My work since 2006 through UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center (uclahealth.org/marc) emphasizes making mindfulness teachings accessible to all, regardless of background, yet without losing depth practice. In recent years I have been teaching on Natural Awareness— the effortless, objectless, and spacious side of awareness practices. Socially engaged Buddhism is a thread woven through many of my talks-- how can we end suffering both internally and externally? Having worked with teens and young adults for many years, some of the talks are geared to young people. Finally as a mom of a tween, I'm deeply inspired by the transformative power of daily life and family practice.
Diana and Donald each speak for about 20 minutes. Diana focuses especially on relational metta practice in daily life, including with parenting. Donald speaks of the aspiration, as the great Tibetan teacher Shabkar, emphasizes, on having one’s life and practice be one. He then focuses on the different dimensions of individual metta practice in daily life. The two talks are followed by a period of discussion.
This guided session explores multiple ways to send metta to self: From a benefactor, through our body, to different times in our life, and to aspects of ourselves.
In this talk we explore the roots of self-judgment, and the ways in which mindfulness, loving kindness, and the recognition of our shared humanity and inner goodness can work together to alleviate the critical mind. This talk was given at a metta retreat so it pays particular attention to using metta to heal the inner critic when obstacles arise .
This short talk and guided practice introduces us to "dry metta", the metta practice which is focused on intention building and changing our inner narrative. It invites us to repeat simple phrases without any intention or need to feel the quality of metta. It's a lovely simple way to practice that takes the pressure off metta!
This talk explores the way wisdom develops and focuses on the three characteristics of impermanence, suffering, and not self. It touches on not clinging, dropping bananas, two arrows, and how love fits into it all.
This foundational talk on mindfulness offers insight into why and how to practice mindfulness, what makes meditation difficult, the qualities of a mindful mind, and the fruits of the practice.
In this session we explore the 4 components of Self-Compassion: mindfulness, kindness, shared humanity, and recognition of our inner goodness. Then we practice Self-Directed Loving Kindness.
