Mindfulness is often described as non-judgmental. This talk considers what this means and how it relates to the capacity to distinguish between skilful and unskillful mind-states and behaviours.

This talk explores stress-related emotional suffering and how mindfulness and compassion practices can serve our children’s natural intelligence, creativity and openheartedness. Trainings in presence are the hope for this next generation, and the healing of our world. CULTIVATING RESILIENCE: MINDFULNESS TRAINING FOR STUDENTS ~ How mindfulness training can benefit students and the adults who nurture them An evening with Tara Brach and Congressman Tim Ryan at Walt Whitman HS, Bethesda, MD. Talk given on 2013/10/07.

Curiosity about how mindfulness disappears and reappears can open the mindfulness practice to new areas.

For thousands of years people have cultivated mindfulness as a complete path to awakening. Contemporary research reveals how mindfulness improves attention, reduces stress, and increases health, well being and the capacity for happiness. Mindful awareness allows you to be attentive in the present moment with the quality of acceptance, spaciousness and equanimity. It is the foundation for living with wisdom and compassion and is the seed from which springs much joy and peace. On this day you will learn the foundations of mindfulness that enable you to live with a clear and wakeful presence in every aspect of your life. We will explore this innate quality of awareness and what interferes with establishing this mindful presence. Participants will learn to cultivate awareness through accessible yet profound meditations on the breath, the body, and how to work with emotions and thoughts that can hamper our well being. You will also learn how mindful awareness provides the basis for insight and freedom.

For thousands of years people have cultivated mindfulness as a complete path to awakening. Contemporary research reveals how mindfulness improves attention, reduces stress, and increases health, well being and the capacity for happiness. Mindful awareness allows you to be attentive in the present moment with the quality of acceptance, spaciousness and equanimity. It is the foundation for living with wisdom and compassion and is the seed from which springs much joy and peace. On this day you will learn the foundations of mindfulness that enable you to live with a clear and wakeful presence in every aspect of your life. We will explore this innate quality of awareness and what interferes with establishing this mindful presence. Participants will learn to cultivate awareness through accessible yet profound meditations on the breath, the body, and how to work with emotions and thoughts that can hamper our well being. You will also learn how mindful awareness provides the basis for insight and freedom.

A practical understanding of the four foundations of mindfulness—seeing them as both meditation instructions and as a description of presence of mind.

The interplay of these two qualities

The Neurology of Awakening, with Rick Mendius: The latest brain research has begun to confirm the central insights of the Buddha and other great teachers. And it's suggesting ways you can help your brain to enter deeper states of mindfulness and concentration, love, and happiness. Suffering, joy, and freedom all depend on what happens within your nervous system. Skillful practice thus means being skillful with your own brain. This experiential workshop offers user-friendly information with lots of practical methods. No background in neuroscience or mindfulness is needed. We'll cover: --- The relationship between the mind and the brain; --- Strengthening neural factors of mindfulness; --- The role of concentration in Buddhist practice; --- Practical help from brain research for steadying the mind...quieting it... and bringing it to singleness. Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals- This workshop is designed to help you: a) Name two mechanisms of experience-dependent neuroplasticity; b) Give clients two examples of how repeated mental activity changes brain structure; c) Describe temperamental variations in the control of attention; d) Teach clients two ways to practice mindfulness.

The Neurology of Awakening, with Rick Mendius: The latest brain research has begun to confirm the central insights of the Buddha and other great teachers. And it's suggesting ways you can help your brain to enter deeper states of mindfulness and concentration, love, and happiness. Suffering, joy, and freedom all depend on what happens within your nervous system. Skillful practice thus means being skillful with your own brain. This experiential workshop offers user-friendly information with lots of practical methods. No background in neuroscience or mindfulness is needed. We'll cover: --- The relationship between the mind and the brain; --- Strengthening neural factors of mindfulness; --- The role of concentration in Buddhist practice; --- Practical help from brain research for steadying the mind...quieting it... and bringing it to singleness. Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals- This workshop is designed to help you: a) Name two mechanisms of experience-dependent neuroplasticity; b) Give clients two examples of how repeated mental activity changes brain structure; c) Describe temperamental variations in the control of attention; d) Teach clients two ways to practice mindfulness.

The Neurology of Awakening, with Rick Mendius: The latest brain research has begun to confirm the central insights of the Buddha and other great teachers. And it's suggesting ways you can help your brain to enter deeper states of mindfulness and concentration, love, and happiness. Suffering, joy, and freedom all depend on what happens within your nervous system. Skillful practice thus means being skillful with your own brain. This experiential workshop offers user-friendly information with lots of practical methods. No background in neuroscience or mindfulness is needed. We'll cover: --- The relationship between the mind and the brain; --- Strengthening neural factors of mindfulness; --- The role of concentration in Buddhist practice; --- Practical help from brain research for steadying the mind...quieting it... and bringing it to singleness. Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals- This workshop is designed to help you: a) Name two mechanisms of experience-dependent neuroplasticity; b) Give clients two examples of how repeated mental activity changes brain structure; c) Describe temperamental variations in the control of attention; d) Teach clients two ways to practice mindfulness.

Working with 2nd foundation of mindfulness

Exploring energy (viriya) as a factor of awakening, how, along with mindfulness and investigation, it drives our practice. Importance of intention and letting go.

Through the practice of mindful awareness we come to see how we construct our experience of the world, and can free ourselves from the limitations imposed by our subjective assumptions and preferences.

Motivation, attitude, mindfulness of body breathing. Being the gracious host for all experience

An exploration of the third establishment of mindfulness from this Satipatthana Sutta.

Using stories from the time of the Buddha to modern day, the talk takes us on a tour of the 7 factors: mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, calm, concentration and equanimity; in their ordinary and extraordinary aspects. The tour includes "side trips" to explore the 4 Noble Truths, the 4 Wise Efforts and many practical techniques.

This two part series explores the evolutionary conditioning of fear and judgment that contracts us away from love and acceptance, and the quality of mindful presence - in relating inwardly and in communicating with others - that awakens and frees our hearts. At end of talk - La Sarmiento shares "Holiday Dharma" as part of Solstice celebration.

This two part series explores the evolutionary conditioning of fear and judgment that contracts us away from love and acceptance, and the quality of mindful presence—in relating inwardly and in communicating with others—that awakens and frees our hearts.