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Dharma Talks
given at Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2022-12-14
Talk: Practicing with Views and Beliefs 1
67:26
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Donald Rothberg
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Practicing with views, beliefs, opinions, and narratives is a central part of our practice (in relationship to ourselves, to others, and in the larger society and world) and was strongly emphasized in the teachings of the Buddha. In this talk, we explore how the Buddha taught on views, emphasizing four core teachings. We then inquire into what is particularly problematic in our relationship to views is the way that we potentially are reactive in relation to views--habitually grasping and pushing away with our views. We then suggest three foundational practices for working with views and beliefs. There is finally about a twenty-minute discussion period.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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Attached Files:
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The Buddha on “Views: Four Texts
by Donald Rothberg
(PDF)
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2022-11-23
Talk: Taking Everything As An Opportunity for Learning 2
66:18
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Donald Rothberg
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We explore how to practice with the intention to take everything as the opportunity for learning--an approach which is named in different ways in Buddhist and other traditions, including the Zen saying, "The obstacle is the path," and the Tibetan Lojong teaching, "Turn all obstacles into the path of practice." How do we follow this intention as individuals, groups or communities, or whole societies? We look particularly at ways to take everything as practice as individuals and some of the challenges of such an approach. A key is opening to challenging or difficult experiences when they are in the "workable" range and not overwhelming, with mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion. Out of such a process may come gifts and the "cleaning up" of our residues of compulsive greed, aversion, and delusion!
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2022-11-16
Taking All Experiences as Opportunities for Learning
63:16
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Donald Rothberg
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One of the central intentions of our practice is to learn from all experiences. This is not easy, both with difficult experiences or with wonderful experiences; we might in both cases revert to habitual forms of consciousness and behavior. We explore ways that we might "turn all obstacles into the path of practice" (as is said in the Tibetan Lojong teachings), or see "the obstacle as the path" (as in Zen). Central is our practice particularly with unpleasant or difficult experiences, studying and transforming our reactivity. We also see how sometimes there are important gifts that come from painful and/or difficult experiences; we share together in the group some of these kinds of experiences. We end with an invitation to practice with this basic intention to learn from everything in the next week!
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2022-11-14
Waves of Experience Meditation | Monday Night
19:57
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Jack Kornfield
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Inviting listeners to breathe softly and naturally amidst it all, Jack helps us flow through waves of thoughts, emotions, and sensations in order to come to rest in loving awareness, the timeless witness dwelling in each of us—who we truly are.
“When you notice that a wave has pulled your attention from the breath, receive it. Let go of the attention to the breath, and receive it with the same loving awareness, as if to bow to it gently.”
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2022-10-05
Ten Ways of Practicing with Reactivity
68:23
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Donald Rothberg
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We start with a brief review of the last three Wednesday sessions on "Dukkha and the End of Dukkha," including briefly summarizing the teachings of "The Two Arrows" and "Dependent Origination" (going from pleasant/unpleasant to grasping/pushing away); grasping and pushing away are interpreted as the most important meaning of dukkha as reactivity. Then there is an acknowledgment of Yom Kippur occurring on this day and its relationship to our practice. The core of the talk is exploring ten fundamental ways of practicing with reactivity (a pdf of the ten ways will be posted linked with the talk). The talk is followed by discussion.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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Attached Files:
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Ten Ways of Practicing with Reactivity
by Donald Rothberg
(Word File)
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2022-10-05
Guided Meditation Exploring Ways of Practicing with Reactivity
38:26
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Donald Rothberg
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After some brief initial instructions in posture, setting intentions, cultivating stability of mind, and basic mindfulness, there is a period of settling, followed by brief instructions on being mindful of any moments of reactivity, and then, some time later, on being mindful of any moderate or greater (while still workable) moments of pleasant or unpleasant experiences, noticing any tendencies to move from pleasant to craving and grasping (one form of reactivity), and to move from unpleasant to not wanting to pushing away in some way (the other main form of reactivity).
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2022-10-03
Beacon of Love Meditation
24:46
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Jack Kornfield
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Some of you may have your own way of practicing metta/lovingkindess meditation. Others may want to listen and follow along—but it’s not a rigid practice. Do whatever most naturally opens the heart. For some people, the recitation of words—which we’ll do—may be helpful. For others, it’s more helpful to simply sit in a field of love and radiate kindness without a lot of words, specific language, or intention. Whatever floats your heart—follow that into goodness.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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