2 Kings. Palace Intrigue. A Murder. 500 Elephants. A nighttime visit to see the Buddha. And that’s just the backstory to one of the Buddha’s deepest teachings: his curriculum for spiritual advancement. Join us as we explore the lessons from the 2nd of the Long Discourses and gain a deeper understanding of how morality, concentration, and wisdom come together to provide a path towards the end of dukkha.
Discover more from the Dharma Library
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Yahel Avigur – Week of 14 September, 2026
This week’s theme is: Nourished by the Breath: A Path of Deepening Calm . We will dedicate this week of practice to meditation with the in and out breath, following the Buddha’s careful guidance. In the discourses on practice with the in and out breath, the Buddha offers guidance on important aspects of the path: bringing a kind sensitivity to the body and the breath; developing skill in relation to pleasure and pain; finding nourishment and well-being in the body; discerning helpful and unhelpful mental activity and learning how to calm body and mind; and cultivating liberating insight. These different dimensions of practice unfold organically, deepening and supporting one another, while allowing each practitioner to find their own pace. We will practise lightly and with curiosity around the first steps of this path: from establishing ourselves and finding nourishment in the body, towards calming mental activity. These steps can provide a clear and steady foundation for collectedness and deepening. Our Dharma Library thrives through collective generosity. Your donation helps sustain this offering for our entire community.
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When did you stop breathing?
Recorded :
June 4, 2017 We could say that the Buddha was teaching us to breath again. It’s said that the prince Siddhartha was sitting under a Bodhi tree, practicing the anapanasati (the mindfulness of breathing) when he gained enlightenment and became awake, a Buddha. He was aware of the whole experience of breathing. Through breathing he trained the mind…
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Ulla Koenig – Week of 02 December, 2024
We are grateful to have Ulla Koenig leading our Daily Meditation sessions this week. May these sessions support and deepen your practice.
This week’s theme is: Soothing the Grieving Heart
As human beings we have the privilege to consciously experience many beautiful and joyful things. And we are constantly in touch with the changeability of nature, relationships, our body, hearts, self and much more. Without knowing how to accommodate the naturally arising sadness, change and loss can be easily overwhelming. We will dedicate this week in the darkest time of the year, to open up a compassionate space to explore skillful grieving.
Our Dharma Library thrives through collective generosity. Your donation helps sustain this offering for our entire community.
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Forgiveness: The Practice of Returning to Love
Recorded :
September 14, 2025 A heart rooted in compassion longs to uplift and free all beings. Yet holding such a heart is not always easy. We stumble, we protect, we carry wounds. In our time together, we’ll explore forgiveness as an act of self-compassion-a way to meet our own suffering with kindness, and to restore the dignity that pain…
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The seven factors of awakening.
Recorded :
September 11, 2016 Jessica discusses the seven factors of awakening (mindfulness, tranquility/relaxation, piti/joy, concentration, investigation, viriya/courageous energy, equanimity) and how to work with them in meditation practice to balance the mind and support insight through specific meditative techniques.
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Buddha’s toolbox: a spectrum of skilful means.
Recorded :
June 28, 2015 In this class we explore the various ways to diffuse difficult emotions, see through mental patterns, re-direct our attention, and understand the nature of experience.
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Christine Kupfer – Week of July 15, 2024
This week’s topic is “Freeing The Heart-Mind From Doubt”. Doubt is like any other mind state. But it is a tricky one and can be a sticky one. It’s questioning component is a means for liberation, but it can also suck us into a maze. Lets explore doubt and free the heart-mind this week in the light of the Buddha’s teachings, presence and meditation.
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Martin Aylward – Week of September 21, 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.
