The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Dharma Talks given at Spirit Rock Meditation Center
2007-10-22 #3 Turning The Wheel Of Dhamma 59:54
Stephen Batchelor
A reflection on the COUNTER-INTUITIVE nature of the Buddha's teaching - how the Dhamma goes against deeply seated intuition, e.g., that there is something permanent in this impermanent world. This is followed by a reading of and reflection on the first discourse the Buddha gave, which outlines the middle way and the four ennobling truths. To be followed in talk #4 by a detailed reading of the four truths as four injunctions rather than four things to believe.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Meditation and Study Retreat

2007-10-22 Creative Engagement 47:15
Martine Batchelor
Grasping and non-grasping in connection to self, people, things, views - how grasping makes us exaggerate and proliferate and how creative engagement can help our creative potential manifest and develop.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Meditation and Study Retreat

2007-10-22 The Dharma Of Community Development 1:11:57
Jack Kornfield
The Dharma of community, the spirit of generosity and the development of love and care between humans.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-10-21 The Five Difficult Energies 65:12
Donald Rothberg
We sometimes feel very connected with our love, wisdom, and mindfulness. At other times, we may feel disconnected from these qualities, stuck in what the Buddha called the five "difficult energies" (or hindrances). We explore compulsive desire and aversion, sloth & torpor, restlessness, and doubt - suggesting how to respond to these when they arise, both in meditation and daily life.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Cultivating Clear Seeing, Opening the Heart

2007-10-21 #2 Going Against The Stream 56:31
Stephen Batchelor
A continuation of the study of the Buddha's account of his awakening in the ARIYAPARIYESANA SUTTA (M.26). Mindfulness as the way to GROUND oneself in the GROUND of Conditional Arising. the subjective pole of this ground is the stopping of greed, hatred, delusion. The Buddha was reluctant to teach because what he had awoken to "WENT AGAINST THE STREAM". The talk concludes with several passages from the UPANISHADS to illustrate this.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Meditation and Study Retreat

2007-10-21 Equanimity And Mindfulness Of Body 50:57
Sharda Rogell
Mindfulness in body as ground will help us to deal with our physical and emotional feelings in a non-reactive way. What does equanimity truly mean in dealing with difficult feelings.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Meditation and Study Retreat

2007-10-20 Cultivating Clear Seeing - The Path Of Mindfulness 62:51
Donald Rothberg
In this retreat, we are cultivating clear seeing especially through development of mindfulness and wisdom. In this talk, we focus on mindfulness- exploring its qualities of bare attention, directness, non-reactivity, present centered-ness, and interest. We introduce the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, with a particular focus on mindfulness of the body, and how this leads to wisdom.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Cultivating Clear Seeing, Opening the Heart

2007-10-20 Meditation For Life 47:15
Martine Batchelor
Meditation as a life-long journey, as potential, as training, as cultivation of concentration and inquiry, which helps us develop creative awareness.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Meditation and Study Retreat

2007-10-20 #1 The Groundless Ground 59:27
Stephen Batchelor
What did the Buddha teach that was distinctively his own view? This talk attempts to answer this question. I start to define three cardinal tenets of the Buddhist teachings: the Principle of Conditionality; the Process of the Eightfold Path, and the Practice of Mindfulness. I then examine a passage from the Ariyapariyesana Sutta in which the Buddha describes his awakening as a shift from a Place to a Ground. NOTE: The quality of the recording of this talk may be improved after 11/15
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Meditation and Study Retreat

2007-10-15 The Thread 65:50
Ed Brown
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

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