Dharma Seed - Dharma Talks given at Insight Meditation South Bay

2016-08-04 Refrain From Killing 68:12
Ayya Santussika	Download Listen
Ayya Santussika gave the fifth talk in a six-week series titled "Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts." She takes an in-depth look at the first precept: refraining from killing. She explores harming, how to live a life of non-harming, and facing difficult situations non-violently.

In collection Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts

2016-07-28 Refrain from False Speech 29:28
Shaila Catherine	Download Listen
Shaila Catherine gave the fourth talk in a six-week series titled "Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts." Speech is given particular importance in the Buddhist path because wrong speech can cause tremendous harm, and right speech can be profoundly beneficial. Practicing right speech is given emphasis because it's a very vivid way of applying our practice to daily life. When we lie based on delusion and greed, our intention usually is to benefit ourselves. When we lie based on delusion and hatred, our intention is usually to harm others. Even when we lie to cause less harm than would be caused if we spoke the truth, we should be aware of the potential karmic consequences.

In collection Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts

2016-07-21 Refrain From Sexual Misconduct 50:39
Drew Oman	Download Listen
Drew Oman gave the third talk in a six-week series titled "Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts." He expands upon the third precept: refraining from sexual misconduct. He explores its relation to the other four precepts and to the four noble truths.

In collection Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts

2016-07-14 Refrain from Stealing 51:52
Shaila Catherine	Download Listen
Shaila Catherine gave the second talk in a six-week series titled "Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts." When we undertake the training of refraining from taking that which is not given and practice generosity, we are improving our mind. More specifically, we are purifying our mind of greed. In fact, not stealing and giving are conditions that contribute to the realization of nibbana.

In collection Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts

2016-07-07 Refrain From Intoxication 59:50
Angie Boissevain	Download Listen
Angie Boissevain gave the first talk in a six-week series titled "Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts". Her talk addresses the fifth precept: refraining from intoxication. She discusses the impact of drug and alcohol use on relationships and how restraint can promote harmony.

In collection Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts

2016-07-07 Ethics, Action and the Five Precepts 4:20:07

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This series will explore virtue as the indispensable foundation of Buddhist practice. The series will emphasize the five training precepts, and explore action, ethics, kamma, and cause-effect dynamics. The precepts are not rules to be obediently followed; they serve as guidelines for the intentional development of compassion, mindfulness, and wisdom. These five precepts offer us a joyful method to cultivate the heart, nurture harmony in relationships, and free the mind from inner forces of greed and anger that if unrestrained may cause suffering to ourselves and others.

2016-06-30 Working with Emotions and Mental States 45:57
Renee Burgard	Download Listen
Renée Burgard, LCSW, of Mindfulness & Health in Los Altos gave the fourth talk in a four-week series titled "Cultivating Mindfulness". This talk offers mindfulness practices for working with emotions and mental states. Renée introduces tools for becoming aware of and cultivating positive emotions. The tools include ways to counteract our human "negativity bias" with a "Taking in the Good" practice, i.e., staying with positive experiences for a bit longer than is our habit. She introduces "Mindful Self-Compassion" and mindful breathing and body awareness/movement practices for fostering kindness in the presence of difficult emotions.

In collection Cultivating Mindfulness

2016-06-23 The Place for Skillful Thoughts in Meditation 40:26
Sharon Allen	Download Listen
Sharon Allen gave the third talk in a four-week series titled "Cultivating Mindfulness". She discussed the place for skillful thoughts in meditation, and why knowing how to foster mindfulness in thinking is an important foundational practice for any meditator.

In collection Cultivating Mindfulness

2016-06-16 Mindfulness of the Body 68:30
Shaila Catherine	Download Listen
Shaila Catherine gave the second talk in a four-week series titled "Cultivating Mindfulness." Shaila explored a number of ways to practice mindfulness of the body according to the Buddhist teachings. These methods include (1) using the body as a way of grounding our attention in the present moment, (2) working with mindfulness of the breath as an aspect of the body, (3) working with sensory experiences, (4) reflecting upon death, (5) seeing the body in terms of the four elements (earth, fire, wind and water) and (6) observing the body as anatomical parts. Methods 5 and 6 allow us to view the body as material constructions. From this perspective we no longer conceive our body as "I" or "mine;" thereby, attachment and ignorance dissolve.

In collection Cultivating Mindfulness

2016-06-09 Mindfulness with Breathing 1:13:48
Shaila Catherine	Download Listen
Shaila Catherine gave the first talk in a four-week series titled "Cultivating Mindfulness." This talk focused on using the breath as the meditation object. When we observe our breath, our mind is free from unwholesome states, such as anger, greed, or doubt, because we are simply connecting with the very ordinary experience of breathing. We are not being pushed or pulled by desire or aversion. In fact, when we connect with the breath, we experience ease and happiness.

In collection Cultivating Mindfulness