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Dharma Talks
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

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