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Dharma Talks
given at Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC
Publicly available talks can be browsed here in the order indicated by
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Get the latest Dharma talks from Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC by Podcast
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2018-10-10
The Stars in Our Scars: Opening to Mystery on the Path
58:48
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Sebene Selassie
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| The Buddhdharma invites us not to believe anything but to come see for ourselves: the practice transforms our lives and through practice we come to understand the power of this path firsthand. But knowing that the practice works is not the same as knowing how it works. This talk explores the truth of mystery in our practice and in our lives. It invites us to open to the mysteries of the universe as a portal to a deep faith and wisdom on the path. |
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2018 IMCW Fall Retreat: Intimacy with Life
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2018-10-03
Meditation: Coming Home with the Breath
14:48
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Tara Brach
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| Our breath is always available as a pathway back to presence. This simple meditation guides us to relax and awaken in the body, and then establishes the breath as a home base for our attention. Our practice is to notice when the mind becomes distracted, and gently return to our breath and senses. This helps the mind to become increasingly settled, calm and clear. We close with a short heart blessing. |
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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2018-10-03
Part 1: Rewiring for Happiness and Freedom
51:22
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Tara Brach
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| The Buddha said, “I would not be teaching this (a path of awakening) if genuine happiness and freedom were not possible.” While this is our potential, we each have deep conditioning to get stuck in feelings of fear, deficiency and separation from others. These talks explore the two interdependent pathways of undoing the conditioning that blocks our potential. In Part I we will look at how we can intentionally arouse states of wellbeing, and with practice, develop them into ongoing traits that bring presence and joy to our lives. In Part II, we will investigate how to cultivate an unconditional presence, and the radical acceptance and love, that are the grounds of true happiness and inner freedom. |
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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2018-09-26
The Mighty Force of Mudita - Sympathetic Joy
44:14
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Shell Fischer
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| As the great Zen master Thich Nhat Hahn tells us, “Suffering is not enough.” In order for us to not be pulled under by the great forces of greed, hatred, and delusion in our world, the teachings urge us to continually and consciously nurture the heart and mind states of kindness, compassion, peace, and joy (mudita), which includes a deep wish or aspiration for all beings to be happy and to know the causes of happiness – including ourselves. During this talk, Shell dives into the rich practice of Mudita, and shows us how it can help to more fully open and expand our hearts, and discover more joy in our lives. |
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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2018-09-19
Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism From The Inside Out
52:42
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Ruth King
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| The world’s heart is on fire, and race is at its core. The bitter racial seeds from past beliefs and actions are blooming all around us, reflecting not only a division of the races that is rooted in ignorance and hate, but also, and more sorely, a division of the heart. Racism is a heart disease. How we think and respond is at the core of racial suffering and racial healing. If we cannot think clearly and respond wisely, we will continue to damage the world’s heart.
In this talk, my hope is to ignite your imagination and help you discover your voice in the song of racial healing, and how we could live in this world if every one of us aimed our energy toward awakening, non-harming, generosity, and kinship—a world with race but without racism. It all begins with an examination of our habits of harm. |
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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2018-08-29
Part 2: Vulnerability, Intimacy, & Spiritual Awakening
55:05
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Tara Brach
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| We each live with uncertainty and the fear of rejection and loss, and we each are conditioned to avoid feeling or expressing that vulnerability. Yet intimacy with this unlived life is the gateway to connecting authentically with others, full aliveness and spiritual realization. These talks explore the ways that we defend ourselves, and the pathway to gently, wisely and intelligently disarming and freeing our hearts. (a special talk from the archives) |
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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2018-08-22
Part 1: Vulnerability, Intimacy, & Spiritual Awakening
59:10
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Tara Brach
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| We each live with uncertainty and the fear of rejection and loss, and we each are conditioned to avoid feeling or expressing that vulnerability. Yet intimacy with this unlived life is the gateway to connecting authentically with others, full aliveness and spiritual realization. These talks explore the ways that we defend ourselves, and the pathway to gently, wisely and intelligently disarming and freeing our hearts. |
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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2018-08-15
Meditation: Presence and Breath
21:39
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Tara Brach
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| This simple meditation guides us to wake up awareness of the body, and rest with the movement of the breath. We are invited to discover the presence that arises as we come home to our moment-to-moment experience. The practice ends with a short prayer, connecting with what most matters to our heart. |
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IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
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