There is a growing tendency to imply or assume that all suffering is self-created. This is a naïve, even dangerous, view, removed from the middle way. The view ignores the teachings of non-self and the emptiness of self. Does self-inquiry, self-acceptance, self-compassion, self-interest and promotion of the Self promote self-indulgence? Is it any wonder that the corporate world promotes mindfulness? Join Christopher for an exploration of these questions.
Discover more from the Dharma Library
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Meditating and speaking: simultaneously practicing Sila, Samadhi and Panna
Recorded :
February 11, 2018 The communicative loop of listening and speaking forms a powerful karmic workshop. Language taps into our karmic archive, sankhara. It reaches other people and, if they are listening, there is mind-to-mind contact. Relational contact is intrinsically powerful because humans are intrinsically relational: when we engage together, our mutual responsiveness amplifies our efforts. Speaking and listening…
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Wake up to your Life: Cultivating Courage & Compassion in the Everyday
Recorded :
March 23, 2025 Awakening to Life means harmonizing our values and our actions. Many of us merely go through the motions, sleepwalking through the hours, without actually feeling alive. Cultivating courage and joy entails slowing down, paying close attention, and practicing being fully engaged with what each moment has to offer. Koshin Sensei will share Zen teachings and…
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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.
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Certainty in an uncertain world.
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October 1, 2017 Consider that your presence on the cushion doesn’t guarantee balance. It’s what you bring to the cushion that matters. The same could be true of the fullness of our lives. It’s what we bring to it. What shifts when we focus on creating a life of certainty? A life of certainty that whether you are…
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Practicing the Middle Way: Navigating Between Extremes
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May 14, 2023 The Buddha invites us to travel the Middle Path, between extremes. How do we navigate this path that leads to knowledge, understanding and liberation? We practice with mindfulness and kindness to meet our day to day experiences and our conditioning: societal, familial, cultural, and historical. Inviting in curiosity and diligence, we learn to practice to…
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Caverly Morgan – Week of July 13
We’re very grateful to have Caverly Morgan hosting our Daily Meditation Series for North America. To find out more about Caverly, and to view her past recordings and contributions to Sangha Live, click here.
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On Teachings and Teachers
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March 17, 2018 People often ask about the importance (or not) of working closely with a teacher. One can benefit greatly from general meditation instruction, but personalised guidance from someone who knows you and your practice well can be deeply helpful. In this session, Martin speaks about approaching teachers for guidance and about the dynamics of the teacher-student…
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Beyond the Self-Improvement Project
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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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