The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Nikki Mirghafori's Dharma Talks at Spirit Rock Meditation Center
Nikki Mirghafori
Nikki is of Persian heritage, and was introduced to contemplative practices and yoga in the early 1980's, to meditation in 1991, and to Theravada Buddhism in 2003. She has studied with various Western and Eastern teachers, with a keen interest in intensive silent retreats. She studied jhanas and detailed analytical vipassana with the renowned meditation master Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw who instructed her to teach. She is also a Spirit Rock authorized retreat teacher, a Stanford trained compassion cultivation instructor, and a UCLA certified mindfulness facilitator. She teaches Buddhist meditation and contemplation nationally, and in particular, at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, where she also serves on their Board of Directors. Nikki holds a Ph.D. in computer science from UC Berkeley and has had an active career as an Artificial Intelligence scientist in academia and industry for over two decades.
2017-05-28 Seeing Things as They are Through Vipassana (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 45:55
When we see the nature of reality as impermanent, not inherently satisfying and impersonal, we don't take it all so personally. There can be more ease and freedom when we make peace with the way things are. Recorded at Spirit Rock at "Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students"
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students
2017-05-27 Day 5 Guided Metta: Radiating Metta for All, Including Oneself (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 41:39
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students
2017-05-27 Day 5 Instructions: Mental Factors (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 47:05
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students
2017-05-26 Investigating the Body Leading to Investigating the Mind (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 49:16
In this talk, the path of gradual cultivation is discussed, starting with establishing a container of Metta/Loving-kindness. Then, we calm and unify the mind, followed by investigating the body (through four elements meditation) which leads to investigating the mind and mental factors. Recorded at Spirit Rock at "Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students"
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students
2017-05-25 Day 3 Guided Metta: Metta for Self, Receiving Metta (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 33:39
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students
2017-05-25 Day 3 Instructions: Four Elements Meditation 50:29
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students
2017-05-24 Examining Reality: Preparing Ourselves by Grounding in Ethical Integrity 53:59
This talk was given on the second day of a week-long retreat entitled, "Examining Reality". Four ways of practicing with sila (virtue) from the Visuddhimagga are discussed. The talk ends with an invitation to examine our assumptions about our physical experience of reality. Recorded at Spirit Rock at "Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students"
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students
2017-05-23 Day 1 Guided Metta: Meeting Everything That Arises with Kindness (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 38:15
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students
2017-05-23 Day 1 Instructions: Arriving & Settling into the Practice (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 56:52
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Examining Reality as a Path to Freedom: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students
2017-03-21 Day#24: Brahma Vihara Instructions 27:22
Spirit Rock Meditation Center March Monthlong Retreat

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