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Dharma Talks
2020-02-16 Recognizing Joy as Part of Life 52:25
Mark Nunberg
Common Ground Meditation Center Common Ground February Residential Retreat

2020-02-16 Three Kinds of Dukkha (Suffering) 61:02
Rebecca Bradshaw
The Suffering of painful, pleasant, and neutral experiences and the freedom of letting go
Twin Cities Vipassana Collective Winter 2020

2020-02-16 Awareness Has No Boundaries 65:30
Ajahn Sucitto
Meditation is based on the fact that mind can open and encompass the whole world of experience. Gathering energy and awareness into the here and now, and unhooking from the contents of consciousness establishes a very firm center that is also open. The result is unbound awareness.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-16 Instructions and guided meditation using the “radiating energy“ method of metta practice 45:05
Jill Shepherd
Cultivating the embodied energy of warmth and kindness, radiating it in different directions then all directions simultaneously to “encompass the entire world”
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Strengthening the Heart: Lovingkindness Retreat

2020-02-16 Day 15 Morning Instructions: Big Mind (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 48:23
James Baraz
All experience arises and passed in the vast space of awareness. This meditation, adapted from Tibetan text, directs attention to awareness itself rather than the objects within the awareness.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2020-02-16 The Causal Field and the Escape from It 54:23
Ajahn Sucitto
All experience is caused by something – it’s conditioned. We act based on these causes and conditions, reinforcing their hold. But there are particular actions that can bring about release from this causal continuum.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-15 Teachings on Impermanence (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 62:47
Kamala Masters
Two Views of the nature of impermanence: The moment-to-moment view, and the infinite immensity view.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2020-02-15 The Image of Ethics (Part 2) 2:05:41
Rob Burbea
CRUCIAL NOTE: It is highly unlikely that this talk will be properly or adequately understood without a prior very good working familiarity and competence – both in actual practice and conceptually – with Soulmaking Dharma teachings and practices, as well as with Insight Meditation. Without this background it may be that the talk will in fact be misunderstood, and it is unlikely that the talk will be helpful. Please note too that much of the material in this series of talks (In Psyche’s Orchard) is based on or continues explorations of material laid out in a particular previous series (Four Circles, Four Parables of Stone and Light). In Psyche’s Orchard was recorded by Rob at his home.
Gaia House In Psyche's Orchard

2020-02-15 Overview of the Four Brahmavihara qualities 44:21
Jill Shepherd
Exploring how kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity work together to heal afflicted mind-states
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Strengthening the Heart: Lovingkindness Retreat

2020-02-15 Content and Container 64:41
Ajahn Sucitto
All content needs a container. Content of heart shapes the container of experience. Supportive tones/perceptions are skilful content. They encourage a generous, spacious and cool container that allows tangled mental content to unravel.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-15 Conditionality 45:11
Chas DiCapua
How the conditioned nature of things gives rise to anicca, sukkah and anatta
Twin Cities Vipassana Collective Winter 2020

2020-02-15 Introduction To Lovingkindness 54:06
Oren Jay Sofer
An overview of Metta practice and a guided meditation on lovingkindness for a benefactor and oneself.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Strengthening the Heart: Lovingkindness Retreat

2020-02-15 Walking Meditation: Open and Moored to a Firm Center 5:08
Ajahn Sucitto
Practice with keeping the front center of the body open, as if the skin boundary is feeling and reading the movement through space. Mind opens, drops some of its congestion. Thought patterns can be ventilated. Most important is to remain open and moored to a firm center.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat
In collection: A Moving Balance

2020-02-15 Instructions and guided meditation practicing mindfulness of breathing 32:35
Jill Shepherd
Settling into retreat by beginning with mindfulness of breathing, to steady the awareness before we move into Metta practice
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Strengthening the Heart: Lovingkindness Retreat

2020-02-15 Day 14 Morning Instructions: Review (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 50:13
Beth Sternlieb
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2020-02-15 5 Indriya 39:11
Ajahn Sucitto
The mind gets taken over by defective programs causing imbalance. This imbalance is called dukkha. The Buddha introduced a graduated way to shift this imbalance. This process brings up indriya, spiritual faculties. These help to mediate the tendencies of craving and clinging and result in a greater sense of harmony and balance.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-14 Vedana-The 2nd Foundation of Mindfulness (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 64:34
Tempel Smith
In every moment of subjective experience there is a quality of pleasure, displeasure or neutrality. Bring mindfulness to the quality of Vedana trains us how not to add suffering when pain arises or pleasure fades.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2020-02-14 The Image of Ethics (Part 1) 2:12:55
Rob Burbea
CRUCIAL NOTE: It is highly unlikely that this talk will be properly or adequately understood without a prior very good working familiarity and competence – both in actual practice and conceptually – with Soulmaking Dharma teachings and practices, as well as with Insight Meditation. Without this background it may be that the talk will in fact be misunderstood, and it is unlikely that the talk will be helpful. Please note too that much of the material in this series of talks (In Psyche’s Orchard) is based on or continues explorations of material laid out in a particular previous series (Four Circles, Four Parables of Stone and Light). In Psyche’s Orchard was recorded by Rob at his home.
Gaia House In Psyche's Orchard

2020-02-14 Developing a wise relationship with thoughts 42:26
Caroline Jones
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge February 2020

2020-02-14 Understanding how Joy Supports our Practice 58:44
Mark Nunberg
Common Ground Meditation Center Common Ground February Residential Retreat

2020-02-14 A Good Heart & Selfless Caring 51:00
Ariya B. Baumann
To have a good heart is another expression for metta which results in selfless caring
Chanmyay Myaing Meditation Centre 6th Annual Metta Retreat - Part 2

2020-02-14 Q&A 1 64:12
Ajahn Sucitto
Physical pain; draining tension through the body; meeting the agitation of being on retreat; dealing with demons and emotional chaos; are liberation practices and goodwill compatible; is goodwill readily available through study and reflection; what thoughts to let pass, what to examine; definition and experience of full knowing; is noting necessary for Vipassana?
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-14 Day 13 Afternoon Instructions: Metta for Difficult Person (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 41:03
Beth Sternlieb
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2020-02-14 Liberation and Structures 58:35
Ajahn Sucitto
Our personality patterning can be very intense and driven. We’ve got to build in something that holds it back, slows it down, tames it. We use a combination of structures and tonality to create new patterns, ones that keep us from holding on.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-14 Dharma and Recovery with Kevin Griffin 1:28:30
Kevin Griffin
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2020-02-14 Day 13 Morning Meditation Instructions - Mindfulness of Vedana and Intention (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 44:22
Tempel Smith
From the basis of our simple practices we can include mindfulness of how intentions and actions arise in reaction to what is pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral (vedana). The unconscious actions we take in response to vedana are the conditioning circumstances for our suffering. It behooves us to raise awareness to how our reactivity to vedana further conditions our patterns of craving, aversion, and ignorance.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2020-02-14 Rising Energies and Tonalities 36:15
Ajahn Sucitto
Citta gets shaped into particular forms based on causes and conditions. Over time it can get locked into distorted forms constricting the natural nature of citta which is flexible, bright and expansive. With a mind of unconditional acceptance, energetic patterns can be cleaned and released through body.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-13 Exploring Time and the Timeless 56:49
Donald Rothberg
Four Practices
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley IMCB Regular Talks

2020-02-13 Self Compassion (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 56:27
Beth Sternlieb
Compassion - Mindfulness, Kindness and Our Common Humanity
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2020-02-13 Pain, as Void and as Sacrament 2:34:37
Rob Burbea
CRUCIAL NOTE: It is highly unlikely that this talk will be properly or adequately understood without a prior very good working familiarity and competence – both in actual practice and conceptually – with Soulmaking Dharma teachings and practices, as well as with Insight Meditation. Without this background it may be that the talk will in fact be misunderstood, and it is unlikely that the talk will be helpful. Please note too that much of the material in this series of talks (In Psyche’s Orchard) is based on or continues explorations of material laid out in a particular previous series (Four Circles, Four Parables of Stone and Light). In Psyche’s Orchard was recorded by Rob at his home.
Gaia House In Psyche's Orchard

2020-02-13 Develop a Forcefield of Goodwill 7:36
Ajahn Sucitto
In recollection we use thought more slowly than usual. Capture the meaning and touch the heart. This is a way to reset the heart, making it strong so it doesn’t go into resentment, grudges and other unpleasant states.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-13 Hold the Heart Steady against the Push of Ill-Will 43:56
Ajahn Sucitto
The general mode is to change the outside world to please the heart, but this can never satisfy. We practice instead to change the heart, to make it strong enough to withstand the push of ill-will. Refuges include the Triple Gem, brahmavihāras, mindfulness of body and precepts.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-13 Day 12 Afternoon Instructions: Radiating Metta (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 41:06
Susie Harrington
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2020-02-13 Deep Attention – Referencing Uplifting Tones 54:09
Ajahn Sucitto
In any cultivation there is a referencing that occurs. In Dhamma practice we refer back to uplifting tones – integrity, respect, appropriateness. These invite skillful qualities to arise making it possible to unseat demons of violence, greed and efficiency.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-13 Making the Mind Fit 21:13
Ajahn Sucitto
The nature of mind is what you give attention to will grow. We use recollection to generate uplifting tones in the heart, to increase bright energy. This makes the mind fit to meet afflictive patterns and energies.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-13 Closing Ceremony 1:39:51
DaRa Williams
With Shelly Graf, Tuere Sala, Nakawe Cuebas, and Pamela Weiss
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Clarity, Compassion and Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat

2020-02-13 Direct Practice: Sound Opens the Silence 31:31
Ajahn Sucitto
This is an exercise in direct practice, using sound to train the mind. Making a sound from one’s own voice, we use it to lengthen attention over one particular phenomenon rather than jumping onto the next thing. It opens the silence where the mind is poised, listening.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-13 Day 12 Morning Instructions (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 45:41
Kamala Masters
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2020-02-12 Facing Fear (Part 1) - Awakening Your Fearless Heart 52:40
Tara Brach
Fear is a natural and universal part of our incarnation, and, when it goes on overdrive, we get imprisoned in the suffering of separation. These two talks explore how the RAIN meditation can help us face fear, and discover the boundless loving awareness that includes but is not contracted by currents of fear.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC

2020-02-12 Meditation: Open-Hearted Presence 23:52
Tara Brach
This meditation establishes a kind attention by bringing the imagery and felt sense of a smile into the body scan and then, with the breath as a home base, opens the attention to changing experience. We end with a brief loving kindness reflection.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC

2020-02-12 The Ontology of the Soul, and the Soul of Ontology ( ... inevitably) 2:09:55
Rob Burbea
CRUCIAL NOTE: It is highly unlikely that this talk will be properly or adequately understood without a prior very good working familiarity and competence – both in actual practice and conceptually – with Soulmaking Dharma teachings and practices, as well as with Insight Meditation. Without this background it may be that the talk will in fact be misunderstood, and it is unlikely that the talk will be helpful. Please note too that much of the material in this series of talks (In Psyche’s Orchard) is based on or continues explorations of material laid out in a particular previous series (Four Circles, Four Parables of Stone and Light). In Psyche’s Orchard was recorded by Rob at his home.
Gaia House In Psyche's Orchard

2020-02-12 Guided Meditation: Body Sweeping – Staying Open but Focused 23:07
Ajahn Sucitto
In meditation we use the thinking mind minimally, placing greater emphasis on the listening mind. This guided meditation gives practice in lengthening the listening, lingering mind.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-12 4 Basic Postures 34:43
Ajahn Sucitto
An overview of the 4 basic postures for meditation: sitting, standing [14:00], walking [17:05] and reclining [25:45].
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-12 Day 11 Morning Instructions: Feeling Tone 48:35
John Martin
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2020-02-12 Firm Center Open Heart 42:52
Ajahn Sucitto
On this retreat, practices for establishing a firm center and open heart will be presented. Openness can be too vulnerable, we need to know what to filter and what to linger in. Precepts offer a firm center of integrity. The body can be a source of steady and calm. We bring to heart and mind that which is beautiful and aspirational to shift agitated energies. These are our refuges.
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa :  Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat

2020-02-12 Don't get Distracted: You Might Forget to Be Kind 1:33:50
Sylvia Boorstein
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2020-02-11 Mudita 51:55
Tuere Sala
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Clarity, Compassion and Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat

2020-02-11 Four Noble Truths & Mindfulness of Death (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 52:15
John Martin
This talk provides an overview of the Four Noble Truths, with primary focus on the Noble Truth of Dukkha and the Noble Truth of the Cause of Dukkha. Mindfulness of death is reviewed as a support for practice.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2020-02-11 Dharma Talk: Being in the World, Being With Others 60:28
Martine Batchelor
Gaia House Meditation and Mindfulness in Daily Life

2020-02-11 Emptiness and Ways of Looking 2:09:37
Rob Burbea
CRUCIAL NOTE: It is highly unlikely that this talk will be properly or adequately understood without a prior very good working familiarity and competence – both in actual practice and conceptually – with Soulmaking Dharma teachings and practices, as well as with Insight Meditation. Without this background it may be that the talk will in fact be misunderstood, and it is unlikely that the talk will be helpful. Please note too that much of the material in this series of talks (In Psyche’s Orchard) is based on or continues explorations of material laid out in a particular previous series (Four Circles, Four Parables of Stone and Light). In Psyche’s Orchard was recorded by Rob at his home.
Gaia House In Psyche's Orchard

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