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Dharma Talks
given at Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2010-02-05
A Question of Free Will: A Buddhist Perspective
1:55:31
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Alan Wallace
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In this lecture, Alan Wallace will discuss how Buddhism focuses on how we may achieve greater freedom in the choices we make, rather than struggling with the metaphysical issue of whether we already have free will. The Buddha began by first identifying the ways in which we are clearly not free, then showed ways in which we may achieve greater freedom in the present moment, as well as reshape the influence of the past upon our present experience and direct the flow of our lives into the future. Central to the question of free will is the nature of human identity, and it is in this regard that the Buddhist view of emptiness and interdependence is truly revolutionary.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2010-01-30
Awakening Joy
2:42:34
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James Baraz
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James and co-writer of Awakening Joy Shoshana Alexander, plus many friends from the 10-month course--dharma teachers, happiness experts, neuroscientists, musicians and more--share their thoughts on true happiness. This is the AM Session which includes Rick Foster and Greg Hicks, Rick Hansen, and performances by Eve Decker, Betsy Rose and Jennifer Berezen.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2010-01-10
Opening to our Radiant Hearts
62:19
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Donald Rothberg
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Lovingkindness practice ultimately works because we are evoking our deep nature - of kindness and love, the "brightly shining" citta associated with lovingkindness. We explore how we can open to our radiant hearts through (1) learning to lead with our hearts, (2) cultivating concentration, (3) evoking love and working through what blocks love, and (4) touching more and more our depths.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Metta Retreat
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2010-01-08
Mindful of the Climate of the Heart
26:51
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Sylvia Boorstein
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This introduction to a week of lovingkindness practice presents metta as a specific subset of mindfulness practice: paying attention to the presence or absence of good will in the mind. It includes an explanation of how the practice of continual blessing, “praying without ceasing” cultivates concentration of the mind. Concentration is presented as the antidote to all afflictive energies and the ground out of which our natural good will manifests.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Metta Retreat
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2009-12-02
Practicing with Views Part I
63:22
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Donald Rothberg
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We explore the nature of "views" (or strong beliefs or opinions) and how to practice with them by 1) grounding ourselves in some of the famous passages on views in the teachings of the Buddha, 2)identifying why and how views can be problematic and lead to suffering, and 3) offering practices this week to explore our views, whether personal, political or religious/spiritual.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2009-11-25
Distraction
61:52
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Donald Rothberg
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We look at the nature of distraction- not attending to what is our intended focus- in three main ways, each of which we can respond to: 1) our distraction moment to moment and how we train in mindfulness, 2) our distraction in our everyday lives, and 3) how our lives become distracted in relation to our deeper intentions.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2009-11-11
Emptiness & Compassion III
64:01
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Donald Rothberg
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We review the teachings on emptiness in the context of the broader teachings on the centrality of developing wisdom and compassion, expanding our examination of these teachings from last time. The last part of the session involving doing several exercises, partly explaining experience as a flowing "stream" (and seeing what obstructs the flow) and partly doing a series of four exercises with "ordinary objects" designed to take us out of our ordinary way of constructing things.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Monday and Wednesday Talks
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2009-11-07
Entering the Stream
59:49
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Stephen Batchelor
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A reflection on the meaning of "stream entry" (sotapatti), based upon Pali canonical sources. The "stream" refers to the eightfold path and the "stream entrant" is one who has made that path their own. The talk explores the meaning of the three fetters that are "abandoned" on entering the stream as well as how stream entry is related to the three refuges.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Meditation and Study Retreat
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2009-11-06
The Mature Heart - the Integration of the Four Brahmaviharas
1:12:48
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Donald Rothberg
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Preceded by a short chant by Rebekkah La Dyne, our yoga teacher for the retreat, we explore two main modes of transformation - one going into suffering, one involving beautiful states. We then focus on the latter, as expressed in the practice of the Brahmaviharas, the cultivation of lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity - examining their near and far enemies, and how the four interpret each other in the mature heart.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Cultivating Clear Seeing, Opening the Heart
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2009-11-03
The Poisoned Arrow
60:43
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Stephen Batchelor
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A reflection on the Buddha's parable of the "poisoned arrow" (Malunkyaputta Sutta M63). This key text illustrates how the Dhamma is therapeutic, pragmatic and not concerned with metaphysical questions, which the Buddha regards as irrelevant and refuses to comment upon. What he does comment upon is the Four Noble Truths. The talk concludes with a reflection on the Buddha's account of his awakening as an insight into conditioned arising.
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Meditation and Study Retreat
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2009-11-02
The City
61:18
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Stephen Batchelor
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As the first of a series of 6 talks, Stephen outlines his project to "deconstruct" Buddhism in order to uncover the foundational ideas in which it is erected. He then analyzes the Buddha's metaphor of the "ancient path that leads to an ancient city" to suggest that the core teachings of the Dhamma are to be seen as forming the template for a restored civilization...
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Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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Meditation and Study Retreat
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