Retreat Talks

Yesterday some of us from the West Wight Sangha travelled into Newport to join the Soto Zen group for a day's meditation retreat, the following two talks were used.

The first, "Wisdom and Compassion", is by Swiss dharma teacher Ursula Flückiger.



DOWNLOAD

The second is by Jeffrey Schneider and is entitled "There is No God and No Soul". Unfortunately the sound quality is not great but the talk is well worth listening to.



DOWNLOAD

Dependent Origination by Leigh Brasington

This is another series of talks, this time by Leigh Brasington on the subject of Dependent Origination. Only the second talk was short enough to be suitable for the evening meeting with the Soto Zen group in Newport. However, the complete series is available here.

Dependent Origination Part 1



DOWNLOAD

Dependent Origination Part 2



DOWNLOAD

Dependent Origination Part 3



DOWNLOAD

Dependent Origination Part 4



DOWNLOAD

Applying The Four Foundations by Rodney Smith

The principles of the Four Nobel Truths, we are all familiar with, but the application of the principles lie within the integrated understanding of the Four Foundations. In this fascinating talk Rodney Smith goes deep into the Dharma and the nature of perceptual reality. One of the best talks that I have heard in a long time.

This is the first of a collection of five talks; we will feature the whole series as they are given. The talks were delivered at the Forest Refuge at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts U.S.A.



DOWNLOAD

This is the second talk in this series, "Second Foundation; Dissolving Form".



DOWNLOAD

This is the third talk, "Third Foundation; Just This".



DOWNLOAD

The fourth talk is "Exploring The Third Foundation".



DOWNLOAD

This is the final talk, "Application Of The Four Foundations".



DOWNLOAD

Beauty of Energy by Steve Armstrong

In this dharma talk, part of a non-residential retreat series on "Qualities of a Beautiful Mind," Steve
Armstrong focuses on one of the ten paramis: beauty. Steve discusses how an awakened mind is marked by energy, used to benefit one's own life and the lives of others.




DOWNLOAD

Dharma Talk at Cambridge Insight Meditation Centre by Jack Engler

Jack Engler is one of the pioneers of transpersonal theory, a relatively new way of thinking about human development in which Western psychological theory meets Eastern enlightenment philosophy. He is a practicing psychotherapist who also teaches Theravada Buddhist "mindfulness" meditation and Buddhist psychology. He is also the man who made the by-now famous declaration: "You have to be somebody before you can be nobody." His statement has become a catchphrase in much of the Western Buddhist world and almost a commandment among transpersonal psychologists and theorists.



DOWNLOAD

Its About Time by Wes Nisker

Wes Nisker has studied Buddhist meditation for over three decades with teachers in Asia and America, and for the past 20 years has been leading his own retreats and workshops in Buddhist insight meditation and philosophy at venues internationally. He is an affiliate teacher at the Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, and does regular workshops at Esalen Institute and other venues.

He is also the founder and co-editor of the international Buddhist journal Inquiring Mind.



DOWNLOAD

Neuro Dharma by Dr. Cliff Saron

Dr. Cliff Saron speaks with us about the limits of science, our paradigms, and the relation between statements made at the population level and what is meaningful for the individual in Buddhist training.
Our meditation is, by its very nature, in our own body and mind. It’s internal, there’s very little for someone to watch on the outside, they can’t do a fly through of our minds to see what’s going on. As it is so very subjective, there is a challenge when science does a study about that practice.



DOWNLOAD

Wholeheartedly Being Ourselves by Paul Haller

Ryushin Paul Haller, City Centre Abbot at the San Francisco Zen Centre, is a dharma heir of Sojun Mel Weitsman and has taught at Zen Center for over 20 years. He teaches throughout the U.S. and Europe and has led mindfulness programs to assist with depression and recovery. Paul has also taught in prisons and has a long involvement with the Zen Hospice Project. He has been practicing yoga for 25 years.
Founder and former Director of Outreach at SFZC, Paul is interested in finding ways of expressing our practice in society, both as compassionate service and making it available to as many people as possible. He became abbot of Zen Center in 2003 and is originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland.



DOWNLOAD

Truth - The End Of Programs by Ajahn Sucitto

This talk by Ajahn Sucitto is about the central importance of telling the truth and being "true", in alignment with reality.



DOWNLOAD

Patience by Ursula Flückiger

An in depth talk on Patience, the tenth of the ten Paramis or Perfections.

Ursula Flückiger has been practicing insight meditation since 1980 with teachers such as Ven. Ajahn Sumedho, Joseph Goldstein, Christina Feldman. She feels very inspired by the compassion practices of the Tibetan Mahayana Tradition. She is a trained Hakomi psychotherapist, has been guiding insight meditation retreats since 1990 and is a co-founder of the Meditation Centre Beatenberg.



DOWNLOAD