The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Retreat Dharma Talks at Spirit Rock Meditation Center

Monday and Wednesday Talks

Regular weekly talks given at the lower Spirit Rock meditation hall

Spirit Rock Meditation Center

  
2022-09-21 Meditative Techniques to End Confusion 1:40:09
Sylvia Boorstein
2022-09-28 The space in-between: Beauty, Awe, Silence and Nothing 1:48:28
Heidi Bourne
Includes meditation, dharma talk & open discussion.
Attached Files:
2022-10-03 Beacon of Love Meditation 24:46
Jack Kornfield
Some of you may have your own way of practicing metta/lovingkindess meditation. Others may want to listen and follow along—but it’s not a rigid practice. Do whatever most naturally opens the heart. For some people, the recitation of words—which we’ll do—may be helpful. For others, it’s more helpful to simply sit in a field of love and radiate kindness without a lot of words, specific language, or intention. Whatever floats your heart—follow that into goodness.
2022-10-05 Guided Meditation Exploring Ways of Practicing with Reactivity 38:26
Donald Rothberg
After some brief initial instructions in posture, setting intentions, cultivating stability of mind, and basic mindfulness, there is a period of settling, followed by brief instructions on being mindful of any moments of reactivity, and then, some time later, on being mindful of any moderate or greater (while still workable) moments of pleasant or unpleasant experiences, noticing any tendencies to move from pleasant to craving and grasping (one form of reactivity), and to move from unpleasant to not wanting to pushing away in some way (the other main form of reactivity).
2022-10-05 Ten Ways of Practicing with Reactivity 68:23
Donald Rothberg
We start with a brief review of the last three Wednesday sessions on "Dukkha and the End of Dukkha," including briefly summarizing the teachings of "The Two Arrows" and "Dependent Origination" (going from pleasant/unpleasant to grasping/pushing away); grasping and pushing away are interpreted as the most important meaning of dukkha as reactivity. Then there is an acknowledgment of Yom Kippur occurring on this day and its relationship to our practice. The core of the talk is exploring ten fundamental ways of practicing with reactivity (a pdf of the ten ways will be posted linked with the talk). The talk is followed by discussion.
Attached Files:
  • Ten Ways of Practicing with Reactivity by Donald Rothberg (Word File)
2022-10-12 The Three Most Important Things 1:39:51
Heidi Bourne
Attached Files:
2022-10-19 Being a 21st century Western Buddhist 1:49:45
Sylvia Boorstein
2022-10-26 Helping is Happening in the World 1:50:21
Sylvia Boorstein
2022-11-02 Building a Mind One Story at a Time 1:50:25
Sylvia Boorstein
Dharma talk interspersed with group discussion
2022-11-09 Placing Your Heart Upon Your Practice: Exploring the 5 Spiritual Faculties 1:17:37
Heidi Bourne
Includes meditation & dharma talk
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