Nikki Mirghafori's Dharma Talks
Nikki Mirghafori
Nikki is of Persian heritage, and was introduced to contemplative practices and yoga in the early 1980's, to meditation in 1991, and to Theravada Buddhism in 2003. She has studied with various Western and Eastern teachers, with a keen interest in intensive silent retreats. She studied jhanas and detailed analytical vipassana with the renowned meditation master Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw who instructed her to teach. She is also a Spirit Rock authorized retreat teacher, a Stanford trained compassion cultivation instructor, and a UCLA certified mindfulness facilitator. She teaches Buddhist meditation and contemplation nationally, and in particular, at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, where she also serves on their Board of Directors. Nikki holds a Ph.D. in computer science from UC Berkeley and has had an active career as an Artificial Intelligence scientist in academia and industry for over two decades.
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Select from Nikki Mirghafori's
211
talks
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2017-10-08
Day 6 Morning Instructions: Deathbed visualization (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2015-06-15
"Karma as empowerment: this moment's intentional action conditions the next"
2024-12-02
"Karma: How Intentional Actions Shape Habits, Character, and Destiny"
2015-04-27
(Extra-) Ordinary freedom: inside & outside prison walls
2024-01-03
5th day guided instructions: using R.A.F.T. for working with emotions
2013-11-21
Anatta: Not-Self or No Unchanging Self
2018-10-03
Being a Scientist of Our Own Mind (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2018-10-15
Being a Scientist of your own Mind - Monday night Dharma Talk
2016-12-28
Being Gentle (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2024-12-14
Being in Harmony with the Truth of Impermanence Brings Great Peace
2014-09-18
Change, Vedana, Tanha
2023-12-16
Closing Ceremony (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2022-12-09
Closing Session (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2024-12-18
Closing Session (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2024-09-04
Coming H.O.M.E. to Ourselves (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2024-11-18
Coming Home to the H.E.A.R.T.H. in “Interesting” Times
2016-03-11
Compassion: The only thing that makes sense.
2018-07-16
Concentration/Unification of Mind (Samādhi) --> Knowledge and vision of things …
2019-08-21
Connecting with the breath as a good friend
2013-10-21
Contemplating Dukkha as Motivation for Liberation
2018-11-10
Cultivating Compassion: The Art and Science of Kindness - Day 1 of 2
2018-11-11
Cultivating Compassion: The Art and Science of Kindness - Day 2 of 2
2016-02-28
Day 1 Brahma Vihara Practice: Metta for Self
2017-05-23
Day 1 Guided Metta: Meeting Everything That Arises with Kindness (Retreat at S…
2017-05-23
Day 1 Instructions: Arriving & Settling into the Practice (Retreat at Spirit R…
2017-10-03
Day 1 morning instruction: Arriving in the body with breath (Retreat at Spirit …
2018-05-06
Day 1 Morning Instructions: Settling in, noticing aliveness. (Retreat at Spirit…
2016-10-31
Day 1: Instructional Sit
2017-03-07
Day 10: Brahma Vihara Instructions
2016-03-09
Day 11 Brahma Vihara Practice: Metta for All Beings
2017-03-10
Day 13: Morning Sit with Instructions
2016-07-15
Day 2 Afternoon Sit with Instructions: Introduction to Compassion Practice
2017-02-27
Day 2: Brahma Vihara Instructions
2016-11-01
Day 2: Dharma Talk - Reorienting our life in the light of death
2016-03-18
Day 20 Brahma Vihara Practice: Mudita for Difficult Relationships
2017-03-17
Day 20: Brahma Vihara Instructions
2016-03-23
Day 25 Brahma Vihara Practice: Equanimity Practice for All Beings
2017-05-25
Day 3 Guided Metta: Metta for Self, Receiving Metta (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2017-05-25
Day 3 Instructions: Four Elements Meditation
2017-06-23
Day 3 Morning Instructions: Mindfulness of Thinking (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2016-11-02
Day 3: Morning Instructional Sit
2017-10-06
Day 4 morning Instruction: This could be my last breath (Retreat at Spirit Roc…
2016-07-17
Day 4 Morning Sit with Instructions: Metta Practice Benefactors
2017-06-23
Day 4: Guided Metta: Circle of Benefactors (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2016-11-03
Day 4: Morning Instructional Sit
2017-05-27
Day 5 Guided Metta: Radiating Metta for All, Including Oneself (Retreat at Spir…
2017-05-27
Day 5 Instructions: Mental Factors (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2016-07-19
Day 6 Afternoon Sit: Introduction to Equanimity Practice
2016-03-04
Day 6 Brahma Vihara Practice: Metta for Neutral Person
2018-05-11
Day 6 Morning Instructions: Aspirations for living from the perspective of our …
2017-03-03
Day 6: Morning Sit with Instructions
2016-11-05
Day 6: Morning Sitting with Instructions
2016-07-21
Day 8 Morning Sit with Instructions: Radiant Metta in 6 Directions
2018-10-04
Day Three, Morning Instructions: Working with Emotions with R.A.I.N. (Retreat a…
2017-03-21
Day#24: Brahma Vihara Instructions
2018-05-08
Death contemplation awakens us to life (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2015-03-09
Death contemplation: an opening to an awakened life
2018-05-07
Death: "This is Nature, This is Natural" (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2013-11-16
Dependent Origination
2024-10-28
Did you ever forget that you were alive and suddenly you remembered? (Retreat a…
2018-07-23
Disenchantment and dispassion --> Knowledge and vision of liberation
2016-11-04
Dying practice: Letting go into the deathless
2016-05-24
Embracing it all: taking the practice home with gratitude
2021-04-10
Emptiness: The Womb of Love and Service
2021-04-09
Evening Reflections: Appreciation as a Way to See Our Day
2016-06-20
Examining reality through Vipassana and Q/A
2017-05-24
Examining Reality: Preparing Ourselves by Grounding in Ethical Integrity
2015-10-26
Finding the Inner Island in a Mind Storm
2017-03-02
Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness: 7 Factors of Awakening (Retreat at Spirit Roc…
2022-04-04
Gladening our hearts with generosity to self and others - Monday Night Dharma T…
2014-11-24
Gratitude
2015-08-31
Growing in Wisdom and Compassion through Embracing Adversity
2023-12-13
Growing in Wisdom Through the Five Veils (aka Hinderances) (Retreat at Spirit R…
2016-05-23
Guided instructions - Metta for the person with whom we have difficulty. Q/A
2014-10-07
Guided Instructions: The Four Noble Truths
2016-06-19
Guided Meditation
2016-06-15
Guided meditation day one - arriving and settling
2016-05-19
Guided meditation– First day and Q/A
2014-06-16
Guided Meditation: Acceptance of This Very Moment
2022-08-17
Guided Meditation: Connect & Continue (Vitakka & Vicara) As Our Two Best Friend…
2023-12-01
Guided Meditation: Equanimity and the Feeling Tone (Vedana) (Retreat at Spirit …
2021-04-10
Guided Meditation: Freedom from the Clinging of Self (and Buddha's Instructions…
2021-04-08
Guided Meditation: Life as A Dream
2023-12-14
Guided Meditation: Metta for Self and Dear Being (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2023-11-28
Guided Meditation: Mindfulness of the Body and the Breath
2023-12-12
Guided Meditation: Recollecting Our Goodness (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2016-06-17
Guided meditation: The Twelve Characteristics of the Four Elements and Q/A
2014-10-04
Guided Metta - Neutral Person
2015-06-30
Guided Metta Meditation: Dear Friend and Self
2014-09-30
Guided Metta: Intro
2023-04-03
Happiness and the Path of Practice
2023-06-07
Hindrances as energies moving through mind–body.
2014-12-22
Holiday Season Reflections & Sitting Meditation
2022-12-08
How Do I Want to Have Lived? Deathbed Visualization
2019-07-23
Illness as a Doorway to Freedom
2024-03-04
In the Footsteps of the Buddha
2015-07-04
Instructional Sit Day 5
2018-10-02
Introduction to Metta (loving-kindness) and guided meditation (Retreat at Spiri…
2016-06-16
Investigating the body (rupa) and Q/A
2017-05-26
Investigating the Body Leading to Investigating the Mind (Retreat at Spirit Roc…
2016-06-18
Investigating the mind (nama) and Q/A
2015-12-28
It's all Part of the Process: Inspiration, Aspiration, and Orientation
2018-07-09
Joy —> Tranquility —> Happiness
2018-06-25
Keeping Our Hearts Open in the Midst of Suffering in Our Country and the World
2017-03-16
Liberative Dependent Arising: Disenchantment
2017-03-09
Liberative Dependent Arising: Tranquility (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2023-08-21
Living the Middle Way of Self and Not-Self
2017-07-18
Living Wisely in the World: Caring for Mind, Family, Society, and Planet
2016-03-16
Love and Live the Questions Themselves
2018-05-10
Maranasati: "If My Life Is for Rent...Nothing I Have Is Truly Mine."
2019-07-16
Meditation in Hard Times
2023-08-20
Meeting the Unexpected
2016-07-16
Metta and Its Benefits
2022-12-08
Mindfulness of Death Q/A Session (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2023-06-09
Modern science and the four elements practice.
2014-10-02
Morning Guided Instructions: The Four Elements
2018-07-17
Morning Instructions
2018-07-10
Morning Instructions: Exploring gladness, joy, tranquility, and happiness
2018-07-07
Morning Instructions: Investigating conditionality through 1) root condition a…
2018-07-09
Morning Instructions: Investigating the mind and body, and how they condition …
2022-12-05
Morning Instructions: This Could Be My Last Breath (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2023-07-02
Morning Instructions: #1 Metta & the Body
2024-12-12
Morning Instructions: Attuning to Vedana (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2023-06-10
Morning Instructions: flowing and cohesion characteristics.
2024-10-29
Morning Instructions: If this were my last breath, what would I want the state …
2024-12-10
Morning Instructions: Infusing the Body & the Breath with Easeful, Gentle Knowi…
2018-07-18
Morning Instructions: Investigating the supporting condition in the links of co…
2016-05-22
Morning instructions: metta for the neutral person and Q/A
2023-12-14
Morning Instructions: Mindfulness of Emotions with R.A.F.T. (Retreat at Spirit …
2023-12-12
Morning Instructions: Mindfulness of the Breath in the Body
2018-07-05
Morning Instructions: Practicing with the Internal Dimension of Ethics on Retre…
2024-12-15
Morning Instructions: Practicing with the Lens of Impermanence (Retreat at Spir…
2024-11-01
Morning Instructions: Releasing into peace and intention setting through deathb…
2023-06-12
Morning Instructions: seeing impermanence, and impersonality in the body
2023-06-08
Morning instructions: supporting softness, smoothness, and lightness characteri…
2024-12-09
Morning Instructions: The Earth is Happy to Have You Around (Retreat at Spirit …
2024-12-13
Morning Instructions: Working with Emotions using R.A.F.T. (Retreat at Spirit R…
2023-07-13
Morning Reflections #11: Mental Formations (Step 7)
2023-07-15
Morning Reflections #13: Calming Formations
2023-07-18
Morning Reflections #15: Gladdening the Mind (Step 10)
2023-07-20
Morning Reflections #17: Concentrating the Mind
2023-07-24
Morning Reflections #20: Inconstancy (Step 13)
2023-07-26
Morning Reflections #22: Fading and Dropping Away
2023-07-28
Morning Reflections #24: Keeping it Simple
2023-07-04
Morning Reflections #3: Introducing the Breath
2023-07-06
Morning Reflections #5: The Whole Body of the Breath
2023-07-08
Morning Reflections #7: Anapanasati (Step 4)
2023-07-11
Morning Reflections #9: Piti (Step 5)
2022-12-04
Morning Sit with Instructions: Embodiment and Aliveness (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2021-04-09
Noticing Absence, Letting Go of Self-Reference
2024-09-02
Opening Night - Coming Home to Ourselves (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2022-12-03
Opening Session (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2023-07-04
Overview of Anapanasti: 16 Steps
2023-12-11
Practicing Peace: Making Our Minds & Hearts Safe for Ourselves and Others (Retr…
2018-07-18
Q/A
2016-03-24
Radical Gratitude
2023-01-22
Receive and Release the Breath
2022-08-16
Samadhi, the Five Jhanic Factors, and the Five Hindrances
2019-08-20
Samadhi: Eight Supportive Conditions and the Five Jhanic Factors
2023-12-31
Second morning Instructions: gentle awareness of the body.
2017-05-28
Seeing Things as They are Through Vipassana (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2017-01-09
Spirit Rock, Taking Refuge, Monday Night Dharma Talk
2014-09-20
Taking the 4th Noble Truth Home
2023-07-10
Talk #5: Second Tetrad and Step 5
2023-07-17
Talk #7: Third Tetrad (Steps 8 & 9)
2023-07-24
Talk #9: Inconstancy ( Step13)
2025-10-03
Talk: From Meal to Mind -- A Process, Not Me, Mine, Myself; Meditation: Large I…
2025-10-02
Talk: How to practice the 32 Parts of the Body Meditation. Meditation: Head Hai…
2025-10-02
Talk: The 32 Parts Practice within the Context of the Satipatthana Sutta; Medit…
2025-10-03
Talk: The 5 Hindrances and wise ways to support practice. Meditation: Heart, Li…
2025-10-04
Talk: The Humble Miracles: Seeing the Three Marks in the Final Six of the 32 Pa…
2025-10-04
Talk: Why we practice the 32 Parts of the Body Meditation. Meditation: Bile, Ph…
2017-07-25
Tending Our Own Minds/Hearts, Caring for Others
2014-09-19
The 3rd Noble Truth
2023-01-22
The Crucial and Everyday Practice of Wise Speech: What Questions Should We Ask…
2024-01-14
The Dharma of Martin Luther King Jr.
2015-01-12
The Dis-ease of Busyness
2019-08-25
The Eight Jhanas and the Three Characteristics
2020-08-31
The Five Daily Reflections
2015-07-01
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness & Liberation
2014-10-06
The Four Things I Know to be True: Practical Four Noble Truths
2016-05-21
The heavenly abodes compassion
2014-12-30
The How and Why of Practice
2015-09-19
The Joy of Samadhi
2019-04-12
The Joy of Samadhi (Concentration) - Day 1 of 2 (missing early morning section …
2019-04-13
The Joy of Samadhi (Concentration) - Day 2 of 2
2023-12-15
The Path of Happiness, Leading to Peace in Ourselves and the World (Retreat at …
2023-12-31
The path of insight is through the veil of the hindrances
2016-03-07
The Second Foundation of Mindfulness (Vedana): Pleasant, Unpleasant or Neutral
2014-10-01
The Six Contemplations of the First Satipatthana: The Body
2024-12-17
The Three Gates of Liberation and Practicing in the World with Metta & Sila (Re…
2023-06-11
The three marks of existence and the four elements practice.
2022-12-07
The Ultimate Letting Go and Forgiveness (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2015-12-21
The Way to Love
2018-05-08
This Could Be My Last Breath
2024-11-01
Three Dharmettes: The 5 Daily Reflections, Supports for Maranasati, and Forgive…
2017-10-07
Three Dimensions of Death Contemplation Practice (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2014-09-17
Three Types of Dukkha
2015-07-02
Thursday Guided Instructions: Feeling Tone (Vedana)
2016-01-11
Time is Short: Aligning Our Life with our Intentions
2016-07-20
To be Grateful for Everything
2016-03-02
Vedana and the second arrow
2023-11-30
What is Equanimity Anyway? And Is It Worth Cultivating? (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
2018-07-04
Wholesome ethical behavior --> non-regret --> gladness --> .... --> liberation
2017-06-22
Why are We Here? What are We Doing? And, What's Love Got to Do With It? (Retre…
2022-12-04
Why Practice Mindfulness of Death?
2014-06-16
Wisdom and Acceptance
2022-12-05
Wise Attention, Mindfulness, And Eight Ways to Reflect on Death
(Retreat at …
2019-01-27
Wise Livelihood: Work As Practice - part 1
2019-01-27
Wise Livelihood: Work As Practice - part 2
2025-09-29
Working Mindfully with Technology
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Select one of Nikki Mirghafori's 37 retreats
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1900-01-01
Monday and Wednesday Talks
2006-01-01
Saturday Talks
2013-10-16
Fall Insight Meditation Retreat
2013-10-22
Three Month - Part 2
2014-09-15
The Four Noble Truths: A non-silent Study and Practice Retreat
2014-09-29
Fall Insight Meditation Retreat
2014-12-27
New Year's Insight Meditation Retreat
2015-06-29
Annual People of Color Retreat-Deepen Your Dharma, Deepen Your Freedom
2015-09-19
The Joy Of Samadhi
2015-12-27
New Year's Insight Meditation Retreat
2016-02-27
March Monthlong
2016-05-18
Metta: Lovingkindness Retreat
2016-06-14
Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experien…
2016-07-13
July Metta Retreat
2016-10-30
Maranasati: Contemplating Death
2016-12-27
New Year's Insight Meditation Retreat
2017-02-25
March Monthlong Retreat
2017-05-22
Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experien…
2017-06-19
Foundations of Mindfulness
2017-10-02
Maranasati: Contemplating Death / Awakening to Life
2018-05-05
Contemplating Death/Awakening to Life (Maranasati Retreat)
2018-07-01
July 2018 at IMS- Forest Refuge
2018-10-01
Evolving Together: Mindfulness Meditation and Modern Science
2019-08-18
Concentration Retreat
2020-01-01
BIPOC Voices - Series
2021-04-08
Practical Emptiness: The Womb of Love and Compassion with Nikki Mirghafori, PhD…
2022-08-14
Cultivating Concentration
2022-12-03
Befriending Mortality: Living an Awakened Life through Mindfulness of Death (Ma…
2023-06-05
The Energy Body, Receptacle of Mind and Matter
2023-07-01
July 2023
2023-11-27
Cultivating Equanimity: The Happiness of a Heart in Balance and Peace
2023-12-11
Practicing Peace: Bringing Ease into Every Moment
2023-12-29
Embodying the Heart of Wisdom
2024-09-02
Coming Home to Ourselves
2024-10-27
Befriending Mortality: Living An Awakened Life Through Mindfulness of Death (Ma…
2024-12-08
December Insight Retreat: Cultivating Calm, Contentment, and Confidence
2025-10-01
Buddha’s Teachings on the Body: The 32 Parts Practice
