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Retreat Dharma Talks

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2014-07-29 Intention, Motivation and Purpose 37:06
Andrea Fella
This talk was given as a part of the series "Where Rubber Meets the Road: A Series on Mindful Living." When we start to meditate, we notice how much our body and mind influence each other. In the teachings of the Buddha, he highlighted a quality of mind at which this point of connection between body and mind happens. It's a factor in the mind he called "intention" or "volition." Intention or volition is a mental urge that impels us to act. Every action that we do of body, of speech, of mind, has this impulse that precedes it. With practice, it is possible to see this urge or impulse. With an intention to act comes motivation -- the reason why we are going to do something or say something. The Buddha said that this is an interesting place to pay attention to, because when we are not aware of our motivations, our habits of mind (such as greed, aversion and delusion) are choosing our motivations for us, and often those habits are not so helpful. So at this moment of choice when we have this intention to act, the motivation that accompanies that intention is what will either lead us down the path towards more struggle in our lives, or lead us down the path towards more happiness in our lives.
In collection: Where Rubber Meets the Road: A Series on Mindful Living
2014-08-01 Comments on a Statement by Mae Chee Kaew 45:05
Bhante Bodhidhamma
date estimated
2014-08-05 Freedom 40:27
Howard Cohn
2014-08-06 After Things Fall Apart 61:32
Pamela Weiss
2014-08-08 Feeling Feelings, Guided Meditation 49:41
Kevin Griffin
2014-08-08 Feeling Feelings, Dharma Talk 64:21
Kevin Griffin
2014-08-10 Be the First to Forgive 27:36
Ayya Medhanandi
Our greatest life journey takes us inward through the Dhamma MRI of mindful, radical investigation. At last, we learn to see clearly - with true discernment. We see the root causes of our suffering, disentangling the web of delusion and despair to take up our spiritual compass. As the heart opens, we teach ourselves to forgive, sure-footed and courageous, ascending to realize the heart’s true deliverance.
2014-08-11 Khandas for practice 36:17
Amma Thanasanti
2014-08-11 I Give You My Bread 24:26
Ayya Medhanandi
There is no final cure for the body, but the mind can be freed. No matter how much craving, anger, sorrow, fear or obsessive negative thoughts keep storming the mind, don’t let discouragement become another hindrance. Every new moment is a chance to see these hindrances for what they are with pure awareness itself. Patient, courageous and wise, we are ready to receive the gift of ‘bread’ and to win back the boundaries of our hearts.
2014-08-12 Practicing in Difficult Times 39:20
Howard Cohn
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