Oren Jay Sofer's Dharma Talks
     at Spirit Rock Meditation Center 
    
              
              
 
            
    
        Oren Jay Sofer  
         
         
     
     
 
    
        
                            
      Developing a clear understanding of the teachings and learning to fully inhabit the body have been core parts of my Dhamma practice.  These areas, as well a strong emphasis on the heart, inform and shape my teaching. The few years I spent training as an Anagarika in the Thai Forest monasteries broadened my understanding of the Buddha's teachings and instilled a profound respect for the Bhikkhu and Bhikkhuni Sangha.  All along the way, I've been particularly interested in how other modalities like Nonviolent Communication and Somatics can support our growth in awakening.
        
    
      
 
    
        
            
    --
    
            Select from Oren Jay Sofer's
            106
            talks
    
     -- 
    VIEW ALL 
    
        2014-06-17
            "Where Are You Coming From?"  Brahmavihara as a foundation for Wise Speech 
    
        2025-04-03
            A Gentle Introduction to Metta Practice (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2024-12-19
            Attuning and Settling with an Anchor (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2019-03-06
            Balanced Energy, Wise Effort (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2023-10-02
            Bridge the Gap: Integrating Spiritual Practice into Life 
    
        2018-03-26
            Closing Q&A 
    
        2019-03-11
            Confidence in the Path: Learning to Trust (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2015-01-11
            Cultivating Inner Freedom: Using the Power of Choice to Live with Integrity 
 … 
    
        2015-01-11
            Cultivating Inner Freedom: Using the Power of Choice to Live with Integrity 
 … 
    
        2015-01-11
            Cultivating Inner Freedom: Using the Power of Choice to Live with Integrity 
 … 
    
        2015-01-11
            Cultivating Inner Freedom: Using the Power of Choice to Live with Integrity 
 … 
    
        2015-01-11
            Cultivating Inner Freedom: Using the Power of Choice to Live with Integrity 
 … 
    
        2015-01-11
            Cultivating Inner Freedom: Using the Power of Choice to Live with Integrity 
 … 
    
        2015-01-11
            Cultivating Inner Freedom: Using the Power of Choice to Live with Integrity 
 … 
    
        2015-01-11
            Cultivating Inner Freedom: Using the Power of Choice to Live with Integrity 
 … 
    
        2015-01-11
            Cultivating Inner Freedom: Using the Power of Choice to Live with Integrity 
 … 
    
        2023-12-18
            Cultivation and the Four Noble Truths (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2018-10-13
            Day 1, Part 3: Direct and Indirect Practices for Pain: Choice is Key 
    
        2018-10-13
            Day 1, Part 4: Compassion Guided Meditation 
    
        2018-10-13
            Day 1, Part 5: Directly Facing Pain with Compassion 
    
        2018-10-13
            Day 1, Part 6: Indirect Practices for Resiliency with Pain 
    
        2018-10-14
            Day 2, Part 2: Guided Practice: Review of Day 1 Tools 
    
        2018-10-14
            Day 2, Part 3: Resistance in Relationship to Pain 
    
        2018-10-14
            Day 2, Part 4: Guided Practice on Resistance to Pain 
    
        2018-10-14
            Day 2, Part 5: Guided Visualization: Practicing with Pain 
    
        2018-10-14
            Day 2, Part 7: Exploring Pain Directly 
    
        2018-10-14
            Day 2, Part 9: Guided Direct Practices with Pain 
    
        2018-01-19
            Developing Compassion & Skill with Pain 
    
        2013-06-12
            Empathy and the practice of relationship 
    
        2018-03-26
            Equanimity: A Wise and Balanced Perspective 
    
        2018-03-24
            Expansive Metta - Guided Practice 
    
        2018-03-26
            Forgiveness: Freeing the Heart 
    
        2020-02-24
            Form and Spirit: Meditating Outside of the Box 
    
        2018-03-26
            Guided Equanimity Meditation 
    
        2018-03-26
            Guided Forgiveness Meditation 
    
        2018-03-25
            Guided Meditation - Joy and Gratitude 
    
        2018-03-24
            Guided Meditation - Settling and Arriving 
    
        2021-12-20
            Guided Meditation & Instructions 
    
        2018-03-25
            Guided Meditation on Compassion (with Q&A) 
    
        2021-11-30
            Guided Meditation: Anchoring Attention and Settling (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2018-03-25
            Guided Meditation: Breathing through Compassion 
    
        2018-03-26
            Guided Meditation: Embodied Equanimity Practice 
    
        2022-04-07
            Guided Meditation: Joy 
    
        2018-04-20
            Guided Meditation: Settling and Arriving 
    
        2018-03-24
            Guided Metta Meditation (with Instructions) 
    
        2018-03-24
            Guided Metta-Good friend 
    
        2018-03-26
            Guided Mindfulness Meditation 
    
        2016-07-17
            Meditation for Pain - all day recording 
    
        2016-07-17
            Meditation for Pain 1: Introduction 
    
        2016-07-17
            Meditation for Pain 2: Four Ways to Practice with Physical Pain 
    
        2016-07-17
            Meditation for Pain 3: Q&A 
    
        2016-07-17
            Meditation for Pain 4: Cultivating Wisdom 
    
        2016-07-17
            Meditation for Pain 5: Wisdom Q&A 
    
        2016-07-17
            Meditation for Pain 6: Balance and Equanimity 
    
        2016-07-17
            Meditation for Pain 7: Balance Q&A 
    
        2016-07-17
            Meditation for Pain 8: Balance and Guided Meditation 
    
        2016-07-17
            Meditation for Pain 9: Compassion, Investigation, Q&A 
    
        2015-03-06
            Meeting the Heart and Mind 
    
        2017-10-08
            Mindful Communication: How to Create Real Dialogue and Healthy Relationships - … 
    
        2017-10-08
            Mindful Communication: How to Create Real Dialogue and Healthy Relationships - … 
    
        2017-10-07
            Mindful Communication: How to Create Real Dialogue and Healthy Relationships (p… 
    
        2017-10-07
            Mindful Communication: How to Create Real Dialogue and Healthy Relationships (p… 
    
        2019-12-17
            Mindfulness is Intimacy with Life (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2018-03-25
            Mindfulness with Breathing 
    
        2018-03-05
            Monday Night Dharma Talk 
    
        2022-06-13
            Monday Night Dharma Talk - Progress on the Spiritual Path and Finding a Teacher 
    
        2018-01-19
            Opening Meditation 
    
        2016-12-17
            Oren J Sofer and Miki Kashtan - Spirit Rock- Leadership on the Bodhisattva Path… 
    
        2016-12-17
            Oren J. Sofer and Miki Kashtan - Spirit Rock - Leadership on the Bodhisattva Pa… 
    
        2018-10-12
            Oren Jay Sofer and Evan Wong - Supporting those in Pain: Mindfulness Tools for … 
    
        2018-10-12
            Oren Jay Sofer and Evan Wong - Supporting those in Pain: Mindfulness Tools for … 
    
        2018-10-12
            Oren Jay Sofer and Evan Wong - Supporting those in Pain: Mindfulness Tools for … 
    
        2018-10-12
            Oren Jay Sofer and Evan Wong - Supporting those in Pain: Mindfulness Tools for … 
    
        2018-10-12
            Oren Jay Sofer and Evan Wong - Supporting those in Pain: Mindfulness Tools for … 
    
        2022-04-03
            Our Best Home and the Path of Awakening (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2018-03-25
            Question and Answer (Brahma Viharas) 
    
        2018-03-24
            Question and Answer: Metta 
    
        2023-09-25
            Reclaiming the Heart's Beauty (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2018-03-24
            Reflections on Resilience and the Heart 
    
        2019-03-24
            Renunciation: The Freedom of Non-Grasping (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2018-03-25
            Resilience through Joy and Gratitude 
    
        2019-03-17
            Right Understanding (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2023-12-19
            Samatha Practice (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2023-12-20
            Samatha Vipassana (and a little Karuna) 
    
        2011-06-03
            Sangha Refuge and the Relational Field of Practice 
    
        2019-01-25
            Skillful Speech in Difficult Times 
    
        2017-10-28
            Slow and Steady: Establishing Successful Meditation Techniques - Part 1 Morning 
    
        2017-10-28
            Slow and Steady: Establishing Successful Meditation Techniques - Part 2 Morning 
    
        2017-10-28
            Slow and Steady: Establishing Successful Meditation Techniques - Part 3 Afterno… 
    
        2019-01-28
            Susaining the Heart: The Foundations of Contemplative Practice 
    
        2019-02-04
            Sustaining the Heart: Energy on the Spiritual Path 
    
        2017-05-08
            The Beauty of Integrity, Monday night drop-in class at Spirit Rock 
    
        2018-03-24
            The Contemplative Path and Resilience 
    
        2025-04-02
            The Courage to Love (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 
    
        2014-08-07
            The Five Spiritual Faculties 
    
        2011-06-01
            The Heart that Feels 
    
        2018-03-25
            The Power of Kindness and Compassion 
    
        2018-04-20
            The Role of Presence in Communication 
    
        2018-04-24
            Transforming Intention in Spiritual Practice and Relationship 
    
        2018-01-19
            Welcome and Introduction to Meditation for Pain 
    
        2018-01-19
            What is Pain? 
    
        2018-04-20
            What is Real Dialogue? 
    
        2021-12-03
            Wisdom and Insight 
    
        2017-06-03
            Wise Decisions 1: Opening Reflection 
    
        2017-06-03
            Wise Decisions 2: Opening Talk 
    
        2017-06-03
            Wise Decisions 8: Equanimity with the Outcome 
    
 
         
     
    
        
            
    --
        Select one of Oren Jay Sofer's 20 retreats
     -- 
    
        1900-01-01
            Monday and Wednesday Talks 
    
        2011-05-29
            Mindfulness, Wise Speech, and Compassionate Communication 
    
        2014-06-15
            Mindful Communication: A Wise Speech Retreat 
    
        2014-08-04
            Young Adults Retreat 
    
        2015-01-06
            Essential Dharma Meditation Retreat 
    
        2015-02-28
            March Insight 1 Month Retreat 
    
        2017-06-03
            The Dharma of Decisions, Daylong program at Spirit Rock with Oren J. Sofer 
    
        2018-01-19
            Meditation for Pain Management 
    
        2018-03-24
            Strengthening Resilience, Finding our Home 
    
        2018-04-20
            Mindful Communication: How to Create Real Dialogue & Healthy Relationships 
    
        2018-10-13
            Bringing Ease to Pain: Meditation for Pain Management 
    
        2019-03-02
            March Insight Meditation 1-Month 
    
        2019-12-16
            Insight Meditation Winter Solstice Retreat 
    
        2021-11-29
            Concentration and Insight 
    
        2021-12-18
            "Winter Solstice Retreat: Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light" with Heather … 
    
        2022-04-02
            Steadying the Heart: Refuge through the Four Sublime States 
    
        2023-09-23
            Steadying the Heart: Refuge through the Four Sublime States 
    
        2023-12-17
            Insight Meditation Winter Solstice Retreat: Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Li… 
    
        2024-12-18
            Winter Solstice Retreat: Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light 
    
        2025-04-01
            Steadying the Heart: Refuge through the Four Sublime States