“The road is not the road; you make the road by walking.” poet Antonio Machado
Awaken Now
Tools, strategies and inspirations to awaken now. January 2022. (see “Video” tab on this website for video version)
Questions and Answers from Awaken Now
January 2022. Questions about; 1) listening to the dharma 2) how to reset from difficult experiences 3)what exists after we die 4) facing environmental change 5)and using the momentum of the stress of these times to awaken.
The Fire of Change
How to keep an awake view, and an open heart, in the fire of change. October 2021. (See “Video” tab on this website for video version)
The Cauldron of Emotions
How to work with the strong emotions of trauma and change, including working with the pain body, balancing and healing our psychology, equanimity practices, and zeroing out the mind. March 2021. (See video tab for video version slides and clips)
Cauldron of Emotions Dharma Talk
Deathbed Goal Challenge
Questions and Answers the Cauldron of Emotions
Questions and Answers The Cauldron of Emotions
First Aid for the Soul
Working with the Pandemic and Trauma and Change. January 2021. Two talks. The first is an intro talk and the second is a longer dharma talk. (See video tab for video version).
Intro First Aid Length: 5min
First Aid for the Soul Talk Length: 5o min
True Refuge
Finding a true refuge in times of difficulty. November 2020. (Painting by Carolyn Quan) See video tab for video version with slides and movie clips in this talk.
Finding a True Refuge During Traumatic Times
Questions in True Refuge Retreat:
Negative thinking and Depression: Negative thinking and depression
Environmental Change Question: Environmental Change and Dharma
The Gifts of Dipa Ma
A talk on the four important gifts of Dipa Ma Barua for practitioners today. Includes two recordings of Dipa Ma’s chanting. (Oakwood Retreat Center, Indiana 06/2019). Length 38:42.
Embodying Quiet
How to embody a deep quiet in your practice and your life. (Silver City, New Mexico 11/2018). Length 19:32.
Freedom from the Bondage of Self; Twelve Steps and Dharma
This talk relates to people in a Twelve Step Program who also have an interest in the Dharma. Both agree that letting go of the “self” is the key to peace and freedom. (Cleveland 12 step Buddhist Group 11/2018). Length 28:10.
Freedom from the Bondage of Self
Take the One Seat
Have the courage, like the Buddha, to take your one seat in the world. Discover what is your truth, your stillness, and your wisdom, and embody this authentically. (Cleveland Insight Meditation Retreat 10/2018). Length 40:46.
Take the One Seat
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Paradoxes in the Practice
Exploring four paradoxes in practice; thoughts and stillness; effort and relaxed, the personal and the profound, right now and forever. (Cincinnati Dharma Center Talk 11/2018). Length 17:38
Dreamcatchers
Dreamcatchers are ways to see through the illusions of mind. When you can see through the illusions of mind, then you can have direct access to life through the heart. (Dharma Zephyr Retreat 4/2018). Length 38:11.
Poem mentioned is by David Watters
Dreamcatchers
100% Heart Capacity
What if you could use 100% of your heart capacity? What would be possible then? Improving inclusivity and connection are keys to increasing your capacity to love. (Tri State Dharma Retreat 7/2017). Length 38:07
100% Heart Capacity
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Anti-Fragile Dharma
Antifragile Dharma practice can actually allow us to gain strength from difficult times. This talk includes some practices to create invincibility of heart, and has “the daffodil story.” (Yellow Springs, OH— 7/2017). Length 27:41
Antifragile Dharma Practice
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Short Questions and Answers
Question: Monkey Mind Strategies This answer offers both practical suggestions, and a reflection on emotional healing at the root cause of monkey mind. (Silver City, NM 11/2018). Length 5:42 min.
Question: How did Trauma affect your meditation practice? (Ohio 2018). Length 2:50 and 3:28 min.
Question: What if I can’t do Lovingkindness practice?
Fear and Fearlessness
Fearlessness is a deep spiritual practice. This talk offers some tools and reflections on increasing your inner strength and fearlessness during these difficult times. (Cleveland, OH— 9/2016). Length 36:11
Fear and Fearlessness
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The Dharma Teaching of Alzheimer’s Disease
This talk combines fifteen years of my work in Alzheimer’s Disease and the practice in Buddhism. How to wisely prepare the mind and heart for dementia. Dedicated to my father who died of Alzheimer’s Disease. (Insight Meditation Society—2002). Length: 40:30
The Dharma of Alzheimer’s Disease
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No Part Left Out (Day 1)
Learning to welcome all parts of yourself. Nun Izuimi Shikibu (974-0134 AD); “I knew myself completely, no part left out.” (Carson City, NV– Sept 2016). Length 21:47
No Part Left Out
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Wholeness (Day 2)
Creating wholeness and connection. (Carson City, NV– Sept 2016). Length 24:36
Wholeness
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The I That is We (Part 1)
Cultivating the “we” factors of practice and how we wake up together. (Carson City, NV — 8/2011)
Length: 30:23
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The I That is We (Part 2)
Looking at what creates separation and decreasing our identification with mind. (Carson City, NV — 8/2011)
Length: 33:03
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Mindfulness as Affectionate Awareness
Mindfulness isn’t something you do, it’s something that you are. (Barre, MA (IMS) — 7/2011)
Length: 37:53
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Stealth Bodhisattvas
Bodhisattvas are compassionate beings who with the suffering of the world. Be a stealth bodhisattva. (Yellow Springs, OH — 9/2010)
Length: 27:03
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Spiritual Fitness
Creating and sustaining spiritual fitness in your life.
(Insight Meditation Society, Young Adults Retreat, Barre, MA–8/2010) Length: 33:11
Who Are You?
(Cleveland, OH — 9/2010)
Length: 29:31
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The Mistaken View of Self
(Cleveland, OH–9/2009)
Length: 37:06
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Tracing Back the Radiance
How to maintain a connection with stillness and true nature. (Cleveland, OH—10/2007)
Length: 39:30
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Sustainable Love
The journey from resisting love, to choosing love, to embodying love. (Insight Meditation Society (IMS), MA, Young Adults Retreat—3/2007)
Length: 45:36
Three Kinds of Knowing
Moving from thoughts, to intuition, to “Knowing” (head, heart, gut)
(Nevada City, CA—9/2007) Length: 28:17
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Bearing Witness
Learning to be with things as they are without the overlay of story (Brattleboro, VT—8/2007)
Length: 31:32
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What Is True?
A guided sit, brief group sharing, and stories on lovingkindness. (Northampton, MA—8/2007)
Length: 35:12
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Amazing Grace
Knowing your birthright and your deepest gift. (Barre, MA; IMS young people’s retreat—8/2005)
Length: 33:15
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If you are interested in older talks by Amita that are not listed here visit:
