It is an extraordinary relief to encounter the perfection of ordinary self in a world that is screaming loudly, “There is something better out there! There is something you might be missing! There are standards you need to meet! There is something more you need to prove!” As we remember our inherent goodness, we cease to have an appetite or artificial need to participate in the outer focus, the conditioning that is telling us that what we have and who we are simply ARE not enough. Embracing our essence ends the charade of the conditioned mind, and all that is left is acknowledgement of the preciousness of our unique expression of life and all forms of life. We finally relax, aware that there is nothing to do and nowhere to get to that is worth more than being who and where we already are.
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Surrendering to awareness.
Recorded :
April 10, 2016 Often in spiritual practice there is the encouragement to observe. From that place of observation we attempt to “be with” what arises. When does that intention get colonized by the ego? Who is it that is “being with”? What is it that is “being with”? What shifts in our practice when we surrender what is…
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Practicing with the suffering of the world.
Recorded :
October 23, 2016 Worldwide Insight talk from Diana Winston: “Practicing with the Suffering of the World”. Guided meditation, Dharma talk and Q&A.
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Exploring dukkha.
Recorded :
April 5, 2015 Worldwide Insight talk from Kittisaro: “Exploring Dukkha”. Guided meditation, Dharma talk and Q&A.
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How to Find Equanimity Amidst Upheaval
Recorded :
May 3, 2020 We are deeply habituated to seek equanimity as if it’s a state to be found. In times of crisis, stakes are high. We try harder. The more desperate we feel, the more effort we put in. In this striving, we forget to ask: “Who is it that’s striving?” This question isn’t about finding the right…
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From Dukkha to Freedom: Dharma in Times of War and Crisis
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January 28, 2024 Intense times of war and crisis can and does often lead to intense Dukkha. But a crisis can also serve as a bedrock to spiritual breakthrough, deepening of liberating insights and openness of the heart. The Upanisa Sutta talks about the possibility of stepping out of Samsara: that Dukkha can lead to Sadha, i.e faith and trust,…
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Miles Kessler – Week of 27 July, 2026
This week’s theme is: The Simple Feeling Of Being & Becoming . The Simple Feeling of Being and Becoming is the direct felt sense of pure non-dual Presence as it unfolds within an ever-changing world. During this week of daily meditations, you will explore the ever-present background of awareness that exists prior to every state, sensation, insight, or realization. Theravāda Buddhists understand this as the knowing quality of awareness before identification; in Zen, it is often called our original face before thinking arises. Through meditation, reflection, and inquiry, you will explore this ever-present ground, bringing greater clarity, freedom, and ease to your practice and your life. Our Dharma Library thrives through collective generosity. Your donation helps sustain this offering for our entire community.
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Love and Dust: Opening your Heart Wide to a Dying World
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May 12, 2019 With the fragile condition of our eco-system finally breaking through into the mainstream news cycle, we can easily be overwhelmed by the loss of biodiversity and permafrost, the pollution of earth, air and oceans, and the attendant insecurity and danger to life on earth. We might struggle both with the information itself – the amount,…
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The Path of the Bodhisattva: Choosing a Life of Kindness
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November 12, 2023 The path of the Bodhisattva asks us to dedicate ourselves to the well-being of all sentient beings – to show up as best as we can for ourselves, each other, and the natural world with a quality of no-matter-whatness. It’s an impossible though necessary task. Yet the teachings and practices of everyday dharma offer accessible,…
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