The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Dharma Talks given at Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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2007-09-12 Three Characteristics In Honor Of Sherry 62:37
Sylvia Boorstein
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-09-10 Calling Yourself 59:48
Norman Fischer
The practice of calling yourself and answering yourself as taught by an ancient Zen Master.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-09-10 Calling Yourself 60:07
Norman Fischer
The practice of calling yourself and answering yourself as taught by an ancient Zen master.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-09-05 The Basics Of Our Practice - Reflections On 3 Weeks In Mountain Retreat 56:28
Donald Rothberg
As we begin a new cycle after Labor Day, it’s helpful to identify the basics of our practice, which I do with reference to a just-completed 3 weeks on retreat in the mountains. We look at 1. Foundations – ethics, intentions, creating a space away from habits. 2. Development of concentration and awareness. 3. Heart – practice and 4. Integration in our everyday lives.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-09-03 Take The One Seat 60:10
Jack Kornfield
How to find the great heart of compassion and freedom in the midst of it all.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-08-27 Wisdom & The Characteristics Of Life 64:00
Jack Kornfield
How to live with a wise heart in the midst of impermanence; with ease amidst the dance of life.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-08-20 Sanctuary 62:28
Jack Kornfield
Making your meditation, your heart and your life a sanctuary.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-08-18 Equanimity: Freedom In The World 59:19
Gina Sharpe
Taking the practice into activity in the world.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center People of Color Meditation Retreat

2007-08-15 Freedom Of The Mind: A Path Towards Healing 58:22
Larry Yang
The Five Hindrances and the experience of cultural trauma.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center People of Color Meditation Retreat

2007-08-15 The Spiritual Faculties 51:01
Tony Bernhard
A review of the Five Spiritual Faculties/powers.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-08-13 Gratitude I 1:29:19
Mark Coleman
This talk describes the quality of gratitude, the blessing of gratitude and how we can cultivate and practice this essential quality on the path.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-08-01 The Path Of The Bodhisattva - part 4 and the Vow Ceremony 58:09
Donald Rothberg
We review the nature of the Bodhisattva, in its archetypal expression, its manifestation in extraordinary and ordinary human exemplars, and in ourselves. We focus on the qualities of wisdom and skillful action especially and end with a short ceremony in which the participants develop their own version of the Bodhisattva, and express some of them publicly.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-07-30 Sacred Journey 57:57
Jack Kornfield
Initiation
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-07-28 The Ecology Of Compassion 64:40
Kamala Masters
Understanding the terrain of compassion in our inner life in relationship to the world.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Vipassana Retreat

2007-07-26 Understanding Insight: Dukkha And Anatta 61:30
Steve Armstrong
Insight or the dawning realization of the three common characteristics rests on the continuity of mindful awareness. They offer the understanding of how to live at ease with all conditions and to do well in life.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Vipassana Retreat

2007-07-25 The Path Of The Bodhisattva - part 3 56:33
Donald Rothberg
After an overview of the Bodhisattva path, and of the perfections of vow – intention, patience, and meditations, we look at the perfections of wisdom and skillful action. We end with an experiential exercise designed to a different situation.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-07-23 Resting The Mind Before It Falls Into Extremes 58:55
Kamala Masters
Equanimity supports clarity of understanding through a spacious, balanced and calm mind. It leads the way for compassionate action that can be powerfully effective because it is free from aversion and attachment.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Vipassana Retreat

2007-07-22 Understanding The Defilements 57:31
Steve Armstrong
Wisdom removes the defilements. Awareness is the foundation for growing wisdom. Defilements are visitors to the mind that cause suffering.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Vipassana Retreat

2007-07-19 "Calling All Bodhisattvas" 58:39
James Baraz
We are not practicing for ourselves alone. Everyone benefits from the fruits of our practice. This talk explores how to actively and skillfully express our compassion, held with equanimity, in the world.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Metta Retreat

2007-07-18 The Path Of The Bodhisattva - part 2 53:16
Donald Rothberg
In this second session, we first review the path of the Bodhisattva, exploring both the Theravada and Mahayara roots and the qualities (paramis, paramites) developed. We focus on vow – intentions, patience, and meditation, looking at how to make the Bodhisattva training real in our daily lives.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-07-16 Forgiveness 59:10
James Baraz
Forgiveness is an essential part of Metta practice so that the heart can stay open and the kindness flows out easily. In this talk forgiveness toward ourselves, asking and extending forgiveness with others and forgiveness towards life are explored.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Metta Retreat

2007-07-16 Factors Of Enlightenment 61:13
Jack Kornfield
The Factors of Enlightenment: A reminder to the heart of our natural awakening.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-07-15 Metta As Purification 65:43
Heather Martin
As we settle more into our hearts, we find our beauty. How to hold them all in friendship.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Metta Retreat

2007-07-11 The Path Of The Bodhisattva - part 1: Intention - Vow And Patience 59:12
Donald Rothberg
The path of the Bodhisattva is both a traditional and contemporary way of connecting inner practice and helping others. After an overview of the Theravada and Mahayara roots, we explore the practice of (1) intention - vows, and (2) patience.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-07-09 Buddhist Psychology 63:44
Jack Kornfield
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-07-04 The Dharma And Democracy 58:33
Donald Rothberg
Thich Nhat Hanh has written of how the encounter of Dharma and democracy will bring something new and exciting to the world. We explore 1. the beauty and dream of democracy and its resonance with the Dharma, 2. what currently needs attention in our would-be democracy and 3. a vision of how the connection of Dharma and democracy mature is vital for ourselves and our world.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-07-02 Lessons In Practice 1:12:49
Ajahn Plien
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-06-27 The Seven Factors Of Awakening 50:39
Donald Rothberg
We explore in general the Seven Factors as a guide to our practice and as an experience of awakened being and presence. We examine each of the seven: mindfulness, investigation, effort, rapture or joy, stillness, concentration and equanimity, with suggestions of what to do to cultivate each quality.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-06-25 Interdependence Day 57:58
Jack Kornfield
The 4th of July celebration of American Independence met with the Buddhist teaching of interdependence brings a deeper understanding of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-06-23 What Changes As We Practice? 52:10
Anna Douglas
Five ways in which we experience a change in view of ourselves and the world as we practice.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Meditation And Yoga

2007-06-20 Summer Solstice And The Factors Of Enlightenment - part 1 50:21
Donald Rothberg
The qualities of the summer solstice: stillness (between days with more or less light), light and clarity, openness and space, warmth, and abundant energy, parallel in many ways the factors of enlightenment in the teachings of the Buddha. We explore these qualities through teachings, poetry and suggestions of practice.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-06-18 "Buddha And His Son" Father's Day 52:58
Eugene Cash
Reflections on Father’s Day and Buddha and his son’s teachings.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-06-13 Inquiry And Investigation - part 3 43:33
Donald Rothberg
We continue exploring the nature and methods of inquiry, the freshness, openness, interest and energy it can bring to practice. We explore (1) mindfulness – based inquiry, (2) deep listening, (3) working with teachings (here particularly the Four Noble Truths and Precepts), (4) radical questions and (5) deconstructing fixed beliefs, with more time on numbers 3 – 5.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-06-11 The Bodhisattha 61:21
Jack Kornfield
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-06-06 Inquiry And Investigation - part 2 36:22
Donald Rothberg
In this second talk on inquiry, we review some of the material from last time, including the Kalama Sutta, inquiry as a factor of awakening, and the inquiry methods of (1) mindfulness, (2) deep listening and (3) working with teachings to help inquiry. Then we explore (4) radical questions and (5) deconstruction of fixed beliefs.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-06-03 Numbness Is Also A Sensation 52:43
Julie Wester
Through our practice we can directly experience our body as a field of energy in constantly changing forms. Sometimes what seems to be a wall is actually a doorway into the direct experience of our true nature.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Awakening In The Body: Meditation And Qi Gong

2007-06-02 Beginner's Mind - The Bio-Suit 59:52
Phillip Moffitt
A guided meditation leading to an exploration of the first foundation of mindfulness. Questions addressed include: why focus on the body and how the body relates to the other foundations.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Awakening In The Body: Meditation And Qi Gong

2007-05-30 Inquiry And Investigation - part 1 59:16
Donald Rothberg
Because we live in such a mental culture, we sometimes interpret meditation as getting rid of all thinking. But inquiry and investigation, often aided by language are crucial to Buddhist practice. We look at three practical methods of inquiry, using (1) mindfulness (2) deep listening, and (3) the lens of particular teachings.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-05-28 Memorial Day 66:52
Jack Kornfield
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-05-23 Attending To Beauty 58:34
Donald Rothberg
Beth Gendler, author of Notes On The Need For Beauty, reflects in dialogue with Donald Rothberg and the Sanga, on the nature of beauty, “cleansing the doors of perception, and the place of beauty in transformative practice.”
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-05-21 Respect And Wise Understanding 62:18
Jack Kornfield
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-05-16 To Study The Self, To Forget The Self, To Be Oneself 55:21
Donald Rothberg
We use Dogen’s famous passage to explore issues of self and not-self, by looking at 1. how we study the self, 2. how, in studying the self, we forget the self, and 3. how, in forgetting the self, we are most ourselves and most fully with others.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-05-14 Bodhicitta 54:25
Norman Fischer
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-05-02 Right Livelihood And Vocation 55:33
Donald Rothberg
Right livelihood, one of the factors of the Eightfold Path, is primarily focused on the ethical qualities of our work. We explore this factor, as well as the related sense of vocation or calling – to have one’s life and work express one’s gifts while contributing and providing a path to universal Dharma.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-04-30 Respect And The Dalai Lama 66:03
Jack Kornfield
Stories of the blessings of compassion, regret and mindfulness.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-04-23 Responding To Violence 56:21
Nina Wise
How do we respond to violence? What is the root of violence? How do we address our self-loathing? Metta, Karuna, Sangha.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-04-18 Inquiry Beneath The Surface: Working With Difficulity - part 2 63:43
Donald Rothberg
In this second talk on inquiry beneath the surface through working with difficulties, we look at the basic conditioned reactions to pleasant and unpleasant, and look at how to practice and inquire on a personal and interpersonal level
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-04-16 Dharma God 47:52
Kevin Griffin
Exploring Buddhadasa's teaching on "God", using the Twelve Step connection.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-04-06 Equanimity: The Ocean Of Experience 44:34
Larry Yang
How to cultivate Equanimity and its impact of the experience of the LGBT community.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Mindfulness And Metta: Healing Our Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transsexual Communities

2007-04-04 Developing Energy In Our Practice: Wise Effort - part 2 62:13
Donald Rothberg
A review of the traditional four “wise efforts,” formulated also in everyday (Kayalcins) language, followed by a discussion of some of the visible hazards of ‘wise effort practice” and of “effortless effect.”
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-04-02 Jack Kornfield and Mingyur Rinpoche - Part 1 1:21:06
Jack Kornfield
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-04-02 Jack Kornfield and Mingyur Rinpoche - Part 2 20:26
Jack Kornfield
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-04-02 On Meditation - part 1 65:33
Jack Kornfield
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-04-02 On Meditation - part 2 33:45
Jack Kornfield
Questions and Answers
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-03-28 Developing Energy In Our Practice: Wise Effort - part 1 46:42
Donald Rothberg
Developing energy and effort in our practice is crucial. In its mature form, effort becomes “effortless” but on the way, we need to support our practice’s energy both generally and moment-to-moment. We look at the traditional teaching of the four “wise efforts,” adding some contemporary metaphors, especially drawn from Kayakins.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-03-26 The Ten Thousand Idiots 38:52
Ed Brown
The Ten Thousand Idiots are alive and well. Compassion flowers. Let your loneliness cut more deep. And so forth.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-03-21 Transforming Judgment - part 2 47:28
Donald Rothberg
We review some of the main themes of transforming judgments – the nature of judgments and four main ways of working with judgments, using mindfulness, inquiry, and heart practices. We add some exploration of the cultural dimension of judgments and how to combine inner work on judgments with outer response and how to combine inner work on judgments with outer response.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-03-14 Transforming Judgment - part 1 53:55
Donald Rothberg
Working with judgments is a kind of “royal road” of transformation, taking us into our deep and often unconscious views, sense of self and pain. We look at the importance of this work, and the speaker tells personal stories illustrating four ways of working with judgments: 1. mindfulness 2. seeing core patterns of mind and heart 3. metta, compassion, joy – using heart practices, and 4. deep inquiry.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-02-26 The Path Of Meditation And Nature 49:37
Mark Coleman
What is the relationship of Nature in our Dharma practice? This talk explores how nature is a preeminent teacher that brings peace, joy and wisdom.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-02-26 The Path Of Meditation And Nature 49:15
Mark Coleman
What is the relationship of Nature in our Dharma practice? This talk explores how nature is a preeminent teacher that brings peace, joy and wisdom.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-02-24 The Art Of Acceptance (2 Of 2) 65:22
Eugene Cash
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-02-13 Spiritual Passion 52:02
James Baraz
Passion for practice fuels our effort. There are different sources of spiritual passion (four Iddhipadas) that correspond to different temperaments: zeal, effort, love of the Dharma and urgency.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-02-12 Preferences and Desires 49:51
Norman Fischer
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-02-08 Five Spiritual Faculties: How Awakening Happens 61:59
James Baraz
The five Spiritual Faculties describe the importance of balance as well as explain the process of intensive practice. Faith leads to effort which develops mindfulness, which cultivates concentration which flowers as wisdom.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-01-31 Mindfulness And Papanca - part 2 57:37
Donald Rothberg
We focus, in this record of two talks, on the nature of Papanca or “conceptual proliferation” its roots in compulsive craving and aversion, and a number of different ways to work skillfully with Papanca.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-01-24 Mindfulness and Papanca 59:43
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-01-19 Metta and Daily Life -- Widening Circles 61:30
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-01-17 The Dharma and the Life and Work Of Martin Luther King 53:09
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-01-17 The Dharma And Martin Luther King, Jr 52:39
Donald Rothberg
At this time of King’s birthday, we use the Vietnamese Buddhist recent understanding of three core areas of the Dharma- wisdom, compassion and courage with each we examine both the teachings of the Buddha and the life and work of King, playing several of his talks.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-01-15 The Transformative Power Of Metta 33:56
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-01-15 Wisdom of Martin Luther King 57:48
Jack Kornfield
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-01-12 Metta For Self, Metta For The World 63:07
Donald Rothberg
Metta to self is traditionally a starting point for Metta practice. Yet this is challenging for many of us as we work with our pain, judgments and demons. As we develop in Metta to self, we bring Metta out into the world, which deeply needs it. This requires a lot of creativity. We end by exploring the coverage needed to bring Metta into the world, and the need for a "tough metta" -- a Metta able to respond to difficult situations, a Metta that is neither passive nor a pushover.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Metta Retreat

2007-01-11 The Jewels Of Letting Go 55:13
Heather Martin
Metta softens and relaxes us, so we can drop our endless struggles and fall into the freedom of sweet relief.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Metta Retreat

2007-01-10 What Comes Next In Our Wild, Precious Lives? Part 2 36:34
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-01-03 What Comes Next In Our Wild, Precious Lives? Part 1 57:47
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-01-03 What Comes Next In Our Wild, Precious Lives? - part 1 57:24
Donald Rothberg
In our lives we often ask: "What comes next?" in my practice, in my life. We may feel stuck, or energized but not know how to manifest concretely in our lives. We explore the nature of our wold unfolding and some practical ways to tune into "what wants to come next?"
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2007-01-01 Refuge and Renewal 68:53
Jack Kornfield
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2007-01-01 Control: How Much Do I Have? 52:10
Sharda Rogell
'Doing' can create a lot of stress. As I examine and let go of habitual patterns, I open to the freshness of not knowing and experience a wise and direct engagement with life
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-12-28 Including Suffering (Dukkha) 47:27
Sharda Rogell
Mindfulness practice is a confrontation with what is true in each moment--we examine the ways we defend against painful experience so that we can open to the richness of being alive.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-12-27 Winter Solstice - Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light, Part 2 38:27
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-12-20 Winter Solstice - Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light, Part 1 43:28
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-12-18 Last Monday Class 24:18
Jack Kornfield
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-12-16 Bahiya And The Simplicity Of Freedom 53:09
Gil Fronsdal
A discussion of the simplicity of mindfulness as a path to freedom as presented in the Bahiya Sutta.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-12-13 Why Do We Practice? 35:08
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-12-09 Don’t Worry 61:28
Richard Shankman
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-12-08 Living Truth 55:34
Eugene Cash
"We are what we seek." This dharma (often translated as 'truth') is revealed by living a life rooted in the Truth. The teachings value the 'Truth' as a basis for mindfulness and virtue as well as the means to traverse the 4 Noble Truths and the 2 Truths of Relative and Ultimate reality.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-12-07 What Kind Of Effort? 58:41
Anna Douglas
Different stages of our practice require different kinds of effort. The paradox of effort is revealed.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-12-06 Beyond Intoxication 52:17
Eugene Cash
The Buddha described 3 "intoxications" that fell away which set the stage for his enlightenment and the teachings of mindfulness and embodiment.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-12-01 The Path of Defiance 47:41
Noah Levine
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-11-30 Conflict and Kindness 41:45
Vinny Ferraro
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-11-19 Q&A and Closing Comments - part 1 1:17:52
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Part one.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-11-19 Q&A and Closing Comments - part 2 4:51
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Part Two
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-11-15 Generosity and Gratitude 51:03
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-10-28 The Inseparability Of Practice And Life In The World, With Grove Burnett 62:16
Diana Winston
We explore how practice on the cushion translates personally, relationally, and socially. We emphasize compassion, acting without expecting results, and working with anger. Good for activists!
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-10-23 Balance Of Energy And Equanimity 52:27
Diana Winston
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-10-16 Eight-Fold Path 36:21
Jack Kornfield
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-10-11 Equanimity and Action: Further Practice With the Eight Worldly Winds 48:12
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-10-04 Practicing With the Eight Worldly Winds 57:22
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-10-04 Five Difficult Mind States 60:01
Sharda Rogell
When we are identified with these five mind states they are called hindrances to seeing the way things actually are. Each one is explored along with skillful antidotes to help overcome them.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2006-09-27 The Eight Worldly Winds 57:09
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

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