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Retreat Dharma Talks at Spirit Rock Meditation Center

Equanimity: Finding Balance in Uncertain Times

Equanimity (upekkhā) is a highly-valued quality in Buddhist teachings. But what is it, and how do we cultivate it in our meditation practice? How can we access equanimity in daily life, especially in the midst of uncertainty, fear, and sadness over the suffering in the world? This retreat will offer instructions, talks, sitting and walking meditations, and practice discussions to support the development of equanimity in our formal practice. We can then apply equanimity to our life off the cushion.

2025-12-12 (6 days) Spirit Rock Meditation Center

  
2025-12-13 Breathing with Equanimity - "It's Like This" (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 69:26
Mei Elliott
2025-12-13 Brief Overview of the Bramhaviharas and Guided Mettā Practice (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 46:31
Gullu Singh
Brief Overview of the Bramhaviharas and Guided Mettā Practiced. Gullu briefly describes the 4 divine abodes of Mettā (Benevolence), Karuna (Compasion), Mudita (Appreciative Joy) and Upekka (Equanimity). This is followed by a brief description of the difficulties often encountered in the mettā practice followed by a guided mettā practice using imagery and phrases to hold the intention for goodwill and even spark the actually feeling of goodwill
2025-12-13 The Power of Equanimity (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 60:17
James Baraz
An overview of Equanimity: why it holds a special place in all the qualities of mind, its relationship to the other 3 Brahma Viharas and how it is cultivated.
2025-12-14 Breath and Body with an Emphasis on Impermanence (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 61:58
James Baraz
In this Equanimity retreat, instructions are given to include the breath and body with a special focus on seeing the impermanent nature of experience as a support for cultivating Equanimity.
2025-12-14 Compassion for Self (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 44:30
Mei Elliott
2025-12-15 Mindfulness of Mind (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 58:01
Gullu Singh
Morning instructions of expanding the field of awareness to include the attitude of mind as well as working with thoughts and emotions
2025-12-15 Cultivating Mudita (Sympathetic Joy) (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 48:11
James Baraz
An overview of the importance of cultivating Mudita or happiness at the happiness of others with instructions for practicing with various categories.
2025-12-15 Equanimity and Vedana (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 60:05
Mei Elliott
This talk explores vedanā within the framework of dependent origination, highlighting the role it plays in shaping habitual reactivity and suffering. It shows how mindfulness of feeling tone reveals the moment where suffering is conditioned—and where freedom becomes possible. By learning to meet vedanā directly, we cultivate equanimity and the capacity to relate to all experience with balance and ease.
2025-12-16 Equanimity and Big Mind Meditation (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 59:07
Mei Elliott
The spacious field of awareness has the capacity to know any experience without reactivity. Through connecting with a mind that is vast like the sky, we can see all objects arising and passing without entanglement.
2025-12-16 Embodying Equanimity: Implications and Applications in Daily Life (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 63:16
James Baraz
A look at how Equanimity can be applied to oneself, help in our relationships and support active engagement in a troubled world.
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