James Baraz's most recent Dharma talks (Dharma Seed)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Wise Effort points to the importance of balance as well as the weakening unwholesome and cultivating wholesome states. This talk explores both aspects of this key practice issue.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Journey of Awakening is a process of discovering all the beautiful qualities that are uniquely expressed through you--the Buddha within that you take refuge in. It also involves understanding all the habits of mind that get in the way--including our fears, resistance, and identification with our experience. This talk describes the importance of opening to all of...

(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) 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) 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) 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.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha said our suffering is caused by three activities of mind: greed, hatred, and delusion. And he said that the source of all happiness is rooted in their opposites: non-greed, non-hatred, non-delusion. This talk explains how our practice transforms that suffering into the true happiness.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We have a deeply ingrained tendency to compare ourselves with others or with an idealized standard that is bound to create suffering in the mind. The Buddha called this tendency mana "the conceit of I am." When we through see through our identification with experience we open to a freedom beyond the comparing mind.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(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) 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)

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This discourse by the Buddha' is called "One Fortunate Attachment" (Majjhima Nikaya Sutta #131). Although the Buddha spoke of attachment as being the cause of suffering, he did teach there is one attachment that is wholesome and leads to the highest happiness. We will explore this wholesome attachment and see how it can be applied to everyday life

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James and Eve are delighted to host the first in person meeting at the Berkeley Buddhist monastery since Covid changed our lives. In addition to a Dharma talk and exploration about Sangha, Eve brings her guitar and shares some music.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Here is a practice that is the secret to bring out the best in others. It's a simple yet powerful practice that puts people at ease and helps awaken a feeling of trust, safety, and loving kindness. And it feels good for the person practicing it as well.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) While it’s true that it takes effort to come back to the present moment each time the mind wanders, the most profound practice is when we let go of all effort and simply rest in the awareness that’s always here. This shift from “doing” to the complete relaxation of “non-doing” or simply “Being” is what the Tibetans call the deep and subtle practice of “No...