Dharma Seed - Dharma Talks from Spirit Rock Meditation Center Retreats

Awakening Joy: Dharma Practice as a Path of Happiness

The Buddha was known as The Happy One. However, the teachings often seem to emphasize working with suffering. Joy and happiness can seem frivolous or unspiritual even though Joy is one of the Seven Factors of Awakening. In this retreat we will practice with an emphasis on cultivating wholesome states to develop our natural capacity for well-being and happiness. Our own development of well-being and joy then becomes our gift to a troubled world. This retreat is for both experienced as well as new students.

2012-10-30 (6 days) Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2012-11-01 Buddha Dharma as a Path of Happiness 62:34
James Baraz	Download Listen
The Four Noble Truths are usually presented as the truth of suffering, its cause, its end, and the path that leads to the end. This talk presents these truths with an emphasis on well-being: 1) There is happiness, 2) There is a cause of happiness, 3) Happiness is possible, and 4) There is a path that leads to the highest happiness.

2012-11-03 Trust and Surrender is Available in Any Moment 57:17
James Baraz	Download Listen
While many wholesome states are experienced by cultivation, the state of peace and wholeness that is possible comes from relaxing all doing and simply allowing ourselves to just be. This state of being emerges from equanimity, involves trust and surrender and is available in any moment.