Lo mas Caracol: Recent Episodes
Undefended Dharma with Mary St
Dharma talks from meditation teacher Mary Stancavage. These focus primarily on the pragmatic aspects of Buddhist teachings and philosophy drawing strongly on wisdom and heart practices. All are viewed through the lens of learning to live with an Undefended Heart.
How do we taste the freedom of letting go of craving and aversion in this moment? Recorded at Against the Stream on Dec. 23, 2015.
Reconnecting with our bodies is an important part of our practice.The Buddha said, “Within this fathom-long body and mind is found all of the teachings" yet we are so disconnected from our physical experience that we miss out on so much. How do we reconnect? Recorded Jan. 19, 2019.
A discussion of the concept of Faith in Buddhist teachings and how it forms part of the the Five Spiritual Faculties. Recorded Feb 23, 2019
We are conditioned by our families, friends, culture and society from the moment we are born and this conditioning is the cause of much suffering. Based on the Buddha's teachings of conditioning, Mary discusses how we can see our conditioning and begin to let it go. Recorded Feb 16, 2019.
Mary discusses the Buddha's instructions that we should be kind to all beings, omitting none. Recorded at Against the Stream on Dec 27, 2017.
Mary discusses the Buddha's instructions that we should be kind to all beings, omitting none. Recorded at Against the Stream on Dec 27, 2017.
A discussion focusing on the Buddha's teaching on mindfulness: the Satipatthana Sutta. Recorded in Los Angeles on Dec 10, 2018.
Based on the James Baraz book of the same name, Mary talks about how we can cultivate joy into our lives, regardless of our circumstances. Joy is one of the seven factors of awakening and and important part of our freedom from suffering. Recorded Jan 10, 2019
Letting go of thoughts that don't serve us and cultivating beneficial ones are key pieces of finding freedom from our conditioning. Recorded Dec 8, 2018.
Intentions are not resolutions which often have a harsh edge and are tied to achievement. When we set intentions we need to make sure we see clearly how they will be of benefit to ourselves and others, and to hold them with kindness and compassion. Recorded Jan 3, 2018, at Against the Stream in Los Angeles.
This factor is foundational for how we relate to others without causing harm. Also includes a short piece on Wise Livelihood. Recorded Dec 1, 2018
Hope and Love investigated through the lens of Buddha's teachings. Inspired by a conversation between John Legend and Bryan Stevenson. Originally recorded at Against the Stream in Los Angeles on Jan 17, 2018
Wise speech is all about how we communicate with others in a wise and skillful manner. It's also about saying the things that need to be said, not just making nice. The beginning is cut off, but Mary is talking about the centenary of the end of the First World War which was being commemorated in the United Kingdom. Recorded Nov 17, 2018.
Wise intention is the bridge from seeing clearly to direct action. We incline the mind towards renunciation, good will and non-harming. Recorded in Los Angeles, Oct. 27, 2018.
Beginning the investigation of the Eightfold Path with the first factor, Wise View or Wise Understanding. The Eightfold Path is the Buddha's teaching on freedom from craving and the road to liberation. These talks will touch on the pragmatic aspects of the path: how do they work in our lives today?
We experience difficulties simply as a result of being a human being, and then there is the extra level of difficulty we create for ourselves when we get caught up in craving and aversion. The Buddha described this as shooting ourselves with a second arrow. This talk investigates how we avoid that extra level of suffering or discomfort. Originally recorded at Against the Stream in Los Angeles on Nov. 11, 2017
Waking up to how we have created fixed ideas around how our lives should be. These fixed views are what create so much discomfort, stress and suffering in our lives. The Buddha's teachings offer us a way out. Originally recorded at Against the Stream on July 28, 2018
Looking at the Four Noble Truths and also Stephen Batchelor's view on seeing them as a call to action in the Fourfold Tasks. Based on his work in After Buddhism. Recorded 10/13/18.
Cultivating the pause between reactivity and responding wisely to our experiences. Originally recorded at Against the Stream in Los Angeles in February 2018.