Donate  |   Contact


The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Dharma Talks
2022-07-08 Simple Mettā Meditation (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 61:08
Tempel Smith
Setting up and devoting ourselves to a steady mettā (loving kindness) meditation practice, we start where it is easiest and where we can keep it simple. With a basis of blending a sense of ease and relaxation with patient steady attentiveness, we invite mettā to arise in our hearts supported internally by images and phrases. Though it takes some experimenting to find balance with these tools, the repetition of mettā phrases keeps directing our attention to the purpose of mettā practice. These phrases are so very helpful when we live into more complex or challenging situations.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center July Lovingkindness Retreat

2022-07-08 Simple Mettā Meditation 25:00
Tempel Smith
Setting up and devoting ourselves to a steady mettā (loving kindness) meditation practice, we start where it is easiest and where we can keep it simple. With a basis of blending a sense of ease and relaxation with patient steady attentiveness, we invite mettā to arise in our hearts supported internally by images and phrases. Though it takes some experimenting to find balance with these tools, the repetition of mettā phrases keeps directing our attention to the purpose of mettā practice. These phrases are so very helpful when we live into more complex or challenging situations.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center July Lovingkindness Retreat

2022-07-07 Working with Hindrances to Mettā Meditation (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 49:25
Tempel Smith
As we practice mettā meditation we will have waves where the practice feels easy, intuitive and validating; and we will all have waves where we struggle. There are five very common states which visit us in meditation practice called the "five hindrances". These are commonly named in English as craving, aversion, dullness, restlessness, and doubt. For steady mettā practice our first response to these challenges is to practice more carefully with patience determination. The second response is to offer ourselves kindness and compassion during challenging times. For mettā meditation and for the other three brahmaviharas, our third response to challenging times is to turn wakefully towards the qualities of the challenge and see them as only temporary conditions. We can greatly reduce the experience of suffering in the hindrances when we have mindful experience of them.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center July Lovingkindness Retreat

2022-07-06 Meditation: Cultivating a Gentle, Kind Attention 19:45
Tara Brach
This meditation calls on the image and felt sense of a smile as we scan through the body, and invites a receptive and caring presence, as we open our attention to the changing flow of life.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC

2022-07-06 Understanding the Experience of Non-Distraction - Meditation 34:47
Mark Nunberg
Common Ground Meditation Center Weekly Dharma Series

2022-07-06 Simple Mettā Breathing and Body Awareness (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 51:03
Tempel Smith
There are so many ways to practice formal mettā (loving kindness) meditation, and they all benefit from a relaxed mind and body. The proximal cause for samadhi (concentration) to arise is from a deepening sense of happiness, calm, and contentment. Many practitioners are drawn to use will and force to concentrate their attention, and this leads to agitation, frustration, and fatigue. With mettā breathing and body awareness we can cultivate the ease so useful for our hindrances to subside.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center July Lovingkindness Retreat

2022-07-04 Sila: Moral Integrity Non-Harming and the Bliss of Blamelessness - Week 2 - Meditation 38:01
Mark Nunberg
Common Ground Meditation Center Buddhist Studies Hybrid Summer Course: Sila: Moral Integrity, Non-Harming, and the Bliss of Blamelessness

2022-07-04 Rejoicing in Community 24:26
Ayya Santacitta
Guided Meditation
Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery

2022-07-03 Q&A - How to get out of your head and why 33:05
Ajahn Sucitto
Questions are précised 00:00 Q1 When the body or place doesn’t seem like a safe place to be, how can we take refuge in the heart? 04:01 Q2 I have been experiencing a flight – fight response recently, triggered perhaps by the pandemic. Everything seems to get trapped in the brain although I have been meditating for years. It seems to be a bit of a fight. Do you have any advice please? 12:39 Q3 The pandemic mode seems to continue and these small text messages are very quick and short and I feel lost, not catching up to the mind states of others. How can we do body practices in this situation? 18:39 Q4 There is so much to worry about these days and it seems almost hopeless sometimes. My meditation helps, but how can I be more consistent with the practice please? 23:31 Q5 I’m a psychologist working with people who have experienced severe trauma. Do you have one or two suggestions as to how I can help other people to clear energies that affect the heart and body? 28:54 Q6 I have relationship issues with my sister over how she treats our mother. I have spoken rather harshly to her about this and she has stopped talking to me. How can I deal with this please?
Cittaviveka

2022-07-03 Understanding Refuge - Meditation 34:51
Mark Nunberg
Common Ground Meditation Center Weekly Dharma Series

Creative Commons License