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Retreat Dharma Talks

Contemplating Death/Awakening to Life (Maranasati Retreat)

2018-05-05 (8 days) Spirit Rock Meditation Center

  
2018-05-06 Day 1 Morning Instructions: Settling in, noticing aliveness. (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 1:13:57
Nikki Mirghafori
Settling in with the breath and body. Feeling the aliveness present in this moment.
2018-05-06 Maranasati Normalizing Death (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 52:43
Eugene Cash
Exploring the Buddhist teaching of Maranasati: Mindfulness of Death How it’s taught and how one personally works with, recognizes and manifests this practice.
2018-05-07 Death: "This is Nature, This is Natural" (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 57:46
Nikki Mirghafori
The first part of the talk, the hindrances (Nivarana in Pali), also translated as veils, are discussed through the lens of Maranasati practice. The second part of the talk is devoted to sharing lessons from my mother's recent passing.
2018-05-08 Day 3 Morning Instructions: This could be my last breath (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 42:27
Nikki Mirghafori
Guided meditation from the Maranasati Sutta.
2018-05-08 Death contemplation awakens us to life (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 56:53
Nikki Mirghafori
In this talk, Nikki Mirghafori (first ~30 minutes) and Eugene Cash (the rest) discuss how death contemplation helps us awaken to living this life, with embracing letting go and not knowing.
2018-05-09 Morning Instructions: Maranasati (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 39:06
Bhikkhu Analayo
2018-05-09 Story of Anathapindika: Death and Letting go (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 51:42
Eugene Cash
Anathapindika was one of the foremost householder followers of the Buddha. As he is dying Sariputta and Ananda go to comfort him. Seeing his imminent death they offer teachings never before given to householders. He receives the radical teachings of not clinging, letting go of all experience and waking up.
2018-05-10 Maranasati: "If My Life Is for Rent...Nothing I Have Is Truly Mine." 57:56
Nikki Mirghafori
Three fruits of maranasati practice are discussed: 1) Preparing for our moment of death with fearlessness and peace. Topics of Near Death Experiences (NDEs) and rebirth are presented with a don't know mind. 2) Living THIS limited, precious life fully, with gratitude, forgiveness, generosity and letting go. 3) Awakening, liberation, nibbana -- Maranasati is a practice towards liberation, arising insights into the three marks of existence (anicca, dukkha, anatta).
2018-05-11 Day 6 Morning Instructions: Aspirations for living from the perspective of our deathbed. (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 45:02
Nikki Mirghafori
In this morning's guided meditation, first we settle in with the body, appreciating the intimacy and the impersonality of experience, holding both experiences equally valid. Then, we look at our lives from the vantage point of our deathbed (far in the future, only for the purpose of this thought exercise) and reflect on aspirations that arise for living our life in this precious human birth, however long we have left.
2018-05-11 Maranasati: Grateful for Life and Death (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 51:51
Eugene Cash
Maranasati leads to being real and being grateful for both life and death. As we mature and deal directly with the truth of death we value life and the preciousness of existence. This reality brings gratefulness of all that is given–– our bodies, hearts, minds, the earth, sky, universe and each moment.
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