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The greatest gift is the gift of the teachings
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Dharma Talks
2023-12-27
The Sacred Pause
54:54
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Tara Brach
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When we are lost in the trance of doing, our lives are on automatic, and contracted by sense that something’s wrong or missing. This talk explores the challenges of learning to pause, and the blessings that arise when we step out of our incessant mental and physical activity and reconnect with the being-qualities of presence, wisdom and love (a favorite from the archives).
“The deepest expression of love is this non-doing presence because that’s when we are inhabiting who we really are.”
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Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
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2023-12-23
May All Beings Be Happy?
1:24:59
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Nathan Glyde
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Exploring what it means to wish for all beings to be happy. Looking at a couple of ways we compromise on the fullness of 'all', or limit our understanding of where happiness comes from and depends upon; Bringing head and heart together à la Thānissaro Bhikku, we can find a new drive to wish lasting blameless happiness for all beings, now, gone, and yet to come. Sabbe Satta Sukita Hontu.
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Gaia House
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Online Dharma Hall - December 2023
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2023-12-20
The Dharma in Times of Crisis
1:20:00
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Donald Rothberg,
Stephen Fulder
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Stephen Fulder, the founder and senior teacher of Tovana (the Israel Insight Society), is in conversation with Donald Rothberg. We hold the understanding of "crisis" broadly, remembering that we are in the midst of multiple crises, while giving more attention to Israel/Palestine. Such crises are a major challenge to our dharma practice. In this context, we explore a number of different themes, including bringing our practice to difficult experiences that often arise in a crisis, such as fear, emotional pain, reactivity, numbness, and the presence of repetitive negative narratives and views. We also identify, during the conversation, a number of resources, including qualities of compassion, empathy, equanimity, and the importance of finding a "refuge"and deep support in different ways. The conversation is followed by discussion, and a closing guided meditation.
[During the conversation, we see a short (3:28) video of Tovana teachers speaking a sentence each about the current crisis, in Hebrew, with English sub-titles. The video can be seen at https://youtu.be/NqKoCm2TMhA?feature=shared.]
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2023-12-17
On A Path We Trust
30:25
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Ayya Medhanandi
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Let us not serve the false, fierce tyranny of fear – withering, unworthy, not to be clung to, and not who we are. By emptying the mind of fearful thoughts, we stop clinging to anything of the world – one moment at a time. Tasting the joy of true freedom, we enter that dimension of transcendence, beyond the prison of grasping a self and all its adornments. For there is no 'one' to be afraid, no ‘one’ who dies, and no ‘one’ to awaken. But there is waking up as we let go into the peace of selfless awareness.
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Toronto Theravada Buddhist Community (TBC)
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2023-12-17
A Jet Plane To Nibbana
23:04
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Ayya Medhanandi
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Across millenia, the Buddha speaks of his awakening – teaching us how to take refuge, how to be fearless, how to walk the Middle Way, how to understand suffering, and how to know what to trust. Fear is the opposite of trust. So be willing to relinquish concepts and questions and let yourself live into the answers day by day where fear can end – there in the pure sanctuary of the heart. For this, we learn to have compassion even for those who kill us. But we must give up what is not trustworthy. With courage, compassion, and clear awareness of what we face now, stay quietly present and listen carefully. The truth will speak, and we shall understand.
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Sati Saraniya Hermitage
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2023-12-13
Awakening from Trance – Embracing Unlived Life
51:35
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Tara Brach
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When physical or emotional pain is too much, our conditioning is to pull away and avoid direct contact with raw feelings. The result is a trance – we are split off from the wholeness of our aliveness, intelligence and capacity to love. This talk explores how this dissociation shows up in our lives and how mindfulness enables us to integrate cut-off parts of our being in a powerful way, and awaken from this trance.
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Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
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2023-12-10
Q&A
49:03
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Ajahn Sucitto
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00:00 Q1 When we're doing sitting meditation are we to be mindful of feelings inside the whole body as we breathe in and out? When anybody sensations or pain arises are we to contemplate them with loving kindness?
10:55 Q2 Is it okay to use the mantra Bhudo for sitting meditation?
11:58 Q3 Are there different realities of truth? For example historical, scientific, personal? Ultimate reality? Everything is what it should be, no good no bad.
17:07 Q4 How can the dhamma help two people in a relationship resolve an indiscretion of the moral code? How does the dhamma guide one to accept responsibility for actions that harm another?
20:23 Q5 Citta - is it a harmony between the brain and the heart? Does it include all levels of consciousness?
31:36 Q6 At the point of death what do we do when we're overwhelmed with pain? If the mind is too weak to maintain equanimity? What happens if one dies totally consumed by pain?
41:09 Q7 Could QiGong help me to be more balanced in body and mind?
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Wongsanit Ashram, Thailand
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Finding Your True Ground - Awareness as a Refuge
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