One of the Buddha’s primary realisations was ‘Life is painful and then you die.’ If this is true, then how do we respond to the difficulties of life? This session will explore how we are conditioned to protect, promote and satisfy a ‘self’ which can never be satisfied because ‘we are the slaves of craving.’ There will be a guided meditation cultivating an appropriate attitude to the vicissitudes of life.
Discover more from the Dharma Library
-
Celebrating earth day: calling all Eco-Sattvas.
Recorded :
April 23, 2017 With Earth Day here, James reflects on the preciousness and generosity of our wonderful planet, the current situation of climate change and how our Dharma practice can help us transform despair into meaningful and inspiring action.
-
How to Find Balance in Difficult Times
Recorded :
June 2, 2019 Equanimity is balance that comes from wisdom; it’s our heart and mind’s capacity to roll with the inevitable challenges and changes of life without taking it personally, without falling into despair or hopeless. Rather than a bland state of neutrality, or a cold state of indifference, equanimity gives us a wide space to feel the…
-
The Practice of Blamelessness
Recorded :
December 5, 2021 We are deeply conditioned to blame; it’s a survival strategy. Though it can feel necessary, maybe even fruitful to part of us, blaming arises out of suffering, and leads to more suffering. The process of blame is not required but we don’t always know how to put it down. How do we let it go?
-
Daily Meditation Recordings, with Nirmala Werner – Week of Apr 29 – 3 May, 2024
This week’s topic is “Mindfulness of the nervous system: transforming fear, struggle and separation into love and connection”. We humans are social animals and need each other to feel safe and secure, to grow and to nourish ourselves. How can we live with a sense of connection, loving-kindness, and inner family? Our meditation practice allows us to take a break between stimulus and response. When we come into contact with our loved ones, we all too easily lose the inner freedom we think we have achieved and avoid our difficulties, also called spiritual bypassing. This week we explore what supports us to react flexibly to the internal and external world, to relax and to allow closeness and real intimacy. We will look into the first foundation of mindfulness, mindfulness of the body, including harmonizing the body formations and nervous system to meet our difficulties with gentleness.
-
The Monastery has Come to Us: Working with Thoughts and Emotions to Fuel Our Awakening in a Demanding Time
Recorded :
September 27, 2020 We’re in uncharted territory. Each day brings new shocks and challenges. How is it possible to respond with flexibility, kindness, and wisdom? Together we will get through this. Let’s practice a meditation strategy to weather (and even transcend) the ups and downs and support each other through this intense time.
-
Daily Meditation Recordings, with Kaira Jewel Lingo – Week of October 12, 2020
We’re fortunate that Martin Aylward has generously offered to lead our daily meditation sessions for Europe and the UK this week. To find out more about Martin, and view his other recordings on the platform, click here.
-
Acting on Behalf of Consciousness
Recorded :
January 10, 2021 As we move into this new year, most of us are ready to leave 2020 behind. So much hardship, for so many, has arisen in the last year. Many of us felt more isolated, more separate, than ever before. As we transition into 2021, rather than live and act on behalf of that felt sense…
-
Working with the first stage of loving-kindness.
Recorded :
September 6, 2015 Worldwide Insight talk from Vimalasara Mason-John: “Working with the First Stage of Loving-Kindness”. Guided meditation, Dharma talk and Q&A.
