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Tempel Smith's Dharma Talks
Tempel Smith
Tempel Smith spent a year ordained as a monk in Burma and teaches Buddhist psychology and social activism in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently part of the IMS/Spirit Rock Teacher Training Program.
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2024-05-02 DPP7 - Three Nibbanas in Theravada 1:36:21
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Spirit Rock has blessed lineages from both Ven. Ajahn Cha and Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. From our deep connection to these traditional lineages, we can see at least three different kinds of Nibbana: 1. Nibbana for Everyone; 2. Dealthless Awareness; and 3. Complete Zero. As a maturing community of western Insight practitioners rooted in several lineages, we have the benefit of many styles of practice and Buddhist understandings. We also have the challenge of there being so many practices, and experience to where they lead. Here in this talk we explore three common understandings of Nibbana and how the various traditions guide us to them.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  DPP7 Retreat #5
2022-02-20 The 3rd and 4th Foundations of Mindfulness 63:46
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While the 3rd and fourth foundations of mindfulness can be taught as their own separate topics, it can be very useful to look at the language and instruction given in both of them together. In the 3rd foundation we rest mindfully in all cognitive and emotional states as they arise and pass with the courage not to change them. In the 4th foundation of mindfulness we use this deeper intimacy from the 3rd foundation to act most skillfully in how we let go of suffering states and welcome wholesome states.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  February Insight Meditation 1 Month Retreat
2022-02-02 Mindfulness of the Body 61:17
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The Buddha stated we are often lost in craving and aversion when we are not mindful of our bodies. In a discourse named the Six Animals (SN 35.247) the Buddha strongly encouraged developing the concentration of body mindfulness as a pillar to collect and calm oneself, and learn to have a conscious relationship to the six sense. From developing calm and collectedness mindfulness of the body continues to liberate us from our confusions towards having a body. As both a refuge of samadhi and a place for deepening wisdom, mindfulness of the body is considered the central foundation to the buddha's path to freedom here and now, and ultimate liberation.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  February Insight Meditation 1 Month Retreat
2022-01-30 Simple Breath and Body Awareness 30:37
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All practices of mindfulness begin with commitment toward breath and body awareness. This is where we start our practice and where our practice develops. Here in this guided meditation we simplify our ambition just to rest in the in breath and out breath.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  February Insight Meditation 1 Month Retreat
2022-07-08 Simple Mettā Meditation 25:00
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Setting up and devoting ourselves to a steady mettā (loving kindness) meditation practice, we start where it is easiest and where we can keep it simple. With a basis of blending a sense of ease and relaxation with patient steady attentiveness, we invite mettā to arise in our hearts supported internally by images and phrases. Though it takes some experimenting to find balance with these tools, the repetition of mettā phrases keeps directing our attention to the purpose of mettā practice. These phrases are so very helpful when we live into more complex or challenging situations.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  July Lovingkindness Retreat
2022-07-14 Many ways to practice Mettā and Samādhi 37:04
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After exploring many categories of beings to eventually send mettā to all beings, we can now approach each conception of single or many mettā subjects to be places of collected, restful mettā samādhi (loving kindness concentration). It's more simple and humble than many expect it to be.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  July Lovingkindness Retreat
2022-02-20 Guided Morning Meditation 40:00
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  February Insight Meditation 1 Month Retreat
2022-02-11 Guided Mindfulness of Intentions 26:15
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In daily live many of our actions are habitual and unconscious. The Buddha asked us to be increasingly aware of our motivation and intention behind each action so we can better sort out what is wholesome and helpful, and which actions are connected with greed, harm and ignorance. On a silent retreat we have a chance to see the habits we have and how they drive our behavior.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  February Insight Meditation 1 Month Retreat
2022-02-11 Guided Mindfulness of Intentions (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 60:00
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In daily live many of our actions are habitual and unconscious. The Buddha asked us to be increasingly aware of our motivation and intention behind each action so we can better sort out what is wholesome and helpful, and which actions are connected with greed, harm and ignorance. On a silent retreat we have a chance to see the habits we have and how they drive our behavior.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  February Insight Meditation 1 Month Retreat
2023-03-02 Practical Instructions for Mindfulness of Vedanā (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 63:31
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With a wise expectation of the three kinds of vedanā, we steady our mindfulness to intimately connect with unpleasantness, pleasantness, and neutral experiences. This is the first step with vedanā. The second is to cool off the old habits of reactivity , and the third is seeing vedanā is not inherent in the objects of our attention. Vedanā arises due to contact with the 6 sense doors, and operates on its own independent conditinality. This is difficult to see in daily life, and a precious opportunity on silent retreat.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  March Insight Meditation One Month Retreat

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