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

  
2023-09-27 The Compass of the Heart: Intention, Attention & Attitude 1:42:23
Heidi Bourne
Includes meditation, dharma talk & 3 questions connected to the topic
2023-10-02 Bridge the Gap: Integrating Spiritual Practice into Life 1:46:40
Oren Jay Sofer
2023-10-04 Taking Your Mind to the Laundry: How Wisdom Accumulates 1:35:31
Sylvia Boorstein
Includes meditation, dharma talk & some discussion.
2023-10-09 Indigenous Peoples' Day Practice 1:43:11
Bonnie Duran
2023-10-11 Remembering the Intention Not to Cause Harm 1:22:39
Heidi Bourne
Includes meditation & dharma talk. (Group discussion has been removed).
2023-10-16 The Power of Attention 1:37:29
Sally Armstrong
2023-10-18 Practicing with Conflict: Foundations 1 66:41
Donald Rothberg
We begin by identifying the importance of developing skillful practice with differences and conflicts, whether inner conflicts or interpersonal conflicts or group or organizational conflicts or social or international conflicts. The claim is that the general principles and practices are fundamentally the same, even as the practices take different forms when there are more complexities. We first give a definition of "conflict" as a difference of values, goals, or strategies, and as not necessarily involving hostility or aggression. This definition may help to go against the prevalence of negative conditioning about conflicts; we look at a number of reasons why bringing our practice to conflicts is commonly difficult. For the rest of the talk, we examine four more "inner" foundations of skillful practice with conflict: examining our own conditioning; working with the core relevant teachings of the Buddha, particularly about the nature of reactivity (as in the teaching of the Two Arrows); practicing with difficult emotions, body states, and thoughts; and bringing in the heart practices. After the talk, there is a discussion.
2023-10-25 Practicing with Conflict: Foundations 2 68:46
Donald Rothberg
We start by reviewing last week's initial account of the foundations for practicing with differences and conflicts, first giving a definition of "conflict" as a difference of values, goals, or strategies, and not necessarily involving hostility or aggression. We also look again briefly at the multiple reasons why bringing our practice to conflicts is often difficult, and then review the more "inner" four foundations of skillful practice with conflict. We then bring in three further foundations which are more "outer": developing guidelines and agreements, especially in groups or organizations, but also with individuals; clarifying a vision of a "win-win" or "both-and" approach to conflicts that meet the underlying interests or needs of all concerned; and developing empathy. After the talk, there is a discussion.
Attached Files:
  • Johan Galtung's Win-Win Model of Conflict Transformation by Donald Rothberg (PDF)
  • Feelings Inventory from NVC by NVC (added by Donald Rothberg) (PDF)
  • Needs Inventory from NVC by NVC (added by Donald Rothberg) (PDF)
  • Empathy Map by Donald Rothberg/Oren Jay Sofer (PDF)
2023-10-30 Navigating Uncertainty with Awakened Tenderness 1:31:53
Kaira Jewel Lingo
2023-11-01 There's Nothing Left to Do But... Be Kind to Yourself & Everyone Else You Meet 1:20:17
Sylvia Boorstein
Includes meditation & dharma talk (Group Q/A has been removed)
Attached Files:
  • The Metta Sutta (Sylvia's Adapted Version) (PDF)
  • Mimesis by Fady Joudah (PDF)
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