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Retreat Dharma Talks

Freedom Here and Now

This nine-day retreat provides an opportunity to explore different aspects of the Buddha’s teachings on Nibbana, also translated as Awakening, Enlightenment, Liberation, or Freedom. The freedom that is being pointed to here includes freedom from afflictive states such as anger, fear, sadness, greed; and freedom to live with more ease, happiness, and authenticity.

We will use a variety of practices from the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, alongside the four brahmavihara heart practices of kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, to directly experience these different aspects of freedom for ourselves.

2019-08-23 (10 days) Te Moata Retreat Center

  
2019-08-26 11 talk: the five hindrances, with a focus on desire for sense pleasures 43:02
Jill Shepherd
An overview of what gets in the way of freedom, namely the five hindrances, with a focus on the first one, desire for sense pleasures
2019-08-27 12 instructions: mindfulness of mind 11:42  RO Talk is visible to Retreants Only
Jill Shepherd
Instructions for practising mindfulness of the mind in terms of thoughts, emotions, moods, and mind-states
2019-08-27 13 guided meditation: mindfulness of mind 28:09  RO Talk is visible to Retreants Only
Jill Shepherd
Guided meditation beginning with mindfulness of breathing, physical sensations, sounds, thoughts, emotions then mind-states or mental qualities
2019-08-27 14 instructions: metta meditation 14:10  RO Talk is visible to Retreants Only
Jill Shepherd
Instructions for practising metta for a benefactor or "easy being"
2019-08-27 15 guided meditation: metta for a benefactor or "easy being" 24:51  RO Talk is visible to Retreants Only
Jill Shepherd
Beginning with metta practice using the reciting phrases method, starting with the benefactor, then oneself, then co-meditators
2019-08-27 16 talk: Five Hindrances part 2 - aversion, and the antidote of compassion 46:26
Jill Shepherd
Continuing the exploration of the five hindrances, focusing on ill will or aversion, and how cultivating compassion is both a protection and an antidote to aversion arising
2019-08-28 18 instructions: four elemental qualities 12:47  RO Talk is visible to Retreants Only
Jill Shepherd
Instructions for exploring mindfulness of the body in terms of the four elemental qualities of earth, water, fire and air
2019-08-28 19 guided meditation: mindfulness of the body in terms of the four elemental qualities of earth, water, fire and air 25:16  RO Talk is visible to Retreants Only
Jill Shepherd
Guided meditation exploring mindfulness of the body in terms of the four elemental qualities of earth, water, fire and air
2019-08-28 17 talk: impermanence and death 48:34
Jill Shepherd
Exploring the universal characteristic of anicca-impermanence in terms of the body, and beginning to contemplate our own mortality as a way to gradually release fear of death
2019-08-29 20 instructions: compassion 20:24  RO Talk is visible to Retreants Only
Jill Shepherd
Brief instructions for practising compassion, including some suggestions for working with afflictive emotions
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