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Dharma Talks
given at Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2018-10-03
Being a Scientist of Our Own Mind (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
51:15
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Nikki Mirghafori
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Our magnificent heart-mind-body is our laboratory. First, a deep respect and humility for how little we know (specifically about the brain) is to be embraced, in order not to reduce the totality of our amazing humanity to materialist neuralism, especially with simplified or outdated models (e.g., the Triune theory with reptilian brain, etc.). Also essential are a scientific “holy” curiosity (also known as the factor of investigation) and gentle perseverance. Finally, a true scientist is inspired by awe and the mystery of the ineffable, not just to “get a prize” — or, as it applies to our meditation practice, simply undertaking it for the sake of self improvement.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Evolving Together: Mindfulness Meditation and Modern Science
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2018-09-19
Guided Meditation AM Day 2: Head, Hair, Body Hair, Nails, Teeth, Skin (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
53:08
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Bob Stahl
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Guided meditation on head, hair, body hair, nails, teeth, & skin
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Finding Freedom in the Body
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2018-08-22
Skillful Effort in Concentration Practice (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
61:03
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Donald Rothberg
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After some general reflections on the nature of concentration (or samadhi), concentration practice, and its place and importance, we explore the nature of skillful effort. We particularly focus on the balance of "pro-active" effort and relaxation/ease, identifying a number of specific practice tips and suggestions that support development in both aspects of practice, as well as how to cultivate the balance between the two. [A clarification about terminology: There are two terms that have at times been translated as "effort”: (1) The 6th factor of the Noble Eightfold Path is “Right Effort” (same vayama); (2) Viriya is one of the Five Spiritual Faculties and one of the Seven Factors of Awakening and is often translated as “energy,” sometimes as “effort.”]
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Concentration Retreat
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2018-08-18
Aware: The Science and Practice of Awareness - Part 2
2:54:25
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Dan Siegel
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In this day retreat, we will explore and experience the ways in which our inner subjective lives, our interpersonal relationships, and our objective empirical knowledge can be woven together to illuminate the importance for meaning, connection, and equanimity in our lives.
The day will be based on his upcoming book, and will include periods of guided and walking meditation, discussion, journaling, and Q&A.
Teachings are appropriate for health care professionals as well as the general public. Health care professionals will be able to utilize the tools and practices offered in this program to better support their clients and patients dealing with trauma and other challenges of mental health.
Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals-
Based on the content of this program, you will be able to:
Describe the science that underlies meditation’s effectiveness;
Summarize the instruction for teaching and mastering the Wheel of Awareness for enhancing the focus of attention and opening awareness;
Discuss how to help clients become more emotionally resilient in the face of stress and the everyday challenges of life;
Demonstrate how to utilize a reflective practice to grow a healthier, more integrated brain.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2018-08-18
Aware: The Science and Practice of Awareness - Part 1
2:35:19
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Dan Siegel
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In this day retreat, we will explore and experience the ways in which our inner subjective lives, our interpersonal relationships, and our objective empirical knowledge can be woven together to illuminate the importance for meaning, connection, and equanimity in our lives.
The day will be based on his upcoming book, and will include periods of guided and walking meditation, discussion, journaling, and Q&A.
Teachings are appropriate for health care professionals as well as the general public. Health care professionals will be able to utilize the tools and practices offered in this program to better support their clients and patients dealing with trauma and other challenges of mental health.
Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals-
Based on the content of this program, you will be able to:
Describe the science that underlies meditation’s effectiveness;
Summarize the instruction for teaching and mastering the Wheel of Awareness for enhancing the focus of attention and opening awareness;
Discuss how to help clients become more emotionally resilient in the face of stress and the everyday challenges of life;
Demonstrate how to utilize a reflective practice to grow a healthier, more integrated brain.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2018-08-08
Practicing with Difficulties and Challenges 2: The Eight Worldly Winds
63:20
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Donald Rothberg
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After a review of the six ways of practicing with difficulties and challenges presented last week, we explore the important teaching of the “Eight Worldly Winds” that keep us caught in reactivity—pleasure and pain, gain and loss, fame and disrepute, and praise and blame. Working with this teaching gives us another very helpful lens for working with difficulties and also with our tendencies to grasp—onto pleasure, gain, fame, and praise. We suggest several ways of practicing with this teaching, as a further way to deepen and energize our practice.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2018-08-01
Six Ways of Practicing with Difficulties and Challenges
64:45
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Donald Rothberg
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One of the glories of our practice is the capacity to respond skillfully, with wisdom and compassion, to difficult, challenging, and/or painful experiences. In this talk and discussion, we explore six ways to practice skillfully with difficulties, focusing more in 1-5 on “inner" practices: (1) Stay connected with core teachings and perspectives, particularly about working with reactivity; (2) develop mindfulness in these situations, which helps us with non-reactivity and knowing what is happening; (3) have a few ways to come back to balance and non-reactivity after one is reactive, lost, stuck, or overwhelmed; (4) take the difficult situation as an opportunity to go more deeply, potentially uprooting some of the roots of reactivity and habitual tendencies; (5) continue to cultivate awakened qualities, helping us to shift our center of gravity from reactivity to responsiveness; and (6) cultivate ways of responding more skillfully in “outer” ways, including speech and interactions.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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