Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley: dharma talks and meditation instruction

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This week, join Eve Decker as we consider elevating 'wise joy' in our practice and life, as an essential source of energy and contentment.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) a look into a few of several practices that support us in deepening contentment.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) You'll appreciate what she shares.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) "Cultivating Resources for Well-being". There are so many realms of support available to us on our spiritual path when we can remember them, open to them, and receive their care.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Sometimes it feels as if our practice is taking one step forward and two steps back. Or two steps forward and two steps back. In this talk I want to explore the process of awakening in the context of understanding the trajectory of practice. Even though it might not seem as if much is happening or that you're truly growing, it's happening anyway. However,...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) There are often things about ourselves that can be hard to forgive: the ways we have caused harm to others, the way we have caused or chronically cause harm to ourselves, and the ways we perceive ourselves as imperfect. Join us for an exploration of two possible paths that can lead to a greater sense of self-forgiveness.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We all know the unpleasant feeling of self-consciousness. It is one thought away from self-judgment, self-criticism and a whole spectrum of “Selfing” thoughts. This week I want to share with you a simple and effective practice to cut through this painful negative mental habit which, when utilized, takes the “self” out of self-consciousness.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed an uplifting transition to 2024. I'm delighted to invite you to join me in welcoming author and Dharma teacher Oren Jay Sofer for an evening of online practice and exploration based on his new book, Your Heart Was Made For This: Contemplative Practices to Meet a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love. What doe...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) As we come to the last gathering of the year, join us online as we will reflect on this moment together--looking back at the past year, seeing where we are right now and getting in touch with our vision for the upcoming year. We will mark this time together with an end-of-year ritual and support each other in our intentions for the New Year. Please bring...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This Thursday our meeting will take place just as we arrive at this year's Winter Solstice (7:27pm Pacific Time). This longest night of the year has given rise to many holidays of light (Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Soyal, the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians, and many others). We will explore accessing the light within as we experience th...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Join Eve Decker for an exploration of the why and how of increasing our capacity to experience and offer peace through mindfulness of thoughts. "As contemplation deepens, the seemingly solid, stable mind reveals itself to be a stream of mental acts flashing in and out of being, coming from nowhere and going nowhere, continuing in sequence without pause."-...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The barrage of frightening headlines every day often leave us with feelings of despair, hopelessness and negativity. While it's important to feel connected to the suffering all around us, it is equally important to nourish ourselves by opening to the goodness in life--both inside and around us. This helps us skillfully create a larger container so that we...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Refuge is a word that is often used in Buddhist teachings. We long to feel safe and protected from inner and outer harm. When everything seems out of control where can we find true refuge? How can the practice help us hold it all? This talk refers to a highly recommended conversation on the Mideast situation between two women (one Israeli, one German) who...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Israeli Dharma Teacher Stephen Fulder joins James and shares about the current crisis in Israel and Gaza

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Learning or deepening a capacity to meet our own difficult emotions with compassion rather than reactivity helps us move toward wise action or letting go, depending on what may be needed.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Sabbāsava Sutta "All the Taints" (Majjhima Nikaya #2). The Buddha teaches seven methods for restraining and abandoning the "taints", the fundamental defilements that keep us in suffering.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Part 1 in a three part series on Mindful Self Compassion (MSC). Each session stands alone and/or you can participate in all three - each will have different, related information and practices.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha often pointed to craving as the cause of our suffering. Walt explores how craving arises and how we might come to the end of craving. Ajahn Sucitto said, "In fact, our craving is about something we don’t have... The source is the ‘not having.’" When we start to see this with mindfulness and clear comprehension, we have more freedom to choose he...

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This moment in time is calling us to contribute what we can to bring more consciousness into the world. But rather than acting from anger or despair I believe the key is to come from love and even joy. One of my teachers calls this our "joyful responsibility."

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Buddha taught that patience is the 'supreme virtue' - why is that?

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Kevin uses suttas from the Pali Canon to bring out the practical aspects of this teaching.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Eve looks at the what and how of the Buddha's teachings on integrity, and their essential role in our own freedom.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley)

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) A practice to shift from being caught in a suffering state to remembering that freedom is just a moment away. This is a way to change the channel from being lost in an unwholesome state to opening to a wholesome state.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) The Brahma Vihara of cultivating happiness at the happiness of others.