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Dharma Talks
2013-09-03 Five Preconditions for Insight: Wise Effort (the fourth precondition) 33:04
Shaila Catherine
The Buddha taught that there are five preconditions necessary for the development of meditation practice in seclusion—good friends, virtue and restraint, engaging in talk on the Dhamma, wise effort, wisdom. These preconditions, presented in the Meghiya Sutta, are developed progressively and support one another. This talk explores the role of effort and energy on the path of awakening. We make the effort to avoid and abandon unwholesome states, and to cultivate and maintain wholesome states. We apply our energy with diligence and balance. If too lax we will fall short of the goal and permit obstructions to distract the attention; if there is too much striving and forced effort we will exhaust ourselves and become discouraged. Right effort is balanced between relaxation and vigor; it is appropriate to the situation—applying just enough strength to meet the current conditions with wisdom and clarity. Skillful effort requires the commitment to endure difficult and painful situations without becoming disheartened. We persevere on our path, adjusting the quality of effort with mindfulness and sensitivity.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley Tuesday Talks

2013-09-01 Compassion (Karuna) and Equanimity (Upekkha) - Meditation and Q&A 36:04
Mark Nunberg
Retreat Dharma Talk
Common Ground Meditation Center

2013-09-01 Meditation Instructions on Sitting and Walking 57:36
Yanai Postelnik
This talk also includes Leela Sarti
Gaia House Embodying the Awakened Heart

2013-08-31 Meditation Instructions For Sitting and Walking 62:02
Leela Sarti
This talk also includes Yanai Postelnik
Gaia House Embodying the Awakened Heart

2013-08-28 Part 2: Relating to the Fearsome Deities 1:28:33
Tara Brach
Whenever Mara--the shadow side--appeared during the Buddha's life, his response was simple and liberating: "I see you Mara," and,"Please, come…let's have tea." In that spirit, this talk explores three approaches to relating to fear with a mindful and compassionate presence. The flute meditation at the end of the talk is given by Akal Dev. Please support this podcast by donating at dharmaseed.org. Your donations allow us to continue to freely offer the teachings!
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2013-08-27 Monthly Sitting & Inquiry: August 2013 37:37
Gina Sharpe
These regularly scheduled evenings will begin with a guided meditation and then open up to our practice questions allowing us time to deepen in Sangha through mindful community discussion.
New York Insight Meditation Center NYI Regular Talks

2013-08-27 Guided Metta Meditation 44:37
John Peacock
Gaia House The Heart of Practice

2013-08-27 What is Meditation? 54:10
John Peacock
Gaia House The Heart of Practice

2013-08-23 Pilgrimages to India and Tibet with Q&A 1:10:28
Ajahn Sucitto
Ajahn describes two pilgrimages, one a six month to India's holy places (audio book here: https://whereareyougoing.podbean.com/), and one to Mount Kailash. 01:04:10 Q1 Did you cry ever? 01:04:33 Q2 Did you feel you achieved your objectives? 01:05:17 Q3 Would you recommend this to others? 01:06:26 Q4 Would you do it again? Q5 01:06:56 In Poland where I come from, a big religious [experience] is national sport, with thousands of people walking to the shrine [/ stadium]. It’s not a pilgrimage but a great sense of community, a mass movement. 01:07:46 Q6 What was the purpose of your talk this evening? 01:08:44 Q7 One of the things I got from reading the book, somehow we get the idea we should be getting somewhere in meditation, and this got smashed to pieces several times in the book.
London Insight Meditation

2013-08-20 Five Preconditions for Insight: Engage in Talk of the Dhamma (the third precondition) 21:35
Shaila Catherine
The Buddha taught that there are five preconditions necessary for the development of meditation practice in seclusion—good friends, virtue and restraint, engaging in talk on the Dhamma, wise effort, wisdom. These preconditions, presented in the Meghiya Sutta, are developed progressively and support one another. This talk explores the importance of engaging in dhamma talk, reflecting on the teachings, and wise speech as ways of nurturing the path of awakening. How do you know when to speak and when to remain silent? What kind of speech is most true and useful? What types of conversation will distract you from your goals, or support the realization of nibbana? Does your engagement in conversation encourage attachments, identification, self-grasping, or does it nurture letting go, release, and peace?
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley Tuesday Talks

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