In an effort to counter tendencies towards striving and over-achieving, many Western approaches to meditation and spirituality emphasize relaxation. While relaxation and ease are essential ingredients on the meditative path, they must be integrated with whole-hearted effort. How do we find inner strength and make a clear resolve that is informed by wisdom and balanced with love? We will explore the power of determination in meditation and daily life.
With Oren Jay Sofer recorded on June 26, 2022.
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Discovering the Joy of Sensory Awareness: Mindfulness in Nature
Recorded :
February 12, 2023 When we turn our attention to the sensory, natural world around us, mindfulness practice can become easeful and expansive. Nature allures awareness through her beauty, and range of dynamic, enchanting experience. In this session we will practice cultivating attention to our sense experience, and discovering joy, peace and wonder in this very moment. Tune in from any peaceful environment outdoors with an internet connection, or indoors, ideally with a view of the outdoors.
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Dzogchen Meditation: Spacious Ease Cultivating Stillness, Thought Activity and Awareness
Recorded :
January 14, 2024 Dzogchen (Sanskrit: Ati Yoga) is the most simple, direct, and profound Vajrayana Buddhist path to reveal the sky-like nature of our own mind which is clear, vast, and unobstructed by the clouds of afflictive emotions. Join Lama Justin for an introduction to Dzogchen meditation in which we will explore how to feel into the mind’s…
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Ulla Koenig – Week of May 8, 2023
This week’s theme is “Shedding Light on Darkness”. In the Buddhist tradition, we find three psycho-physical dynamics which bring together suffering, stress and dissatisfaction. Beside aggression and wanting, the root of moha, often translated as ignorance, delusion or blindness, can be tricky to understand and practice. What are we blind to? What do we need to see and understand? How can we potentially see our blind spots? How can we prepare ourselves for that which we might discover? We dedicate this week of practice to discovering the different aspects of ignorance and learn practical steps to look deeply yet with kind eyes.
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Ulla Koenig – Week of Oct 17, 2022
This week’s topic is “A Peaceful Mind”. Thoughts are our continuous companions. While some are harmless, others have a deep impact on us: not only do they shape perceptions, but they also influence our physical and mental well-being. In our darkest hours, we might feel the pain of negative, depressing or restless thought patterns. Shaken by their invasive nature, we often wish for a rest from the never-ending chatter. We dedicate the upcoming week to an exploration into the realm of thoughts and skilful practice.
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Certainty in an uncertain world.
Recorded :
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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Potentizing Practice
Recorded :
February 23, 2020 At various times, it can feel like meditation practice has become routine. That nothing is really moving or deepening. However, there are many ways to consciously potentize your practice. In this class at the wonderful new Sangha Live website, Martin explores various different ways of doing this. We also look beyond meditation, to three ways…
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Listening with an awakened heart.
Recorded :
February 15, 2015 Worldwide Insight talk from JoAnna Harper: “Listening with an Awakened Heart”. Guided meditation, Dharma talk and Q&A.
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Daily Meditation Recordings, with Caverly Morgan – Week of June 8
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. Monday, June 8 Hope is the light of possibility, part 1 Wednesday, June 10 Remembrance: light becomes what it touches Friday,…