The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Dharma Talks given at Spirit Rock Meditation Center
2024-08-01 Day 3 Instructions: Feeling Tone (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 48:36
John Martin
Spirit Rock Meditation Center The Spirit of Insight, Dharma & Awakening

2024-07-31 Living from Our Depths 2 62:08
Donald Rothberg
We continue with our exploration of how we contact what is "deep" in our lives and in life, and how we stay connected with our depths in our practice. We initially give a review of some of what we explored last week, recalling some of the many metaphors used for deepening in our lives in spiritual traditions, including awakening, being on a journey, liberation, seeing clearly whereas previously we didn't see clearly, coming to wholeness, among others. We recall the Buddhist emphasis on wisdom (especially the three ways of seeing that liberate--seeing into impermanence, dukkha or reactivity, and not-self; as well as touching nibbana); compassion; and skillful action. We hear also from several people sharing their experiences of their depths. We then explore a number of ways to stay connected in daily life with our depths, including several not mentioned last week. The talk is followed by discussion, including sharing of some ways that people in the group find helpful in terms of staying connected with their depths, including using phrases like "Begin again" and "Keep coming back."
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2024-07-31 A Guided Meditation Supporting "Living from Our Depths" (related to the Talk Today): Developing Concentration, Exploring Mindfulness (including of Impermanence and Reactivity), and Practicing Lovingkindness 35:55
Donald Rothberg
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2024-07-29 Buddhism, Sex, and Mindfulness: The Don’ts and Do's 1:26:11
Diana Winston
Sex is an incredibly important topic for many people, but is rarely talked about in the insight meditation lineage. This talk first explores the Theravadin Buddhist teachings on sex as they relate to monastics and lay people and then offers tools for bringing our dharma practice to sexual activity. We start with the “don'ts”, looking back at the canonical teachings on sex, and investigate the third precept— refraining from sexual misconduct—as a foundational for integrity in sexual activity. We then move to the “do’s”: how in these times might the dharma teachings offer wisdom to the realm of sex? The key— mindfulness for embodiment, self-awareness, communication, and presence.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2024-07-26 The Two Guardians of the World: Hiri & Ottappa (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 61:41
Kamala Masters
The inner wholesome qualities of the heart to develop in one's life as a strong foundation for liberation into the indescribable peace of the Dhamma.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center July Insight Meditation Retreat

2024-07-25 Bodhicitta: Compassion and Emptiness (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 66:16
Joseph Goldstein
Spirit Rock Meditation Center July Insight Meditation Retreat

2024-07-25 What's Optional? 62:47
Grace Fisher
Begins with a 30m meditation & includes a Dharma talk
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Thursday Morning Women’s Group

2024-07-24 Living from Our Depths 1 62:53
Donald Rothberg
How do we live from the depths of our being? We explore this question in a number of different ways. We begin by looking at some of the metaphors for "spiritual practice" (itself involving metaphors), including the sense of touching and living from our depths, becoming a "big person" (a Mahaatta in the Buddha's phrasing), awakening, being on a journey, and seeing through our conditioning, delusions, and the 70,000 veils (as is said in Islamic tradition). In Buddhist tradition, we especially connect, as in the image of the bird with two wings, with wisdom and compassion, and with ways to bring these qualities into our actions and interactions. After inviting several people to share experiences of their depths, we then explore a number of different ways to stay connected in daily life with our depths. The talk is followed by discussion.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2024-07-24 Guided Meditation Exploring Mindfulness, Impermanence, Reactivity, and Lovingkindness 0:00
Donald Rothberg
(Recording not available) 
A guided meditation connected with the talk on "Living from Our Depths," touching on exploring two of the three areas of liberating insight (impermanence and reactivity--or Dukkha) connected with developing wisdom, and practicing lovingkindness (or another heart practice), connected with developing the "awakened heart."
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2024-07-24 The Gift of Understanding and Cultivating Equanimity 60:24
Wildecy de Fatima Jury
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Spirit Rock - Rainbow Sangha

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