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Dharma Talks
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2024-06-03
How to Meditate--The 4 Practices Rooted in Tradition and Confirmed by Neuroscience
56:20
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Tina Rasmussen
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How to Meditate--The 4 Practices Rooted in Tradition and Confirmed by Neuroscience.
In this talk, Tina gives concise overview instructions and guidance on how to begin meditating, suitable for beginners and experienced meditators alike. She talks about general guidelines that apply to every type of meditation. Then she gives an overview of the 4 practice categories being studied in neuroscience, which are also reflected in the Buddhist tradion. Then she gives instructions on how to practice each type of meditation, with a short period of practice. To go directly to those sections, please see the following time markers:
-Heart Practices--Bodhicitta and the Bramaviharas (lovingkindness, compassion, joy/gratitude, and equanimity): 15:45
-Focused Attention--Samatha (concentration and serenity), Anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing): 31:03
-Open Monitoring--Vipassana (insight meditation): 39:26
-Self-Transcending--Dzogchen (Rigpa): 49:37
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Luminous Mind Sangha
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2024-05-08
Living with a Courageous Heart in Times of Crisis: A Conversation with Tara Brach & Oren Jay Sofer
1:10:27
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Tara Brach,
Oren Jay Sofer
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The pace of change is speeding up and much of the news we receive is alarming. More than ever, we need the inner reflections and meditations that help us connect with our capacities for clarity, bravery and openheartedness. This is what Tara explores with Oren Jay Sofer, in his book entitled: Your Heart Was Made For This: Contemplative Practices to Meet a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love (2023.)
Oren teaches mindfulness, meditation and non violent communication, and his prior book is bestselling Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication (2018.) Learn more about Oren Jay Sofer and order books at: https://www.orenjaysofer.com
Please Note: At timestamp 57:41, Oren mistakenly attributes an article to George Lakey. The author of this article is Robert Reich.
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Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
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2024-05-05
Selfie of the Mind
25:48
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Ayya Medhanandi
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Are we present here and now? How much do we obsess in thought? Is the mind filled with worry – wavering from anxiety to fear? Here and now, we examine and ascend to peaceful states. When we’re dreaming, wake up. Know that we’re asleep. Know that we’re not present. Know the mind that is upset, angry or boiling and cool it. Use the Buddha’s tools to repair and return our attention to present moment awareness. Mindfully knowing, seeing clearly with blameless joy and wise insight, we lighten our burden. We are cultivating the garden of the mind.
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Toronto Theravada Buddhist Community (TBC)
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2024-04-08
Freedom from Fear
53:07
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Bhavana, cultivation, is associated with bringing into being fruitful states and dwelling in them. Without this ground, citta- heart - goes out, focuses on conditioned phenomena. The natural result will be uncertainty, anxiety, fear. Practices for clearing fear at its root are described: contemplation of death, mindfulness of body and breathing, generosity, virtue.
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Amaravati Monastery
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2024-04-03
Meditation: A Present Heart
16:38
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Tara Brach
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One translation of mindfulness, in Chinese, is “present heart.” In this guided meditation we begin by awakening through the body and the senses, and then open the attention to the changing flow of experience. The intention is to meet whatever arises with a wakeful and kind presence.
It’s so helpful to say, “What’s happening inside me right now?” Then, “Can I meet this with kindness, with a present heart?”
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Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
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2024-03-28
Development without Becoming
49:57
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Our general mode follows a track called becoming. It’s a track that keeps moving, flavoured with craving that never arrives at satisfaction. The Buddha presented a more natural way – step-by-step, chart the course, with friendliness and purity of intention. Mindfulness of body and contemplative thought (vitaka-vicara) support a wider, wholistic mode. Use the process to adjust your world, so you’re not driven and pushed by it.
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Cittaviveka
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Step-by-Step: the Upwards Flow
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2024-03-27
The flow to liberation: Feeding the Citta
44:01
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Ajahn Sucitto
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The flow to liberation isn’t a flash in the pan miracle, but a gradual, step-by-step process. Begin with the 4 establishments of mindfulness. When held carefully, steadily, with patience, the enlightenment factors develop. It can’t be done out of will power. Rather, nourishment for the process are restraint, mindfulness and careful attention. (Sutta reference AN 10:61)
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Cittaviveka
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Step-by-Step: the Upwards Flow
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2024-02-28
Guided Meditation Exploring the Judgmental Mind
37:15
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Donald Rothberg
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After a period of settling and general mindfulness practice, we invite noticing and being with any expressions of the judgmental mind (here called "judgments") if they occur. In the second part of the guided meditation, there is also a more direct investigation of a selected judgment, exploring it at the levels of body, emotions, and thought, and seeing whether any underlying painful or difficult experience can be noticed. We close with a brief three-part self-compassion practice (from Kristin Neff).
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2024-02-13
Q&A
49:32
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Ajahn Sucitto
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00:13 Q1 How can one develop self-love without being accused of being selfish? 08:33 Q2 How can I cope with repeating pain in the shoulders or back and strong surging of energy? Should one change position? 14:45 Q2 What is the purpose of being alive if not to experience the senses? Trying to dull out the senses to be mindful makes me wonder if we miss the true beauty of life. 27:40 Q3 I'm wondering about the effects of tension on the citta/ sensitivity. I'm aware of deep tension in my body which could have been there since childhood. Qigong and reclining meditation are good. 45:11 Q4 The manifestation of a category such as apple in your example, is that what is meant by nama? 47:25 Q5 What's a good balance of walking, standing and sitting?
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Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa
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Regaining the Center
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