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The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
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Dharma Talks
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2008-11-04
The Torah and the Triple Gem
1:13:35
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Ayya Medhanandi
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An autobiographical portrait of Ayya Medhanandi’s life, from her meeting with her first teacher in India in her early twenties to her career as a nutritionist and going forth to become a Theravada Buddhist nun. She notes the striking similarities between the tenets of her ancient Judaic faith and the principles of Theravada Buddhism. The inward journey goes beyond religious belief - crossing fixed boundaries for the sake of realizing our true spiritual heritage. A talk given at H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Vancouver, Canada in 2008.
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H.R. MacMillan Space Center, Vancouver, B.C.
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2008-11-03
Shoot Me First: Right Intention, Effort & Social Responsibility
1:17:35
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Ayya Medhanandi
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As we follow the steps of the Eightfold Noble Path, our hatred, greed, and delusion abate. We may yet suffer, but we use our suffering to fathom the meaning of it, see its causes, and see the possibility for ending suffering. The four Noble Truths come alive within. Invariably, our suffering manifests in many forms. It may never ‘end’ but it ceases to be a problem as our fear or aversion to it die. Persevering in this work is the way to make peace with our suffering.
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University of British Colombia
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2008-10-30
Ascending the Altar
34:52
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Ayya Medhanandi
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What is renunciation? Patiently we learn how to let go of the thoughts and actions that enslave us to samsara. And we begin to understand what it takes to tame the ego and cultivate greater and greater compassion in its boundless quality. Through this magnificent process, we study the way to ascend the altar and sit with our teacher, the Buddha.
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Birken Forest Monastery
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2008-10-23
Bodhisattva's Way Of Life #9: Dedication Of Merit
55:46
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James Baraz
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This week I will complete the Shantideva series with his final chapter on the power of dedicating your actions as an act of generosity. We often end the sittings or a period of practice by sharing any merit for the benefit of all beings. This practice can be used in very simple but potent ways as a method for brining a heartfelt sincerity to your practice for the benefit of specific individuals. For instance if you’re trying to change a habit, offering the merit of that wholesome change to someone who is having a hard time in their life.
This practice of dedicating merit both connects you with others and motivates you beyond mere self-improvement. We’ll be exploring just how this can work in our daily life to give energy and enthusiasm to our practice.
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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IMCB Regular Talks
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2008-10-22
Practicing With Fear - part I
58:16
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Donald Rothberg
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Fear is a very powerful force in our lives- personally, interpersonally and socially. What is fear and how do we work with it? Here we explore the nature of fear and its complex nature as involving intelligence and an urge to action, but also commonly reactivity and delusions. We suggest several main ways of practicing, 1) coming back to balance through antidotes such as metta, beauty and refuges in our deeper values; 2) mindfulness; 3) wisdom and 4) active inquiry and engagement with our own fear.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2008-10-07
Ten Paramis
62:27
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Lama Surya Das
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The ten paramis (or perfections) are transformative practices of a Bodhisattva, one who is on the path to liberation. In the Zen school of Buddhism these ten paramis are generosity, ethics, patience, effort, meditation, wisdom, skillful means, spiritual aspiration, higher accomplishment, and awakened awareness. These practices become perfected qualities in an awakened one. The first 6 paramis, starting with generosity and building up to wisdom, are laid out in the Pali Canon, which is said to record the actual words of the Buddha. Later, in Mahayana sutras, these 6 were expanded to 10 to provide the far-reaching, well-rounded principles for living the good life. You can read all about these perfections in Lama Surya Das' book, Buddha Is As Buddha Does
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Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
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2008-10-01
Inviting Mara To Tea
1:12:00
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Tara Brach
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One of the great archetypal themes in the Buddha's life is facing Mara, the shadow side of greed, hatred and delusion. Rather than being seduced, fighting or running away, the Buddha simply recognized Mara's presence and invited him to tea. This talk and guided meditation explores the theme of a radical and engaged presence, and how it directly translates into a sacred path of healing and freedom.
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Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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2008-09-25
The Good News
26:34
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Ayya Medhanandi
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Are we able to sit with a quiet mind and know the fragrance of silence? All of us are familiar with the stressful impacts of relentless thought and reactivity on our well-being. The good news is that we can free ourselves from the inner floods and tempests by deepening our meditation practice and intuitive insight. As we hone these skills in conducive conditions, we prepare to test our spiritual mettle in the vicissitudes of everyday life.
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True North Insight
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TNI Regular Talks
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2008-09-24
Soul Retrieval
1:12:07
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Tara Brach
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When we become stressed and reactive, we lose contact with our natural spontaneity, wisdom and openheartedness. This talk investigates the ways we become caught in the stress-trance and the key elements in awakening: pausing and remindfulness. Using the gateway of the senses, we explore both the pathway of presence and the gifts of reconnecting with soul, spirit, essence.
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Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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2008-09-24
Mirror Mirror on the Wall
32:14
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Ayya Medhanandi
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Is your mind full of the present moment at all times? We can learn to integrate our practice with our everyday lives as awareness develops when we are both on and off the meditation cushion. With diligence, we can realize a mind that is bright and radiant, full of joy and peace. A talk given at a True North Insight weekend retreat in the Padua Centre, Montreal, Canada.
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Sati Saraniya Hermitage
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