no wonder that, with such impossible standards that most people hold themselves to, they always seem to fall short. How is it that others can so easily see our goodness while we're often the last ones to see our "True Nature"? The talk includes a short excerpt of Ram Dass sharing his primary practice to remember who we really are.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk explores the freedom that comes from letting go of our attachments to ideas. As the 3rd Zen Patriarch of China said, "Do not search for the truth. Only cease to cherish opinions." What benefit can there be when we truly let go of thinking we know how things really are?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Heart Sutra teaching famously states: "Form is Emptiness Emptiness is Form." This liberating perspective is the gateway to understanding the inter-connectedness of all phenomena and the spaciousness and freedom that comes from seeing our place in the bigger scheme of things. The talk includes a recording of Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweikart's moving account of the profound shift he experienced upon seeing the Earth from outer space.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In his teaching on the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha describes in the Second Noble Truth four kinds of attachments that cause suffering. One of these is attachment to ideas and opinions. We explore this topic of looking beyond our views and opinions that are causing so much divisiveness and separation in these pandemic days.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We explore the topic of dealing with uncertainty. Although we never know what lies ahead, at this time the feeling of uncertainty is highlighted in a more acute way globally than ever before. What will happen next with the virus and its variants? Will people get vaccinated or will the anti-vax information continue to influence people's choices? What about climate disruption? Will we collectively wake up to the reality in time to keep from heading over the cliff of self-destruction? What does the Dharma offer us to wisely work with this unknown reality?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Five Spiritual Faculties is a central teaching of the Buddha that explains how the practice develops and unfolds: This classical list of five qualities expresses both the importance of balance as well as a natural progression of development with one quality leading to the next.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) When people ask, "How are you?" it depends on what lens we're looking at life through. The personal lens evokes a very different response than the societal one. This talk explores how we can hold different realities in our minds and hearts at the same time. Also the compassion that comes from understanding that each person has their own reality that makes sense to them.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Have you ever had a profound meditation experience and tried with frustration to recreate it?This is a common experience for many practitioners. Just as trauma can be triggered in our body and mind, the same is possible with positive experiences that we've gone through. This talk explores how this works and how we can access those profound moments and the wisdom that they've awakened in us.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha's pithiest and shortest teaching, his teaching to Bahiya (Bahiya Sutta). Although only a few short sentences it was enough to result in complete Enlightenment.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Understanding the trajectory of developing wholesome states to awaken joy.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Guided "Big Mind" Meditation to perceive Awareness as the space in which all experience arises and passes away.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Working with the wandering mind and moving from one meditation object to another in meditation
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Intention, Mindfulness and Gratitude are the three wholesome states that are the foundational practices to awaken joy
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) One of the greatest challenges today in the US is divisiveness within the country. However, the Buddha faced the same problem right within his community! The Quarrel at Kosambi tells the story of his sangha dealing with a bitter argument that almost created a schism in the sangha. And the Buddha had a very difficult time trying to bring peace between the two factions. We will discuss this story and the lessons we can learn that can be applied in today's time.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk is based on a teaching from Joseph Goldstein: "Not seeing dukkha is dukkha." It's humbling to realize that we are creating much of our suffering. But it's through clearly seeing this that we also create the possibility of truly waking up. We can change our whole relationship to seeing how we get caught by old habits and thought patterns from self-judgment to compassion and liberation.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Angulimala was a feared serial killer who was the scourge of the land--until he met the Buddha. We will explore his story and its relevance for our practice in learning to keep our hearts open to those who cause great harm. Why does the Buddha find it beneficial and how is this possible?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This past week James felt very fortunate to be with one of his dearest friends in his final days died. This talk explores that life passage. How can we say goodbye to a loved one and grieve fully with the understanding that death is a natural part of the life cycle? How can practice help us through that process?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Sylvia and James will have a conversation about death and dying something they have both been recently practicing with in their personal lives.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James Baraz and Eve Decker When we develop a basic kindness towards ourselves we not only learn to accept the difficult parts, but in the process embrace our humanity and see more clearly the beauty that's inside. As we do that we allow our goodness and True Nature to shine through. This becomes a gift to everyone we meet, a healing energy that awakens the goodness in others as well.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Have you ever wondered how your mind can move from one thought to getting lost in a complex story without you knowing how you got there? The Buddha describes this process in his Honeyball Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya #19) where he explains the phenomenon of papanća or proliferation of thought. The more we understand this porcess and work with it as practice, the less we get caught up in the stories the mind creates.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In the Mangala Sutta, the Discourse on Blessings, the Buddha teaches: "To be content and grateful is a blessing supreme." Gratitude is a particularly potent ally in awakening true happiness because it helps expand the mind as well as the heart. With a grateful heart we have a larger container and more space to hold the difficulties we encounter. When we pause to notice what we usually take for granted a new world of possibilities opens up. It's as if we've changed the station instead of being stuck on our own little "drama channel."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) One of the lesser known lists are four different qualities of heart, The Four Iddhipadas, that are present in people with differing temperaments, that are powerful motivators for practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha taught "Intention is karma". We will look at two manifestations of intention and how we can work with this powerful energy to increase well being.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Equanimity is the last of the 4 Brahma Viharas. It holds the other three--metta, compassion/karuna, and mudita--with spaciousness and balance. Equanimity reminds us to allow for life to unfold as it will. We can let go of control, which we never had in the first place, meeting life's up and downs with balance and the possibility of a wise, skillful response.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) With so many instructions and ways to practice, how do we know which is the "right one"? Similarly, with all decisions we need to make in our lives, how can we access the wisdom right inside?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) An important support for metta practice is forgiveness that softens the contracted heart that is stuck in aversion or ill will. This guided meditation practice first focuses on forgiveness towards ourselves--our body, mind, and heart--and then opens to both asking and extending forgiveness with others.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) This meditation is a support for exploring the subtleties of the breath as an aid to deepening concentration.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Our mind is habitually judging and comparing ourselves with others or against some unrealistic standard of perfection. Seeing this habit as part of the human experience and not taking it personally is an important part of our practice. We can learn to relate to it with wisdom and compassion that transforms it from being a personal problem to a wise understanding of the selfless nature of experience.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Do you ever give yourself a hard time if you've made an embarrassing mistake or have done something you regret? This talk explores how we can truly forgive ourselves with a thorough understanding of the Buddha's teaching on the selfless nature of who we are, otherwise known as Anatta, the selfless nature of experience.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) These days have even more ups and downs than usual. For many it's both a time of sorrow and a time of joy. The mind can easily get caught in the difficulties when it's contracted by stress. But our Dharma practice shows us we have a choice how to wisely relate to our experience.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Many lay Buddhists struggle to carry the benefits of their studies and meditation practice into their twenty-first-century lives. How might our daily experience of both life and the Buddha’s teachings shift if there were no separation between them? Gregory speaks about the realistic and comprehensive vision that arises when we ask this question: If every moment of my life is Path, then what does each path factor need to cover for this to be true in a grounded, practical way?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is a continuation of the theme of the process of purification that leads to awakening. An exploration of what Joseph Goldstein calls "Three Pillars of Dharma." These are three spheres that we can cultivate which lead to supportive conditions for us to practice and then realize the fruits of practice. Includes Eve Decker offers a song on the theme.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) When we start the spiritual journey we see that our mind is filled with unskillful habits of thought, colored by attachment, aversion and confusion. The Buddha described the process of purification that enables us to purify and transform first our outward conduct, then our thoughts and finally our subtle spiritual aspirations. This purification process leads ultimately to full awakening. The talk includes the Buddha's teaching of how this process works through the simile of the "Refinement of Mind."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) However you feel about the outcome, the presidential election has underscored the polarization that currently exists in our country. As long as each side mistrusts and fears the other, we cannot truly have peace and work together to make this a better society.
What does the Dharma offer to help heal this divide? How can our practice support us individually and collectively to open our hearts with compassion and bridge the gulf with those who seem so different from us? How can we create better understanding and cut through "othering" so that each of us can contribute to greater healing rather than more divisiveness?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The election and its aftermath has been quite a roller coaster ride. Can we find balance and patience with all feelings that arise while allowing the unfolding to happen in its own time? We explore this theme and offer some practices going through these uncertain times.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We are in a unique moment in time for the United States and the world. How can we stay centered and even cultivate equanimity? Is it possible to hold a positive vision without getting caught in extra anxiety about the outcome? Can we allow for things to unfold as they will while having a clear focus of what we want to help create? Equanimity includes surrendering attachment while being inspired by gratitude, awe and possibility.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Eve Decker, dharma teacher, singer-songwriter explores the Brahma Viharas much needed medicine for this time along with a song for evoking each one.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The second of two talks with wisdom teacher Duane Elgin and friends sharing Elgin's realistic, sobering but ultimately hopeful vision of where we could be heading the next fifty years. His book Choosing Earth: Humanity's Great Transformation to a Mature Planetary Civilization discusses the possibilities that lie ahead and the vision for how we can use this time to wake up as a species. A brief recap of previous talk with additional comments, Then an exploration of how to hold the unfolding from a psychological and Dharma perspective.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James' special guests are wisdom teacher Duane Elgin (author of the classic Voluntary Simplicity) and his partner, Coleen LeDrew Elgin, share his realistic but hopeful vision of where we could be heading the next fifty years. His new book Choosing Earth: Humanity's Great Transformation to a Mature Planetary Civilization discusses the possibilities that lie ahead and the vision for how we can use this time to wake up as a species.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A third in a series of talks on holding a positive vision. We explore some of the principles on mindful engagement presented in Sharon Salzberg's book Real Change: Mindfulness for Ourselves and the World
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This week we will continue with Roger Walsh's essay: "Ten Principles to Know to Contribute Strategically". These principles provide a big-picture context for understanding our current dilemmas, unearthing their deepest roots, and revealing the deepest and most effective responses. This is part of a series of talks on the importance of holding a positive vision even through the storm.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In this time of great chaos and confusion we look at wisdom thinker Roger Walsh's new essay: "Contributing Effectively in Times of Crisis". We start by looking at four crucial questions: 1) What can I do? 2) What do I feel called to contribute? 3) What's the most strategic thing I can do? 4) How can I live my life so as to be an optimal instrument of service? The talk ends with Melanie DeMore singing I'm Sending You Light"
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) It seems like an accomplishment just getting through such tumultuous times--wildfires on the West Coast, storms around the country, coronavirus lockdown and the US in daily chaos. It would be understandable to succumb to anxiety and overwhelm. But as the Buddha taught, practice is about overcoming negative thoughts when they arise and cultivating wholesome thoughts and mind-states. We will explore the importance of holding a positive vision even through the storm.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Sometimes the teachings seem to suggest a life of withdrawing from the world. But the Buddha himself was an example of engagement and could even be called a political revolutionary. As we try to sort out how to apply the teachings, (including duties of a good ruler) to contemporary issues, it can help to see his teachings in that light.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) It seems like we're collectively going through an intense initiation in so many ways--the wildfires, the virus, racial injustice, economic collapse and an election fraught with acrimony. The Buddha taught: "Hatred never ceases from hatred. Hatred only ceases from love." How can the teachings support us to skillfully keep our hearts open not only to those suffering but those who, through ignorance, cause suffering as well?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) How can we prevent succumbing to all the negativity around us--messages of fear, hatred or despair from the media or people in our lives? Can we protect ourselves and process the very real issues facing us while letting ourselves still be nourished by the goodness that's around us?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha taught: "We are what we think. With our thoughts we make the world." We will explore mana or "the conceit of I am" and how we construct a sense of self with our mind. Based on how we see ourselves or how we compare with others, mana or the conceit of “I am” is born. This tendency leads to "The Three Conceits: I am superior, I am inferior, I am equal to." If we're not mindful, we then erroneously proceed to make a permanent, solid entity of self. We explore how not seeing this clearly creates suffering and how we can free ourselves of this self-constructed suffering.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Devon and Craig Hase join James in sharing about their new book How Not to Be a Hot Mess: A Survival Guide for Modern Life. The book offers a playful exploration of living a life of Integrity based on the teachings of the Buddha. Devon and Craig lead meditation retreats throughout North America and Europe. Devon teaches at the Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock. Craig spent six years in a Zen monastery and teaches mindfulness meditation, and dharma full time.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo has just written an essay exploring how the early Buddhist perspective shows that diversity work can become an integral part of the Buddhist path of practice. We will explore some of Ven. Analayo's ideas and see how we can apply them in our own practice. We'll also touch a recent article by Bhikkhu Bodhi, another esteemed Buddhist scholar, entitled "From Tragedy to Hope: Reflections on the Killing of George Floyd".
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha spoke of hiri and ottappa (Shame and Dread) as "The Guardians of the World." These are considered two wholesome states as they can prevent us from engaging in unskillful actions. But guilt and shame associated with internalized racism can paralyze us or put up walls of resistance. This is especially true if we take those feelings personally and blame ourselves for the cultural conditioning we're shaped by. How can we work skillfully with those natural and understandable reactions?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We will continue our exploration of Racial Justice and White Privilege with Deb Kerr. who led us in a rich discussion last week.
Deb is a core teacher at East Bay Meditation Center where she is a co-founder of EBMC and has served on the EBMC Board.
Deb will offer teachings on how educating ourselves about race relates to and is an extension of dharma practice and how it connects the dots to the larger picture of systemic change.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In the aftermath of the George Floyd tragedy and the protests that followed the community explores Racial Injustice and White Privilege. Special guest Deb Kerr, who is a Core Teacher of East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland. DE, who is one of EMBC's founders and has served on the EBMC Board has led White Privilege groups there.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Every momnet of mindfulness we are planting seeds of non-greed, non-hatred and non-delusion the basis of true happiness. This talk explores how that works and the bigger implication for our lives.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James invited Gail Stark to join him as his guest. Gail shares what it was like to spend 10 months practicing the 10 Paramis or Perfections under Joseph Goldstein’s guidance. Her new book, Creating a Life of Integrity: In Conversation with Joseph Goldstein, is a wonderful exploration of what it means to truly bring practice into your daily life guided by Joseph Goldstein, the ultimate Dharma coach.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Meditation and Dharma practice can be understood as a natural process of developing five qualities starting with Faith/Trust and culminating in Wisdom. This talk describes how that process unfolds.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha said to reflect each day on the facts of old age, sickness and death. He also said to to come to terms with the fact that everything and everyone near and dear to us will be separated from us. In these Covid-19 days our practice becomes letting go of what was and adjust to a new way of being. This practice of impermanence includes opening to loss, grief and death which is explored in this talk.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Our own centeredness and kind awareness becomes one the greatest gifts we can offer others who are in distress. Without fixing or changing our compassionate presence is healing and a source of our own inner well-being, especially when we do't identify with being "the helper".
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How can we find balance in the times of great distress? The process of first connecting with out experience, then holding what's here and finally accessing that place of peace and spacious awareness that can hold it all are discussed. Practices to help find our center are offered.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) "Talk for Pandemic Reality" Including Jack Kornfield's "The Bodhisattva Responds to the Virus"
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In times of uncertainty and tension--whether a potential global pandemic, the climate crisis, high stakes election--it's easy for apprehension to become anxiety as we constantly are worried about what's to come. This talk explores how skillful letting go practices can help us maintain our centeredness while still being engaged.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Mindful awareness creates spaciousness for love to naturally shine through -- your true nature. The talk includes reminisces of Ram Dass, major benefactor of the insight meditation community, who passed away Dec. 2019 and whose practice was "I am loving awareness."
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Dukkha is an inevitable part of life, the 1st Noble Truth. How we meet it and work with it is a key issue of practice. If understood, it can be a doorway to liberation.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) All experience arises and passed in the vast space of awareness. This meditation, adapted from Tibetan text, directs attention to awareness itself rather than the objects within the awareness.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Sometimes we can misunderstand practice as mainly overcoming suffering. The Buddha spoke of cultivating and increasing wholesome states and being mindful of the "gladness of the wholesome."
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Guided meditation letting go of the primary object and allowing receiving each moment as it presents itself.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) A guided meditation directing forgiveness & metta toward our body, mind & heart
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) A guided meditation refining awareness of breath to deepen concentration.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Five 'Spiritual Faculties describe the unfolding of our practice. From Faith through Wise Effort, cultivating Mindfulness, deepening Concentration, flowering as Wisdom.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Telling of the story of the quarrel at Kosambi as well as discussions around the importance of community and how to make community stronger
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) As we start the New Year we explore Wise Intention, the basis of all karma and the second link of the 8-Fold Path. Clarifying your Intention is different from making a New Year's Resolution or going for a goal. It's what gives energy and power to our vision for practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) At the end of the year, we reflect on endings and new beginnings. James offers some reflections on Ram Dass, beloved teacher and mentor, who passed away on Sunday, December 22. Then the community shares an end of year ceremony for increasing wholesome states and weakening unwholesome states.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Sometimes our shyness or concern about what others think keeps us from expressing our gifts and making as meaningful a contribution as we can. In seeing through the constructed sense of self—the understanding of Anatta—those thoughts lose their power and don’t get in the way of expressing our true nature.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) I [recently] spoke about how sharing our pain by connecting with another helps us hold and process our grief. This week I want to look at the importance of "Connection through Community" and how we can create more community in our lives.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Whether the climate crisis, some other social issue or personal loss, sharing our pain by connecting with another helps us hold and process our grief. By opening the heart we can transform our feeling of isolation into one of shared humanity. This talk ends with a guided experiential dyad exercise adapting Joanna Macy’s "Learning to See Each Other" meditation from Coming Back to Life.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Greta Thunberg’s fearless willingness to speak the truth has inspired millions of youth to follow her lead resulting in the hugely successful September 20th Worldwide Climate Strike. Thunberg calls being on the autism spectrum her “superpower” because she doesn’t care what others think of her and only cares about telling the truth. Can we be like her, let go of our self-consciousness, not hold back and speak and act with honesty and courage?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A talk about how our benefactors impact us, wisdom and love they pass on from their benefactors and how we transmit those beautiful qualities to others who pas it on as well. No one "owns" those qualities. Rather we are part of a lineage of goodness.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) This talk describes how the meditative process unfolds starting with trust or faith and culminating in liberating wisdom.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) With such disorienting events such as mass shootings in the news, how can we find our balance and hold things with equanimity, compassion and a wise dharma perspective. That is the theme for this talk.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Inspired by EcoDharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis by David Loy. James shares some perspectives that can give practitioners a sense of how to hold the climate crisis situation skillfully as well as what Dharma teachings have to offer the wider societal conversation at this time.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In order to open to true well-being we need to let go of the blocks to an open heart. Practices of forgiveness towards ourselves and others are offered.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha was called "The Happy One", but often there is more emphasis on overcoming suffering then going for true happiness. It is beneficial to see the teachings in the light of cultivating wholesome states as well - leading to the highest happiness of freedom.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James welcome Stephen Fulder who explores themes from his new book What’s Beyond Mindfulness? and shares about the Israeli sangha.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) On the recent retreat James sat with Ven. Analayo, the monastic started out the last day's teaching saying: “This morning I want to talk about climate change. Though some say this is not an appropriate topic for the Dharma Hall, in my view and in light of the crisis we are facing, there is no more appropriate or necessary topic.” We explore how Dharma principles can help each of us individually hold this unsettling situation as well as why they are the key to us waking up as a species.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) After spending a recent retreat with Ven. Analayo Bhikkhu at Spirit Rock on this subject, James offers his understanding of Ven. Analayo's explanation of the discourse and how it can be applied in our meditation practice. You can also go to (paste it in your browser) this link to hear Ven. Analayo's Anapanasati guided meditation. https://www.windhorsepublications.com/mindfulness-of-breathing-audio/
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Though there are many different approaches and styles of practice they all have one common principle that neuroscience corroborates and other spiritual traditions agree on. This talk explores this unifying practice principle and how we can simply and effectively apply it both in formal practice and daily life when we're lost in the prison of our mind.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddhist writer Wei Wu Wei says: "True humility is the absence of anyone to be proud." We are often humbled by life. How we handle it can either lead to defeat or profound growth. We will explore how being humbled can deepen our capacity to open to all of our experience and strengthen our confidence and trust as we align ourselves with something greater than ourself.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) A talk on the Buddha's Teaching of three roots of happiness: non-greed, non-hatred and non-delusion. Stating each in a positive way they are 1) Letting go/Generosity, 2) Loving-Kindness 3)Clarity/Wisdom.
As part of the talk I share some personal stories of how my different paths of Buddhism and the Hindu path of devotion converged around these three qualities.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Non-Greed, Non-Hatred and Non-Delusion were taught by the Buddha as the three roots of happiness. Stating each in a positive way they are 1) Letting go/Generosity, 2) Loving-Kindness and ClarityWisdom. Every moment that we're mindful we're cultivating these qualities. This talk explores both the moment-to-moment as well as the relational aspects of these three qualities.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha said that karma is all based on intention. In every moment we are sowing the seeds of suffering or happiness. In addition to this moment to moment aspect, intention also refers to a wider motivation—Clear Comprehension of Purpose—our aspiration and vision that fuels and inspires us to practice. Both of these dimensions of intention are explored.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Wise or Right Effort includes cultivating wholesome states and then maintaining and increasing them. This talk explores how to maintain and increase these states and the importance of consciously including them in our practice. Particular emphasis is on the power of investigation, as well as mindfulness.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The list of the Five spiritual Faculties - Faith, Energy, Mindfulness, Concentration and Wisdom - is a helpful way to understand the unfolding of practice. Each of these are important issues of practice and each can be seen to build on the next for the full flowering of the awakened heart/mind.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James and Kate Munding, co-guiding teacher of Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley co-led this evening exploring the power and importance of like-minded friendship and community especially in these times.
At the beginning of the talk James reads a moving letter written to the community by a 31-year old woman from Australia named Stephanie whose story of sexual assault James shared in his talk from two weeks before entitled: "The Third Precept: Trauma, Respect and Cultural Wake Up". See: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/audio_player/86/52436.html
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Third Precept is: I undertake the training precept to refrain for sexual misconduct. After Christine Blasey Ford's moving testimony at the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, this talk explores this cultural moment together. The impact of sexual assault, importance of courage, especially of women, to speak the truth in the face of animosity and criticism and the power of fierce compassion are discussed.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) "This is a talk given at James Baraz's Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley."
James recently sat with Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo, an extraordinary Buddhist scholar and meditation teacher. He shares some of the teachings and practices that he learned on the Brahma Viharas and how they can help lead to deeper perceptions of emptiness including infinite space and infinite consciousness.
The talk gives a glimpse of the value of experimenting and playing with the mind. With Ven. Analayo's permission, James' takes us on a quick journey through some rather profound terrain. So let whatever your experience or non-experience be okay. For a deeper dive into the material the listener is referred to Ven. Analayo's book: Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhist Meditation:
Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhist Meditation.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Every moment of mindfulness we are weakening the forces of greed, hatred & delusion (roots of suffering) and strengthening the forces of non-greed (letting go & generosity), non-hatred (loving-kindness) and non-delusion (wisdom). This talk explains how that works.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The course of practice is explored: how mindfulness works, willingness to open to our suffering, discovering our wholesome qualities & the Buddha within, dealing with forgetting who we are, then sharing our love & wisdom with the world.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) One definition of the word Dharma is Natural law. Trees hold a very special place in the Buddha’s teaching.. The Buddha was born under a tree, enlightened under a tree and died under a tree. He told his disciples to find “roots of trees” to sit and meditate. Trees are the perfect environment to practice in the Thai Forest Tradition. Metta practice was taught by the Buddha in response to actions of “Tree spirits”. We’ll explore the special significance of trees and Nature in the Buddha’s teaching.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James returns from his recent teaching In Europe and Israel. Besides his trip to the West Bank for a glimpse of Palestinian life, he shares a fascinating project: Israelis’ actually changed their attitude about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a marketing experiment called “The Conflict Campaign” based on paradoxical thinking principles.
____________________________________________________________________
The video clip of the campaign in the talk can be found at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZadiztzLt0
To learn more about “The Fund for Reconciliation Tolerance and Peace” go to:
http://www.frtp-arik-peace.org/
Or, “Like” their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/fund4rtp
Let others know.
(Nirodha Insight Meditation in Finland) Working with the Wandering Mind and Initial Instructions with Breath
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Suzie Brown is from Melbourne, Australia. She’s co-founder of the Melbourne Insight Meditation Group and has taught Mindfulness to medical students at Monash University. Suzie has also been a facilitator, trainer and educator for over a decade in the areas of environmental sustainability and organizational strategy.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) After seeing the movie "Won't You Be My Neighbor" about Mr. (Fred) Rogers, James offers reflections about how deeply we can be touched and inspired by the good we see in others. That capacity to be touched by and love goodness is, in some sense, the heart of spiritual practice. Something in us loves the truth and is drawn to goodness around us. And it makes us yearn to activate the good inside.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This month marks the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Ajahn Chah, one of the most influential Theravadan masters of the 20th Century from the Thai Forest tradition. Ajahn Chah was the primary teacher of Jack Kornfield, Ajahn Sumedho, Ajahn Amaro and other influential teachers. Ajahn Chah's teaching is a major influence on the Dharma as presented at Spirit Rock. This talk offers some reflections his approach to practice at once deep, fierce, down to earth, humorous and wise.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) When you understand the law of karma you realize that each moment we are sowing the seeds for more suffering or more happiness depending on your response to experience. This talk explains how that works and how to choose wisely for a life of true happiness and inner peace.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Believing our judging thoughts is not only suffering it is a misunderstanding of reality. This talk explores how the mind gets caught in judgments and how to skillfully work with them.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) When we feel connected and alive our natural response to suffering is a caring heart. Different dimensions of compassion are explored.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In order to awaken joy we have to learn to have a healthy relationship with ourselves - holding our pain and sorrows as well as learning to appreciate all of our beautiful qualities.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In the opening line of the Dhammapada the Buddha teaches: "We are what we think with our thoughts we make the world." Although we have limited control over what happens to us, we can hold our experience with a wise perspective that makes all the difference. Famed Buddhist writer Christmas Humphreys put it this way: "The one miracle this path has to offer is a change of heart." We can change our relation to experience and make the shift from suffering to clear seeing, wisdom and compassion. In this talk James sings a song he wrote in his 20's entitled "It's All in Your Mind".
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In the Satipatthana Sutta (MN#10), the Buddha's discourse on mindfulness, the Buddha instructs us to contemplate mindfully, ardent and clearly comprehending each of the four foundations. "Clear comprehension" also translated as "clearly knowing" includes four areas of context for our mindfulness practice. In Part 1 we explored the first two elements of Clear Comprehension: "Clear Comprehension of Purpose" and "Clear Comprehension of Suitability of Action". In this talk we discuss the second two aspects: "Clear Comprehension in the Domain of Meditation" and "Clear Comprehension of Reality". With metta, James
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James in a conversation with Dawn Mauricio, a fresh dharma presence based in Montreal. Dawn is in the current Spirit Rock Teacher Training and is also on the West Coast assisting some upcoming Spirit Rock retreats. James invited Dawn to share her perspective on how the Dharma might unfold in the coming years and her experience teaching as a young strong female voice and teacher of color.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James invited Barbara Gates, co-editor for 31 years of Inquiring Mind journal, to discuss how she brings her dharma practice to her voter registration work which is her service commitment for the Buddhist Chaplaincy Program. They discuss bridging the divide between you and those with a very different perspective including skillful listening, engaging with metta, curiosity, non-separation and commitment to making a difference in the world.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In the Satipatthana Sutta (MN#10), the Buddha's discourse on mindfulness, the Buddha instruct's us to contemplate mindfully, ardent and clearly comprehending each of the four foundations. "Clear comprehension" also translated as "clearly knowing" includes four areas of context for our mindfulness practice. In this talk the first two aspects of Clear Comprehension are explored: "Clear Comprehension of Purpose" and "Clear Comprehension of Suitability of Action."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Often our meditation practice helps us understand or see for the first time something that’s never been clear before. That experience of insight where exclaim to ourselves “Aha!” It can have a profound impact that genuinely shifts our perspective. However, even after this powerful glimpse of seeing with new eyes, the old habits and thought patterns still have their influence and we can forget what we know to be true. This is particularly frustrating and can lead to great doubt. How can we both honor our familiar old friend, confusion, and remember to access the wisdom in our new understanding?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Joining James to discuss his work is Gautham Prabu, co-founder of FSHM an NGO for social transformation whose work has primarily supported Dalits (formerly India's "Untouchable" caste) many of whom have become become Buddhist practitioners and the Tamil Buddhist Society based in Tamil Nadu, India. He is a member of International Network of En
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Karma, the unfolding situation of our individual lives, is often understood to be dependent on our actions. These are, in turn, based on the intention of our underlying mind state. But what about societal conditions—including prejudice and inequality—that affect people’s lives? Is there collective karma? If so, can we affect it?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Do you ever find yourself needing to communicate something that will be hard for someone else to receive?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha taught, "We are what we think with our thoughts we make the world." It important to understand how our thoughts create our reality. And it's also vital to realize that our reality is just the way we're seeing the world at a particular moment in time. Others may have different realities. And in time our own perspective might change. Seeing this is a key to genuine freedom and support for choosing wisely the thoughts we want to empower.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We’re not practicing for ourselves alone. The world needs more consciousness and our practice allows us to become an agent of consciousness that in a very profound way affects everyone around us and the planet itself.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) "How the Dharma urges us to take wise action to try to change the wrongs that we see in our world." ------------ Suzie Brown has recently moved with her family from Melbourne, Australia. She is co-founder of the Melbourne Insight Meditation Group and has taught Mindfulness to medical students at Monash University. Suzie has also been a facilitator, trainer and educator for over a decade in the areas of environmental sustainability and organizational strategy, running her own consulting business for the last 8 years.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The journey of awakening often begins with learning to open up to all the hidden places inside. Facing our demons, learning to accept and eventually embrace the whole package of who we are. That's when the process gets truly interesting-when we move to the bigger perspective tuning into the awareness that can hold it all.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Every moment has flavor tone of experience: pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. Typically, we react without thinking and act from attachment, aversion or delusion-the seeds of suffering. When we bring mindfulness to the moment we have the choice to respond with non-greed, non-hatred and non-delusion. Those are the seed of true happiness.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) (James was on retreat this day but invited two guests speakers for the talk: Rene Rivera and Fresh! White.)
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Five Spiritual Faculties explain the unfolding of practice as well as highlight major issues in practice: Faith leads to making the effort to be mindful leading deepening concentration and wisdom.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk was inspired by Frances Vaughan, a true woman of wisdom, who recently passed. Frances was a pioneer in the field of Transpersonal Psychology, served as President of both the Association for Transpersonal Psychology and the Association for Humanistic Psychology, authored many books including Awakening Intuition and The Inward Arc. At her recent memorial service we heard the three main principles that guided her life. The talk contained a moving short video of her life that can be accessed here:
https://vimeo.com/246379817 (password: GratitudeDec9).
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Mindfulness is one particular aspect of awareness that is shining through us all the time. As we tune into awareness, we connect with a spacious perspective that counteracts the solidification of a small separate self and opens us to connection with all things and true freedom.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Opening up the field to include physical and mental experience.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Courage is contagious. Nelson Mandela spoke of the "multiplication of courage": When one brave person is willing to speak the truth, even though it might be met with strong resistance, it can spark another voice in the wilderness to do the same. And then other voices can be inspired to join in too. That is often how dramatic change can happen.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddhist concept of Anatta points to the fact that there is no separate self to whom life is happening. We are inter-connected. This talk explores different levels of this truth. As individuals, biologically we are not one being but rather a complex ecosystem comprised of many different beings. We are connected to each other through our relationships. And we are societal creatures who form groups. In the best of conditions those groups sometimes create an extraordinary field where the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We are not separate from the rest of life. This is true in a very real sense biologically. We are an ecosystem with countless microorganisms in our body keeping us alive. Our relationships and need to belong determine whether we suffer or experience well-being. And when groups gather and are aligned a field of positive energy can be created where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Basic meditation instructions including breath, body, sounds as well as working with emotions and thoughts
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha said keeping the company of like-minded friends is one of the most important way to cultivate wholesome qualities in ourselves and that good friends are "the whole of the holy life." In this Waking Up Together retreat we explore why this is so and why Sangha is considered a "jewel", one of the Three Refuges in the teachings.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Connection with others, compassion and the joy of being as sources of true well-being.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) How present would you be for your first breath? Your last breath? This guided meditation takes you from birth through the stages of life - to your last breath. To see this moment in a fresh way.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Exploring how living with integrity (sila) and letting go of stories, busyness and stuff - can be a source of well being and joy.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Why wish happiness for those who've caused us or others suffering? How can we overcome our resistance or hurt to genuinely open our heart to them?
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) The Journey from suffering - to hearing the dharma, to inspiration, to facing fear, acceptance of ourselves, opening beyond self to deep trust, freedom, and sharing our practice.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Continuation of the last talk: using intention, mindfulness, difficulties, and gratitude as supports to greater well being in practice.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) With so much focus on suffering and the end of suffering, it's sometimes easy to forget this is a path of happiness. The Buddha was called the happy one. This talk presents the teachings held in that perspective.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Bring a deep investigation of subtleties of experience of breath to aid in developing concentration and interest. Looking with care and sense of wonder so the mind is both curious and relaxed.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) We can easily get lost in our self-judgements, believing them to be true. This talk explains how to work with judgements and see through them to wake up to who we really are.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Using breath sensations and sounds. How to turn attention from one to another with ease and attention.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Basics of Metta practice, including the first two categories of Self and Benefactor.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha spoke of the power of non-harming as a support for inner peace and outward harmony. But how can we both commit to being peaceful while courageously and passionately standing up for what we feel is right and make a difference in the world? This talk includes some of the Buddha's words on peace and non-harming as well as two clips of Julia Butterfly Hill speaking about "Anger v. Love" and "Fierce Compassion".
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) With so much greed and hatred and cruelty in our world, it is easy to react with anger and ill will; but that only adds to the negativity. There is a better way to respond and bring more consciousness to this situation leading to effective action.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We often get lost in our negative judgements about ourselves and how we compare with others. We can work with these mind habits and see them as a catalyst for true compassion.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha taught: "Hatred never ceases by hatred. Hatred only ceases by love. This is an ancient and eternal law." With tragedies like Charlottesville and the reaction of the president highlighting the forces of hate in our country in these crazy times, how can we avoid giving in to the same reaction within ourselves? How can we acknowledge our repugnance and activated feelings without adding more ill will as we emerge with a wise response? Teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela and the Buddha help us hold this all with a dharmic perspective.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In a moment our understanding of reality can change with new information or new perspective. Anger and ill will can be released and turn to compassion and forgiveness. And it's also true that old patterns can be activated once again in a surprising and humbling way. The process of waking up requires tremendous patience and a kind heart, especially towards ourselves.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Description: This is a follow-up to James' "Appreciating Our Benefactors" talk (5-25-17).
Besides gratitude for those who've been our benefactors, we can see ourselves as passing on the kindness and caring we've received. We can and do have a significant effect on everyone around us. We can practice seeing the beautiful qualities in others, believing in them and bringing out the best in them. By doing so we help them shine, make a meaningful contribution to the world and experience great joy.
This talk also includes some words about James' local basketball team the Golden State Warriors, who just became NBA champions. The coach, Steve Kerr, tries to instill four core qualities in his players--joy, mindfulness, compassion and competition. And the players' unselfish style, subjugating individual glory for the good of the team, is the key to their success. They embody the attitude of bringing out the best and enjoying seeing each other shine.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Developing true well-being begins with the heartfelt intention and commitment to do so. Mindfulness is the basic tool that will help manifest that intention by weakening unwholesome states, cultivating wholesome ones and amplifying the latter when they arise.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) It’s important to recognize and appreciate all the support we receive in our spiritual practice as well as in our lives. If practice sometimes seems like a solitary experience we’re not realizing all the ways that life has been supporting us. This can be an on-going rich source of inspiration in our spiritual development and growth. We’ll explore various practices and reflections to make this come alive.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha spoke of waking up as going "against the stream" in order to see things with fresh eyes. One essential ingredient of the spiritual journey is courage required to grow and be willing to step outside of our comfort zones. Being a spiritual warrior means facing our deepest fears, dealing with loss, opening to the places inside we'd rather not see and trusting that your awareness can meet any moment that arises. We explore this topic in our dharma practice as it manifests on and off the cushion.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James introduces Guy Armstrong's dharma talk at IMCB.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Adam Baraz, the son of James Baraz, was the speaker at the IMCB Sangha this night.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) As Earth Day approaches we reflect on the preciousness and generosity of our wonderful planet, the current situation of climate change and how our Dharma practice can help us transform despair into meaningful and inspiring action.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) At times our meditation practice is a powerful delicious experience. The factors of awakening like concentration, calm, joy or equanimity may be strong. As wonderful as that is, the mind can easily grasp as if that were the real goal of practice. But when we're attached or take ownership of those states they become a trap--sometimes referred to as the stink of enlightenment--and we miss the true freedom that practice can reveal.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Bhikkhu Bodhi, premier translator of the Pali Canon and social activist (founder of Buddhist Global Relief) joins James and Kate Munding. They and the community discuss how to respond wisely and Dharmically when those in power create policies that increase fear and suffering.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In the Diamond Sutra, we are encouraged to see our lives in the context of impermanence this way: "Thus shall you think of this fleeting world: a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream; A flash of lightning in a summer cloud; A flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream." This talk explores practicing when someone we know dies unexpectedly as happened to James this week.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) With so many different meditation instructions and approaches to practice how do we know which is the right one for us? This talk includes the Buddha's different methods for dealing with distracting thoughts as well as learning how to listen and trust your own experience.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Equanimity is the precursor to the awakened mind. It allows us to skillfully hold compassion, metta and joy in balance. It is the essential quality that allows us to go through life's ups and downs with wisdom and wise response.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha said that cultivating wholesome states creates the conditions for awakening. He further said that when a wholesome state is here to maintain and increase that state. But how can we do that without it increasing attachment? This talk explores why the Buddha was called The Happy One and how to see this path not only as an end to suffering but as a deepening of true well-being on and off the cushion,
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) One of the most profound gifts of retreat practice is learning to open to our experience. We develop confidence, courage, compassion and insight as we are willing to work with all the challenging and beautiful places the mind can take us to. And it's also good to know when it's more skillful to not open to those places if we need to have a stronger container to hold them. Qualities that support this opening such as forgiveness, patience, sense of humor, and self-compassion are explored.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The list of the Five Spiritual Faculties provides a good explanation of how the process of intensive retreat practice unfolds.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The swirl of political events with the new US administration have contributed to a culture of apprehension and anxiety for many as they adjust to this new reality. The question many practitioners are asking is what is the place of Dharma in this unfolding of events. What is Dharma and not Dharma? What is our responsibility? How does the political environment inform our Dharma practice? How does our Dharma practice inform our engagement in the world? The talk includes Bhikkhu Bodhi's essay Let's Stand Together that appears in the journals Lion's Roar and Buddhadharma.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Martin Luther King Jr. said, "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." As we enter a time of uncertainty and, many are experiencing a swirl of emotions from apprehension and fear to anger and ill. How can we use our dharma practice to acknowledge and transform our negative emotions into wise effective response coming from understanding and love?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) As the Buddha said, "We are what we think. With our thoughts we make the world." Our minds can go to the the greatest places of fear, anxiety and ill will or understanding, compassion and peace. When we're lost in confusion we have in us the capacity to remember the goodness and wisdom that our hearts long to connect with. This talk is about remembering that possibility and cultivating access to that Buddha right inside, especially when the outside world is giving us very different messages.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) As we leave 2016 and open to 2017, how can we learn and grow from what's past and set ourselves in the right direction as we face an uncertain future? This talk includes recent Spirit Rock's Statement of Values: Spiritual Sanctuary and Refuge and the teacher meeting out of which it came. James reflects on his recent Huffington Post article "Holding Hands Together: From Helplessness to Empowerment." Finally, there is a ritual for letting go of the past and creating a wise intention for the future.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Equanimity is a highly valued quality in Buddhist teachings. It is one of the Four Divine Abodes, one of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, and one of the Ten Paramitas or Perfections.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Equanimity not only helps us stay balanced in difficult times. It is a foundation for strong, effective response, especially in response to the forces of greed, hatred and power.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Dalai Lama says: "The purpose of life is to be happy." This practice leads to true happiness. It starts with the mind intending to awaken the heart and all the goodness within us.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The three sources of true happiness are the same no matter what the spiritual tradition.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Judging ourselves or comparing ourselves with others is a central issue for many. How we get caught and how to skillfully work with these habits is the topic of the talk.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In times of uncertainty and emotionally charged situations the teachings show us the power of equanimity–a balance of mind and heart. This is very different from a resigned quietism. Equanimity involves the courage to feel all our intense emotions and act from a balanced, committed heart.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Our typical response to very negative or positive experiences is to contract in relation to them--either with aversion or attachment. The practice helps us cultivate a radical and much more skillful and profound relationship to them--having the courage and compassion to meet and learn from the negative as well as the wisdom to enjoy the positive while realizing its impermanence. This talk explores different qualities of heart and mind that help us do just that.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) People in powerful positions can cause suffering and harm to others by spreading hate. It's natural and healthy to want to see them defeated. But what about when we actually enjoy seeing their misfortune and demise? How can we use a dharma lens to understand and hold those feelings?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) How can we process deep pain and turn it into deepening compassion and understanding? Kaye Cleave shares her moving story with James and the community about losing her 18-year old daughter and finding a way to transform her grief into meaningful beneficial action.
To view the video: Catherine's Gift, go to Youtube.com at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HILTuvNRXrg
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James Baraz and son Adam Baraz discuss "The Four Faults of Natural Awareness", a Tibetan teaching (e.g.#1: "So close you can’t see it.") Adam presents the teaching and he and James discuss it with each other and community members.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Dedicated to the memory of Bob Kaneko, a dharma friend who recently passed away. As a child Bob spent years 4-8 in a Japanese Internment camp in California,1942-1946. This talk explores how easily we humans can unfairly treat and oppress those different from us. We see this daily in the media with hateful rhetoric stirring fears in many. How can we use practice to skillfully respond?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James talks about the new book he co-authored with classroom teacher, Michele Lilyanna, and the importance of planting seeds of wisdom and compassion in the hearts of future generations.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Even when we see how the mind and heart are contracted and caught, we might still be stuck. Seeing clearly how we're identified with the "story" doesn't necessarily reduce the suffering. It's a good and important start. The real shift occurs when, at some point, the heart releases and truly opens to access genuine metta.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha was called "The Happy One." Though he taught about suffering, the purpose was to experience true happiness.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Understanding just what mindfulness is and how it works, as well as the attitudes that support its cultivation by learning to open to experience.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Mary Oliver wrote: "Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too was a gift." When life brings us unwanted suffering it's sometimes possible to use the experience to deepen our wisdom and compassion, what has been called "grace disguised as obstacles."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Strong identification with self often leads to an insecurity that can manifest in two extremes: someone hungry for recognition, validation and praise or someone who is shy, lost in self-judgment, and afraid of being exposed as an impostor. Both of these are all too human. There is a middle path where one knows ones worth and appreciates their wholesome qualities while not identifying with them. This talk explores how practice can support a wise understanding that allows us to just be ourselves and know that is enough.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) It seems that the interplay between ignorance and consciousness is an on-going dance--within ourselves, in our relationships and within our society. Understanding this dance can help us hold it all with greater equanimity.
(At the time of the talk James was under the impression that the UK vote in process would have the country remain in the EU. As it turned out the vote ended up the other way.)
This link below goes along with the theme for this week’s talk:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/broadway-stars-orlando-tribute-song_us_5768ea6de4b0fbbc8beb8b7b?sectio=
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The paradox of awareness is very profound and yet very simple. Sometimes it comes naturally to the surface when we are fully present in the moment and no longer lost in thoughts or mental projections. Pure consciousness is neither high nor low, neither pleasant or unpleasant, neither good nor bad.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Ajahn Chandako, an Amaravati monastic who is the abbot of Vimutti Buddhist Monastery in New Zealand. Ajahn, who is US born, has been a monk for 25 years and brings a deep, clear, playful attitude toward practice. Join us for a rich evening of dharma.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Most of us know the feeling of self-consciousness when faced with a new situation or meeting new people.
How can we relax, just be ourselves and really enjoy the connection?
We’ll explore simple practices to allow our authentic self to shine through. Join us for an evening of practice and dharma.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) It's hard not to view ourselves through our accomplishments, possessions or attributes, even when circumstances change. How can we see through those temporary conditions to realize our true nature?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Opening our hearts to ourselves to others with loving-kindness and compassion are central to awakening the joy that's right inside us.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In order to cultivate true well-being we need to learn to open to all the suffering in our lives. Living with integrity and learning how to forgive ourselves and others are essential supports in this process as well.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The process of awakening joy starts with the intention to place well-being at the center of your life. Mindfulness is then utilized as the basic tool of a joyful life.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Bodhicitta Foundation is a socially engaged charity that helps ex-untouchable Indians – a community that was previously enslaved and forced to do the most demeaning kinds of work for little pay. They also help slum people, offer a women’s job training center, sewing, English computer classes and have a children’s study center. In addition they offer counseling for domestic violence, have a malnourished children’s program and offer basic medical and housing assistance.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Devadatta, the Buddha's cousin and brother-in-law, joined the Order in the early years with good intentions. Over time his jealousy and obsession with power turned him into the Buddha's main enemy. This dramatic story, reading like a Hollywood screenplay, gives us lessons in just what hunger for power can drive someone to do and the Buddha's wise responses to the various threats he faced.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This daylong includes general talks on the theme of cultivating equanimity into your dharma practice. In addition to the talks and discussion, I offer the following practices with instructions that can be used to incline the mind toward equanimity (edited to remove lengthy periods of silence during the guided meditations):
Practice #1 - Seeing things as they are Practice #2 - Looking through the lens of impermanence Practice #3 - Looking through the lens of vedana (feeling tone; 2nd foundation of mindfulness) Practice #4 - Equanimity with Big Mind meditation Practice #5 - Equanimty using traditional Brahma Viharas phrases
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Andrew Harvey's seven mystical laws that both define what sacred activism is and shape its mysterious power and success in the world.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Besides learning how to work with various emotions and reactions that come up in response to various events, it's important to hold an inspiring vision of possibilities so that we are motivated to work toward that desired outcome. Dharma concepts such as Clear Comprehension of Purpose can be applied to help us create an inspiring vision. Joanna Macy's Active Hope and Andrew Harvey's outline of current positive developments that give one hope are included.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Hello Friends,
I'll be continuing the series of Sacred Activism talks on how to bring our dharma practice to working skillfully with current events. We've explored compassionate action ("The Line Between Politics & Moral Imperative") and humility ("We Don't Know What We Don't Know").
I hope you join us.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In our response to unsettling news we can easily react with self-righteousness, sure that our "dharmic" view is the "right one" and feeling superior to those who act in ways we don't understand. But the Buddha asked us to put aside any such arrogance. Through genuinely trying to understand another's perspective, we can cultivate true humility for our ignorance of their reality and greater understanding about the thinking behind their actions. Then our response, which might be one of fierce compassion, is not coming from hatred and ill will but from compassion and wisdom.
This talk includes some thoughts on white privilege as well as Andrew Harvey's brilliant audio clip on Sacred Activism.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) These days as the political rhetoric gets heated and a feeling of unpredictability and potential violence grows practitioners may ask: "What is the appropriate dharmic response?" Is there a time when political involvement becomes a dharmic activity? And, if so, how can we be engaged in a skillful way as an integral part of our practice?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James guest is Catherine Ingram, long time vipassana practitioner (with James on his first retreat in 1974 and IMS staff member in the 70's) as well as beloved non-dual teacher. After her talk and dialogues with the audience, James and Catherine have a conversation about applying the non-dual perspective in daily life situations.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In addition to formal meditation, the Buddha gave 5 supports for one's dharma practice (Meghiya Sutta) In addition, other attitude for deepening practice are offered.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) With so many strategies and messages about how to practice, how do we know the "right" way to practice? The Buddha said ultimately you should "be a lamp onto yourself." This comes down to trusting the wisdom inside. How can we discern the wisdom voice from the voices rooted in fear and confusion?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Every moment we are planting seeds of suffering or seeds of happiness. Through mindfulness, we are cultivating letting go and generosity (non-greed), kindness and love (non-hatred) and clarity and wisdom (non-delusion)
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha encouraged cultivating, maintaining and increasing wholesome states in his teaching on Wise Effort. He also said to notice the gladness connected with these states. This helps create the conditions for the highest happiness to be experienced.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Most of us have a strong habit of not measuring up to our idealized standards of who we would like to be. Understanding this habit with compassion and learning to skillfully work with it as practice can become a potent doorway to awakening.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) In every moment we have a choice of planting seeds of suffering or happiness. We can understand how to meet it skillfully.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) We can appreciate good guidance but ultimately we need to learn how to listen to the Buddha or Quan Yin right inside. Includes the Buddha's five strategies for dealing with distracting thoughts.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Holding practice as more than just working with suffering but as a cultivation of wholsesome states that open the heart and create the conditions for the highest happiness.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) "James guest tonight is Joseph Bobrow, a respected colleague and Zen teacher, who's work with veterans has been a major contribution in helping them heal from the trauma of war. Joe very movingly talks about his work and his book: Waking Up from War - A Better Way Home for Veterans and Nations.
(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) How we get caught in comparing and judging and skillful ways to work with this practice challenge.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) It’s said that it is better to live with a moment of loving-kindness than 100 years without it. We might feel contracted or armored but just one tender moment where the heart softens even a little can be an opportunity to open us.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Sometimes, when the news gets heavy we can overlook all the goodness around us. When things seem overwhelming, it’s important at times to balance out the 10,000 sorrows by tuning into the 10,000 joys and remembering it’s not all one way or the other.
Hope you join us.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Like many, I was speechless upon hearing the news of the latest senseless mass shooting in San Bernardino. When we hear such incomprehensible news that breaks the heart or we are going through our own personal heartbreak, how can we hold it all? I don't profess to have the answers, but perhaps we can explore together in a useful way. I hope you join us.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) "The grateful heart not only includes appreciation for all the wonderful blessings in our life but also opening up to our pain in the context of gratitude."
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) This daylong explores the magic of awareness as well as how to access it in meditation and outside formal meditation practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk is about the importance of courage in our practice. In stretch ourselves beyond our comfort zone, we discover an inner strength and confidence that allows us to transform fear into aliveness, realizing our full potential.
(Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC) How your practice can unfold as you leave retreat includes seeing it as a path of happiness; value of opening to suffering; learning to listen to the truth inside and expressing your caring as compassionate action.
(Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC) Dharma practice is not only about learning to be with suffering. Cultivating wholesome states and noticing when they're here is an essential part of practice that leads to the highest happiness. This talk includes some teachings of the Buddha on how to develop happiness in our lives.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Naomi Newman and James Baraz close the day with a Kabbalist creation story, and guided meditation.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Wise effort includes developing and maintaining and increasing wholesome states. When anger and outrage are the source of our action we’re headed towards burnout and despair. When we come from caring and love, our actions are not only energizing for us but magnetizing for others.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk given during the 3rd Annual Earth Care Week is about doing our part to contribute to the healing of our planet from love not fear. It includes opening up to the reality of the dukkha while seeing the possibility of being part of growing consciousness that's increasingly gaining momentum.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How your practice can unfold as you leave retreat includes seeing it as a path of happiness; value of opening to suffering; learning to listen to the truth inside and expressing your caring as compassionate action.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) One way to understand how the process of mindfulness meditation leads to awakening is seeing how these five qualities of mind work together.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Last week we spoke of practice as a process of purification, refining impurities of mind like a goldsmith refines and purifies gold.
This week we’ll explore how the mind is refined by understanding how to balance three qualities that all need to work together.
With Metta, James
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) One way to think of dharma practice is as a path of purification. The talk uses a discourse by the Buddha's as a way to describe this process. We can see how, little by little, over time we are purifying the mind and heart. The key is to keep facing in the right direction as we develop increasingly wholesome thoughts, words and actions.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) "The key to equanimity is a spaciousness that holds all of our dramas in widest perspective. This talk was inspired by the film Planetary."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We are inspired by the goodness of others. Even more, their example motivates us to do good ourselves. The term "Elevation Response" is used in psychology to describe this phenomenon. The talk describes three people whose lives are inspirations and whose examples can help us bring out the best in ourselves.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We get very attached to things as if they were extremely important (e.g. your basketball team winning a championship or a conflict with a friend). However, in the bigger scheme of things all of these seemingly crucial things can be held in the wider, wiser perspective of impermanence. A parable from Buddhist teachings helps illustrate this essence of true equanimity and wisdom.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A discussion based on Thupten Jinpa's book A Fearless Heart with particular focus on the profound practice of understanding our shared humanity.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha said that hatred never ceases by hatred, but only by love. How can we heal from interactions with others that have hurt us or closed our heart? Once we learn to hold what has happened in a wise way, the heart can open and transform the hurt into compassionate understanding.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James along with Kerry Nelson, who is with Spirit Rock's Green Group and Sean Munding, from our community, are the speakers.
Sean will be enthusiastically heading our Berkeley Community's own new Green Committee.
We will be exploring using our practice to meaningfully address the issue of climate change.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Intro to Insight Meditation with James Baraz & Kate Janke Mid day Movement & Meditation QA
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Many influences shape the thoughts and perceptions of how we view ourselves and the world.
Some result in a fear-based perspective that leads to suffering. Others create more clarity and love in our mind and heart.
Can we consciously choose which ones will determine how we lead our lives and is it possible to not be run by deeply ingrained habits that no longer serve us?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Much of the time our actions are motivated more by concern about what others think about us than what our own truth is.
What would it be like to not be ruled by those thoughts?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) After practicing for one month, what have we learned to apply in our life as we go home, or carry us through the next month as we continue our practice?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) With so many different approaches to practice how do we know if we're doing it "the right way?" And how can we decide which of the many voices in our mind to listen to? This talk includes the 5 strategies offered by the Buddha to work skillfully with distracting thoughts.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Comparing and judging is a deeply ingrained habit pattern that's present until full enlightenment. How can we hold it wisely and work with it skillfully?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Dharma practice is not only about learning to be with suffering. Cultivating wholesome states and noticing when they're here is an essential part of practice that leads to the highest happiness. This talk includes some teachings of the Buddha on how to develop happiness in our lives.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The practice can be seen in terms of balance and an unfolding process. The Five Spiritual Faculties - Faith, Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration & Wisdom - describe both of these perspectives.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The one thing that is certain in life is its unpredictability. Having an awareness that inner and outer circumstances could change in a moment can inform our lives in a profound way. Rather than living with vigilance and fear an on-going understanding of the fragility in life can lead us to more wakefulness, appreciation and freedom.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A talk focusing on the possibility of changing the direction of our lives and the importance of giving people an opportunity to thrive. This talk includes excerpts from Sean Kyler, one of the graduates give his moving valedictorian speech through a program that supports prison inmates getting their college degree.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) It's one thing to remember and cultivate gratitude for the blessings in our life. But it's even more profound to experience the possibility of a grateful heart even in the midst of difficulties.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We are continuously faced with decisions in our lives. Some are minor while others are more significant. How can we skillfully choose between all the options?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In examining the mind we can see the insubstantiality of our thoughts and the mysterious ground of emptiness from which they arise. This talk includes songs from the Tibetan classic Flight of the Garuda which explores the nature of awareness--empty of substance but at the same time fully awake.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Even though we know that jumping on a particular thought train might lead to trouble in the mind, we can still hop on. How can we wake up and more consciously choose before taking the leap?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The external pressure to accomplish and keep up we may feel from others is usually not as burdensome as the internal pressure we put on ourselves. How can we see through this self-created suffering and live our life with more ease?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Just like anger and fear are contagious so is goodness. In fact, that is our true nature and there's a place in us that longs to come home to it. We just have to tune into all the goodness around us to remember.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Does awakening happen all at once or over time? Both. Even after one has an awakening experience there is still more work to be done. This talk explores awakening and the purification of habits that is an essential part of that process.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How your practice can unfold as yhou leave retreat includes seeing it as a path of happiness; value of opening to suffering; learning to listen to the truth inside and expressing your caring as compassionate action.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Coming to retreat people often ask themselves "What are we doing and why?" This talk explains the basic principles of vipassana, why it's so transformative and attitudes that support the deepening of that transformation.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) You're probably very familiar with the power of mindfulness. But as powerful as it is to just see things clearly, we can include a perspective that will bring richness and depth to our dharma practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The fact that we're given a human birth is exceedingly rare in itself. But to hear the Dharma, and be motivated as well as have the opportunity to practice is extraordinary good karma. Reflecting on this brings gratitude and provides a strong incentive to practice for the benefit of all beings.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We learn from everyone who comes into our life--those that inspire and those who are challenging. If our intention is to wake up, then everyone can be seen as part of our process. This profoundly changes our relationship to all. Even the difficult ones are no longer the enemy.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How to practically apply Metta practice in daily life towards self, others and beyond that makes a meaningful contribution to the world.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We find what we look for. Our brains are wired to confirm our beliefs. One key to Metta practice is looking for the good. Then appreciating and enjoying it when it is recognized.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Our preconceptions and assumptions have a significant effect on how we perceive reality--what gets taken in and what gets filtered out. A rich area of practice is being aware of this so that we truly see clearly to the best of our ability. As we bring more awareness to our filters, we can also see others' Buddha nature inside them, and help it come out, even if they can't see it themselves.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Integrity and contentment are not only sources of true well-being but can lead to compassionate action, another support for deep happiness.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How mindfulness, intention and opening to suffering are pathways to true happiness.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Although devotion plays a significant role in Monastic Communities and Tibetan practices it's not something that's often discussed in lay communities. Yet devotion can be a major source of inspiration which can fuel our practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Although devotion plays a significant role in Monastic Communities and Tibetan practices it's not something that's often discussed in lay communities. Yet devotion can be a major source of inspiration which can fuel our practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) I encourage you to read this edition of the Inquiring Mind, especially articles by Bhikkhu Bodhi, Ann Wright, (a peace activist who spent many years in military and State Dept.) and many other thought-provoking pieces including the merits of bringing mindfulness to the military.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In this discourse Sariputta gives a teaching to Anathapindika, the greatest patron of the sangha, on his deathbed regarding not clinging to the body or mind as a doorway to liberation.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is the second discourse given by the Buddha to his five original ascetic companions after setting the wheel of the Dharma in motion. The Buddha gives his teaching on Anatta (or not-self), and the five become enlightened.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) One of the most inspiring teachings on the potential for each of us to change. Angulimala, a violent killer, encounters the Buddha, wakes up from his confusion and becomes a holy man.
No matter how deep our unskillful habits are, we can take comfort and inspiration in the capacity of the heart to awaken and face in the right direction.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In this discourse the Buddha gives five different strategies for working with troublesome thoughts and mind-states. A very practical teaching on working with the mind when it gets caught and mindfulness is not strong enough.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is a discourse on practicing patience and a kind heart regardless of the circumstances.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We continue the Sutta series exploring the Vacchagotta suttas from the Majjhima Nikaya. Vacchagotta asks many questions of the Buddha. In a series of conversations, the Buddha expounds to Vacchagotta on such topics as whether or not he's omniscient, on various speculative views about what happens after death and if nuns and householders can be enlightened.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) James Baraz talking about Kalyana Mitta, exploring the idea, "What is 'Spiritual Friendship'?" The word "Mitta" is related to "Metta" or lovingkindness. Mitta means friend, Kalyana is Spiritual. So, KM is a Spiritual Friends group. This term is particularly used in the Theravada tradition to talk about the relationship we have with each other to have that third refuge in the sangha really flourish
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Our KM Dedicated Volunteers Melanie Speir and Geidra Gershman talk about their experience with KM groups, sharing tips for forming and sustaining groups.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Elad Levinson talks about the importance of building agreement among KM group members.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Co-presenter Elad Levinson on using KM groups for self-discovery and the what and how of processes that set up your group for success.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Do you ever get sleepy while meditating? In this discourse, the Capala Sutta from the Angutarra Nikaya, the Buddha catches one of his main disciples, Ven. Maha Moggallana nodding off. He then offers him seven strategies for overcoming "sloth and torpor". Identifying with the drowsiness can actually be a doorway to the wisdom of anatta or the selfless nature of reality.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In this last talk of the month long retreat, the Buddha's five supports for our practice (from the Maghiya Sutta) are presented as well as the ways our practice can benefit not only ourselves, but everyone we know and our planet.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) When we believe thoughts coming from a contracted mind we are in dukkha. When we see them clearly as empty and not self, there's wisdom. This talk also explores the 4 Iddhipadas-different temperaments and sources of motivation in practice.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha called contentment "our greatest wealth." It's the antidote to the wanting mind and the route that leads us from attachment to freedom.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Trust in the Dharma, in the unfolding process of practice and our inner wisdom when we learn to listen with skill.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) A guided meditation using the breath to develop concentration.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Two aspects of Wise Effort are explored: 1) how do we know if we're doing too little, too much or just enough with regard to effort in practice? and 2) the four aspects of wise efforts are discussed with particular emphasis on the importance of cultivating and increasing wholesome states.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James Baraz and Kate Janke, along with our Sangha members, reflect on our vision of community.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A discussion of the Fall 2013 issue of the Buddhist journal, Inquiring Mind, The God Issue.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Includes a Brahma Vihara exercise. From "The Magic of Awareness" with Anam Thubten Rinpoche and James Baraz - PART 4
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) From "The Magic of Awareness" with Anam Thubten Rinpoche and James Baraz - PART 2
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Although impermanence is the underlying reality of existence, we have trouble accepting loss especially of those we love. The Buddha said to contemplate every day that we will be separated from everyone and everything near and dear to us. This talk explores why and how to do that.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) When we look deeply into reality we see things with a fresh eye and open to the miracles that are all around us. This sense of wonder and awe helps our mindfulness practice come alive especially developing the awakening factors of investigation, energy and joy.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Practice is an alchemical process that turns dukkha into sukkha. If we have the courage to face our demons and learn to open to our blessings, we radiate love and wisdom that not only transforms ourselves but the world as well.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) What mindfulness is, the benefits that result from its cultivation and the skillful attitudes that support practice: relaxed, interested and kind awareness.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Inspired by Andrew Harvey's book A Guide to Sacred Activism. The journey of transformation, both personal and global, includes our hearts opening to all the suffering we encounter and letting our heart be shattered and break open to new possibilities. This is a natural and essential component of true awakening. This process is explored on different levels: our own dharma practice, the classical Progress of Insight and what Harvey calls "The Dark Night of the Species."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Reflections on Ajahn Chah and his teaching on the wisdom of allowing your practice to take its natural course without forcing it or thinking you can control it.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Dedicated to Spirit Rock caretaker Steve Young who passed away the day of the talk and who embodied kindness. The power of kindness to bring us happiness and being conscious about the consequences of choosing to act or not act from kindness.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) This half-day workshop was designed for the hosts, leaders, potential leaders and participants in Kalyana Mitta (KM) groups.
Spirit Rock is looking for additional facilitators and hosts to create new groups and connect people with the KM program. Contact KalyanaMitta@spiritrock.org for more information or to find out about our next KM workshop.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) This half-day workshop was designed for the hosts, leaders, potential leaders and participants in Kalyana Mitta (KM) groups.
Spirit Rock is looking for additional facilitators and hosts to create new groups and connect people with the KM program. Contact KalyanaMitta@spiritrock.org for more information or to find out about our next KM workshop.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The stories we hold about ourselves or others will determine our actions, through fear or inspire us to act with courage and commitment. This talk includes Andrew Harvey's brilliant reading and thoughts on Rumi's poem "Passion"
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) How the practice develops the quality of Saddha, a heartfelt confidence and trust in the practice and in our capacity to wake up.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The quality of equanimity is a significant factor in coming to terms with impermanence and its manifestations: agin, illness and death. Learning to find balance with regard to the reality of change is explored
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The importance of accepting and learning to love ourselves is important at any age. But it is particularly crucial as as we learn to adjust to a body and mind going through the aging process as well as a new self-identity about who we are.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Our attitudes and attachment to views change over time including choosing to become more conscious and kind. Includes James describing his visit to Jessup Prison in Maryland where he spent an inspiring afternoon with prisoners who had gone through the Awakening Joy material.
(Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC) The magic of mindfulness is how it weakens unwholesome (akusala) states of suffering and strengthens wholesome (kusala) states of well-being. This talk explains this process of alchemy: how greed, hatred and delusion are transformed into generosity, loving-kindness and wisdom.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The first part of this talk is about our Habit discussion we've had over the last two weeks.
The second part is about how we deal with the Boston Marathon Bombings.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Talk based on Charles Duhigg's book on why we do what we do and how to strengthen or change our habits.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Social change happens slowly in our society but usually moves in the direction of greater inclusion and acceptance of progressive ideas. Includes Mark Morford's column "Your Evolution is Totally Gay."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Five Reflections from the Upajjatthana Sutra are: 1 - I am subject to old age, 2 - I am subject to illness, 3- I am subject to death, 4 - I must be parted and separated from everyone and everything dear and agreeable to me, 5 - I am the owner of my karma and the heir of my karma.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The tendency to compare and judge ourselves with others or regarding our ideas of good practice runs very deep. How to work with these patterns and see through them to realize our true nature is explored.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Suffering itself can lead to genuine well-being and happiness when we know how to transform it. Other wholesome states: how to have metta for self and letting go into simply being are explored.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha taught that the cultivating of wholesome states (Kusala) creates conditions for awakening. This talk explores the importance of this cultivation, its place is Wise Effort and how to "maintain and increase" these states as he encouraged.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Why did the Buddha describe mindfulness as the direct path to overcome sorrow and lamentation, end suffering, discontent and realize the highest happiness? This talk reminds us what mindfulness practice is, why it is so profound and describes attitudes that optimally support mindfulness practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) "Seeing Through Views: A Doorway to Liberation" As the Buddha said in the Paramatthaka Sutta: On Views: "A person who associates himself with certain views, considering them as best and making them supreme in the world is not free from contention (with others)." This talk explores the power, freedom and potential for deeper love that comes when we realize that our view is just one reality.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In the talk, I share what motivated me to teach Buddha Dharma as a path of happiness. Some of the teachings might obscure this fact through misunderstanding, as well as the underlying teachings that lead to genuine well-being.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James is joined by Phil Catalfo, who runs the Berkeley Neighborhood Food Project, for a rich discussion about the power of generosity. Giving not only benefits the recipient but the giver as well. While BNFP alleviates the suffering of those who are “food insecure;” it also alleviates the suffering of the donors by providing them a means to process their feelings, thoughts, and memories about food, hunger, abundance, guilt, and so on. Participants report a vastly expanded sense of themselves and become profoundly grateful for the opportunity to experience that. They see that “everybody wins” is an actual option in this world.
BNFP Website
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) When life is difficult or frustrating the teachings advise us to practice equanimity. One simple but potent way to do that is to take a step back and hold things with a wider perspective. We'll be exploring different practices that incline towards equanimity through this method.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) As 2012 comes to a close, this is a time to reflect on the lessons from the past year, where you are now and what your vision is of the New Year.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Exploring themes from the current issue (Volume 29/Number 1/Fall 2012) of Inquiring Mind with guest editor of the issue, Kevin Griffin.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Who You Really Are Walt Whitman wrote: “I am larger, better than I thought; I did not know I held so much goodness." A key aspect of genuine awakening is realizing the basic goodness that is our true nature (when we're not confused or lost in our stories). What gets in the way of accessing this basic goodness? What supports it?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The ability to put oneself in someone else's shoes is the doorway to compassion. Once there is compassion then forgiveness, connection and genuine metta naturally follow. This talk includes a teaching from Thai master, Ajahn Maha Boowa, on the power of empathy.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) While many wholesome states are experienced by cultivation, the state of peace and wholeness that is possible comes from relaxing all doing and simply allowing ourselves to just be. This state of being emerges from equanimity, involves trust and surrender and is available in any moment.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Four Noble Truths are usually presented as the truth of suffering, its cause, its end, and the path that leads to the end. This talk presents these truths with an emphasis on well-being: 1) There is happiness, 2) There is a cause of happiness, 3) Happiness is possible, and 4) There is a path that leads to the highest happiness.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Our lives are filled with turning points that can steer us in different directions. To have found the Dharma and be facing in the direction of greater consciousness is extraordinarily good karma that can powerfully fuel and inspire our practice with sincerity and gratitude.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) "In this world no one escapes from blame," said the Buddha. How can we deal with blame from others skillfully without getting crushed by criticism or react to it in a way that causes more suffering for ourselves and other? The key to not being lost in Praise or Blame is non-identification, not taking ownership of your experience. This includes not identifying with your body or mind. We can appreciate the gifts we've been given as well as our shortcomings without taking them personally. This is the natural by-product of understanding anatta, the selfless nature of existence.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Advaita teacher H. W. L. Poonja spoke of emptiness as "No place to land." This follow-up talk on Praise and Blame, discusses how understanding the Buddha's teaching on Emptiness—the selfless nature of the process—we can appreciate the positive impact we have on others without taking personal credit when praise comes our way.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Though mindfulness meditation instructions generally suggest paying attention to what is predominant, focusing on overwhelming emotions especially those rooted in trauma is often not beneficial. This talk, which includes the Buddha's teachings on working with difficult emotions as well as theory from Somatic Experiencing (SE)—an approach to working with trauma—explores how to work with intense emotions by touching them a little at a time.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The magic of mindfulness is how it weakens unwholesome (akusala) states of suffering and strengthens wholesome (kusala) states of well-being. This talk explains this process of alchemy: how greed, hatred and delusion are trnsformed into generosity, loving-kindness and wisdom.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How mindfulness practice works on retreat, the benefits that it produces and helpful attitudes that support intensive retreat practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is part 4 of the series 'Appropriate Response at the Tipping Point' that began 6/14. In this talk, James discusses the last two of the five transformational commitments in Bob Doppelt's book From Me to We:
-
Acknowledge your trustee obligations and take responsibility for the continuation of all life
-
Choose your own destiny
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) To love ourselves, love others unconditionally to let in the love that comes our way, to realize more and more that love is our true nature -- these are tehe gifts of metta practice. With sincere intention and commitment, we can realize these fruits. We have everything we need to do this.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is part 3 of the series 'Appropriate Response at the Tipping Point' that began 6/14. In this talk, James discusses the first three of the five transformational commitments in Bob Doppelt's book From Me to We:
-
See the systems you are part of
-
Be accountable for all the consequences of your actions
-
Abide by society’s most deeply held universal principles of morality and justice
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Sharing a positive vision for the future from Ernest Callenbach’s "Epistle to Ecotopians". We then begin to explore the first of five Dharma principles using systems and sustainability expert Bob Doppelt’s book From Me to We. The ignorance of these principles is what perpetuates the problem and the understanding of them is the key to changing our consciousness and providing a path toward healing the planet. This is part 2 of the series 'Appropriate Response at the Tipping Point' that began June 14.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is the first of a four-part series inspired by the Spring 2012 issue of Inquiring Mind, entitled 'Earth Now.' In addition to reading this issue, especially the interview with Joanna Macy: Woman on the Edge of Time, James also suggested these readings: Ernest Callenbach’s essay "Epistle to Ecotopians" and Bob Doppelt's book From Me to We: The Five Transformational Commitments Required to Rescue the Planet, Your Organization, and Your Life. The series continues on 6/28, 7/5, and 7/19.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) On his return from a 2-week retreat at IMS in Barre, MA, with Burmese Master Sayadaw U Tejaniya, James shares the essence of U Tejaniya's unique approach to practice and the impact it has on one's life.
Teachings by Sayadaw U Tejaniya
Retreat at Insight Meditation Society, Barre, MA, April-May 2012
Workshop at Insight Meditation Center, Redwood City, CA, June, 2007
23-points for Right Attitude for Meditation
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) When we're not identified with mental or physical phenomena, we can let the pure awareness underlying reality naturally shine through.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Freedom is right here, right now, present and available in every moment.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha called contentment "the greatest wealth." Contentment, "santutthi" in Pali, supports many other wholesome states including, renunciation, equanimity, peace, gratitude and generosity. We can cultivate contentment on and off the cushion while not being complacent or lazy in our dharma practice.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Suffering can lead to contraction and more suffering or can be a catalyst for awakening. Just why and how some people have the good karma to hear the Dharma and practice is a mysterious blessing and precious opportunity. This talk explores the different temperaments that fuel practice, known as the Four Iddhipadas.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) If we can remember the skillful attitude of relaxation, interest and kind awareness with our experience the practice unfolds naturally and deeply.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Suffering is an integral part of life—the First Noble Truth. How is it possible that some people go through suffering and even trauma and, instead of becoming bitter or damaged, use it as a catalyst for deep compassion and awakening? Most people don’t realize they have the choice to work skillfully with regard to the challenges life gives them. This is one of the greatest blessings of practice. Consciously appreciating this blessing brings a deeper connection to practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) When things don’t go the way we hoped, resistance is often a natural response. A key element in our practice is how we respond to that resistance. Of course accepting things as they are is an essential part of our practice. This includes accepting the resistance. But an even more powerful practice is actually embracing the resistance so that it becomes a direct doorway to freedom.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In this discourse the Buddha explains how we get lost in our stories through papanca or proliferation of thought. The talk focuses on how papanca works in our lives and how we can work with it to free ourselves of confusion.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We don’t have to wait to take Bodhisattva vows to practice the Bodhisattva attitude of being there for another’s suffering. In this talk we explore principles and practices to cultivate compassion—the heart of the Bodhisattva ideal—including 1) developing a caring heart towards those we may not feel an affinity and 2) holding the pain we feel at another’s suffering with wise discernment.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Bay Area musician, composer and dharma student Ben Rivers speaks about what it’s like to live with severe disability from Parkinson's and Lyme diseases. He shares about his life as we explore seeing beyond appearances, relating to someone who seems different as not so different, with their own unique gifts and challenges.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Not missing all the goodness and blessings in our life as an aid to true well being and happiness. The talk is based on the Buddha's Mangalam Sutta, which is also known as the Discourse on Blessings
.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) When our hopes for a better world or better personal life are dashed, we can become cynical and begin to assume that forces of greed and hatred will win out over forces of consciousness and love. How can we keep our hearts open in the face of personal and societal disappointment?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James reviews a number of things that are right with the world.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) The experience of contentment is the true happiness available through letting go and seeing our experience complete just as it is. Nothing needs to be added or taken away. This talk explores inner contentment, the state of “abundant enoughness”, while distinguishing it from complacency, laziness or just being resigned to the way things are. We can be inspired by a vision of awakening, develop our gifts and make a contribution, while we appreciate things just as they are in the moment.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) The source of our awakening is right inside us. As we learn to listen deeply to the wisdom and purity of heart that is connected to the truth, we are following the Buddha’s instructions to “be a lamp unto yourself.” This talk includes the Buddha’s five methods for dealing with distracting thoughts and how to discern the voice of wisdom from the voices of confusion and fear.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) This talk continues the exploration of how the practice cultivates happiness and joy. Five wholesome states that support true well-being are investigated including practices that help us access them.
(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center) Please note that first three minutes of the recording are silent.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) The Buddha was called The Happy One. With the emphasis on suffering, its cause and it’s end, we can forget that this path is really a path of cultivating true happiness. In this talk we look at three principles of the teaching that can be the foundation for true well-being and how it can be cultivated both on and off the cushion.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Intention is the basis of all karma. It is also a key aspect of dharma practice, both in moment to moment experience as well as our aspiration, vision that fuels our practice.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) The tendency to compare ourselves to others or against some idealized standards is the cause of much suffering. This self-judgement is based on what the Buddha called "the conceit of I am". This talk explores how to work skillfully with the judging and comparing mind.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha says: There are 4 ways of undertaking things.
There is a way undertaking things that is pleasant now and ripens in the future as pain.
There is a way undertaking things that is painful now and ripens in the future as pain.
There is a way undertaking things that is painful now and ripens in the furter as pleasure.
There is a way undertaking things that is pleansont now and ripens in the future as pleasure.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Using the Buddha's teachings on cultivating wholesome states to awaken our innate capacity for well-being.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) This talk addresses what we're doing in practice, why we're doing it and the attitudes that most support the unfolding.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Although metta practice can seem dualistic (me sending love to others) it is really an anatta practice that reveals the selfless nature of reality. The love that connects us isn't owned by anyone. This talk includes two guided meditations: 1) metta towards self and 2) seeing ourselves as part of a lineage of benefactors-the love and caring we receive from others passing through us to those we care about and support.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The teaching of Anatta (not self) points to the fact that from the perspective of ultimate reality we are not separate entities to whom life happens. All the people in our life who’ve inspired and impacted us live through us even after they are gone. And we in turn impact the lives of many others and live through them. This talk includes a guided practice to understand anatta from this perspective—that the love we’ve received from others and pass on doesn’t belong to any of us.
James dedicated this talk to his father Arnold, who would have been 93 today; it begins with a moving reminiscence of their relationship.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We each have our own unique journey. While there are as many different possibilities as there are people, we have a choice whether to go through life as a heavy assignment or as an extraordinary adventure of awakening. If we're fortunate enough to discover a spiritual path that supports the latter, we want to make the most of our opportunity.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) It’s very easy to get trapped in the web of “selfing” which is the one step from self-consciousness. How can we shift the focus so that our interactions with others opens us to true connection?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddhist concept of Atammayata or "unconcoctibility" literally means "not made of that." The revered 20th Century master Ajahn Buddhadasa called this principle, "the last word and final sword of Buddhism."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) There is a certain aliveness that comes when we speak honestly in a vulnerable, yet clear communication. It aligns us with our truth and we become authentic and wisely powerful. But it's often not easy to do that. I've based this talk on my son Adam's final thesis from Naropa University where he recently graduated with a B.A. in somatic and contemplative psychology. I was quite impressed and moved by it. It made me think. I wanted to share it as we explore Wise Speech together.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Seventh and final talk in an 8-week series on the 7 Factors of Awakening that began with an overview on March 10, 2011.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Sixth talk in an 8-week series on the 7 Factors of Awakening that began with an overview on March 10, 2011.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Fifth talk in an 8-week series on the 7 Factors of Awakening that began with an overview on March 10, 2011.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Fifth talk in an 8-week series on the 7 Factors of Awakening that began with an overview on March 10, 2011.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Fourth talk in an 8-week series on the 7 Factors of Awakening that began with an overview on March 10, 2011.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Third talk in an 8-week series on the 7 Factors of Awakening that began with an overview on March 10, 2011.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Second talk in an 8-week series on the 7 Factors of Awakening that began with an overview March 10. James highly recommended the booklet The Power of Mindfulness by Nyanaponika Thera as a precise and concise guide for "tidying the mental household."
The talk ends with a homework assignment for the week.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The 7 Factors of Awakening are the Buddha’s list of qualities that need to be developed in order to fully awaken. This eight-week series begins with an overview of all 7 Factors followed by a discussion of each individually in greater depth over the coming weeks. Besides exploring them theoretically, James encourages us to take them on as practices as we go through the weeks seeing how we can consciously cultivate them and bring them into our daily lives. The seven factors are:
- Mindfulness
- Interest/investigation
- Energy/effort
- Joy/rapture
- Calm/tranquility
- Concentration
- Equanimity
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Open9ing to the moment and being with things as they are is easier said than done. This talk explores what gets in the way and the qualities and attitudes that support opening to the moment including forgiveness, patience, contentment and a sense of humor.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How the practice is a path of real happiness through cultivating wholesome states and being present for them.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A reflection on the comparing and judging mind highlighted with stories and readings. Includes a useful practice based on a quote from the 3rd Zen Patriarch: "The burdensome practice of judging brings annoyance and weariness." The evening ends with a brief discussion with the sangha. This talk was also given at the February 2011 month-long retreat at Spirit Rock: Working with the Judging Mind
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How being humbled can deepen our capacity to open to all of our experience and strengthen our confidence and trust.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James continues his series on Enlightenment by exploring the Path of Devotion or Bhakti path as a vehicle for awakening.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Workshop for current and potential Kalyana Mitta / Dharma Friends facilitators or hosts.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Workshop for current and potential Kalyana Mitta / Dharma Friends facilitators or hosts.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Workshop for current or potential Kalyana Mitta / Dharma Friends facilitators or hosts.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A presentation of non-Buddhist perspectives on enlightenment through stories and quotes of Advaita (non-dualistic) teachers such as Ramana Maharshi, Poonjaji, Eckhart Tolle, and Adyahshanti. The talk ends with a brief guided meditation.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Enlightenment: It's already here...and right now.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The classic Theravadin meditative path to freedom, including progress of insight and stages of enlightenment.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James examines some of the recent history surrounding Bhikkhunis and Western Buddhist practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The ability to let go of the past and to forgive depends on how we hold ourselves with others. This talk explores how we affect others and how we can move to a greater connection.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Working with thoughts including the Buddha's methods for dealing with distracting thoughts. How to discern the voice of wisdom from the voices of confusion and fear.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How the metta practice awakens happiness and well-being, including the mudita practice of sympathetic joy.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) What does it mean to be truly independent? Independent from what? And if we are genuinely independent how does that affect the way we live our lives?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) How to get what you want...and not get what you don't want.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Breaking the Chains of Craving: Part 4, with guest Kevin Griffin. Beginning introductions of Inquiring Mind publisher Alan Novidor and editor Barbara Gates.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James interviews his mom, Selma Baraz (or maybe it's the other way around).
For more from Selma, see also the YouTube video of Selma entitled: Confessions of a Jewish Mother: How My Son Ruined My Life!
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The source of our awakening is right inside us. As we learn to listen deeply to the wisdom and purity of heart that is connected to the truth, we are following the Buddha's instructions to "be a lamp unto yourself".
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Practice is more than just opening to suffering. It is a path of happiness. We can incline the mind to open to and awaken wholesome states that lead to well-being and, ultimately, liberation.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha spoke of Nekkhama or renunciation as source of happiness. This is because it gives rise to contentment-seeing this moment as complete as it is. This talk explores the experience of inner contentment.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In Tibetan teachings the Lion's Roar is the "fearless proclamation that every situation is workable." Being humbled can lead to a profound, wise humility, doubt can lead to strong confidence and vulnerability and can be the path to fearlessness.
James presented another version of this talk at the February 2010 month-long retreat at Spirit Rock.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Sincerity of heart is the most important ingredient that we can bring to practice. This talk explores that theme with special focus on the Four Iddhipadas, or Bases of Success that fuel our sincere motivation.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In Tibetan teachings the Lion's Roar is the "fearless proclamation that every situation is workable." Being humbled can lead to a profound, wise humility, doubt can lead to strong confidence and vulnerability can be the path to fearlessness.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) James and co-writer of Awakening Joy Shoshana Alexander, plus many friends from the 10-month course--dharma teachers, happiness experts, neuroscientists, musicians and more--share their thoughts on true happiness. This is the PM Session which includes Syvia Boorstein, and Anam Thubten Rinpoche.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) James and co-writer of Awakening Joy Shoshana Alexander, plus many friends from the 10-month course--dharma teachers, happiness experts, neuroscientists, musicians and more--share their thoughts on true happiness. This is the AM Session which includes Rick Foster and Greg Hicks, Rick Hansen, and performances by Eve Decker, Betsy Rose and Jennifer Berezen.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James and co-author Shoshana Alexander share teachings and excerpts from their book.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is a talk about establishing healing and reconciliation on both a personal and a community level.
The Buddha taught was "As long as followers of the Way hold regular and frequent assemblies, they may be expected to prosper and not decline. As long as they meet in harmony, carry on their business in harmony, and break up in harmony, they may be expected to prosper and not decline."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The body is where we store emotions and register deep insights. This talk explores the implication of those facts: how we keep getting caught in thoughts that we know don’t serve us and why it takes time and patience to embody the wisdom our mind knows is true
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The desire for Heaven or for Hell: The Choice is yours.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Reflections on forgiving, self and others...reflections on Yom Kippur
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Eve Decker: Talk and Song of the Importance of Self Love
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) While the mind has many thoughts and confusing tendencies that cause suffering, there is a pure awareness that is our true nature holding it all. We’ll explore staying in touch with this reality while we are navigating through the confusions of mind.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We are each the star of our own movie. Practice invites us to honor every member of the cast of characters in our life, remembering that they have their own reality. And through it all we can wake up from the dream.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We are each the star of our own movie. Practice invites us to honor every member of the cast of characters in our life, remembering that they have their own reality. And through it all we can wake up from the dream.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Ananda, the Buddha's disciple, while on a mission for the Buddha, requested water to drink from a woman of low cast. The woman protested out of fear that her low caste would contaminate Ananda's holiness; to which Ananada replied, "I ask not for caste but for water." A version of the Buddhist text of this story is available here: http://www.mountainman.com.au/buddha/carus_76.htm
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How mudita (sympathetic joy) and uplifting states are supports for wise effort.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk is a version of the talk James will be giving at the upcoming Metta retreat at Spirit Rock.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James reflects on his connection to Ram Dass and his teacher, Karoli Baba.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Tonight James finishes his series on the Faith Mind by the 3rd Zen Patriarch of China. One of the most meaningful lines in this section is:
”To live in this (highest) realization is to be without anxiety about non-perfection.”
Cultivating that attitude is a key to freedom. To let ourselves be perfectly imperfect.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Affectionately known as “the Storytelling Monk,” Swami Sarveshwarananda Giri is a French-born Kriya Yoga teacher and founder of the Hariharananda Mission in the USA and in India, and the Ark of Love in South America. For the last sixteen years, he has traveled around the globe teaching Yoga, composing and chanting sacred chants, and providing education and shelter to poor children, widows, and senior citizens in India and South America.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Tonight James continues his discussion of Verses on the Faith Mind by Sengstan (3rd Zen Patriarch of China), his favorite piece of dharma wisdom. This week one of the lines from the passage is the source of Joseph Goldstein’s book One Dharma.
"There is one Dharma not many; distinctions arise from the clinging needs of the ignorant."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Tonight James begins a series on his favorite piece of dharma wisdom: Verses on the Faith Mind by Sengstan, otherwise known as the 3rd Zen Patriarch of China. This is one of the best treatises on the non-dual approach to practice. A few choice lines:
“The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences.”
“To live in the realization is to be without anxiety about non-perfection.”
During this series, James reads through the text and discusses how we can apply it in our lives.
If you are interested in reading the actual text of this sutra Click Here.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Addressing that voice inside the mind that has a hard time measuring up to our ideals
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is a three part series of talks on James’ basic meditation instructions: “Receive the moment with a relaxed, interested and kind awareness.
What does a kind awareness mean? How can we meet each moment—including moments of fear or physical discomfort—with this attitude? This is a key issue for deepening our practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is a three part series of talks on James’ basic meditation instructions: “Receive the moment with a relaxed, interested and kind awareness.”
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is a three part series of talks on James’ basic meditation instructions: “Receive the moment with a relaxed, interested and kind awareness.”
Note: The first talk of this series was not recorded. Therefore this is a talk on the same topic that James gave during the month-long retreat at Spirit Rock on 2/10/2009.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Some thoughts upon returning from the February retreat at Spirit Rock.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Faith is one of the Five Spiritual faculties. This talk explores the elements of faith, sources of our faith and the ingredients we bring to deepen our trust and faith in the Dharma.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) One aspect of Wise Effort is maintaining and increasing wholesome states that have arisen. This is supported by being present for the wholesome state without clinging. How to integrate wholesome states such as sincere intention, gratitude, being compassionate with suffering, and others into our practice is explored.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Suffering is often what brings people to the Dharma as well as opening us up to resources inside we didn't know were there. Looking at hindrances and difficulties in this way allows us to relate to them wisely and realize the gifts that they bring and the ways they help us grow.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) A central attitude of dharma practice is learning to open to experience instead of the typical contraction of grasping at pleasant or aversion towards unpleasant. Qualitites of opening include forgiveness, patience, sense of humor, presence and loving kindness are explored.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) An introduction to next week's (1-15-08) guest Paul Ekman, psychologist, leading expert on human emotions and facial expressions and co-author with the Dalai Lama on the recent book Emotional Awareness
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Reflections on the 3 months Adam has just spent sitting at IMS.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A discussion with community member Janet Keyes about a proposal to create a community support network with the intention of helping the IMCB sangha grow in caring and connection. The evening includes an invitation to attend an introductory meeting to help identify priorities and move forward in creating a more caring community. The talk also includes James reading a moving letter from Barack Obama to a 4-year old girl.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James Baraz talks about the stunning changes that have already taken place with the election of Barack Obama.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This week I will complete the Shantideva series with his final chapter on the power of dedicating your actions as an act of generosity. We often end the sittings or a period of practice by sharing any merit for the benefit of all beings. This practice can be used in very simple but potent ways as a method for brining a heartfelt sincerity to your practice for the benefit of specific individuals. For instance if you’re trying to change a habit, offering the merit of that wholesome change to someone who is having a hard time in their life.
This practice of dedicating merit both connects you with others and motivates you beyond mere self-improvement. We’ll be exploring just how this can work in our daily life to give energy and enthusiasm to our practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This week we will continue with our series on Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. The next chapter is on Enthusiasm, Zeal or Heroic Perseverance. What keeps us inspired to practice? How can we counter-act the three causes for laziness? What are the three inspiring causes for happiness? What’s the difference between negative and positive pride? What are the four powers that can fuel our practice?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk is continuing our series with Chapter 6 of Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. The theme is “Working with Anger” specifically cultivating Patience.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The talk is about the next chapter 5 of Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. This chapter is about the three disciplines: not causing harm, gathering virtue, and benefiting others. The title is translated has been translated as Vigilant Introspection or Guarding Alertness.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The chapter we'll be exploring is Awareness, what Pema Chodron calls Using Our Intelligence. It has also been translated as Carefulness. The theme is how we can use wise attention to prevent us from getting caught in afflictive emotions (kilesas or kleshas). Even when we know better we may still find ourselves going down a road of action we will later regret. This chapter is how as bodhisattvas we deepen our commitment to refrain from unskillful action.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Part 3 of Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. Commitment. Just what are we committing to when we decide to become bodhisattvas.
One stanza from this chapter is as follows: “For all those ailing in the world, Until every sickness has been healed, May I myself become for them The doctor nurse, the medicine itself.”
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is the second chapter of Shantideva's "Bodhisattva's Way of Life" and discusses the importance of developing an attitude of reverence and devotion as well as purifying our past actions in order to plant the seed of awakening in fertile soil. We’ll be discussing not only the ideas but ways to incorporate them in your dharma practice.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) I just received teachings with the Dalai Lama last week on the topic, I'm going to start a series on Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. This is one of the Dalai Lama's central teachings. As he says, "If I have any understanding of compassion and the practice of the bodhisattva path, it is entirely on the basis of this text that I possess it."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Why would you do a silent meditation retreat? This talk explores the value and experience of silent retreat practice. Along with James, Kate Janke, who returned from sitting a month at the Forest Refuge in Barre, Massachusetts, a few days before this was recorded, shares her thoughts and personal experience of retreat practice.
(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) With our thoughts we make the world,"says the Buddha. What limiting beliefs do you have about yourself and practice? What would it be like if you were not constrained by them. This talk also explores the different temperaments that people bring to practice, seeing there is no one right personality style that is required for awakening.
(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) The source of our awakening is right inside us. As we learn to listen deeply to the wisdom and purity of heart that is connected to the truth we are following the Buddha's instructions to be "be a lamp unto yourself."
(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Practice is more than a mere dry analysis of reality. A heartfelt spirit in practice not only give us enthusiasm and confidence but can flowers as deep devotion to the Dharma.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is number ten in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is number six in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective. James's dog "Pal" died this week.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is number eight in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is number seven in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is number six in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective. www.AwakeningJoy.net
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is number four in a ten-part series on Buddhadharma as a Path of Happiness. This series covers the ten principles discussed in James' Awakening Joy Course from a dharma perspective.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is the third of a series based on cultivating the wholesome states that I share in my Awakening Joy Class. This first week we’ll explore the theme of Opening to Suffering.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is the second of a series based on cultivating the wholesome states that I share in my Awakening Joy Class. This first week we’ll explore the theme of Mindfulness as a path for well-being. We will share some practical exercises to use in daily life as well as understand why mindfulness is called by the Buddha “the most direct way to overcome sorrow and despair and realize the highest happiness.”
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is the first of a series based on cultivating the wholesome states that I share in my Awakening Joy Class. I intend to explore these principles from a more traditional Buddhist perspective and show how they reveal Buddhadharma as a path of happiness. I’ll be suggesting techniques that can be practiced in daily life in addition to formal meditation.
This first week we’ll explore the theme of Intention. “Intending is karma,” said the Buddha. Through intention we create our reality. The clearer we are on our intention, the greater influence we have on the direction of our lives.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Mindfulness practice helps us see clearly how we’re creating suffering for ourselves with our insecurities, self-judgments, judgments of others or other conditioned reactions. But often seeing these isn’t enough to release their hold on us. In fact, sometimes it’s more frustrating to see them but still feel as stuck as ever. We’ll explore how to work with this predicament wisely so we 1) don’t have to be at the mercy of our lofty ideals of good practice can use some simple but effective methods for moving to a greater place of well-being.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We are not practicing for ourselves alone. Everyone benefits from the fruits of our practice. This talk explores how to actively and skillfully express our compassion, held with equanimity, in the world.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Forgiveness is an essential part of Metta practice so that the heart can stay open and the kindness flows out easily. In this talk forgiveness toward ourselves, asking and extending forgiveness with others and forgiveness towards life are explored.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This is a reflection stemming from the "Money, Sex, & Power" issue of the Inquiring Mind.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Passion for practice fuels our effort. There are different sources of spiritual passion (four Iddhipadas) that correspond to different temperaments: zeal, effort, love of the Dharma and urgency.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The five Spiritual Faculties describe the importance of balance as well as explain the process of intensive practice. Faith leads to effort which develops mindfulness, which cultivates concentration which flowers as wisdom.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Seven Factors of Enlightenment are mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, calm, concentration and equanimity. When brought to fruition they lead to the highest happiness we can experience. How can we cultivate these qualities consciously in our meditation practice and in our life?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The joy of letting go includes restraint expressed as sitting with integrity as well as letting go of stories, expectation & experiences. This letting go is not a sacrifice but rather releasing the burden of holding onto the things that cause us suffering.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Seven Factors of Enlightenment are mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, calm, concentration and equanimity. When brought to fruition they lead to the highest happiness we can experience. How can we cultivate these qualities consciously in our meditation practice and in our life?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The joy of letting go includes restraint expressed as sitting with integrity as well as letting go of stories, expectation & experiences. This letting go is not a sacrifice but rather releasing the burden of holding onto the things that cause us suffering.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In every moment of mindfulness we defeat the forces of greed, hatred & delusion and develop a heart of generosity, kindness & wisdom--the three sources of karmic happiness.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Opening to suffering is essential if we are to find true happiness. The Buddha's teaching on how suffering can lead to faith, gladness, joy and freedom is explored. Gratitude as a way to hold our suffering is also discussed.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Where does happiness lie? In this first of 4 talks we explore the intention to be happy particularly with regard to developing and increasing wholesome states. Wise effort in terms of Dharma practiced is explored.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) This closing talk from a silent retreat points to the integration of our practice in daily life, with mindfulness as the golden thread that runs through all things.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Intention is the source of all karma. Accessing the sincerity of heart that fuels our practice and inclining it towards freedom is the basis for profound awakening.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In order for metta to flow unobstructed, we need to be able to forgive—ourselves for ways we don't measure up to our high standards or unskillful actions, others for past hurts and life for the disappointments we experience. This talk explores these different levels of forgiveness.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Wise Effort is a key issue in Dharma practice. Am I doing enough or too much. This talk explores how to develop balance with regard to effort as well as the classical Four Right Efforts pertaining to wholesome and unwholesome states.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Working consciously with intention is the key to creating wisdom and happiness in our lives.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) How the process of awakening unfolds in meditation practice starting with faith and culminating in wisdom.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Although freedom is found in the moment, there is a continual process of purifying the heart and mind. This process is discussed including facing our fears, deepening our commitment, learning to love ourselves while seeing through our sense of self, culminating in practice being our gift to the world.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The source of our awakening is right inside us. As we learn to listen deeply to the wisdom and purity of heart that is connected to the truth we are following the Buddha's instructions to be "be a lamp unto yourself."
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha spoke of maintaining and increasing wholesome states as an integral part of Right Effort. In this talk we explore why this is important and how to incline the mind to experience what he called "gladness connected with the wholesome."
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Seeing through the judging mind awakening us to our true nature.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Saturday night session of the lawyers retreat. What's going on in mindfulness and law. Right livelihood.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) This talk was given at the Lawyer's Retreat. It focused on a description of four characteristics of mindfulness - seeing things clearly, permanence, being present and watching the judging mind.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We can often focus on suffering in our practice and forget that this path is about cultivating happiness.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) This talk continues the exploration of how the practice cultivates happiness and joy. Topics include mindfulness as appreciation, wonder, gratitude, bliss of blamelessness, letting go, mudita, friendship and liberation.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha valued "gladness connected with wholesome states." This is the first of two talks on the importance of inclining the mind toward happiness and joy as well as how to do it.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The power of intention helps us envision a fulfilled spiritual life, helps us see through our limiting beliefs, and helps us trust our deepest wisdom.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) The source of our awakening is right inside us. As we learn to listen deeply to the wisdom and purity of heart that is connected to the truth we are following the Buddha's instructions to be "be a lamp unto yourself."
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Why be mindful? Different aspects of mindfulness including seeing clearly and non-judging as well as benefits of mindfulness practice.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The place of passion in practice is expressed in the Iddhipadas (Bases of Power): zeal, effort, love of Dharma and preciousness of this opportunity to practice.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The seven factors of enlightenment are being cultivated as we practice. This talk explores how they can be consciously brought into balance and how they work together.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Developing faith as a quality of heart that is essential for our selves, our practice, and releasing the angst of doubt and the illusion of suffering. What is the place of faith in practice? How can we cultivate faith, trust and confidence? What is faith and how does it work?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Developing faith as a quality of heart that is essential for our selves, our practice, and releasing the angst of doubt and the illusion of suffering. What is the place of faith in practice? How can we cultivate faith, trust and confidence? What is faith and how does it work?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Developing faith as a quality of heart that is essential for our selves, our practice, and releasing the angst of doubt and the illusion of suffering. What is the place of faith in practice? How can we cultivate faith, trust and confidence? What is faith and how does it work?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Using forgiveness, patience, and humor as we open up to what is unpleasant without experiencing aversion, and to what is pleasant without experiencing grasping.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Using forgiveness, patience, and humor as we open up to what is unpleasant without experiencing aversion, and to what is pleasant without experiencing grasping.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Mindfulness as bare attention is supported and developed by bringing the content of clear comprehension, or full awareness, into practice. This includes clear comprehension of purpose, of suitability, of domain of meditation, and of reality.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) While Dharma practice takes courage to open to suffering, one also can bring a spirit of wonder and awe to the quality of investigation. We can open to the moment with interest, discovering reality in a fresh, new way.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Exploring the different spiritual paths that use the fundamental themes of non-greed, hatred, delusion, love, service, and remembrance.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Connecting the Buddhist values of non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion with another spiritual axiom: "Love everyone, serve everyone, and remember God."
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Most of us want to know the right answer to complex situations. This post-September 11th talk explores the value of letting go of prematurely trying to figure things out, and replace it with patiently listening inside to our wisest understandings and responses when they are ready to be heard.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) After our initial and excitement encountering the Dharma, reality hits us and our practice may appear to stagnate. How can we renew our inspiration and reawaken our enthusiasm for practice?
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Right Effort includes developing and increasing wholesome states by recognizing them or inclining the mind to their development. The four states of loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity can be consciously developed through practice. (Includes experiential exercises.)
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha explained how concentration, energy and equanimity work together to help purify a practitioner's mind over time. How can we wisely develop and bring to balance these qualities essential to waking up?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha's discourse on refinement of mind from the Anguttara Nikaya describes the process a practitioner experiences in moving from grosser types of attachment to more subtle and refined ones. This talk focuses on how the practice affects our thoughts, words and actions as we continue our journey of awakening.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Why do people go on intensive silent retreats? What is the process one goes through and how does it change us? This talk explores understanding how the retreat experience works?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Passion is often considered to be an unspiritual quality, but if used wisely, actually is the basis of spiritual power. What are the four sources of passion that motivate our spiritual practice?
(Unknown) Exploring how to work skillfully with the comparing and judging of ourselves and others.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) An essential part of liberation is including ourselves in the love we aspire to cultivate for all beings. This becomes a gift we can model for others. Why is this such a difficult task? How can we develop authentic self-love?
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The experience of seeing the confusion in our minds as well as its unskillful expression in words and actions can be very humbling. How can we use our mistakes to deepen our practice and turn them into a noble humility that deepens our understanding and enriches our spiritual life?
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Cultivating a heart-felt motivation toward practice, and the different ways we can express this essential connection.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Why does generosity bring us joy? How can we consciously cultivate this wholesome habit that both acknowledges our interconnectedness and develops a heart that knows the power of letting go?
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Most of our confusion comes from believing the stories, such as personal history and self-image, that run through our mind. Seeing through these stories is the key to freeing the mind and opening the heart to the realization we are much greater than our limiting beliefs.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom build on each other in a natural development. Understanding their relationship gives us a map for how the meditation process unfolds.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The practice of appreciation is an exercise in mindfulness, openness of heart and wisdom. Whether experience is pleasant or unpleasant, inclining our minds toward appreciation allows us to open to our joys and sorrows as valuable gifts that make each moment come alive.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) The Seven Factors of Enlightenment are mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, calm, concentration and equanimity. When brought to fruition they lead to the highest happiness we can experience. How can we cultivate these qualities consciously in our meditation practice and in our life?
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom build on each other in a natural development. Understanding their relationship gives us a map for how the meditation process unfolds.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Although there is suffering - the First Noble Truth, the Buddha has taught that wisely processing our pain leads to greater faith, compassion and, eventually, the end of suffering.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Truthfulness was the one quality the Bodhisattva possessed through all his previous lifetimes before his enlightenment. Telling the truth to oneself and others is a direct source of happiness and is the guiding principle for the spiritual journey.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Dharma practice is more than concentrated bare attention. The Buddha spoke often of the importance of reflection in developing wisdom. We can develop wise reflection on retreat and bring that attitude into daily life.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Why did the Buddha consider like-minded friendship "the whole of the holy life?" This talk focuses on the importance of developing a sense of community as a true support for our practice. Included are the Buddha's words on what constitutes a good friend.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Life is a continual surprise. How can we hold unexpected challenges and ephemeral joys in a spirit of practice so that we meet experience with wisdom, equanimity and an open heart?
(Unknown) When whole-hearted commitment is balanced with a spacious lightness of heart, the practice flowers in a rich way. This talk explores how we can combine those two attitudes in our meditation and in our lives.
(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) As we understand the power of thoughts to create our reality, we can empower those thoughts that inspire us and see the emptiness of those thoughts that don't serve. This is the key to manifesting our vision of awakening.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Intimate relationship can be a vehicle for cultivating authenticity, understanding our shadow, and true opening of the heart. The challenges and opportunities of using a primary relationship as part of our awakening process are explored.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) We can't control all the thoughts that pass through our minds. What we can do is learn how to work skillfully with troublesome thoughts and patterns in the mind so they lose their power to confuse us.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Noticing and cultivating the wholesome states of compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity as they arise is a powerful training towards greater happiness.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Exploring the different spiritual paths that use the fundamental themes of non-greed, hatred, delusion, love, service, and remembrance.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Connecting the Buddhist values of non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion with another spiritual axiom: "Love everyone, serve everyone, and remember God."
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) working skillfully with the empty bubbles of thought
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Reflecting and reconnecting with our heart's intention.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Encountering the vision of clarity in our lives.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) When whole-hearted commitment is balanced with a spacious lightness of heart, the practice flowers in a rich way. This talk explores how we can combine those two attitudes in our meditation and in our lives.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) the truth of suffering, its cause, the cessation of suffering, the path leading to the end of suffering; an encouragement to see the truth of these laws in our own life
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Learning to work skillfully with fear can change if from enemy to ally in our practice, since it is often a signal of moving from the familiar to new territory. As we learn to let go of the illusion of control we transform fear into genuine trust.
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) seeing the qualities and compulsions of doing that prevent us from fully being
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) looking deeply at the power of honesty and trustworthiness
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) an exploration of the helpful factor of investigation
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) the qualities of reverence and respect to our practice
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) learning to express the teachings as a pure delight in the eternal Now
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) how forgiveness, humor, patience, loving kindness, and compassion allow you to be a perfect expression of life
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) building the bridge of clear comprehension that connects our practice of "bearing attention" to our full spiritual development
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) reflecting upon the sublime states of loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) the manifestation of skillful action outside of the retreat; a look at compassion, action vs. passivity, harmony, the path of purification; closes with a lovingkindness meditation
(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Arousing the "right" amount of effort, without tension, without laziness.