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The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
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Dharma Talks
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2025-05-15
Anguttara Nikaya 1.483
48:04
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James Baraz
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The Anguttara Nikaya is one of the five Nikayas (collections) that constitute the Sutta Pitaka, which is part of the Pali Tipitaka, the Theravada Buddhist canon.
It is also known as the "Numerical Discourses" or "Gradual Collection".
The Anguttara Nikaya is organized numerically, with suttas grouped into eleven books (nipatas) based on the number of items discussed within them. For example, the "Book of the Ones" contains suttas about a single topic, the "Book of the Twos" contains suttas about pairs of things, and so on
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Spring Insight Retreat
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2025-05-10
Energy: The Lifeblood of the Buddhist Path
28:28
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Dawn Mauricio
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The talk explores virya (energy) as a multidimensional quality essential to Buddhist practice, discussing how it functions as the "rudder and motor" that propels practitioners forward while serving as an antidote to sloth and torpor. Dawn shares personal experiences of struggling with having "too much energy" and feeling like a "bad yogi," while illuminating how embracing this quality in all its manifestations—from mild interest to balanced effort—can transform one's practice and cultivate joy. The talk invites practitioners to connect with what they trust in and have confidence in as a way to spark the balanced energy that brings forth the joy of practicing.
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Refuge of Belonging
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2025-05-07
Understanding and Responding to the World on the Basis of Core Teachings and Practices 2
67:28
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Donald Rothberg
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We first review of some of the themes explored last week. We look at the appropriateness of understanding and responding to social and political concerns, in the context of non-profit organizations and then in the context of the Buddha's teachings (which involved commentary on the caste system, on the origins of wars and poverty) and later Buddhist traditions (for example, King Ashoka, a practitioner in what is now India in 250 B.C.E. eliminated the death penalty, renounced war, and set up medical facilities for non-human animals). We then identify four foundations for bringing our attention to social and political concerns, including staying connected to the vision and practice of awakening and grounding ethically. This is followed by identifying, through the lens of teachings, six contemporary systems and ideologies (strengthened in the current U.S.) that manifest greed, aversion, and delusion and violate core ethical teachings. Then we look briefly at ways of practicing and responding individually, in connection with community. The talk is followed by discussion.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2025-05-07
Guided Meditation: Exploring Emotions and Thoughts Connected to Contemporary Social and Political Events 2
40:16
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Donald Rothberg
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We begin with some guidance on developing samadhi (concentration) and stability, followed by practicing developing samadhi. After about 10 minutes developing samadhi, we move to mindfulness practice. After about another 10 minutes of practice, we then inquire into some of the emotions and thoughts that have been present recently, whether difficult or joyful, related to the current state of the society and world. We first relive a recent experience and then bring mindfulness to the somatic, emotional, and mental dimensions of experience. While staying silent, we also have a sense of being in community and sharing our experience. We then work with Kristen Neff's three-step self-compassion practice (shifting to a three-step joy or mudita practice if the experiences have been more positive).
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2025-05-03
Nicht-Selbst und die Frage nach Individualität und persönlicher Verantwortung
54:00
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Yuka Nakamura
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Die Lehren über Nicht-Selbst sind sehr tiefgründig und befreiend. Zugleich sollten sie nicht im Sinne einer Verneinung von Individualität, psychischen Bedürfnissen oder persönlicher Verantwortlichkeit verstanden werden. Es braucht beides: eine psychische Entwicklung der Persönlichkeit, des relativen Selbst, und die Übernahme von Verantwortung für unser eigenes Leben, aber auch die spirituelle Entwicklung, die uns von der Anhaftung an das Selbst befreit.
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Seminarhaus Engl
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2025-05-01
Nicht-Selbst. Gebt auf, was nicht euer ist.
57:50
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Yuka Nakamura
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Der Buddha lehnte die Vorstellung einer ewigen, unveränderlichen Seele ab. Stattdessen beschrieb er, wie wir durch das Anhaften an den fünf Daseinsgruppen (khandas) und die Identifizierung damit ein Selbst erschaffen. Das Festhalten an einem solchen Selbst ist mit Leiden verbunden. Das Verständnis der Vergänglichkeit und Unzulänglichkeit aller Erfahrungen ermöglicht uns ein Loslassen.
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Seminarhaus Engl
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2025-04-30
Understanding and Responding to the World on the Basis of Core Teachings and Practices 1
63:13
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Donald Rothberg
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We first explore in general the relationship of core teachings and practices to the social and political dimensions of our lives. We see that Buddhist practice in the West has commonly emphasized meditation and inner practices, often neglecting or marginalizing the ethical training that traditionally is one of the three dimensions of training, even though the Buddha did often give social commentary (e.g., on the caste system) and at times social interpretations of the ethical precepts ("Let one not destroy life nor cause others to destroy life and, also, not approve of others’ killing. . . . Let one not cause to steal, nor approve of others’ stealing.'). We explore a vision of individual and collective awakening, inspired in part by more contemporary traditions of socially engaged Buddhism initially developed by pioneers like Thich Nhat Hanh, Sulak Sivaraksa, A.T. Ariyaratne, Dr. Ambedkar, Joanna Macy, and Robert Aitken. Then we give some attention to how to connect inner and outer practices, particularly focusing, as we did in the guided meditation, on practicing with challenging emotions and thoughts, and clarifying ways to act in the world. The talk is followed by discussion and ends with the setting of intentions.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2025-04-29
Listening for the Silence Beneath Everything
17:03
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Gregory Kramer
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This short guided meditation with Gregory Kramer invites participants into a spacious silence that supports awareness, curiosity, and presence. The meditation gently encourages letting go of habitual practices and idea to rest in simple awareness. Notice the hum of existence—the subtle energy of body and mind—and how beneath even agitation, words, or thought, there is always silence. The invitation is to listen deeply, beyond noise, toward the ever-present stillness beneath.
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Insight Dialogue Community
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