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James Baraz's Dharma Talks
James Baraz
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.
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2022-02-24 Your Practice is Not Just for You 60:30
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Your practice affects everyone around you. When you see your practice in this wider context, it evokes a whole dimension of inspiration and “joyful responsibility“ to cultivate wisdom and compassion within us. In this world with so much suffering—including the climate crisis and injustice in the world—more than ever we need to keep this in mind and see ourselves as “bodhisattvas in training“.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center :  February Insight Meditation 1 Month Retreat
2021-09-16 Anything Can Happen at Anytime: Working with Uncertainty 49:16
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We explore the topic of dealing with uncertainty. Although we never know what lies ahead, at this time the feeling of uncertainty is highlighted in a more acute way globally than ever before. What will happen next with the virus and its variants? Will people get vaccinated or will the anti-vax information continue to influence people's choices? What about climate disruption? Will we collectively wake up to the reality in time to keep from heading over the cliff of self-destruction? What does the Dharma offer us to wisely work with this unknown reality?
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
2020-03-05 Skillful Letting Go Practice for Intense Times 49:08
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In times of uncertainty and tension--whether a potential global pandemic, the climate crisis, high stakes election--it's easy for apprehension to become anxiety as we constantly are worried about what's to come. This talk explores how skillful letting go practices can help us maintain our centeredness while still being engaged.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
2019-10-03 Holding Grief Through Connection 56:18
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Whether the climate crisis, some other social issue or personal loss, sharing our pain by connecting with another helps us hold and process our grief. By opening the heart we can transform our feeling of isolation into one of shared humanity. This talk ends with a guided experiential dyad exercise adapting Joanna Macy’s "Learning to See Each Other" meditation from Coming Back to Life.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley :  IMCB Regular Talks
2019-09-19 No Time to Play Small: Acting with Courage, Wisdom and Love 62:07
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Greta Thunberg’s fearless willingness to speak the truth has inspired millions of youth to follow her lead resulting in the hugely successful September 20th Worldwide Climate Strike. Thunberg calls being on the autism spectrum her “superpower” because she doesn’t care what others think of her and only cares about telling the truth. Can we be like her, let go of our self-consciousness, not hold back and speak and act with honesty and courage?
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley :  IMCB Regular Talks
2019-06-20 Eco Dharma 44:35
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Inspired by EcoDharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis by David Loy. James shares some perspectives that can give practitioners a sense of how to hold the climate crisis situation skillfully as well as what Dharma teachings have to offer the wider societal conversation at this time.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley :  IMCB Regular Talks
2019-05-02 Internally & Externally - Holding It All 61:49
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On the recent retreat James sat with Ven. Analayo, the monastic started out the last day's teaching saying: “This morning I want to talk about climate change. Though some say this is not an appropriate topic for the Dharma Hall, in my view and in light of the crisis we are facing, there is no more appropriate or necessary topic.” We explore how Dharma principles can help each of us individually hold this unsettling situation as well as why they are the key to us waking up as a species.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley :  IMCB Regular Talks
2018-01-18 Special Guests: Harold Hedelman, Lee Ballance and Mary Selkirk from Citizens Climate Lobby, which is one of the most respected environmental organizations. 53:17
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley :  IMCB Regular Talks
2017-04-20 Celebrating Earth Day: Calling All Eco-Sattvas 54:39
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As Earth Day approaches we reflect on the preciousness and generosity of our wonderful planet, the current situation of climate change and how our Dharma practice can help us transform despair into meaningful and inspiring action.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley :  IMCB Regular Talks
2017-03-26 Inspired by Change: How to Cultivate a Resilient Heart while Caring about Our Changing World (Non-residential Retreat at Spirit Rock) 43:09
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with Bob Doppelt, James Baraz
Today’s world is filled with challenging issues that often push us to our emotional boundaries. With complex issues that include environmental challenges like climate change, social injustices, racism, terrorism and other forms of moral distress, life can often feel overwhelming. Yet there’s hope as well as a proven path to help us cope with and face life’s challenges with renewed vigor and determination. Afternoon Session final day
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

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