Group interviews

Citta is made stronger and deeper through cultivating patience and resolution. It gains an imperturbable stillness and serenity that lets things pass through. Steady in the face of the pleasant and unpleasant alike, this ‘soft strength’ refuses to give way to the tides of ill will.

The talks in this series were recorded by Rob at his home. As well as addressing and inquiring into common Dharma themes such as emptiness, ethics, Awakening, and tradition, they attempt to clarify or explore further various aspects and implications of some of the Soulmaking Dharma teachings and practices, including their bearing on some of those common Dharma themes. PLEASE NOTE: Although not all of it, much of the material presented here will only be properly comprehended when there is already some basis of preparatory experience and understanding of Soulmaking Dharma, in addition to a good working familiarity with Insight Meditation.

How connecting vs sustaining the attention can lead to wisdom

"May I accept things as they are" "May I be undisturbed by the coming and going of events"

Dr. Fulder introduces the day's topic - equanimity, Israel's Tovana movement & his book.

Morning instructions by Sayadaw

The territories of the somatic field and qualities of goodwill are offered as a clear, firm foundation for wisdom. Having cultivated them on retreat, we need to integrate liberation, purity and goodwill into our lives.

We identify with a lot of things - our bodies, what we like/dislike, our life stories, our values, our political views, and even our sense of knowing all of these things. This talk explores the shifting collage of identifications that make up our self-views; and the ways and whys of practicing with this rich realm of experience.

There is no question more engaging, universal and mysterious than the question: ‘Who Am I?’ As soon as we move out of automatic living and start to question and explore who or what we are, we open a Pandora’s Box and our life can get dramatically more deep and interesting, and sometimes more disturbing. We find ourselves in a world of paradox, mystery, and yet unimagined freedom. ‘Who is in charge of my life?’ ‘What in me is changing and what is constant?’ ‘Which of the many voices within me can I rely on?’ ‘How can I let go of the sense of separation between me and the world?’ ‘Is my life leading me somewhere?’ Questions such as these become a journey of discovery. They help us peel off the layers of conditioning and beliefs and live more wisely, more lightly and more freely. In the dharma, we meet ourselves as a constantly changing field of experience, not as an intellectual puzzle. We are actually more transparent than we first thought. This is an insight into anatta, non-self, and sunyata, emptiness. This removes the veil or filter through which we usually view the world, which then appears meaningful, joyful, and unlimited. In this event, we will explore these questions concerning self and world, by means of a talk, meditation, and inquiry.

There is no question more engaging, universal and mysterious than the question: ‘Who Am I?’

There is no question more engaging, universal and mysterious than the question: ‘Who Am I?’