Oren Jay Sofer's most recent Dharma talks (Dharma Seed)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center) Nature flows through a cycle of rhythms, but modern life disconnects us from the natural rhythms of our world. When activity (physical or mental) is not balanced with rest, we burn out. Join Oren for an evening of meditation as we learn about what supports and hinders our ability to rest, and how rest can be the hidden key to unlocking your meditation practice...

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Overview of Metta practice with instructions for working with the benefactor

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) A guided meditation beginning with a reflection on gratitude, opening to joy, and then cultivating Mudita - joy in the happiness of others.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Reflections on the path of awakening, the Brahma Viharas, and advice for retreat.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) An overview of how the path cultivates clarity of mind, through mindfulness and knowing the obscurations.

(Various) How do we meet the challenges of our times? This talk reflects on how we can shape and train the heart-mind to have access to qualities that enrich our potential and resilience.

(Various) Guided meditation on noticing and dwelling on what's uplifting in the heart.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Building on Samatha practice, we begin to include physical sensations and sound in our practice. This meditation also offers pointers on working with unpleasant sensations.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) As the path unfolds, mindfulness and concentration lead naturally to the development of wisdom. Wisdom understands the difference between what is skillful and unskillful, perceives things as they are and knows suffering and its end.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Morning instructions of Day 1 offering an overview of how and why to use an anchor to support settling and collecting

(Insight Meditation Retreats) Morning instructions and guided meditation on finding your own way with the art of meditation practice, putting things down, and picking them up.

(Insight Meditation Retreats) Morning instructions and guided meditation on how to hold and relate to the primary object/anchor.

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center)

(Insight Meditation Retreats) (Day 1) Compassion is the open heart's response to suffering and a profound resource for meeting life. By attending to our experience closely we can develop compassion for ourselves and the world with the care and strength of an old friend.

(Insight Meditation Retreats) As we walk the Buddha's path, difficulties and challenges are part of the journey. It takes support and a heart of joy to meet the hard places. This talk explores some of the common challenges and three key supports on the path to Awakening.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Closing session for the month of April online teachings at the Forest Refuge, with Caroline Jones.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Open Q&A session, includes such topics as: handling restless thoughts; working with persistent worry; relating wisely to creative thoughts; opening the pain and suffering in the world.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Without a full heart the practice becomes rote, dry, and uninspired. Without the sacred, we lose our way in the world and misplace our heart's faith in things like money, success, and pleasure. The path invites us to tap into a deeper aspect of the heart/mind and live with a quality of reverence.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) A short reflection with instructions on samatha and vipassana practice (calming and insight), followed by a guided meditation.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Open Q&A covering topics such as: calming the body after an angry outburst and repairing the relational connection; meditating on the 'sound of silence'; using multiple anchors; working with the mind jumping from one thing to another.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) The quality of resolve—strong determination, committment—is guided by wisdom and supported by patience to transform the heart and carry the mind to release.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Resolve or determination is a steady firmness that is both flexible and strong. This meditation explores how to bring this quality into our meditation.

(Various) Every generation feels like the world is ending or changing dramatically. When the world comes crashing down, how do we stay grounded and not lose our inner compass? This talk, given online via the Boston Meditation Center, explores three practical aspects of the Buddhist path for handling uncertainty with resilience.

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge) Open Q&A covering topics such as: anchor vs. choiceless awareness; loss of concentration and self-judgment; patience vs. avoidance.