I try to convey that the wisdom and compassion we are looking for is already inside of us. I see practice as learning how to purify our mind and heart so we can hear the Buddha inside. In doing so, we naturally embody the dharma and help awaken that understanding and love in others we meet.
I try to use the formal teachings as a doorway for people to see the truth in themselves. I feel I'm doing my job when people look into themselves to come to their own deep understandings of the truth, access their own inner wisdom and trust in their "Buddha-knowing," as Ajahn Chah called it, which is different from their intellectual knowing.
The Buddha-knowing is a deeper place, underneath the concepts, which is in touch with the truth, with our seed of awakening. I want practitioners to have more and more confidence in, and familiarity with, that deeper place of knowing. It is accessing this dimension of our being that becomes the guide to cutting through the confusion caused by greed and fear. We have everything we need inside ourselves. We do not need to look to a teacher when we remember who we really are.
We continue the Sutta series exploring the Vacchagotta suttas from the Majjhima Nikaya. Vacchagotta asks many questions of the Buddha. In a series of conversations, the Buddha expounds to Vacchagotta on such topics as whether or not he's omniscient, on various speculative views about what happens after death and if nuns and householders can be enlightened.
James Baraz talking about Kalyana Mitta, exploring the idea, "What is 'Spiritual Friendship'?" The word "Mitta" is related to "Metta" or lovingkindness. Mitta means friend, Kalyana is Spiritual. So, KM is a Spiritual Friends group. This term is particularly used in the Theravada tradition to talk about the relationship we have with each other to have that third refuge in the sangha really flourish
Our KM Dedicated Volunteers Melanie Speir and Geidra Gershman talk about their experience with KM groups, sharing tips for forming and sustaining groups.
Do you ever get sleepy while meditating? In this discourse, the Capala Sutta from the Angutarra Nikaya, the Buddha catches one of his main disciples, Ven. Maha Moggallana nodding off. He then offers him seven strategies for overcoming "sloth and torpor". Identifying with the drowsiness can actually be a doorway to the wisdom of anatta or the selfless nature of reality.
In this last talk of the month long retreat, the Buddha's five supports for our practice (from the Maghiya Sutta) are presented as well as the ways our practice can benefit not only ourselves, but everyone we know and our planet.
When we believe thoughts coming from a contracted mind we are in dukkha. When we see them clearly as empty and not self, there's wisdom.
This talk also explores the 4 Iddhipadas-different temperaments and sources of motivation in practice.
Two aspects of Wise Effort are explored: 1) how do we know if we're doing too little, too much or just enough with regard to effort in practice? and 2) the four aspects of wise efforts are discussed with particular emphasis on the importance of cultivating and increasing wholesome states.
Although impermanence is the underlying reality of existence, we have trouble accepting loss especially of those we love. The Buddha said to contemplate every day that we will be separated from everyone and everything near and dear to us. This talk explores why and how to do that.
When we look deeply into reality we see things with a fresh eye and open to the miracles that are all around us. This sense of wonder and awe helps our mindfulness practice come alive especially developing the awakening factors of investigation, energy and joy.
Practice is an alchemical process that turns dukkha into sukkha. If we have the courage to face our demons and learn to open to our blessings, we radiate love and wisdom that not only transforms ourselves but the world as well.
What mindfulness is, the benefits that result from its cultivation and the skillful attitudes that support practice: relaxed, interested and kind awareness.
Inspired by Andrew Harvey's book A Guide to Sacred Activism. The journey of transformation, both personal and global, includes our hearts opening to all the suffering we encounter and letting our heart be shattered and break open to new possibilities. This is a natural and essential component of true awakening. This process is explored on different levels: our own dharma practice, the classical Progress of Insight and what Harvey calls "The Dark Night of the Species."
Reflections on Ajahn Chah and his teaching on the wisdom of allowing your practice to take its natural course without forcing it or thinking you can control it.
Dedicated to Spirit Rock caretaker Steve Young who passed away the day of the talk and who embodied kindness. The power of kindness to bring us happiness and being conscious about the consequences of choosing to act or not act from kindness.
This half-day workshop was designed for the hosts, leaders, potential leaders and participants in Kalyana Mitta (KM) groups.
Spirit Rock is looking for additional facilitators and hosts to create new groups and connect people with the KM program. Contact KalyanaMitta@spiritrock.org for more information or to find out about our next KM workshop.
This half-day workshop was designed for the hosts, leaders, potential leaders and participants in Kalyana Mitta (KM) groups.
Spirit Rock is looking for additional facilitators and hosts to create new groups and connect people with the KM program. Contact KalyanaMitta@spiritrock.org for more information or to find out about our next KM workshop.
The stories we hold about ourselves or others will determine our actions, through fear or inspire us to act with courage and commitment. This talk includes Andrew Harvey's brilliant reading and thoughts on Rumi's poem "Passion"
The quality of equanimity is a significant factor in coming to terms with impermanence and its manifestations: agin, illness and death. Learning to find balance with regard to the reality of change is explored
The importance of accepting and learning to love ourselves is important at any age. But it is particularly crucial as as we learn to adjust to a body and mind going through the aging process as well as a new self-identity about who we are.
Our attitudes and attachment to views change over time including choosing to become more conscious and kind. Includes James describing his visit to Jessup Prison in Maryland where he spent an inspiring afternoon with prisoners who had gone through the Awakening Joy material.
The magic of mindfulness is how it weakens unwholesome (akusala) states of suffering and strengthens wholesome (kusala) states of well-being. This talk explains this process of alchemy: how greed, hatred and delusion are transformed into generosity, loving-kindness and wisdom.
The first part of this talk is about our Habit discussion we've had over the last two weeks.
The second part is about how we deal with the Boston Marathon Bombings.
Social change happens slowly in our society but usually moves in the direction of greater inclusion and acceptance of progressive ideas. Includes Mark Morford's column "Your Evolution is Totally Gay."
The Five Reflections from the Upajjatthana Sutra are:
1 - I am subject to old age,
2 - I am subject to illness,
3- I am subject to death,
4 - I must be parted and separated from everyone and everything dear and agreeable to me,
5 - I am the owner of my karma and the heir of my karma.
The tendency to compare and judge ourselves with others or regarding our ideas of good practice runs very deep. How to work with these patterns and see through them to realize our true nature is explored.
Suffering itself can lead to genuine well-being and happiness when we know how to transform it. Other wholesome states: how to have metta for self and letting go into simply being are explored.
The Buddha taught that the cultivating of wholesome states (Kusala) creates conditions for awakening.
This talk explores the importance of this cultivation, its place is Wise Effort and how to "maintain and increase" these states as he encouraged.
Why did the Buddha describe mindfulness as the direct path to overcome sorrow and lamentation, end suffering, discontent and realize the highest happiness?
This talk reminds us what mindfulness practice is, why it is so profound and describes attitudes that optimally support mindfulness practice.
"Seeing Through Views: A Doorway to Liberation"
As the Buddha said in the Paramatthaka Sutta: On Views: "A person who associates himself with certain views, considering them as best and making them supreme in the world is not free from contention (with others)." This talk explores the power, freedom and potential for deeper love that comes when we realize that our view is just one reality.
In the talk, I share what motivated me to teach Buddha Dharma as a path of happiness. Some of the teachings might obscure this fact through misunderstanding, as well as the underlying teachings that lead to genuine well-being.
James is joined by Phil Catalfo, who runs the Berkeley Neighborhood Food Project, for a rich discussion about the power of generosity. Giving not only benefits the recipient but the giver as well. While BNFP alleviates the suffering of those who are “food insecure;” it also alleviates the suffering of the donors by providing them a means to process their feelings, thoughts, and memories about food, hunger, abundance, guilt, and so on. Participants report a vastly expanded sense of themselves and become profoundly grateful for the opportunity to experience that. They see that “everybody wins” is an actual option in this world. BNFP Website
When life is difficult or frustrating the teachings advise us to practice equanimity. One simple but potent way to do that is to take a step back and hold things with a wider perspective. We'll be exploring different practices that incline towards equanimity through this method.
Who You Really Are
Walt Whitman wrote: “I am larger, better than I thought; I did not know I held so much goodness." A key aspect of genuine awakening is realizing the basic goodness that is our true nature (when we're not confused or lost in our stories). What gets in the way of accessing this basic goodness? What supports it?
The ability to put oneself in someone else's shoes is the doorway to compassion. Once there is compassion then forgiveness, connection and genuine metta naturally follow. This talk includes a teaching from Thai master, Ajahn Maha Boowa, on the power of empathy.
While many wholesome states are experienced by cultivation, the state of peace and wholeness that is possible comes from relaxing all doing and simply allowing ourselves to just be. This state of being emerges from equanimity, involves trust and surrender and is available in any moment.
The Four Noble Truths are usually presented as the truth of suffering, its cause, its end, and the path that leads to the end. This talk presents these truths with an emphasis on well-being: 1) There is happiness, 2) There is a cause of happiness, 3) Happiness is possible, and 4) There is a path that leads to the highest happiness.
Our lives are filled with turning points that can steer us in different directions. To have found the Dharma and be facing in the direction of greater consciousness is extraordinarily good karma that can powerfully fuel and inspire our practice with sincerity and gratitude.
"In this world no one escapes from blame," said the Buddha. How can we deal with blame from others skillfully without getting crushed by criticism or react to it in a way that causes more suffering for ourselves and other? The key to not being lost in Praise or Blame is non-identification, not taking ownership of your experience. This includes not identifying with your body or mind. We can appreciate the gifts we've been given as well as our shortcomings without taking them personally. This is the natural by-product of understanding anatta, the selfless nature of existence.
Advaita teacher H. W. L. Poonja spoke of emptiness as "No place to land." This follow-up talk on Praise and Blame, discusses how understanding the Buddha's teaching on Emptiness—the selfless nature of the process—we can appreciate the positive impact we have on others without taking personal credit when praise comes our way.
Though mindfulness meditation instructions generally suggest paying attention to what is predominant, focusing on overwhelming emotions especially those rooted in trauma is often not beneficial. This talk, which includes the Buddha's teachings on working with difficult emotions as well as theory from Somatic Experiencing (SE)—an approach to working with trauma—explores how to work with intense emotions by touching them a little at a time.
The magic of mindfulness is how it weakens unwholesome (akusala) states of suffering and strengthens wholesome (kusala) states of well-being. This talk explains this process of alchemy: how greed, hatred and delusion are trnsformed into generosity, loving-kindness and wisdom.
This is part 4 of the series 'Appropriate Response at the Tipping Point' that began 6/14. In this talk, James discusses the last two of the five transformational commitments in Bob Doppelt's book From Me to We:
4. Acknowledge your trustee obligations and take responsibility for the continuation of all life
5. Choose your own destiny
To love ourselves, love others unconditionally to let in the love that comes our way, to realize more and more that love is our true nature -- these are tehe gifts of metta practice. With sincere intention and commitment, we can realize these fruits. We have everything we need to do this.
This is part 3 of the series 'Appropriate Response at the Tipping Point' that began 6/14. In this talk, James discusses the first three of the five transformational commitments in Bob Doppelt's book From Me to We:
1. See the systems you are part of
2. Be accountable for all the consequences of your actions
3. Abide by society’s most deeply held universal principles of morality and justice
Sharing a positive vision for the future from Ernest Callenbach’s "Epistle to Ecotopians". We then begin to explore the first of five Dharma principles using systems and sustainability expert Bob Doppelt’s book From Me to We. The ignorance of these principles is what perpetuates the problem and the understanding of them is the key to changing our consciousness and providing a path toward healing the planet.
This is part 2 of the series 'Appropriate Response at the Tipping Point' that began June 14.
This is the first of a four-part series inspired by the Spring 2012 issue of Inquiring Mind, entitled 'Earth Now.' In addition to reading this issue, especially the interview with Joanna Macy: Woman on the Edge of Time, James also suggested these readings:
Ernest Callenbach’s essay
"Epistle to Ecotopians" and
Bob Doppelt's book From Me to We: The Five Transformational Commitments Required to Rescue the Planet, Your Organization, and Your Life. The series continues on 6/28, 7/5, and 7/19.
