This teaching begins with an overview of the Five Hindrances: Desire, Aversion, Sloth and Torpor, Restlessness, and Doubt and continues with a thorough discussion of the Five Jhanic Factors: Aiming one’s mind, Investigation, Raptness, Comfort in Being, and One-pointedness which the meditator uses to effectively deal with and utilize the Five Hindrances in deepening her/his practice. The meditator gains perspective, alertness, connection, caring, and energy.

The teachers at Insight Meditation South Bay frequently guide meditation for the community. These recordings vary in length and style. They may include instructions for specific meditation techniques, introduce a dhamma theme, offer general mindfulness reminders, or present meditation instructions at the beginning of an otherwise silent session. Please listen to these recordings in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Turn off your phone, and settle into a comfortable meditative posture. Plan to meditate for 30-45 minutes even if the recording is brief and verbal instructions last for only a few minutes. You may enjoy brief recordings at the beginning of meditation session, and then continue to meditate in silence for as long as you wish. Silent periods during longer recordings are intentional; moments of silence allow time for you to practice the instructions that were previously explained.

The Saturday night session of the lawyers retreat. What's going on in mindfulness and law. Right livelihood.

This talk was given at the Lawyer's Retreat. It focused on a description of four characteristics of mindfulness - seeing things clearly, permanence, being present and watching the judging mind.

A journey to a Burmese monastery and mindfulness of our full experience, even the hard stuff.

Equanimity is resting the mind before it falls into extremes of reactivity. The spacious, calm balance of equanimity can contain both the joys and sorrows of life— supporting mindfulness and the opening to deeper wisdom when we open to “how it is.” Moment to moment, equanimity leads to a great respect and to alignment with the truths that liberate.

Exploring the great intimacy of mindfulness…where and how and why do we establish a true present- moment attention.

From a ground of Metta how to develop the four foundations of mindfulness: body, feelings, mind,

Waiting silently for truth and love to come to us as we cut through perfectionism

Including thought, emotions, reaction in the field of mindfulness.

Transformative power of mindfulness. Turning towards freedom.

Although it is effortless to be MF, it takes effort to remember to be mindful. The practice of recollection; remembering that which is most true to our hearts.

Discusses how mindfulness practice develops peace of mind through acceptance and a compassionate heart that leads to mind action.

In dealing with the demons of the mind that is with all the emotions and mental states causing fear, sorrow, attachment or any other sort of mental anquish we are able to courageously face them with bare awareness. When this awareness or mindfulness is strong without reacting to the experience, even the worst enemies are dissolved like the morning mist in the rising sun.

This talk presents the healing power of mindfulness in helping adults be with children and enter their world. Some ways of enhancing children's natural capacity for presence are given as examples.

Being in alignment with the truth and falling into the natural flow of things through the practice of mindfulness.

Mindfulness to body: A guided sweep through the body with emphasis on the head and trunk of the body.

Instructional sit #4: A guided meditation on breath and body using sounding to help explore sensation of experience.

This talk begins with the First and Second Foundations of Mindfulness and continues with the sharing stories of how and where Ruth began teaching.

Instructional sit #2: A detailed description of the practice of mindfulness to breathing through exploring sensations in the body.

Instructional sit #1: Guided mindfulness to body through the practice of attention to breathing.

Understanding the complete practice of mindfulness

This talk continues the exploration of how the practice cultivates happiness and joy. Topics include mindfulness as appreciation, wonder, gratitude, bliss of blamelessness, letting go, mudita, friendship and liberation.

How metta and mindfulness are inherent in each other, as reflected by the instructions in the Metta Sutta.

Satipatthana is a description of Mindfulness.

How the five spiritual faculties: faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom serve as a map and sequence towards deeper understanding and freedom.

INTRODUCTION TO BREATH MEDITATION Learn how to enjoy keeping the mind with the breath. If you spend time with the breath, you get sensitive not only to the breath, but also to what the mind is doing in the present moment and to the way it causes unnecessary suffering for itself. GETTING TO KNOW THE BREATH We live with the breath, and yet we don’t know it, and as a result don’t get as much out of it as we could. The breath can provide food, clothing, shelter, and medicine for the mind if you take the time to get to know it well. INSIGHT FROM THE BREATH The type of insight that’s going to make a difference in the mind has to come from the mind’s being solidly based. So, until your mindfulness of the breath is really solid, this is where you want to focus all your efforts. WHY THE BREATH The breath is like a mirror for the mind. When there’s greed, anger, delusion, they’ll show up in the breath. And you find that not only does the breath reflect the mind, but you can use the breath to have a positive effect on the mind as well. THE FULLNESS OF THE BREATH When the breath in the body is full, you find that it’s really resilient and eases your burdens in lots of ways. So experiment to see what a “full breath” is. THE BREATH'S POTENTIAL The mind is like an animal: that if it hasn’t been trained it’s difficult to live with. Once we train it, though, it stops creating so much suffering for itself. So we begin by staying in one place with something really simple: the breath.

A talk on the integration of mindfulness and loving kindness, and on the importance of compassion.

The type of insight that’s going to make a difference in the mind has to come from the mind’s being solidly based. So, until your mindfulness of the breath is really solid, this is where you want to focus all your efforts.

Harsh judgements of ourselves in practice and in life may be connected to an underlying sense of not being good enough. The talk explores remedies in the moment (mindfulness and reflection) and long term (metta, selflessness).

Mindfulness is our doorway to reality, or nature, which reveals its truths to us. The qualities of mindfulness, effort and concentration, are at the heart of the meditative path. As they develop, they bring our hearts and minds ever closer to the awakened mind of the Buddha. Only mindfulness can stem the tide of conditioned thought patterns that sweep us into sorrow.

arousing the power of mindfulness by learning to see in a clear, direct and simple way

arousing the power of mindfulness by learning to see in a clear, direct and simple way