What do we rely on in a world like this? When everything feels marred by conflict and division, violence and chaos, the mind easily fixates on fear, confusion, loss of faith. But if we keep fixating, our lives begin to organize around those energies. Taking refuge is a way of interrupting that pattern. Refuge not as a belief statement, but more like a commitment or a resolve to keep moving to align with a particular orientation to life. That we choose, again and again. And this view shifts dependency from external conditions to awakening, to the truth, to the field of practice.

Dharma Talk about the Majjhima Nikaya #20. (Group discussion has been omitted.)

Dharma talk about how to nourish joy as a source of strength. (NOTE: Group discussion has been omitted.)

Full instructions are given at the beginning for cultivating concentration (samadhi), including attention to posture, a variety of possible areas of focus (with most attention given to the breath, including on the "three-part breath"), and balancing "not too tight" and "not too loose." Then we practice mostly in silence, with a brief discussion period at the end of the sitting.

In this overview about developing concentration (samadhi) in our practice, we examine (1) the nature of concentration (or samadhi), including the etymology of the term and how we often find a natural concentration in daily life; (2) its importance in our practice; (3) some ways to practice to develop concentration, and (4) five challenges of such practice and how to work with them. The talk is followed by discussion.

We review at the beginning the basic instructions for cultivating concentration (samadhi), including attention to posture, a variety of possible areas of focus (with most attention given to the breath, including the technique of practicing with the "three-part breath"), and balancing "not too tight" and "not too loose." We also review the main challenges that can arise in such practice, and how to work with these challenges. Then we practice mostly in silence, with a discussion period at the end of the sitting.

We begin with a review of the nature of samadhi and of samatha practice, in which we develop greater samadhi. Samadhi is understood as a natural quality (including with other species) that we may know through times in which we are deeply immersed and absorbed in an activity, such as being with another, art, music, or sports. Samatha is one of the two main forms of meditation taught by the Buddha, along with insight practice. We also give an overview of how samatha practice deepens, going into some depth on the model of the five jhanic factors, and pointing to the experiences of the first two jhanas (as taught by the Buddha). The talk is followed by discussion.