There is a certain aliveness that comes when we speak honestly in a
vulnerable, yet clear communication. It aligns us with our truth and we
become authentic and wisely powerful. But it's often not easy to do that.
I've based this talk on my son Adam's final thesis from Naropa University
where he recently graduated with a B.A. in somatic and contemplative
psychology. I was quite impressed and moved by it. It made me think. I
wanted to share it as we explore Wise Speech together.
We spend much of our life on our way somewhere else, driven by the sense that something is missing or wrong. This talk explores the suffering that arises from our addiction to busyness and "doing," and the healing, loving and wisdom that arise when we take refuge in presence.
The heart and essence of the Dharma is to realize the four noble truths and the characteristics of existence. How we realize this is by walking along the eight fold path.
Starts with one of John's poems describing the currents that push and pull us as we begin this journey -- coupled with one of his India stories from 40 years ago..
This talk is about addressing the first day of a week of intensive meditation practice. Exploration and instructions on working with challenges around gathering inspiration to deepen practice.
Review of the 3 characteristics and 5 precepts. Exploration of faith and refuge as we leave retreat. Explanation of 'karooke' as appreciation practice.
In this telling of the Buddha's story, we find archetypes that reveal a universal path of awakening and freedom. We explore how each of us has the potential to realize the loving and radiant awareness that is our source.
After a review of our first two sessions, we explore, both through an overview and through experiential exercises, bodily-based practices to help cultivate equanimity.
Judgment is seeing the world in quantifiable terms. There a holistic way of seeing that is not partial and comparative but becomes inaccessible when we believe in judgment. Let the presence of judgment remind you that your thinking and emoting is arising from an incomplete perception. Quiet yourself to the inward narrative and allow the whole mind, undivided by judgment, to arise.
All about walking meditation as seen through the lens of the Eightfold Path to Freedom.
NOTE: There are some audio quality issues for the first 18:36 minutes...clean thereafter.
An exploration of the ten most frequently raised questions, concerns and issues of Dharma practitioners, in sustaining and deepening practice in their everyday life.
This talk uses the Buddha's model of the Middle Way to explore our tendencies to get caught either in obsessing about self, others and world, or in trying to reject and deny the same. Martin points to a creative, dynamic engagement with experience which reflects the title of the talk.
