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Dharma Talks
2024-11-27
Guided Meditation on Feeling-Tone, the Second Foundation of Mindfulness
40:14
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Donald Rothberg
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After setting the posture and tuning into intentions, we have a short period of settling, typically through the breath or some other anchor. Then there is guidance to tune into the feeling-tone, especially when there is a "moderate" level pleasant or unpleasant feeling-tone, noticing tendencies to move to wanting/not-wanting or grasping/pushing away--the two forms of reactivity. We can also, when there is reactivity, tune into the pleasant or unpleasant "beneath" the reactivity, finding, for example, some compassion when there is underlying pain. Near the end, we also explore being with all feeling-tones for a very short period of a few minutes.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2024-10-23
Being a Bodhisattva: Connecting Inner and Outer Practice
62:47
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Donald Rothberg
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We start with Donald's experience of being at Southern Dharma Retreat Center in North Carolina, north of Asheville, teaching two retreats during Hurricane Helene, some four weeks ago, and how staff and community members have responded during and in the weeks since the hurricane, grounded in community and their inner practices. Such a response, linking inner practice and the outer support and help of others, resonates with the aspiration of the Bodhisattva, one dedicated to awakening and to meeting the needs of others. We explore some of the qualities and capacities of the bodhisattva, including being in touch with freedom and awakening, navigating difficulties and painful experiences skillfully, and following the challenging teaching of acting fully without attachment to the outcome or fruits of one's actions. The talk is followed by discussion.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2024-08-25
A Community Program on Palestine/Israel: Session 3: A Buddhist Toolkit for Skillful Response
1:33:32
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Donald Rothberg,
Ronya Banks
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In the final session of this series, teachers Ronya Banks and Donald Rothberg offer a number of resources that can help one navigate these times and the conflict between Israel and Palestinians. After a brief period of meditation, we offer four teachings and practices, each first explored through teachings and then briefly guided experientially: (1) the teaching of the Two Arrows and Dependent Origination pointing to the nature of reactivity--habitual and often unconscious grasping after the pleasant and pushing away the unpleasant or painful; (2) the teachings about attachment to views; (3) the cultivation of wise speech and empathy, increasingly pointing toward universal empathy and what Dr. King called the "beloved community"; and (4) practicing with difficult emotions, body states (including traumatic reactions), and thoughts. These teachings and practices are followed by a period of discussion, closing intentions, and the dedication of merit.
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Southern Dharma Retreat Center
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A Community Program on Palestine/Israel
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2024-07-17
From Head to Heart
61:59
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Tara Brach
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If we are suffering, we are believing an interpretation of reality that is limiting and untrue. At these times we are imprisoned in a painful looping of fear-driven thoughts and feelings. This talk explores the ways our practices of mindfulness, compassion and loving presence can guide us from addictive thinking to perceiving life with a wise heart.
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Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
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2024-07-10
Guided Meditation: Landing in the Breath and Soundscape
56:49
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Matthew Brensilver
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These recordings are available publicly from a retreat held in person at Big Bear Retreat Center. Learn more about the center and upcoming offerings for retreats in nature, gathered in community.
bigbearretreatcenter.org/upcoming-retreats/
Healing the Self, Loving the Self, Forgetting the Self
Matthew Brensilver
July 9 - 13, 2024
Co-sponsored by Insight Retreat Center (IRC) and Big Bear Retreat Center
In this silent retreat, we explore how mindfulness supports the healing of the self.
Many of the Buddhist teachings help us to tend to painful memory, old pains and the habits that compound suffering. As we become more gentle and loving towards experience, the self becomes less and less of a preoccupation. The more completely we accept ourselves, the easier it becomes to forget the self and rest in an awareness unencumbered by self-consciousness.
This retreat includes sitting and walking meditation instructions, and dharma talks.
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Big Bear Retreat Center
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Healing the Self, Loving the Self, Forgetting the Self
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