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Dharma Talks
given at Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley
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2021-07-29
Different Lenses, Different Realities
46:36
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James Baraz
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| When people ask, "How are you?" it depends on what lens we're looking at life through. The personal lens evokes a very different response than the societal one. This talk explores how we can hold different realities in our minds and hearts at the same time. Also the compassion that comes from understanding that each person has their own reality that makes sense to them. |
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2021-07-15
Accessing Your Triggers for Insight
51:41
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James Baraz
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| Have you ever had a profound meditation experience and tried with frustration to recreate it?This is a common experience for many practitioners. Just as trauma can be triggered in our body and mind, the same is possible with positive experiences that we've gone through. This talk explores how this works and how we can access those profound moments and the wisdom that they've awakened in us. |
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2021-07-08
Fierce Self-Compassion: When Compassion Meets Action: Protect, Provide, Motivate
55:35
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Eve Decker
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| Eve gives a talk based on a book just released by Kristen Neff titled Fierce Self Compassion. Though the book is written for women, all genders can benefit from the teachings and practices on bringing the energy of care into strong action, both solo and collective. If we hope to transform our suffering and suffering in the world, we must act. Eve explores some of the concepts and practices, born in Buddhist teachings and articulated in this excellent new book.
Eve refers to a link to test how self-compassionate you are:
https://self-compassion.org/test-how-self-compassionate-you-are/ |
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2021-06-10
Mindful Self Compassion: A powerful Tool for Positive Transformation
56:10
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Eve Decker
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| "Mindful Self Compassion" was developed from Buddhist teachings by Christopher K. Germer, PhD, and Kristin Neff, PhD. MSC combines the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion, providing a powerful tool for emotional resilience. Mindfulness is the first step in emotional healing—being able to turn toward and acknowledge our difficult thoughts and feelings (such as inadequacy, sadness, anger, confusion) with a spirit of openness and curiosity. Self-compassion involves responding to these difficult thoughts and feelings with kindness, sympathy and understanding so that we soothe and comfort ourselves when we’re hurting. |
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2021-06-03
Divisiveness in the Buddha's Community: The Quarrel at Kosambi
52:18
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James Baraz
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| One of the greatest challenges today in the US is divisiveness within the country. However, the Buddha faced the same problem right within his community! The Quarrel at Kosambi tells the story of his sangha dealing with a bitter argument that almost created a schism in the sangha. And the Buddha had a very difficult time trying to bring peace between the two factions. We will discuss this story and the lessons we can learn that can be applied in today's time. |
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2021-05-27
Not Seeing Dukkha is Dukkha
51:30
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James Baraz
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| This talk is based on a teaching from Joseph Goldstein: "Not seeing dukkha is dukkha." It's humbling to realize that we are creating much of our suffering. But it's through clearly seeing this that we also create the possibility of truly waking up. We can change our whole relationship to seeing how we get caught by old habits and thought patterns from self-judgment to compassion and liberation. |
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2021-05-20
Wise Speech
54:52
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Eve Decker
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| Practicing with skillful speech can support our well being and is an essential part of the path to freedom. |
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2021-05-13
Forgiving the Unforgivable: Angulimala Sutta (MN #86)
55:45
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James Baraz
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| 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? |
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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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