Mark Nunberg: Morning Reflection: The Pleasure of Seclusion

(Gaia House) An Online Dharma Hall session includes a Guided Meditation, a Dharma Talk, and responses to unrecorded questions. A three-part series examining the role of passion, compassion, and dispassion on the Buddha's path to peace. This week, the disentangling release that comes from renunciation of paths that promise a happiness but don't deliver. What we can learn from compassionate engagement or the refined happiness of an unhindered heart-mind. And how they open the heart and mind to support us to let go of narrow (fiery, lustful) passions for a grander freedom (of meaningful purpose).

(Online) 03:01 Q1) Do you believe in Devas, and other subtle bodied beings in higher, lower and parallel realms? 03:12 Q2) When did you first start to believe in these things and why? 22:32 the next three questions flow together: Q3) Do you believe that belief in such things is central to the Buddhist world view and to Buddhist practice? Q4) What are the benefits if one can take this aspect of cosmology on board? Q5) What are the possible drawbacks if one does not? 41:03 Q6) Are there potential dangers in believing in such things? 44:28 Q7) Can you tell us some stories from personal experience, or things that you have heard first hand from your own teachers and friends, which might help us to be more open to the possibilities?

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge)

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge)

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge)

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Talk originally given on December 12, 2024 I’m happy to share the evening with my son, Adam Baraz, who will reflect on the recent completion of his fifth Darkness Retreat, a 49-day “Bardo Retreat” in Tuscany, Italy. Adam will discuss the psychological, physical, emotional, and spiritual journey of “being alone in the dark” for 7 weeks. He will describe the practical aspects of preparation, meditation practice, challenges, and benefits of extended darkness retreat practice.

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Cittaviveka)

(Gaia House) An Online Dharma Hall session includes a Guided Meditation, a Dharma Talk, and responses to unrecorded questions. A three-part series examining the role of passion, compassion, and dispassion on the Buddha's path to peace. This week, the freedom pathway and fruit of compassion. Including the interplay between compassion, forgiveness, and healing of the heart; the well-being that comes from the cultivation of a boundless expansive heart—and how this way we can resource ourselves beyond habitual routes (that don't really work) towards satisfaction and well-being that (really does).

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)