Gulwinder “Gullu” Singh is a corporate real estate attorney who regularly teaches both secular and Buddhist classes and groups at InsightLA and at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, has taught mindfulness at the University of Southern California and has been a guest lecturer on mindfulness at UCLA Law School. Although he was exposed to meditation as a child, he found his own practice when he started his legal career, working at firms where the mindsets where insane and as a result, the job was extremely stressful.
Gullu spends several weeks per year teaching silent meditation retreats and has done over 200 nights of silent retreat practice including a 2-month retreat in 2017. Gullu is deeply inspired to share meditation as an antidote to stress, a way to cope more effectively with the challenges of work and live and to inject more sanity, compassion and wisdom into this world.
In this session Gullu guides a meditation practice focusing on sending loving kindness to a person we do not know well, sometimes referred to as the friendly stranger.
Mettā can be a foundation of cornerstone for Equanimity (Upekka). As we cultivate a mind that is more and more impartial the mind where Mettā can shine evenly on everyone the mind becomes less attached to preferences and this quality of mind is more able to meet any moment with ease.
In this Opening talk, the teachers offer a land acknowledgement, introduce themselves, and Kaira Jewel gives a short talk on what metta is, how to practice metta and how we can take refuge in the retreat container.
This talk explores the Buddha’s teaching of Anattā (Not-self) and ways to practice with the world experience or perception of self and how we can notice with mindfulness how this sense of self ebbs and flows with conditions. The Buddha also suggested beneficial ways to engage the self such as to use conceit as a tool to generate faith.
Complaints are typically a manifestation of some kind of aversion, whether mild or extreme. In this talk Gullu will explore the practice of not complaining in the context of the Buddha's teachings on aversion and ill-will.
In this talk, Gullu reflects on the ancient practice from the Buddha of the 5 subjects for frequent recollection which invites us to contemplate that we are of the nature to age, get sick, to die and be separated from all the dear to us (one way or another) and yet, we have agency to develop qualities of mind and heart that allow us to move through these innate difficulties of life with more grace. Awareness of death can bring a sense of spiritual urgency (samvega) which is useful in cultivation practice.
In this Talk Gullu covers the basics of the 4 Noble Truths, both in terms of the insights and the practice instructions. Some real time inquiries are offered to begin the connect Dukkha with patterns of clinging. Then Gullu talks about motivation for practice and the spiritual urgency that comes with the 5 Recollections.
In this talk Gullu shares reflections on the hindrances of ill will and in particular the Buddha's instructions for cultivation of a mind free from ill will.
In this talk Gullu introduces the 5 hindrances: Desire, Aversion, Sloth/Torpor, Restlessness & Doubt and how they keep us from feeling comfortable or "at home" with the present moment. He also introduces the acronym RAFT from Gil Fronsdal as a method of working with them. RAFT is Recognize, Allow, Feel & Tease Apart.
The talk uses some visual aids which can be found at https://links.gullusingh.com/mj1
This talk explores the intersection of mettā practice and equanimity, in particular how the mettā training process creates and impartiality of mind that is the cornerstone of equanimity. The talk also explores the Buddha's teaching that with the cultivation of mettā no limiting action remains and how the practice naturally reveals the places where the heart is limited and the fruitfulness of investigating the energies in this so-called purification process.
Reflections around Dukkha and its cause, the two fundamental roots, and the importance of contemplating change. Guest/dust simile and noticing that which never changes.
This is the first dharma talk of DPP7 focusing on wise view, discussing movement toward the wholesome and away from the unwholesome and the 4 noble truths
This Dharma Talk reflects on the 5 subjects for frequent recollections (also called the 5 remembrances): (1) I am of the nature to age, I have not gone beyond aging, (2) I am of the nature to sicken, I have not gone beyond sickness, (3) I am of the nature to die, I have not gone beyond dying (4) All that is mine, beloved and pleasing, will become otherwise, Will become separated from me (4) I am the owner of my kamma, heir to my kamma, born of my kamma, related to my kamma, abide supported by my kamma. Whatever kamma I shall do for good or for ill, of that I will be the heir.
This is offered as a chant as a way to connect the teaching to the heart and the body. The talk then explores the liberative idea of Kamma (Karma) where we have more and more agency through the practice to seed our intentions so that our acts of body, speech and mind are more wholesome, skillful, and leading to the alleviation of suffering for ourselves and others.
The talk then explores various strategies for the cultivation of mettā in daily life.
Reflections on how the cultivation of Metta is a cornerstone of building equanimity in which the mind is impartial. When we cultivate a mind that can radiate metta to the Stranger and the Enemy with the same wholeheartedness as to the Benefactor and Friend that same quality of mind can meet any experience with ease of heart and balance of mind.
on the last night of the retreat we reflected on the path of practice, the fruits that spontaneously emerge from practice, how are actions of body speech and mind, the Buddha called karma, influences everything. the talk ends with some reflections on equanimity and the skillful work we can do to balance our practice with where we are in terms of the three marks of existence.
The highest of all teachings is "an appropriate response" that response that leads to the lessening of suffering for ones self and others. Less of a "thing" but more of an ongoing process of inquiry.
