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The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Dharma Talks
2025-06-18 The Big Picture 1 64:23
Donald Rothberg
The talk begins to give the "big picture" about the nature of our practice, and how we come, in a way suitable to our times and places, to manifest wisdom, love and compassion, and skillful responses in our lives, increasingly more of the time. We reflect first on some of the challenges of our times, and how Buddhism, as it has moved to different cultures, has always taken new forms. A main part of the big picture, which is our main focus today, is a model of how meditation develops. We articulate a model involving three main forms of practice (that we can find in multiple Buddhist traditions): Developing samadhi (concentration), opening to liberating insight, and opening to awakened awareness. We explore each of the three and their relationship to each other. The talk is followed by discussion.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2025-06-18 Guided Meditation to Develop Samadhi (Concentration) and Insight 38:48
Donald Rothberg
We begin with guidance to develop samadhi (concentration). About mid-way through, we move to mindfulness practice, cultivating insight, and then to two important areas of liberating insight--insight into impermanence and insight into reactivity (the most fundamental meaning of dukkha).
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2025-06-18 Reflections on NIbbana and the Path 22:26
Ayya Santussika
Readings from chapter 8 of the Udana (1-4) on Nibbana, followed by reflections on the path and practice.
Cloud Mountain Retreat Center Cultivating the Seven Awakening Factors – the Sambojjhaṅga

2025-06-18 Intentions (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 64:42
Tuere Sala
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Cultivating Awakening Emotions (230R25), with Tuere Sala, in CMC

2025-06-17 Evening Chanting (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 5:57
Tuere Sala
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Cultivating Awakening Emotions (230R25), with Tuere Sala, in CMC

2025-06-17 The Awakening Capacity of Samvega/Pasada (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 62:27
Tuere Sala
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Cultivating Awakening Emotions (230R25), with Tuere Sala, in CMC

2025-06-17 Q&A 3 37:31
Ayya Santussika
Sound of Silence, tranquility and equanimity, not-self, for goodness sake, samadhi sensations, letting go in meditation, realizing Nibbana and sticking around afterwards.
Cloud Mountain Retreat Center Cultivating the Seven Awakening Factors – the Sambojjhaṅga

2025-06-17 Feeling Tones Part 2 (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 40:25
Tuere Sala
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Cultivating Awakening Emotions (230R25), with Tuere Sala, in CMC

2025-06-17 To Do Good for the Sake of Goodness 9:33
Ayya Santussika
A reflection on the teaching of Ajahn Ganha: "We have to do good for the sake of goodness. We observe the precepts for the sake of keeping precepts. When we practice samadhi meditation, we practice for the sake of meditation. When we cultivate our wisdom, it is just for the sake of cultivating the wisdom. Then we can gain the peacefulness of mind and wisdom at the same time."
Cloud Mountain Retreat Center Cultivating the Seven Awakening Factors – the Sambojjhaṅga

2025-06-17 Feeling Tone (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 1:14:11
Tuere Sala
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Cultivating Awakening Emotions (230R25), with Tuere Sala, in CMC

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