Practice is an alchemical process that turns dukkha into sukkha. If we have the courage to face our demons and learn to open to our blessings, we radiate love and wisdom that not only transforms ourselves but the world as well.
The Buddha's teaching on the four ways of undertaking things that clear show us how to generate more happiness and less suffering for ourselves, others and the world. Once we understand, it is possible to make choices for happiness.
What mindfulness is, the benefits that result from its cultivation and the skillful attitudes that support practice: relaxed, interested and kind awareness.
Freedom is described as the absence of greed, aversion and delusion. With wise concentration as a support, we can see into the ways our minds get caught by greed, aversion and delusion and that very seeing allows the mind to let them go.
We first look at the nature and limits of concentration, in part through the story of the Buddha. We then see how stillness developed in concentration, in relationship to the (relatively) still object, is brought to changing objects for the purpose of clear seeing of impermanence, suffering, and not self, leading to freedom.
This talk presenst a map establishing the tools and methods utilized in moving from ordinary mind states to samadhi. The first part of the journey involves attaining a collected and unified mind. The second part of the journey moves us into deep absorption.
An exploration of the challenges of skillful or wise effort in the context of concentration practice, covering (1) the process of purification, (2) a series of suggestions for skillful effort, and (3) how skillful effort deepens into effortless effort.
An exploration of how pleasure and comfort support the conditions for concentration, with experiential suggestions for different ways to allow comfort and pleasure in our meditation.
Samadhi is both a key practice and vital understanding in practice. It is impossible to separate vipassana and samadhi as each needs each other. Yet, each needs to be developed in it's own right as is reflected in the Buddha's teachings.
After a review of our foundational speech practices, we explore some suggestions for how to practice when there are difficulties or challenges, supported by three exercises.
Compassion is a beautiful flowering of the heart, as it turns to face suffering and pain in ourselves and others. This talk illuminates that process and how we can encourage compassion by turning to meet pain with a kind heart.
What stops us from resting in the heart of love. What hindrances arise in meditation when cultivating metta? This talk explores the power of loving kindness, its obstacles and how to work with them top liberate the heart.
After a brief review of foundational speech practices, we explore, through a talk, exercises, and discussion, developing empathically through attention to emotions and values (or "what matters"), both in ordinary non-conflictual interactions and in conflicts.
