|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
|
|
|
| |
|
Dharma Talks
|
2025-09-17
Awakening from Ignorance: Going beyond the Main Habitual Constructions of Experience 2
63:38
|
|
Donald Rothberg
|
|
|
We begin with a review of how the Buddha saw "ignorance" of the basic nature of things (not so much of facts or information) as the basic problem of human life; we are as if asleep, caught in dream-like living, and need to "wake up." For the Buddha, we are especially ignorant about impermanence, dukkha (or reactivity--grabbing at the pleasant and pushing away the unpleasant or painful and believing that this is the way to happiness), the nature of the self, and nirvana or awakening.
We bring in a brief report of the experience of attending the previous week's EcoDharma retreat at Spirit Rock, emphasizing especially the pervasiveness of a sense of separation--from the earth, other living beings, and each other--and the connection of such sense of separation with our systemic problems. Indigenous teachers at the retreat particularly emphasized living without such separation.
The second part of the talk, we focus on the teaching of not-self (anatta), and ways of practicing that deepens our understanding of not-self, as well as how we hold this understanding of pervasive human ignorance with compassion and kindness, including in our responses to the manifestations of ignorance.
The talk is followed by discussion.
|
|
Spirit Rock Meditation Center
:
Monday and Wednesday Talks
|
|
|
2025-09-16
Obstacles on the Path: Sense Desire & Aversion (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
55:51
|
|
Gullu Singh
|
|
|
Talk Synopsis: Clearing the Poisons – Greed and Aversion
This talk explores how the Buddha’s teachings on dukkha and the three unwholesome roots—greed, aversion, and delusion—relate to the common mental obstacles that arise in meditation and daily life. Framed through the lens of the five hindrances, the talk looks closely at how these energies obscure attention and contribute to suffering.
The talk includes a practical discussion of temperament—how some of us tend more toward craving, others toward irritation or confusion—and how understanding these patterns can support clarity and compassion. Rather than trying to get rid of these states, the emphasis is on recognizing and relating to them with awareness, in line with the Buddha’s instruction to know dukkha and its causes.
Grounded in the Four Noble Truths, the talk points toward a path of practice that works with what's difficult—not as a problem to fix, but as a doorway to insight and freedom.
|
|
Spirit Rock Meditation Center
:
Clearing the Path: Opening the Heart and Mind
|
|
|
2025-09-13
Awakening at the Edge: Dharma as Refuge and Response in Times of Collapse.
0:00
|
|
Thanissara
|
(Recording not available)
|
|
As the old myths of our civilization crumble, in their place, fear, division, and the architecture of fascism are rapidly rising. As the Jungian analyst Edward Edinger warned, when a central myth breaks down, meaning drains away, and primal, unprocessed forces rush in.
How then do we understand this immense historic moment? We can take courage from the Buddha, who also lived in a world burning with greed, hatred, and delusion. He didn’t always succeed. Yet he still stood before armies, spoke truth, and acted with compassion. Even when outcomes are uncertain, we too are called, at this time, to step forward with clarity, compassion, and steadfastness.
|
|
Sacred Mountain Sangha
|
|
|
2025-09-13
Awakening at the Edge: Dharma as Refuge and Response in Times of Collapse.
40:00
|
|
Thanissara
|
|
|
As the old myths of our civilization crumble, in their place, fear, division, and the architecture of fascism are rapidly rising. As the Jungian analyst Edward Edinger warned, when a central myth breaks down, meaning drains away, and primal, unprocessed forces rush in.
How then do we understand this immense historic moment? We can take courage from the Buddha, who also lived in a world burning with greed, hatred, and delusion. He didn’t always succeed. Yet he still stood before armies, spoke truth, and acted with compassion. Even when outcomes are uncertain, we too are called, at this time, to step forward with clarity, compassion, and steadfastness.
|
|
Sacred Mountain Sangha
|
|
|
2025-09-13
Dharma as Refuge and Response in Times of Collapse.
39:24
|
|
Thanissara
|
|
|
As the old myths of our civilization crumble, in their place, fear, division, and the architecture of fascism are rapidly rising. As the Jungian analyst Edward Edinger warned, when a central myth breaks down, meaning drains away, and primal, unprocessed forces rush in.
How then do we understand this immense historic moment? We can take courage from the Buddha, who responded to a world burning from greed, hatred, and delusion with profound wisdom. Even when outcomes are uncertain, we too are called, at this time, to step forward with clarity, compassion, and steadfastness.
|
|
Sacred Mountain Sangha
|
|
|
2025-09-10
Awakening at the Edge of Collapse: Dharma as Refuge and Response
41:34
|
|
Thanissara
|
|
|
We are living through a profound pivot point. The old myths of our civilization–endless growth, rugged individualism, and “us first” hierarchies are crumbling. In their place, fear, division, and the architecture of fascism are rapidly rising. As the Jungian analyst Edward Edinger warned, when a central myth breaks down, meaning drains away, and primitive forces rush in.
The Buddha also lived in a world burning with greed, hatred, and delusion. He challenged the systems of his time, endured attempts on his life, negotiated peace between warring factions, and even stood before armies bent on destruction. In the Sakka-pañha Sutta, when asked why beings who wish for peace end up in rivalry and violence, he pointed to the root: the mind entangled in papañca, the web of proliferating stories that harden separation.
How then do we understand this immense historic moment? We can take courage from the Buddha. He didn’t always succeed. Even with his wisdom and compassion, he could not prevent the destruction of his own people. Yet he still stood before armies, still spoke truth, and still acted with courage. Even when outcomes are uncertain, we too are called, at this time, to step forward with clarity, compassion, and steadfastness.
Together we will explore how to bring the medicine of the Dharma into this moment of profound challenge, not as escape, but as a path of right action, refuge, and renewal.
|
|
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center
|
|
|
2025-09-06
Love and Refuge in a time of chaos - Q&A 2
45:57
|
|
Ajahn Sucitto
|
|
|
00:11 Q1 I have an urge for an inspirational, imaginational arising. It shows itself as a wish to be inspired. I find it hard to connect with Buddhist mythology, "seeing things as they are” seems not to be beneficial all the time. Some people in places seem to have a special effect on me and I can have so many positive feelings just by thinking about them. It feels like a gift. Is it real? Or constructed idea? 26:11 Q2 What is the relationship between the citta which is intrinsically luminous, nibbana, sensation and the anidassana viññāṇa described as endless and luminous all over. 36:52 Q3 How can we live wisely with past hurts? Related Q: I've noticed a change within the spectrum of love and hate that surprises me. It's not that I feel less for people but the craving and the attachment are missing in a way that allows me to feel more completely as I don't get lost in it.
|
|
Buddhist Society Summer School
|
|
|
2025-09-03
Love and Refuge in a time of chaos - Q&A 1
17:54
|
|
Ajahn Sucitto
|
|
|
00:09 Q1 Could you explain again what is meant by the phrase “post-truth world”? 02:15 Q2 - mic was far away, very difficult to hear; seems to be: What advice can you give regarding speech? 11:08 Q3 My dilemma is whether I watch the news or switch it off. It’s so overwhelming. But if I don’t watch it, what am I doing?
|
|
Buddhist Society Summer School
|
|
|
2025-09-03
Awakening from Ignorance: Going beyond the Main Habitual Constructions of Experience 1
60:24
|
|
Donald Rothberg
|
|
|
The Buddha saw the core problem in human life as "ignorance"(avijjā), not an ignorance of facts or information, but rather a not-knowing about the basic nature of reality and our experience. The Dalai Lama tells us: "There is a fundamental disparity between the way we perceive the world, including our own experience in it, and the way things actually are." We explore how similar understandings of a core human ignorance are found in Plato, Christian and Islamic traditions, and in later Buddhist traditions.
The Buddha said, in particular, that we are ignorant about impermanence, dukkha (or reactivity), and the nature of the self. We look into some of the main habitual constructions of experience, including a sense of permanent, stable, separate external objects, and a sense of a separate, independent self, pointing to ways of exploring such constructions meditatively. We also point to experiences in which we go beyond such constructions, in meditation and also in "flow" experiences. The talk is followed by discussion.
|
|
Spirit Rock Meditation Center
:
Monday and Wednesday Talks
|
|
|
2025-08-29
Der achtfache Pfad
54:05
|
|
Stefan Lang
|
|
|
Der achtfache Pfad ist ein zentraler Pfeiler in Buddhas Lehre. Darin enthalten sind die fundamentalen Bereiche von Ethik, Geistesschulung und Weisheit. Die acht Pfadglieder decken ein breites Spektrum der Lehre ab und sind quasi die Methode innerhalb der vier Wahrheiten aus Buddhas erster Rede.
|
|
Zentrum für Buddhismus - Bern
|
|
|
|
|
