The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Dharma Talks given at Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2021-05-13 Forgiving the Unforgivable: Angulimala Sutta (MN #86) 55:45
James Baraz
Angulimala was a feared serial killer who was the scourge of the land--until he met the Buddha. We will explore his story and its relevance for our practice in learning to keep our hearts open to those who cause great harm. Why does the Buddha find it beneficial and how is this possible?
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley

2021-05-06 Saying Goodbye: When a Friend Dies 60:25
James Baraz
This past week James felt very fortunate to be with one of his dearest friends in his final days died. This talk explores that life passage. How can we say goodbye to a loved one and grieve fully with the understanding that death is a natural part of the life cycle? How can practice help us through that process?
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley

2021-04-15 Lovingkindness for Self 57:10
Eve Decker
The Buddha said you could look the whole world over and not find anyone more deserving of lovingkindness than oneself. And yet this does not come easily to many of us. Eve will lead us in exploring this essential practice.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley

2021-04-08 Death and Dying 57:42
Sylvia Boorstein, James Baraz
Sylvia and James will have a conversation about death and dying something they have both been recently practicing with in their personal lives.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley

2021-03-28 Befriending Ourselves Daylong 4:26:41
James Baraz, Eve Decker
When we develop a basic kindness towards ourselves we not only learn to accept the difficult parts, but in the process embrace our humanity and see more clearly the beauty that's inside. As we do that we allow our goodness and True Nature to shine through. This becomes a gift to everyone we meet, a healing energy that awakens the goodness in others as well.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley

2021-03-18 Honeyball Sutta: The Buddha's Teaching on Papanća 56:36
James Baraz
Have you ever wondered how your mind can move from one thought to getting lost in a complex story without you knowing how you got there? The Buddha describes this process in his Honeyball Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya #19) where he explains the phenomenon of papanća or proliferation of thought. The more we understand this porcess and work with it as practice, the less we get caught up in the stories the mind creates.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley

2021-03-04 8-Fold Path 51:24
Eve Decker
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley

2021-02-25 Gratitude 52:46
James Baraz
In the Mangala Sutta, the Discourse on Blessings, the Buddha teaches: "To be content and grateful is a blessing supreme." Gratitude is a particularly potent ally in awakening true happiness because it helps expand the mind as well as the heart. With a grateful heart we have a larger container and more space to hold the difficulties we encounter. When we pause to notice what we usually take for granted a new world of possibilities opens up. It's as if we've changed the station instead of being stuck on our own little "drama channel."
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley

2021-02-18 The Secret Ingredients of Dharma Practice 37:59
James Baraz
One of the lesser known lists are four different qualities of heart, The Four Iddhipadas, that are present in people with differing temperaments, that are powerful motivators for practice.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley

2021-02-11 Intention from the Heart 49:58
James Baraz
The Buddha taught "Intention is karma". We will look at two manifestations of intention and how we can work with this powerful energy to increase well being.
Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley

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