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Retreat Dharma Talks
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IMCB Regular Talks
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2016-03-24
"Sacred Activism Part. 2: We Don't Know What We Don't Know"
59:04
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James Baraz
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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.
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2016-04-14
Sacred Activism Part 4: Holding a Vision
54:31
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James Baraz
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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.
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2016-04-24
Equanimity: Finding Balance in Our Practice
2:55:56
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James Baraz
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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
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2016-04-28
The Story of Devadatta: Lust for Power in the Buddha's Time
52:51
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James Baraz
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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.
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2016-05-12
James with a special visitor: Buddhist Nun Ayya Yeshe
39:53
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James Baraz,
Ayya Yeshe
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Ayya Yeshe has developed the Bodhicitta Foundation to support the empowerment of women and children from the previously ‘untouchable’ caste in Central India.
The talk started with this YouTube video at ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCOpZ3kpIJU ) of her work.
To learn more about her work, go to the Bodhicitta Foundation at ( http://bodhicitta-vihara.com/ )
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.
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2016-06-02
“Taking the Focus Off ME“
53:47
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James Baraz
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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.
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2016-06-09
Ajahn Chandako from Austraila with James
1:16:40
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James Baraz,
Ajahn Chandako
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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.
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2016-06-23
"Light brings out the darkness. Darkness brings out the light."
49:08
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James Baraz
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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=
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2016-08-18
"The Tall Poppy and the Shrinking Violet"
49:23
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James Baraz
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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.
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2016-08-25
"A Box Full of Darkness"
55:48
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James Baraz
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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."
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2016-09-08
"All It Takes Is a Moment"
48:23
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James Baraz
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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.
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2016-09-22
"The Issue of Othering"
58:04
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James Baraz
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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?
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2016-09-29
"The Four Faults of Natural Awareness"
57:04
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James Baraz
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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.
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