Dharma Seed - Dharma Talks from Retreats

Three-Month Retreat - Part 2

This six-week partial of the three-month course is a special time for practice. Because of its extended length and ongoing guidance, it is an opportunity for students to deepen the powers of concentration, wisdom and compassion. Based on the meditation instructions of Mahasi Sayadaw and supplemented by a range of skillful means, this silent retreat will encourage a balanced attitude of relaxation and alertness, and the continuity of practice based on the Buddha’s Four Foundations of Mindfulness.

2017-10-24 (43 days) Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center

2017-10-24 Welcoming Talk - Refuges and Precepts - Practice Comments 56:33
Winnie Nazarko	Download Listen
This is the opening talk for a six week practice period at Insight Meditation Scoiety

2017-10-25 Morning Instructions and Guided Meditation 56:07
Greg Scharf	Download Listen

2017-10-25 Relax, Receive, Allow and Learn 54:46
Andrea Fella	Download Listen

2017-10-26 The Suffering That Leads To The End Of Suffering. 51:24
Greg Scharf	Download Listen

2017-10-27 Samadhi and Pleasure 50:50
Brian Lesage	Download Listen
This talk introduces the quality of samadhi and the importance to opening to pleasure in our spiritual practice.

2017-10-28 Morning Instructions: Body Sensations 21:20
Andrea Fella	Download Listen

2017-10-28 Overview Of Brahma Viharas and Introduction to Metta 46:33
Jill Shepherd	Download Listen
A short talk introducing Metta Practice and guided meditation offering Metta to the benefactor and oneself.

2017-10-29 Viriya - Energy/Effort 46:31
Jill Shepherd	Download Listen
Ways of finding and maintaining balanced energy and effort.

2017-10-30 Morning Instructions and Guided Meditation On Emotions 19:24
Brian Lesage	Download Listen

2017-10-30 Working With The Hinderances 58:14
Greg Scharf	Download Listen

2017-10-31 Mindfulness Of Mind 43:28
Jill Shepherd	Download Listen
Instructions and guided meditation. Bring awareness to mental states.

2017-10-31 Practicing With The Difficult and Painful. 66:00
Winnie Nazarko	Download Listen
Both "untrained worldings" and the "well trained noble disciple" experience both pleasant and unpleasant experiences. But how they relate to these differs greatly.

2017-11-01 Radiating Loving Kindness 43:41
Brian Lesage	Download Listen
This talk offers both instruction and a guided meditation for the way of practicing Metta found in the early Buddhist texts.

2017-11-02 Morning Instructions 42:52
Andrea Fella	Download Listen
Morning Instructions: Mindfulness of Thoughts

2017-11-02 Knowing A Mind Affected By Delusion 66:46
Andrea Fella	Download Listen

2017-11-03 Morning Instructions and Guided Meditation 16:47
Greg Scharf	Download Listen
Guided Standing Meditation

2017-11-03 Practicing For Oneself and Others 45:26
Brian Lesage	Download Listen
This talk explores the encouragement found in the Firebrand Sutta to practice for oneself and others while on retreat.

2017-11-04 Morning Instructions for Practicing with the Awareness of Intention (Cetana) 44:12
Brian Lesage	Download Listen

2017-11-04 Opening To The Pali Chanting Of The Satipatthana Sutta 33:25
Brian Lesage	Download Listen
This talk introduces the practice of opening to and meditating upon the chanting of the Satipatthana Sutta, the discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. It utilizes the chanting of Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhita Thero.

2017-11-05 Morning instructions: Samadhi And Sati 45:14
Jill Shepherd	Download Listen
Instructions and guided meditation exploring mindfulness of breathing, sounds, thoughts and choiceless awareness.

2017-11-05 Right Effort - Part Two 53:06
Jill Shepherd	Download Listen
Exploring the first two of the "Four Great Efforts", and the benefits of seclusion as a support for samadhi and sati.

2017-11-06 Five Subjects For Frequent Reflection 55:56
Greg Scharf	Download Listen
Five Subjects For Frequent Reflection

2017-11-08 Introduction To Compassion and Guided Meditation 55:05
Greg Scharf	Download Listen

2017-11-09 Embodiment Through Mindfulness Of The Body 50:15
Brian Lesage	Download Listen
This talk offers some reflections on mindfulness of the body and its intersection with embodiment.

2017-11-10 The Five Aggregates 61:31
Andrea Fella	Download Listen

2017-11-12 Right Effort - Part 3 50:49
Jill Shepherd	Download Listen
An overview of the four Brahma Vihara practices - kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity - as a support for cultivating skillful mind states.

2017-11-15 Guided Forgiveness Meditation 38:53
Winnie Nazarko	Download Listen
Some comments about forgiveness, followed by a guided meditation.

2017-11-16 Freedom From Unworthiness and Becoming. 45:12
Brian Lesage	Download Listen
This talk explores how to clearly see the darkness of unworthiness and becoming in a way that leads to freedom.

2017-11-17 Wisdom At work 61:32
Andrea Fella	Download Listen

2017-11-19 Right Effort - Part 4 51:52
Jill Shepherd	Download Listen
An overview of the seven factors of awakening, and right effort refining towards effortlessness.

2017-11-22 Guided Mudita Meditation 46:10
Jill Shepherd	Download Listen
A short introduction to Mudita (appreciative Joy)and a short guided meditation.

2017-11-23 Decolonizing The Mind On Thanksgiving Day 50:33
Brian Lesage	Download Listen
This talk explores a way to begin decolonizing the mind through a Buddhist practice.

2017-11-24 Disenchantment and Dispassion 64:50
Andrea Fella	Download Listen
An exploration of the teaching of transcendant Dependent Origination.

2017-11-25 Dana as a Spiritual Practice 55:25
Jill Shepherd	Download Listen
Generosity as a support for many other skillful mental qualities.

2017-11-26 Questions and Answers 69:44
Joseph Goldstein	Download Listen

2017-11-27 Great Joy The Ox 60:02
Greg Scharf	Download Listen
This talk starts with a Jataka Story as an introduction to an exploration of Buddha's teaching on the law of karma.

2017-11-28 Equanimity 62:18
Winnie Nazarko	Download Listen
This talk describes the quality of equanimity (upekkha) and how it can be developed in practice.

2017-11-29 Equanimity - Guided Meditation 59:41
Andrea Fella	Download Listen

2017-11-30 Practicing Freedom 58:09
Andrea Fella	Download Listen
A reflection on the Atthakavagga text from the Sutta Nipata.

2017-12-01 Wise Speech 59:24
Brian Lesage	Download Listen
This talk offers a way to skillfully engage in communication within this complex world we live in.

2017-12-03 Dukkha, and the ending of Dukkha ... 60:37
Jill Shepherd	Download Listen
... and the ending of this retreat. The Four Noble Truths as a refuge, and suggestions for transitioning from retreat practice to daily life, using the ten parami of generosity, renunciation, ethical conduct, wisdom, energy, patience, truthfulness, resolve, kindness, and equanimity