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Dharma Talks
given at Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2025-04-17
Gratitude Practice: "It Would Have Been Enough"
48:01
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James Baraz
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This talk takes a dive into Gratitude as a way to hold suffering. The Jewish holiday of Passover began on Saturday. Passover is a holiday of liberation. One of the most joyous parts of the holiday is singing the song Dayenu, which translates as "It would have been enough." The song's lyrics list one blessing after another, 15 in all. After each verse the refrain is "if that was all, it would have been enough. But then there was this (next blessing)."
When we look at our lives through this lens it gives us inspiration to see and appreciate all the good in our lives as we process all that is challenging.
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2025-03-27
Our Own Calm is a Gift
53:25
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Eve Decker
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Called to engage with, and do what we can to alleviate, suffering in the world, it's essential that we include ourselves and our own suffering in our circle of care. If we don't, our own suffering will be added to the larger suffering. Habituating practices and tools for grounding and coming back to presence is wise action born from wise understanding. Thich Nhat Hanh said, "Everyone knows that peace has to begin with oneself, but not many people know how to do it." Our calm is a gift we give. Join Eve in exploring some teachings and practices that help us return to calm, so we can engage as skillfully as possible with life's suffering.
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2025-03-20
Engaged Buddhism: Connecting Inner Practice and Outer Response
53:06
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Eve Decker
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Thich Nhat Hanh, beloved Vietnamese monk and peace activist, coined the term "Engaged Buddhism" when, during the great suffering of the Vietnam war, it no longer felt appropriate to many monastics to stay inside the monastery. There was a need to take action. However, as practitioners directly addressed the suffering, they stayed grounded in and guided from practice. We will be exploring staying connected to and moving from wisdom and compassion as we engage with daily life and the suffering we encounter.
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2025-03-13
Don't Know Mind: Letting Go of Conclusions
50:09
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James Baraz
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It's hard to keep up with all the disorienting changes we are processing each day. We can easily get lost in confusion trying to make sense of it all. As a result, we can draw conclusions based in despair and fear, thinking that we know where this is heading. We can find strength from Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn teaching: "Keep Don't Know Mind." In this "Don't Know Mind" we let go of knowing how things will turn out. This frees us from the tyranny of our mind-created stories and allows us to see many possibilities.
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2025-03-06
Taking Sides in a World of Non-Duality
49:46
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James Baraz
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This talk explores the view that the wide and profound perspective of Non-Duality sees that everything belongs. One is not creating divisions between "good and bad" or "right and wrong". It is all part of the dance of life. However, in the relative level of reality these categories are real and shape our thoughts, reactions and actions.
The Buddha advises us to not be attached to views and opinions. How can we reconcile this paradox and live with this wise non-dual perspective while taking a courageous stand against the forces of greed, hatred delusion that are creating suffering?
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2025-01-30
The Antidote to Fear: Practicing in Uncertain Times
51:41
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James Baraz
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It seems like many are feeling either a low-level anxiety or fear these days. Fear about their safety, about disasters like fire or floods, about what the future holds. While this is natural and understandable, when our minds get hijacked by fearful thoughts, it is almost impossible to have a wise or appropriate response.
In this talk we explore practicing and skillfully working with fear so that it can transform into courage, compassion and wisdom.
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Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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