Dharma Seed: dharma talks and meditation instruction

(Gaia House) A meditation, reflection, and (just the) responses to questions on the theme of spacious intimacy: and what it reveals and opens about experience (wisdom), and creative well-being (samādhi), and positive action in the world

(Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center) Exploring how the Buddha gave up the intoxication with youth, health and life. How mindfulness of death supports opening to our Buddha nature. Includes personal story about the experience of discontinuity in my near death experience.

(Aloka Earth Room) Short Reflection & Guided Meditation including a quote by Arundhati Roy | Earthworm Practice for the Anthropocene III | Online Wednesday-Mornings

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) After a brief review of the first two talks in this series, we explore the nature of ethical practice, one of the three core inter-related areas of training for the Buddha, along with training in meditation and in wisdom. We see how ethical practice has often been understood historically as having a social dimension, both in the teachings of the Buddha and later, as in the edicts of King Ashoka. We also explore some of the ways that ethical practice has been marginalized in Western Buddhist practice, with significant consequences. Then we look at the commonality of ethical guidelines in cross-religious context, with Donald telling some personal stories. Finally, we outline several ways to carry out ethical practice and then open up to discussion.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) These instructions introduce "thinking" as one of the six sense doors to cultivate mindful awareness of this includes identifying emotions and how to meet them in ones meditation practice. Included in these instructions are a brief introduction to choiceless awareness practice.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) What is the state of our current existance? How does Buddhist practice lead us to being fully ourselves with this world while remaining steady and rooted in love and wisdom? This talk includes a brief reflection on the healing power of the 7 factors of awakening and how to identify them.

(Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center) How Satipatthana directs us to the development of not just being present but presence of Mind. Presence of mind support letting go. Anathapindika faces death directly and is given instructions of not clinging to anything. This Sutta changes the teachings of Buddhism for non-monsastics.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) In this 2 part guided meditation, we begin with recieving the loving care from someone who loves us in an uncomplicated way. Which could, include our pets, a spiritual figure, a teacher, etc. The 2nd part is offering love and care to ourselves including what we find difficult in ourselves.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) A talk about Samsara and suffering that doesn't bum everybody out

(Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center) How we understand death dharmically and in our personal lives holds the potential for mindfulness of death in ways that enrich and bring the fruits of the dharma into our lives.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) The renunciate quality of retreat removes our psychological cushions. Therefore soothing, not intensity, is needed. Gaining health and psychological flex, we can disband the fantasies that haunt the heart.

(Aloka Earth Room) Short Reflection & Guided Meditation including a benediction by Master Eckhart | Earthworm Practice for the Anthropocene III | Online Wednesday-Mornings

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We continue our series of meditations and talks exploring the foundations of contemporary Buddhist practice. We begin by reviewing last week's talk on the basic model of Buddhist meditation, identifying three aspects of practice. These three are (1) developing samadhi or concentration; (2) cultivating three modes of liberating insight--into impermanence, dukkha or reactivity, and not-self; and (3) opening to awakened awareness. Then we focus on a crucial, central, and not always developed dimension of contemporary practice, especially for the vast majority of Western Buddhist practitioners who do not live in monastic contexts--bringing practice to everyday life. We identify nine ways of deepening daily life practice. The talk is followed by discussion.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) This talk offers a way of abiding in joy and other wholesome qualities through an acronym of CARE - Connect, abide, release/refresh, enjoy. A short talk is followed by a short guided meditation in abiding and radiating sympathetic joy.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) This talk reflects on joy and metta as central to the practice, and as supports for non-clinging. It explores this theme through the suttas, in everyday practice, and in challenging times.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) 2025 E-BIPOC Retreat, day 5 (4th full day): mental states, emotions, sati (to remember), body, breath, hindrances, vedana (feeling tone), train rides.