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

Concentration Retreat

Concentration (samadhi), the collection and unification of the mind, was emphasized by the Buddha as one of the aspects of the Eightfold Path. It can bring joy to your practice and lead to the skillful use of pleasure in the meditative process. Whatever your level of practice, you can improve your Insight Meditation (Vipassana) by strengthening your concentration skills. Your ability to concentrate will develop in response to the attention you give it. This retreat offers a series of techniques for staying on the meditation object for extended periods of time. We will explore the factors of concentration that lead to the deep absorption states known as jhana.

2016-08-21 (10 days) Spirit Rock Meditation Center

  
2016-08-21 Opening Night Talk 24:14
Sally Armstrong
2016-08-22 The What, Why and How of Samadhi 58:40
Phillip Moffitt
Having clarity as to what is concentration practice, know why it is essential and how it manifest creates the ground of faith in the practice.
2016-08-23 Life's Challenging Energies 60:53
Pat Coffey
As our practice matures we are encouraged to cultivate healthier more compassionate relationships with those energies of life that obscure our natural perfected heart. In this talk we explore the origins of these energies and a perspective on them that creates harmony both inside and out.
2016-08-24 The Power of Patience (in Concentration Practice) 65:31
Kamala Masters
2016-08-25 Training the Mind 59:06
Sally Armstrong
Contentment and relaxation are supportive conditions for the development of samadhi. Transforming our relationship to the breath allows us to deepen the connection.
2016-08-26 Knowing and a Stillness in Samadhi 60:48
Phillip Moffitt
In concentration practice we discover the mystery of knowing and that which knows.
2016-08-29 Patterns of Practice 55:52
Sally Armstrong
As we commit to our meditation practice, we can see patterns that are helpful to understand and use to deepen our experience. This is an important part of the training and can give us confidence in the practice and our experience.
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