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The greatest gift is the gift of the teachings
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Dharma Talks
2009-01-28
Part 1 - Freedom In The Midst Of Fear
1:11:07
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Tara Brach
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One understanding of the spiritual path is relating wisely to fear. Our conditioned reaction is to feel aversion to fear and do anything but simply experience it. We discover freedom when instead of reacting, we recognize and open to fear with a kind, committed presence. While fear might or might not remain, with awareness, the suffering of being identified as a fearful self dissolves.
In Part I of this talk, we look at how to recognize the physical, mental, emotional and behavioral facets of the body of fear. In Part II we explore a range of pathways for cultivating a healing and freeing presence in the midst of fear.
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Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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2009-01-28
Leaving The Samsaric Home
49:22
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Ajahn Sucitto
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The mind drags us into places, and we easily locate ourselves there. This is what I’m stuck in, this is what I am. How to get a handle? The samādhi approach is to deal with the energy, not the topic. The sīla approach is to refer to the skilful. The pañña approach is to recognize this for what it is. We need to know how to handle the energy of the mind, and to practise ethical intentions and investigation.
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Cittaviveka
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Winter Retreat
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2009-01-27
The Ten Paramis
18:39:06
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Rodney Smith
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The Ten Paramis, or the ten perfections, are the ten qualities of character that can be developed to support the path of awakening. The Paramis can be seen as attributes of awareness itself and also as cultivated states that will enhance our lives. (Two talks given on each Parami.)
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Seattle Insight Meditation Society
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2009-01-27
All Beings are of One Substance
34:57
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Kittisaro
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Avalokitesvara – the Lord of Ease
Ekayana – All streams lead to the ocean - all Dharma doors lead to the One Heart
All Dharma doors are connected to Mindfulness
Crossing over beings of the self nature – being kind is being Kuan Yin
All Beings have been our mother, father, relative and are potential Buddha’s
Kittisaro’s mother’s death and his tribute to her
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Dharmagiri
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Original Brightness Retreat
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2009-01-27
Mindfulness of Movement
41:42
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Ajahn Sucitto
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The underlying bent of the mind is craving, that leaning of the mind to have, get, find, belong. In meditation we practise with loosening that craving energy, and introducing calming subjects for recollection. Walking meditation is a skilful means for loosening and gentling the mind.
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Cittaviveka
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Winter Retreat
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2009-01-27
The Challenge of Radical Contingency
1:17:57
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John Peacock
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Please note that these talks are from a 4 week retreat for experienced meditators. The talks and meditations can be listened to in any order or individually, but as they progressively unfold different levels of understanding of Emptiness, they will probably be more fully understood and the practices more easily developed if taken in series
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Gaia House
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Meditation on Emptiness (2009)
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2009-01-26
Practicing with the Three Characteristics
1:16:45
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Rob Burbea
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Please note that these talks are from a 4 week retreat for experienced meditators. The talks and meditations can be listened to in any order or individually, but as they progressively unfold different levels of understanding of Emptiness, they will probably be more fully understood and the practices more easily developed if taken in series
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Gaia House
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Meditation on Emptiness (2009)
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2009-01-25
The Sense of Self
60:39
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Rob Burbea
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Please note that these talks are from a 4 week retreat for experienced meditators. The talks and meditations can be listened to in any order or individually, but as they progressively unfold different levels of understanding of Emptiness, they will probably be more fully understood and the practices more easily developed if taken in series
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Gaia House
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Meditation on Emptiness (2009)
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2009-01-24
Emptiness
60:52
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Rob Burbea
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Please note that these talks are from a 4 week retreat for experienced meditators. The talks and meditations can be listened to in any order or individually, but as they progressively unfold different levels of understanding of Emptiness, they will probably be more fully understood and the practices more easily developed if taken in series
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Gaia House
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Meditation on Emptiness (2009)
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2009-01-24
Samadhi in the Practice of Emptiness
44:40
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Rob Burbea
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Please note that these talks are from a 4 week retreat for experienced meditators. The talks and meditations can be listened to in any order or individually, but as they progressively unfold different levels of understanding of Emptiness, they will probably be more fully understood and the practices more easily developed if taken in series
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Gaia House
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Meditation on Emptiness (2009)
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2009-01-21
Gentling The Mind
36:42
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Cultivating a softer happier state of being is valuable in its own right, and also has a profound purpose – to release mental programs that bind us and restrict us, so we can experience a greater sense of ease and freedom.
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Cittaviveka
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Winter Retreat
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2009-01-19
The End of Mark Making
37:39
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Kittisaro
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The tendency of the proliferating mind to designate permanence to the transitory through the process of thought
Papanca – conceptual proliferation creates the billion fragments of the world
The Diamond Sutra – The Guest and the Host
What remains?
Kappa’s question to the Buddha
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Dharmagiri
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2009-01-17
Transcendence Includes It All
59:55
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Ajahn Sucitto
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The process of liberation is sometimes referred to as ‘transcendence’. Transcendence means you meet feeling, and mind gets bigger than that, includes it all. It is a natural mode of the mind, to meet and include. Enlightenment factors enable this stepping back and non-involvement. We can then meet the results of kamma and realize liberation.
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Cittaviveka
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Winter Retreat
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2009-01-16
It's Uncertain
40:49
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Kittisaro
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Meeting Ajahn Chah in Thailand
Know the breath and you’ll know everything
Opening the Dharma Eye
Underlying pervasive peace
Samsara & Nibbana arise at the same place
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Dharmagiri
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2009-01-15
Knowing Through Dispassion
37:24
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Mindfulness offers the ability to sustain, to notice, and therefore to be wise. Through this we can experience feelings that arise as energy in the body. Stepping back, there is a shift from being in these to a knowingness of them, with resultant dispassion. This is the liberating process of insight.
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Cittaviveka
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Winter Retreat
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2009-01-14
Humble Of Heart
1:11:49
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Tara Brach
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As consciousness evolves, there is a deepening understanding of the interdependence of all of life. This wisdom naturally leads to an authentic humility--an awakening from the burden and violence of self-importance. In this talk we explore the relationship between being humble of heart, and living with kindness and compassion. There is particular attention to the necessity of humility and deep listening--as individuals and societies--if we are to respond to conflict in a way that can bring peace to this earth.
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Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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2009-01-14
Generating Skilful Feeling
34:30
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Mindfulness is about knowing how one is affected. We come to know where impulses and intentions/motivations come from, whether these are spiritual or worldly. With skilful intention, there is the possibility to generate pleasant feeling within ourselves. We can find joy in our own presence rather than through external means.
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Cittaviveka
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Winter Retreat
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2009-01-13
A Step Towards The Transcendant
43:01
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Ajahn Sucitto
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This teaching describes the running of psycho-somatic ‘programs’ (saṇkhārā ) – in terms of those that are default and those we can intentionally induce. In this way, in meditation, we develop skills that can change our psychological patterns. The method is: first step back from the torrent of mind; then, cultivate enlightenment factors.
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Cittaviveka
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Winter Retreat
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2009-01-12
The Capacity to Bear Reality
41:37
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Kittisaro
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The heavenly messengers that set the Buddha on his quest
The Buddha’s early struggle and discovery of the middle way
The First Jhana and simile of the Bathman’s Apprentice
Citt’ekaggata – A unified heart suffused with well being
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Dharmagiri
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2009-01-12
Energy,view and Anapansati
37:43
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Ajahn Sucitto
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When the mind is relieved from pressure, we can review the experience of what’s running through the mind, feeling the changes in terms of somatic energy. This energy body has primary intelligence, and retains learnt impressions. Through mindfulness of breathing, we calm and soothe this energy body – with resultant clarity.
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Cittaviveka
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Winter Retreat
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2009-01-10
The Five Khandhas
52:06
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Ajahn Sucitto
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The five khandhā provide a frame of reference for contemplation. Rather than trying to get rid of them, we examine them in order to understand that the seemingly solid basis of our experience is actually changing, inconstant, and dependent on consciousness.
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Cittaviveka
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Winter Retreat
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2009-01-09
The Wearing out of Sankharas
39:00
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Ajahn Sucitto
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When we meditate, we might notice reactive and compulsive surges of energy (saṇkhārā). If we can step back from getting involved with them, they gradually wear out. Then the mind stream becomes something we have a say over. There is an ability to make wise choices; this is a mark of freedom.
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Cittaviveka
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Winter Retreat
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2009-01-07
The Three Refuges
1:26:28
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Tara Brach
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The spiritual path can be understood as forgetting and remembering. We suffer when we lose sight of truth, of love, of awareness. And we touch freedom in the moments of remembering. This talk includes guided reflections on three gateways to remembering: three refuges--buddha, dharma and sangha--that are the foundation of classical Buddhist teachings and profoundly relevant in our contemporary lives.
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Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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2009-01-06
How Metta Works Through Us
66:12
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Donald Rothberg
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Metta works, partly in a clear way, partly mysteriously, to help us lead with our hearts, develop deeper concentration, unergo an often challenging process of purification and touch the depths of our being. As we practice, we work through a number of challenges - distraction, sleepiness, the restless mind and body, and the near and far enemies of metta - attached love and ill-will for enemies, particularly harsh judgment of self and others.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Metta
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2009-01-06
Themes of meditation
30:49
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Through referencing the parable of the cook (S.47:8), we are encouraged to get to know the mind in order to choose the meditation theme that suits it best. There are a range of themes you can use to counteract hindrances: such as death contemplation, unattractiveness of the body, lovingkindness, Buddha and breathing. Through trial and error, find out what is needed.
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Cittaviveka
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Winter Retreat
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