Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley: dharma talks and meditation instruction

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Ramona Lisa Ortiz-Smith, MBA, brings over 25 years of cumulative meditation practice and spiritual studies to her livelihood as a Spiritual Teacher and Leader. Silent Vipassana (insight) meditation retreats, Theravada Buddhist studies and earth-based indigenous spirituality and healing arts are at the heart of her practice. Ramona Lisa is passionate about...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Join Eve for an evening of exploring the Buddha’s teaching on Intention - a powerful and potentially transformative mental energy that precedes action. Live at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, 2304 McKinley Ave., Berkeley, and online (Zoom link below). We will also share some songs in remembrance of Alan Senauke, the Abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center who p...

(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 th...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Join Eve for an exploration of holding all aspects of inner experience with curiosity and kindness. The practice of mindfulness invites us to ‘see things as they really are’ - not as we imagine them to be or wish them to be. This is usually a big challenge, especially in painful areas or the ones we try to avoid. The Buddhist teachings of lovingkindness i...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) 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, meditat...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Vedana (वेदना) is an ancient term from Sanskrit and Pāli that refers to the automatic experience of pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral that arises when the senses come into contact with objects (including thoughts). Vedana can be translated as "feeling tone". Using mindfulness to become aware of vedana can be a powerful way to support ease. Identifying or f...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) At this time, US citizens are going through a major adjustment to a new reality after the election. A large part of the population is happy at the outcome. And another large part is confused by that fact. A whole host of feelings are likely to arise--disorientation, confusion, fear, numbing out to name a few. In order to respond wisely to the moment, we f...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This week has been a test for anyone who values kindness, compassion, and equanimity. It's understandable to get lost in fear, confusion and despair. This is when spiritual practice is needed most. How can we use our practice to develop a balance of mind in unpredictable circumstances, and relate to those who have very different perspectives from ours wit...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This Thursday is Halloween night. It's definitely scary times so I thought we could explore working with fear. Join us online.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Alan Watts wrote a classic book The Wisdom of Insecurity. With the election in the States a few weeks away, dealing with significant uncertainty is on the minds of most everybody. Join us as we explore the topic of dealing with major uncertainty as Dharma practice together.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) An investigation into the teaching and practice of Wise Action. Born of Wise Understanding and Wise Intention, Wise Action is motivated by clarity and compassion, and is an essential part of the path to freedom.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) How might you let Life play you like an instrument? In this talk James shares the evening with Sarah-Marie Hopf, a good friend, dedicated practitioner, coach and meditation teacher who shares about her journey of progressively deepening trust in the dharma and our True Nature and opening to what wants to flow effortlessly from the mystery into form. Becom...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The title of the evening is "Love, Serve, Remember". On October 13th, Spirit Rock hosts a special event Celebrating Ram Dass: Love Serve, Remember with Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, Krishna Das and others. Those three words were the instructions Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass' guru gave to him: "Love Everyone, Serve Everyone, and Remember...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Join Eve for a look at the Buddha's foundational teaching. The Buddha said that he wished to teach only two things - suffering and the end of suffering. And the 4 Noble Truths, concluding with the fourth truth which is the Eightfold Noble Path, are his birds-eye view of how to do that.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Betsy shares some of her recent work called "Singing into the Unknown: Songs for Reimagining the Future" coming out the particular time of uncertainty we are currently in.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Join Eve for explorations of the Buddha's teachings on 'The Three Characteristics of Existence' - impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and interdependence or not-self. The Buddha shared these insights because he saw that as we turn toward and embrace them, we suffer less and experience more peace.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Join guest teacher Alexa Redner in an exploration the Buddhist Paramita of Resolve. What happens when we cultivate a spirited and loving commitment towards our wholesome desires? Alexa Redner has been practicing mediation since 2003. She holds a BA in Visual Arts and MA in Creation Spirituality from Naropa University and has been authorized to teach the B...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha taught that there are three kinds of 'dukkha', or 'unsatisfactoriness'. Join Eve Decker to to explore these three and the power of deliberate presence and compassion to cool the flames of stress around life's challenges.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Pali word 'dukkha', most often translated as 'suffering', in fact has multiple meanings depending on context. Join Eve Decker to take a look at this concept and some of the teachings on working skillfully with it.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The truth of impermanence means, among other things, that gain and loss are part of the territory of life for us all. When we face unwanted loss, grief is natural. Join Eve Decker for an exploration of Buddhist inspired teachings on wisely engaging with impermanence, loss, and grief.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Dear Friends, Join guest teacher for a look at the Buddhist teaching on "The Six Realms" - as we might be experiencing them right now. Judi Cohen is a mindfulness teacher, law professor, and long-time student of Vipassana.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Three Characteristics of Existence

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A bit about Jean: Jean Leonard, Ph. D. is a licensed psychologist and dharma teacher in private practice in Louisville, Colorado, USA. She has practiced vipassana meditation since 2003 and teaches mindfulness classes and mentors mindfulness teachers in training through Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. S...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Ramona will be speaking on "Lovingkindness and Equanimity." These two wholesome states are usually taught as being two of the Four Brahmavihara, Divine Abodes or qualities of the heart. This week Ramona will explore loving-kindness and equanimity from the perspective of the Paramis or Ten Perfections,

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) I look forward to being with our community and exploring the teaching on the "Four Mind Changing Reflections." These four reflections become a great motivation reminding us to use our time wisely to deepen our practice. I hope it gives a boost to your own practice.