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Dharma Talks
given at Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2021-05-06
Saying Goodbye: When a Friend Dies
60:25
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James Baraz
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| 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? |
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2021-04-15
Lovingkindness for Self
57:10
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Eve Decker
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| 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. |
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2021-03-28
Befriending Ourselves Daylong
4:26:41
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James Baraz
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| James Baraz and 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. |
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2021-03-18
Honeyball Sutta: The Buddha's Teaching on Papanća
56:36
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James Baraz
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| 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. |
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2021-02-25
Gratitude
52:46
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James Baraz
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| 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." |
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2021-02-11
Intention from the Heart
49:58
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James Baraz
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| 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. |
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2021-01-28
Anatta and Self-Forgiveness
49:00
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James Baraz
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| Do you ever give yourself a hard time if you've made an embarrassing mistake or have done something you regret? This talk explores how we can truly forgive ourselves with a thorough understanding of the Buddha's teaching on the selfless nature of who we are, otherwise known as Anatta, the selfless nature of experience. |
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