Dharma Seed - Dharma Talks given at Insight Meditation South Bay

2018-05-01 Nurturing the Process 35:23
Kim Allen	Download Listen
Kim Allen gave the second talk in a speaker series titled "Goals in Meditation." Kim advised that instead of spending time wishing for attending some future goals, we can just do the practice. When we develop and nurture the process of the liberating path, it will naturally lead us to the goal of the path.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
In collection: Goals in Meditation

2018-04-24 Commitment to Enlightenment 30:23
Shaila Catherine	Download Listen
In this talk, Shaila Catherine explores the purpose of meditation practice. By knowing the goal of the Buddhist path, we can avoid becoming satisfied with deceptive attainments such as mere joy, calmness, and concentration. These pleasant states are not the aim of the liberating path. If we become attached to these temporary states and initial attainments, they become impediments on the path and can prevent the realization of the ultimate goal of awakening.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
In collection: Goals in Meditation

2018-04-24 Goals in Meditation 3:05:54

Listen to tracks Show 5 Tracks

with Andrea Fella, Dawn Neal, Kim Allen, Shaila Catherine, Tony Bernhard

We invited several local teachers to share both the personal aims that guide their practice and their understanding of the goals of the Buddhist Path. We asked them the following questions: What is the goal of Buddhist practice? What do you personally hope to achieve through your practice? What is a reasonable way to assess our progress – how can we tell if we are on track? How can we work skillfully with goals in the context of mindfulness-based practices that emphasize present moment awareness? This series will explore both the ultimate and relative goals of Buddhist practice. It will address the benefits and limitations of having goals, and explore some related practice issues: comparing, expectations, craving for attainments, inspiration, and the potential for discouragement. Join us for an illuminating look into some aspects of your practice you may never have considered!

Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley

2018-04-10 A Life Affirming Path 46:30
Janetti Marotta	Download Listen
In this talk, Janetti Marotta presented the publication of her new book, "A Fertile Path: Guiding the Journey with Mindfulness and Compassion." Janetti described how mindfulness teaches us to be in harmony with whatever life presents. With the wisdom of awareness and the warmth of compassion, obstacles become challenges and crises become opportunities.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley

2018-04-03 A Loving Kindness Tune-Up — Inspiration, Intention, Expression 28:39
Sharon Allen	Download Listen
Sharon Allen discusses loving kindness as an antidote for any mind state that is trapped in ill-will or hatred. She tells us that it is important to remember the importance of loving kindness by noticing the small things done in kindness to others, as well as noticing the the effects metta has on our own heart.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley

2018-03-13 Equanimity 44:51
Oren Jay Sofer	Download Listen
The series on the Seven Awakening factors concludes with Oren J. Sofer’s talk on the quality of equanimity. Sofer tells us that this quality develops slowly among the other factors and is considered one of the highest attainments in Buddhist practice. The fore-taste of evenness and balance can be considered a glimpse into the mind of an awakened being.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
In collection: Seven Factors of Awakening

2018-03-06 Samadhi 44:20
Sean Feit Oakes	Download Listen
Sean Feit Oakes speaks about the quality of samadhi as an awakening factor. This talk, the 8th in the series, examines samadhi as the framework of what must be cultivated in practice in order to ultimately aim for liberation. Because concentration arises when conditions ripen, this talk explores ways to develop these conditions so that samadhi and its benefits can manifest.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
In collection: Seven Factors of Awakening

2018-02-27 Tranquility 49:36
Daniel Bowling	Download Listen
Daniel Bowling discusses the Seven Factors of Awakening, with an emphasis on the tranquility factor. The talk, the 7th in the series on the awakening factors, encourages us to mindfully, and with curiosity and joy, develop tranquility so that we can employ its benefits both on the cushion and in everyday situations.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
In collection: Seven Factors of Awakening

2018-02-20 Awakening Joy 43:55
Misha Merrill	Download Listen
Misha Merrill gave the fourth talk in a speaker series titled "Preparing the Mind for Awakening: Cultivating the Seven Factors of Awakening." She explained that joy and happiness are not the same thing, because we can find joy even in the midst of difficulties. We can't put off practicing and experiencing joy until everything is just exactly the way we want it to be. In fact, to be able to experience joy at this moment, right here, right now, even when things are difficult, is the core of our practice. Misha then offered practices that can increase the possibility of joy in our lives.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
In collection: Seven Factors of Awakening

2018-01-23 Mindfulness 38:59
Chris Clifford	Download Listen
Chris Clifford gave the first talk in a speaker series titled "Preparing the Mind for Awakening: Cultivating the Seven Factors of Awakening." In this talk, Chris explored the Buddha's teachings on Mindfulness in order to understand how this mental factor differs from ordinary untrained consciousness, and how it supports the unfolding of the Seven Factors of Awakening.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
In collection: Seven Factors of Awakening