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Dharma Talks
2009-12-27 Opening Talk for Stillness and Insight - New Years Retreat 44:19
Christina Feldman
This talk also includes Rob Burbea and Catherine McGee
Gaia House Stillness and Insight - New Years Retreat

2009-12-22 Chant - Sharing Of The Blessing 3:01
Marcia Rose
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Metta (Lovingkindness) and Upekkha (Equanimity) Retreat

2009-12-22 Closing Talk - "Practice Here and There - Practice Everywhere" 61:07
Marcia Rose
Taking practice out of the intensive retreat and settling into the larger world of our daily lives.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Metta (Lovingkindness) and Upekkha (Equanimity) Retreat

2009-12-22 Face Paint: Mindfulness, Concentration and Wisdom 44:55
John Travis
The talk explores the aspects of practice of collecting the mind, intuitive insight, non-separation of a single taste, and ordinariness, through sharing stories, poetry and teachings.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Insight Meditation at the Solstice: Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light

2009-12-22 Morning Instructions 42:57
Marcia Rose
Review of instructions given in the last three days. In addition, a reflection on recognizing vitaka, vicara, piti, and sukha. When they are being experienced and to what degree with acknowledgment and appreciation.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Metta (Lovingkindness) and Upekkha (Equanimity) Retreat

2009-12-21 Practicing with Darkness (and Light) at the Winter Solstice 55:46
Donald Rothberg
The winter solstice in our culture sometimes is close to busy and even frenzied times, yet in most cultures has been a time of deepening, stillness, and silence, like the earth. We explore four ways to practice with the darkness of the time: 1) Through stopping and stilling our habituated minds; 2) Through opening to the unknown; 3) Trhough being with what is painful or difficult; 4) Through allowing the light and the creative to emerge from darkness
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Insight Meditation at the Solstice: Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light

2009-12-21 Putting Down the Burden of Self 52:43
Myoshin Kelley
Part 3 of the 3 Characteristics. Exploration of what we cling to when there is a sense of self.
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge December 2009 at IMS - Forest Refuge

2009-12-21 The Joy and Healing Capacities of Samadhi. 65:55
Pat Coffey
Deepened samadhi onto jhana is described as well as the capacity for samadhi to assist in healing trauma.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Metta (Lovingkindness) and Upekkha (Equanimity) Retreat

2009-12-21 Morning Instructions 43:37
Pat Coffey
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Metta (Lovingkindness) and Upekkha (Equanimity) Retreat

2009-12-20 Challenges To Concentration 1:11:01
Pat Coffey
Benefits of samadhi, challenges to it's cultivation and practical skilful means to overcome those challenges.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Metta (Lovingkindness) and Upekkha (Equanimity) Retreat

2009-12-20 Shared Values of Freedom & Clarity 29:47
Mark Nunberg
Dharma Talk
Common Ground Meditation Center

2009-12-20 Morning Instructions 27:24
Marcia Rose
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge December 2009 at IMS - Forest Refuge

2009-12-19 Wise Concentration 67:33
Marcia Rose
An overview of the teaching of sila/virtues, samadhi/concentration and panna/wisdom - insight with a detailed emphasis on the practice and fruits of concentration practice.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Metta (Lovingkindness) and Upekkha (Equanimity) Retreat

2009-12-19 Body Scan 25:20
Mark Nunberg
Guided Meditation
Common Ground Meditation Center

2009-12-19 Morning Instructions 54:43
Pat Coffey
Emphasizing the cultivation of greater samadhi
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Metta (Lovingkindness) and Upekkha (Equanimity) Retreat

2009-12-19 Mind The Gap 49:44
Jenny Wilks
Gaia House Stillness, Clarity and Freedom

2009-12-18 Opening Talk with refuges and precepts 1:16:25
Marcia Rose
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Metta (Lovingkindness) and Upekkha (Equanimity) Retreat

2009-12-18 "I am a Bad Meditator": Seeing through the Illusion of Self 62:09
Eugene Cash
How mindfulness works with the construct of self - exploring the dynamic between self and not self.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Contemplating Peace: A Holy Day Retreat

2009-12-18 Opening Talk For Stillness, Clarity and Freedon Retreat 50:01
Chris Cullen
Gaia House Stillness, Clarity and Freedom

2009-12-17 The World Was Made to Be Free In: Mindfulness as the Path to Freedom 44:39
Pamela Weiss
This talk explores the Buddha's path to awakening, his encounters with Mara, and the power of Mindfulness.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Contemplating Peace: A Holy Day Retreat

2009-12-17 Willing to become vulnerable; willing to become part of the family of life 54:55
Arinna Weisman
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley IMCB Regular Talks

2009-12-16 Awakening from the Trance of Separation 1:15:04
Tara Brach
This talk explores both our perception and feelings of separation, and the capacity, through a wise attention, to move from judgment and reactivity to the full flowering of love.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2009-12-16 Footsteps of the Buddha: The Highest Happiness is Peace 60:51
Howard Cohn
The Path of Practice seen through prism of the Buddha's Life; updated but similar to talks on Happiness.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Contemplating Peace: A Holy Day Retreat

2009-12-16 Channeling Energy into the Four Exertions 56:06
Mark Nunberg
Dharma Talk
Common Ground Meditation Center

2009-12-16 Closing Remarks and Q&A 56:28
Thanissara
Not being frightened of suffering, daily life, working in relationship and with sickness.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Wings of Awakening: Cultivating the Five Spiritual Faculties

2009-12-16 Touching Earth 7:04
Thanissara
Centering in the midst of change.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Wings of Awakening: Cultivating the Five Spiritual Faculties

2009-12-16 Practicing With Views II 57:24
Donald Rothberg
The Buddha's teaching on views and beliefs is radical, pointing to how we might investigate our attachments to and grasping after views and come to hold views much more lightly. How do we practice with views? We offer a number of further perspectives, from the Buddha and Nagarjuna, and practices to work with views.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2009-12-15 The Host and the Guest 27:30
Kittisaro
Wisdom surmounts all conditions. All condition merge in the deathless. A contemplation of the 3rd Noble Truth.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Wings of Awakening: Cultivating the Five Spiritual Faculties

2009-12-15 Ten Paramis: Equanimity (2) 46:18
Rodney Smith
There are a number of ways to incline the mind toward the discovery of equanimity. Each perception of equanimity has a training explored in this discourse.
Seattle Insight Meditation Society
In collection: The Ten Paramis

2009-12-15 Take Heart 32:22
Kittisaro
Balance within practice. A compassionate response. From is emptiness, emptiness is form. The gift of fearlessness. The way of generosity, kindness and integrity.
Dharmagiri

2009-12-14 The Rub of Life 51:22
Myoshin Kelley
Part 2 of the 3 Characteristics. Exploration of that which by it's nature is unsatisfactory.
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge December 2009 at IMS - Forest Refuge

2009-12-14 The Four Truths 54:33
Thanissara
The Buddha's journey of awakeningspeaks to our lives here and now. Meeting dukka, illuminating nature of desire, a non-grasping mind and cultivation of the way.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Wings of Awakening: Cultivating the Five Spiritual Faculties

2009-12-14 Mindfulness; The Flood Stopper 42:07
Thanissara
Centrality of mindfulness in the contemplative process. Khandas as self structure. Transformation within the womb of awareness.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Wings of Awakening: Cultivating the Five Spiritual Faculties

2009-12-13 If you understand one thing, you understand everything's journey 45:58
Thanissara
Meeting Ajahn Chah, All that arises passes. Patience and finding your own voice.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Wings of Awakening: Cultivating the Five Spiritual Faculties

2009-12-13 The Judging Mind 47:23
Eugene Cash
San Francisco Insight Meditation Community

2009-12-13 The Hard Things That Open the Heart 47:58
James Baraz
The Hard Things That Open the Heart
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2009-12-13 The Hard Things That Open The Heart 36:51
Rick Hanson
The Hard Things That Open the Heart
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2009-12-13 Reading the Book of the Heart 38:13
Kittisaro
Hindrances as the teacher, cultivating trust. Mindfulness is the path to the deathless. That which knows doubt isn't doubt.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Wings of Awakening: Cultivating the Five Spiritual Faculties

2009-12-12 The Map Of The Five Indriyas 57:21
Thanissara
The five indriyas in their four aspects. The balance of trudst and discernment. Path activity breaks up obstruction, the fruit arises according to its own nature.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Wings of Awakening: Cultivating the Five Spiritual Faculties

2009-12-12 Guided Meditation 26:54
Thanissara
Working with the three steams of energy, being with breath
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Wings of Awakening: Cultivating the Five Spiritual Faculties

2009-12-12 Loving Kindness 57:27
Yanai Postelnik
Gaia House Loving Kindness Retreat

2009-12-11 Compassion 52:42
Christina Feldman
Spirit Rock Meditation Center MBSR

2009-12-11 Wings Of Awakening Opening 49:51
Kittisaro
That which inclines the mind to Nibbana, original brightness.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Wings of Awakening: Cultivating the Five Spiritual Faculties

2009-12-11 Opening Talk for Loving Kindness Retreat 69:18
Yanai Postelnik
Gaia House Loving Kindness Retreat

2009-12-10 Shower the People with Love 46:04
James Baraz
This is a talk about establishing healing and reconciliation on both a personal and a community level. The Buddha taught was "As long as followers of the Way hold regular and frequent assemblies, they may be expected to prosper and not decline. As long as they meet in harmony, carry on their business in harmony, and break up in harmony, they may be expected to prosper and not decline."
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley IMCB Regular Talks

2009-12-10 Forgiveness 42:25
Mary Grace Orr
Insight Santa Cruz

2009-12-09 Longing to Belong 1:20:06
Tara Brach
Spiritual practice reveals our belonging through bringing presence to three gateways: the aliveness of the present moment, loving relatedness, and the openness and lucidity of awareness itself. This talk includes guided meditations in exploring each gateway.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2009-12-09 By Not Holding to Fixed Views 60:37
Sylvia Boorstein
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2009-12-08 Wise Mindfulness 54:09
Christina Feldman
Spirit Rock Meditation Center MBSR

2009-12-07 Sangha, the value of community 58:03
Mark Coleman
The Buddha spoke highly of the value of Sangha, as a refuge and a support for practice & understanding. This talk explores what Sangha is & its positive values.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2009-12-07 It Wasn't Meant to Last 57:40
Myoshin Kelley
Part 1 of the 3 Characteristics. Exploring change as a fact of life.
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge December 2009 at IMS - Forest Refuge

2009-12-06 Energy and Intimacy Part 2 60:44
Mark Nunberg
Dharma Talk
Common Ground Meditation Center

2009-12-06 The Innernet 45:13
Jose Reissig
This newly coined term refers to the web of connections with our inner life, which remains largely unspoiled by conventionality. The Innernet stands as an invaluable tool for our trying times, and for the even more difficult times to come.
Dominican Sisters center at Saugerties :  Rhinebeck Sitting Group Retreat

2009-12-05 Autobiography In Five Short Chapters 52:58
Christina Feldman
Spirit Rock Meditation Center MBSR

2009-12-05 We Are That Song 18:37
Ayya Medhanandi
Our suffering may feel too great or the mountain look too high. But we are resilient and we have it in us to do this work, to walk this path – if we can give up thoughts of self-cherishing and feel compassion for ourselves and for all beings. The fruit of this work is a treasure to be gained even in the smallest instant of awareness. With radical patience, just make peace with one moment of painful feeling. Then offer up the pain or misery. From the ashes of suffering, we turn inward to the clarity of the mind. Stay fully present in awareness, listening to that silence. Such a song comes – the pure sound of this awareness. That's what we are. We are that song.
Ottawa Buddhist Society (Sisters of St. Joseph Convent)

2009-12-05 Beginner's Mind 37:58
Jose Reissig
An invitation to reinstate our genuine and uncorrupted beginner's mind.
Dominican Sisters center at Saugerties :  Rhinebeck Sitting Group Retreat

2009-12-05 Wilderness of the Heart 59:18
Akincano Marc Weber
Gaia House Wilderness of the Heart

2009-12-04 Out of This World 27:26
Ayya Medhanandi
By deeply examining the mind as the Buddha taught, we see our stark human predicament, why we suffer and the real source of happiness. For he awakened to suffering’s end and the noble path to freedom. With immense gratitude for his teaching, we learn how we are caught grasping the world, compelled by its impingement and tormented ever after. We realize the ineffable vanquishing of that disease – when we stop giving vent to the wanting mind and live each moment from a pure compassionate and wise awareness. And so, quite apart from the world, we directly know here and now, within our own heart – the truest joy, the supreme peace of Nibbana.
Toronto Theravada Buddhist Community (TBC)

2009-12-04 Dharma 101 45:49
Jose Reissig
A review of the very basic teachings of the Buddha - i.e. The Four Noble Truths -, paying particular attention to their pragmatic and experiential nature.
Dominican Sisters center at Saugerties :  Rhinebeck Sitting Group Retreat

2009-12-04 Opening Talk for Wilderness of the Heart Retreat 38:19
Akincano Marc Weber
Gaia House Wilderness of the Heart

2009-12-03 Undoing Mental Knots 45:00
Anam Thubten
"Undoing Mental Knots" or "Getting Rid of Concepts"
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley IMCB Regular Talks

2009-12-03 Beginners' Class - The Frontier of Intimacy 21:44
Ayya Medhanandi
Hospice
Sati Saraniya Hermitage :  Hospice Talks and Guided Meditations

2009-12-02 Practicing with Views Part I 63:22
Donald Rothberg
We explore the nature of "views" (or strong beliefs or opinions) and how to practice with them by 1) grounding ourselves in some of the famous passages on views in the teachings of the Buddha, 2)identifying why and how views can be problematic and lead to suffering, and 3) offering practices this week to explore our views, whether personal, political or religious/spiritual.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2009-11-30 The Perfections/Paramitas with Kilung Jigme Rinpoche Part 2 68:10
Jack Kornfield
Theravadat & Tibetan approaches to the paramitas Part 2
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2009-11-30 The Perfections/Paramitas with Kilung Jigme Rinpoche Part 1 8:06
Jack Kornfield
Theravada & Tibetan approaches to the paramitas... Introduction to Rinpoche
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2009-11-30 Ananda 64:58
Carol Wilson
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge November 2009 at IMS - Forest Refuge

2009-11-30 Acceptance and Surrender: Personal Stories 57:09
Robert K. Hall
Acceptance involves "letting in" and "letting out" regardless of approval or disapproval. Surrender can only happen when "the me" opens to it all - the yes and the no, the me and not-me.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Thanksgiving

2009-11-29 Energy and Intimacy Part 1 55:07
Mark Nunberg
Dharma Talk
Common Ground Meditation Center

2009-11-29 Intimacy with the Body and Breath 34:32
Mark Nunberg
Guided Meditation
Common Ground Meditation Center

2009-11-28 Trust And Letting Go Into The Unknown 58:54
Sharda Rogell
A talk given on a weekend retreat. With Trust as our main support, we begin to let go of our hopes and fears and drop into the truth of uncertainty. This is the doorway to freedom.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Living an Awakened Life: Insight Meditation Weekend

2009-11-28 With Every Breath, You Are Alive 57:28
Trudy Goodman
This talk weaves together questions from interviews about sexuality and gratitude for humanness with the 4 noble truths and 4 great vows and a smattering of dependent origination.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Thanksgiving

2009-11-27 To Stand in the Middle of All Things 49:55
Myoshin Kelley
An exploration of the quality of equanimity and the unshakable balance that it brings.
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge November 2009 at IMS - Forest Refuge

2009-11-27 Wheel of Freedom 53:45
John Travis
The talk shares the wheel of Dependent Origination and how to tap into the Wheel of Freedom.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Thanksgiving

2009-11-26 The Paradox of Completion 55:43
Teja Bell
Completion and Incompletion in the intimate weave of the Dharma of Understanding and then resting in the transcendent wisdom of pure unconditioned awareness.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Thanksgiving

2009-11-25 Gratitude and Generosity 1:16:09
Tara Brach
While we value gratitude and generosity, our daily life can often have an undercurrent of complaint and an anxious kind of self-centeredness. This Thanksgiving Eve talk explores teachings and practices that reconnect us with the sense of wonder and abundance that characterizes our own awakened heart.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2009-11-25 4 Foundations as an Evolutionary Journey 58:34
Wes Nisker
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Thanksgiving

2009-11-25 Distraction 61:52
Donald Rothberg
We look at the nature of distraction- not attending to what is our intended focus- in three main ways, each of which we can respond to: 1) our distraction moment to moment and how we train in mindfulness, 2) our distraction in our everyday lives, and 3) how our lives become distracted in relation to our deeper intentions.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2009-11-25 Space and Self 53:01
Catherine McGee
Gaia House November Solitary Retreat

2009-11-24 Live It Up 49:37
Trudy Goodman
Overcoming the brain's negative bias. Inclining the mind toward appreciation.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Thanksgiving

2009-11-24 Ten Paramis: Equanimity (1) 56:46
Rodney Smith
Equanimity is a balance between the relative sorrows and ultimate perfection of the world. It is a full embrace of life as it is, without disturbance.
Seattle Insight Meditation Society
In collection: The Ten Paramis

2009-11-24 The Paramis 53:25
Yanai Postelnik
Gaia House November Solitary Retreat

2009-11-23 It Doesn't Belong to You 54:30
Robert K. Hall
A description of the autonomy of life functions and how they all are independent of the ego-self when when the ego claims ownership.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Thanksgiving

2009-11-22 Energy and Joy 57:25
Mark Nunberg
Dharma Talk
Common Ground Meditation Center

2009-11-22 Baptism of Fire 17:47
Ayya Medhanandi
Sometimes it takes an illness or a loss to wake up. The wheel of Dhamma turns us towards the centre point, where all the mind’s movements are stilled so that we can see the truth of suffering. Fear arises but we can observe it ceasing in the light of our inner spiritual work. Gently, patient and aware, with selflessness and noble intent, we persevere.
Toronto Theravada Buddhist Community (TBC)

2009-11-20 Noble Subtrefuge - Four Royal Efforts 32:57
Ayya Medhanandi
How can we trick the mind out of its old habits? The Buddha emphasized the power of the four Right Efforts. These royal allies advance the mind to its highest potential, the supreme wisdom possible for a human being. We are here to work for and receive this, our rightful inheritance - awakening to the truth of the Dhamma through our own intuitive realizations.
Ottawa Buddhist Society

2009-11-19 Lessons from Nature 49:24
Myoshin Kelley
Discovering nature as both a support to meditation and a teacher.
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge November 2009 at IMS - Forest Refuge

2009-11-19 Opening the Doors of the Heart 56:04
Mary Grace Orr
How can we open our hearts? This talk explores the practices of forgiveness and compassion, as well as that of gratitude. The Metta Sutta provides the background for this exploration.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Insight Meditation Retreat

2009-11-19 The Body: The Storehouse of Experience 55:10
James Baraz
The body is where we store emotions and register deep insights. This talk explores the implication of those facts: how we keep getting caught in thoughts that we know don’t serve us and why it takes time and patience to embody the wisdom our mind knows is true
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley IMCB Regular Talks

2009-11-19 Joy 30:34
Christina Feldman
Gaia House November Solitary Retreat

2009-11-18 Refuge in Loving Presence 1:19:15
Tara Brach
There are times when there is so much fear and reactivity, that the first step in moving toward freedom is to connect with some sense of safety and love. This talk explores how an inner pathway to loving presence can support us in facing and awakening through traumatic wounding.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2009-11-18 The Cure for Pain Is in the Pain 65:58
Howard Cohn
Working with the difficult mental states, especially the 5 hindrances.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Insight Meditation Retreat

2009-11-18 Emptiness & Compassion Part IV 61:04
Donald Rothberg
After a short account of emptiness and how we cultivate a deeper understanding of it in very practical ways, we explore the nature of compassion. We look at how it can be developed and what forms it can take, all the time pointing to how mature compassion invloves a deep sense of emptiness and interconnection (and vice versa).
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2009-11-18 Views and Shifts in Views 49:00
Catherine McGee
Gaia House November Solitary Retreat

2009-11-18 Dependent Origination 59:37
Yanai Postelnik
Gaia House November Solitary Retreat

2009-11-17 Curiosity, Confidence and Contentment 45:48
Mary Grace Orr
We need places of refuge in our lives and we need an inner place of stillness. Curiosity, confidence and contentment as we develop mindfulness can be useful in developing inner refuge.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Insight Meditation Retreat

2009-11-17 The Wisdom of Non-Duality 65:39
Rob Burbea
Gaia House November Solitary Retreat

2009-11-16 Embracing Our Humanness 53:06
Mark Coleman
How do we open our hearts to the fullness of ourselves, our pain, and the whole human experience...
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2009-11-16 Silence of the Non-Reactive Mind 59:31
Carol Wilson
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge November 2009 at IMS - Forest Refuge

2009-11-15 Getting And Not Getting 51:07
Greg Scharf
Much of our conditioning is about getting and having (things, experiences, etc) Our path in meditation and dharma practice is much more about letting go, relinquishment and surrender.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Two-Month Retreat

2009-11-15 Mindfulness and Right Effort 63:19
Kevin Griffin
Dharma Talk
Common Ground Meditation Center

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