These pandemic times with isolation, suffering, social and political divisiveness and an uncertain future our lives are filled with even more challenges than usual. At the same time many hearts are opening with increased compassion, connection and possibilities on the horizon. The mind can easily get contracted by the stress or grasping at hope. But our Dharma practice shows us we have a choice how to wisely relate to our experience. This is what we will explore in our time together.
With James Baraz recorded on January 17, 2021.
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Discover more from the Dharma Library
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There is no Way to Peace, Peace is the Way
Recorded :
June 30, 2019 As the planet heats up, and hostilities flare between groups and nations, how do we touch and embody the possibility of peace, right here and now? Peace in the future is founded on peace in the present moment. The same is true of justice, and liberation. These are not things we have to wait for…
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The Appropriate Response
Recorded :
May 8, 2022 When a monk asked the 10th Century Zen master Yunmen, “What are the teachings of a whole lifetime?” Yunmen replied, “An appropriate response.” What is this appropriate response and how do we know we’ve got it right? Beyond linear formulas, Dharma teachings point to a natural intelligence that guides us in a spontaneous responsiveness to life….
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A Practical Approach to Understanding Right Effort
Recorded :
July 22, 2018 All schools of Buddhism acknowledge that if we are to “awaken” in this lifetime, our aim is to cultivate and develop the eight-fold path. This path consists of behavioral (sila), meditative (samadhi) and philosophical (panna) dimensions. When skillfully interwoven, this system of training directs us towards a liberation-based lifestyle by embracing the limitations and the…
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Beyond the Self-Improvement Project
Recorded :
April 25, 2021 It’s common to come to the spiritual path seeking relief from psychological suffering or emotional pain. The modern wellness industry presents mindfulness and meditation as the ultimate antidote to stress and personal foibles. Yet the Buddhist path is about something far deeper than stress reduction or having an agreeable personality. In this session, we’ll explore…
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Ulla Koenig – Week of June 7, 2021
This week’s theme is: Mudita – Celebrating Aliveness. Our hearts possess infinite capacities: they can express friendship in the most surprising circumstances and turn with tenderness and care to those who suffer. But aside from kindness and compassion, there is also the potential for deep appreciation, ease, delight and joy within us. While such perspectives are always available, the access might be blocked by voices of doubt, shame or negativity. In the upcoming weekly sessions, we strengthen our capacity to find nourishing perspectives and to rejoice in the beauty within and around us with the help of guided meditations and practices for everyday life.
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Practicing for the love of it.
Recorded :
January 17, 2016 Before the session Martin wrote: “A Burmese teacher once told a friend of mine to always enjoy his practice. We love meditation in theory, and we want to grow and transform, and we certainly would like to be liberated from our suffering. And yet! We easily turn meditation into a chore, and feel discouraged by…
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Miles Kessler – Week of July 25, 2022
This week’s topic is “The 4 Noble Practices”. The 4 noble practices are practical instructions given by the Buddha in relation to the 4 noble truths. Namely, 1) The Noble Practice Of Acceptance, 2) The Noble Practice Of Letting Go, 3) The Noble Practice Of Realization, and 4) The Noble Practice Of Development. This week, Miles will lead you through these 4 noble practices, helping you to see how these 4 injunctions from the Buddha contain the entirety of the practical Dharma.
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Martin Aylward – Week of Nov 15, 2021
Daily meditations with Martin Aylward.