The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Dharma Talks given at Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
2011-05-21 Habits, Action and Personality 46:13
Shaila Catherine
Underlying tendencies (toward greed, hate, and delusion) fuel habits that obstruct our freedom. Tendencies toward irritation, anger, craving, and ignorance may arise in times of stress when our mindfulness is weak, and they distort our perception of things. But tendencies arise in both luxurious and modest environments, in situations of comfort as well as pain. How we relate to experience reinforces patterns and conditioning. Greed, hate, and delusion are causes for the arising of kamma (karma). The simile of the two darts describes the difference between simply enduring bodily feelings of pain, and proliferating reactions of anger and aversion that add suffering to our pain. This talk explores the primary tendencies of sensual desire, anger, and ignorance, and shows how we can free the mind from their influence in our everyday life.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley Everyday Dhamma—Teachings for the Lay Life

2011-04-23 Decision Making 44:12
Shaila Catherine
We make many decisions and choices in our lives. To choose one option, we inevitably sacrifice other possibilities. Beliefs and personal standpoints limit the range of our options. What are your priorities in life? What are your strongest intentions and aspirations? The Kalama Sutta offers recommendations for making decisions—consider what leads to happiness and what leads to harm. The ten unwholesome and ten wholesome actions, and ethical precepts are explored in this talk as guidelines for wise decision making.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley Everyday Dhamma—Teachings for the Lay Life

2011-04-19 Four Elements Meditation—Instructional Talk and Guided Meditation 41:58
Shaila Catherine
This talk introduces the Four Elements Meditation as a systematic method for developing mindfulness of the body. A guided meditation and instructions are provided that reveal the body as a dynamic interaction of characteristics classified as earth (hardness, roughness, heaviness, softness, smoothness, lightness), water (flowing, cohesion), fire (heat, cold), and wind (supporting, pushing).
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley Tuesday Talks—2011

2011-02-01 Metta 46:16
Lama Surya Das
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley Tuesday Talks—2011

2010-12-28 Darkness, Light, and Holiness 56:33
Ayya Tathaloka
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley

2010-12-14 Recollection of the Sangha-part of a three part series on the Triple Gem: As Refuge, Inspiration, and Meditation Practice 38:10
Shaila Catherine
The Triple Gem: Recollection of the Sangha—Community As Refuge. This is the third installment in the three part series on the triple refuge or three jewels. This talk introduces the contemplation of the virtues of the Sangha (sanghanusati) as a support for inspiration, trust, and gratitude for community. The liberating sangha is considered worthy of gifts and offerings; a field of merit; a community people who have made the effort to practice diligently, energetically; and who are cultivating a direct and liberating path.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
In collection: Triple Gem: As Refuge, Inspiration, and Meditation Practice

2010-11-16 How To Be Sick 55:41
Toni Bernhard
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley

2010-11-09 Recollection of the Dhamma-part of a three part series on the Triple Gem: As Refuge, Inspiration, and Meditation Practice 54:00
Shaila Catherine
The Triple Gem: Recollection of the Dhamma—The Liberating Teachings. This is the second installment in a three part series on the three jewels or three refuges. This talk introduces the practice of contemplating the Dhamma (dhammanusati) as a meditation practice that enhances joy, delight, energy, and faith in the efficacy of the path. The reflection considers the Dhamma as good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, pure in its meaning and in its detail, immediate, timeless, inviting one to come and see, worthy of application, to be experienced by the wise.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
In collection: Triple Gem: As Refuge, Inspiration, and Meditation Practice

2010-11-02 An Evening with Bhikkhu Bodhi 35:37
Bhikkhu Bodhi
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley

2010-10-05 Recollection of the Buddha-part of a three part series on the Triple Gem: As Refuge, Inspiration, and Meditation Practice 34:34
Shaila Catherine
The Triple Gem: The Awakening Recollection of the Buddha. This is the first installment in a three part series on the three jewels or three refuges. This talk introduces the practice of recollecting the worthy qualities of the Buddha and meditating on his virtues. Contemplation of the Buddha, Buddhanusati, enhances joy, inspiration, and confidence in the possibility of liberation. This talk tells the story of the Buddha's enlightenment, his struggle for knowledge and attainments, development of integrity and right speech, blossoming of his remarkable teaching abilities, great compassion, full understanding of mind and matter (nama-rupa), knowledge of the world, unsurpassed concentration, and pure conduct. The example of the Buddha's achievements can serve as an inspiration for us today.
Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley
In collection: Triple Gem: As Refuge, Inspiration, and Meditation Practice

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