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Heather Sundberg's Dharma Talks
Heather Sundberg
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.
2012-03-11 Compassion as the Path and Expression of Awakening 59:40
A "talk from the heart" blending aspects of wisdom and compassion. Teachings on the five recollections, the three characteristics and how to work with difficulties in cultivating compassion are offered through stories from the life of the Buddha, Dipa Ma, Darlene Cohen, Ruth Denison and His Holiness the Karmapa.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Insight Meditation Retreat, March Month Long
2012-03-05 Body as Teacher: First Foundation of Mindfulness 58:04
The central theme of this talk is the Body is the Teacher. Based on the Satipatthana Sutta with First Foundation emphasis, the talk outlines Mindfulness of Breathing, of the four postures, and of full awareness in the continuity of all activities. Offers practical instructions, personal stories, and stories from the time of the Buddha.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Insight Meditation Retreat, March Month Long
2012-01-10 Befriending the Difficult Person 57:11
Exploring on the levels of mind-heart-body, including teachings on patience, equanimity, compassion and forgiveness. The talk reflects on befriending the 'difficult' person in metta practice, with the underlying intention of reminding us that we are all in this together; that befriending difficult people can be both workable and transformational and that there are practical tools available to assist us on our journey.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Metta
2011-12-21 How Fear Transforms into Love 57:52
Through stories and practical instruction,s the talk illuminates the direct experience of fear and other challenging emotions and describes the transformation of fear into love through the practices of naming, mindfulness of the body/nervous system, lovingkindness and letting go.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Insight Meditation Solstice Retreat
2011-10-22 Awakening the Heart Daylong 28:11
Insight Santa Cruz
2011-07-21 The Wise Compassionate Heart 58:06
In this talk Heather discusses the wisdom aspects of compassion, such as the three characteristics of existence (change, stress, impersonality), explores obstacles to experiencing the compassionate heart, and presents daily life practices of compassion in action. The evening concludes with shares from the sangha on their personal compassion practices.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley IMCB Regular Talks
2011-04-21 Transforming Judgments is Possible 57:36
Through personal stories, practical techniques and humor, the talk outlines five areas for working with judgments: 1. Mindfulness of Body 2. RAIN Practice 3. Heart Practices 4. Learning about patterns 5. Value of wise friends
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Transforming the Judgmental Mind
2011-04-13 Doorways to Peace 63:13
Five ways to cultivate peace with experiential practice, quotes, stories and techniques.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks
2011-03-03 Living the Brahma Viharas 58:49
A discussion of the Four Divine Abodes: meditative states, thoughts, and actions to be cultivated in Buddhist meditation:
  • Loving-kindness (Metta)
  • Compassion (Karuna)
  • Sympathetic joy, joy with others (Mudita)
  • Equanimity (Upekkha)
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley IMCB Regular Talks
2011-01-15 Equanimity: Seeds of an Appropriate Response 62:04
Using images, stories and quotes from teachers and spiritual leaders, this talk explores the practice of equanimity, discussing the topics of dependent conditions, working with challenges to equanimity, and offering equanimity practice techniques.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Metta Retreat

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