Heather Sundberg has taught insight meditation since 1999 and completed the Spirit Rock/IMS Teacher Training. Beginning her own meditation practice in her late teens, for the last 25 years, Heather has studied with senior teachers in the Insight Meditation (Vipassana) and Tibetan (Vajrayana) traditions and has sat 1-3 months of retreat a year for almost 20 years. She was the Spirit Rock Family & Teen Program Teacher & Manager for a decade. Between 2010- 2015 she spent a cumulative one-year in study, practice, and pilgrimage in Asia. Since 2011, she has been a Teacher at Mountain Stream Meditation Center and sister communities in the Sierra Foothills, and also teaches nationally, especially at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Her teaching emphasizes embodiment, compassion and practical wisdom.
This talk explores the Fire Sermon taught by the Buddha and offers reflections and 5 somatic practices which help us transform reactivity into freedom.
Instructions and Guided Meditation describe 4 ways of practicing with Emotions: 1. Label it 2. Feel the Emotion in the Body 3. Space as a Support 4. Noticing the emotion changes
When we understand that direct experience is not solid/not separate, we can embrace experience in its changing conditionality with the heart of compassion and inclusion born of non-clinging. This is the inter-weaving of the teachings of emptiness and suchness, and the talk will explore teachings and practices which support us to live from this wiser view.
This Talk shares Heather's favorite teachings and practices of the First Foundation of Mindfulness of the Body and Mindfulness of the Nervous System.
Heather offers a variety of simple short direct body/nervous system practices to support you during COVID-19 times and for everyday resiliency building. I hope it is helpful for you.
This innovative talk describes the process and advanced practice of Integrating our Insights, including types of insight, what the mind does immediately after an insight, teasing apart the clinging & the natural impulse to integrate insight, how to test the insight, how to include & purify 'the clinging that remains', and learning to live the insight.
Offered on the Spring Equinox Full Moon, the Talk opens with stories & metaphors of the Moon, and then moves into exploring a map of practice from the Thai forest tradition from the perspectives of theory, practical application and guided practice.
Sati (Mindfulness) - MahaSati (Great Mindfulness) - Sati-Panna (Mindfulness Wisdom) - Panna-Vimutti (Wisdom which leads to Release).
Includes guidance about practicing with:
1. A Primary Object such as the breath,
2. Secondary Objects such as other body sensations or sounds,
3. Opening into Choiceness Awareness of numerous arising & passing objects -
In addition the guidance includes some tips on how to listen to our practice to know which instructions to engage in during different cycles of meditation practice.
This Talk explores how deepening stages of Insight practice lead to awakening. Beginning with the ground of Sila (ethical conduct), supporting the development of Samadhi (concentration) which provides the power & pliancy of mind for Panna (seeing clearly) practice. The Three Characteristics (impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, not self) are explored, as well as working with cycles of purification. With continuous practice a new cycle into mature Equanimity can emerge as a jumping off point to further awakening.
