Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage

It takes effort to move from suffering to the end of suffering and the Buddha dedicated an entire factor of the Eightfold Path to this. Mary talks about the Four Efforts necessary to disentangle ourselves from our deeply rooted stories, causes and conditions to a place of freedom and ease. Recorded August 5, 2021 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name...

The final factor in Sila or ethical behavior, Right Livelihood is more than just about how we make our living. It's how we interact with the world: where we spend our money, how we meet our needs and how we behave as global citizens. Supported by Right Speech and Right Action, Right Livelihood allows us to live ethically and compassionately as we move towards liberation. Recorded July 29, 202...

Right Action is the second part of Sila, or the ethics portion of the Eightfold Path, and includes some of the most powerful practices for living in the world in harmony with other beings. Together wish Right Speech, Right Action forms the foundation of the Five Precepts. As with most of the Buddha's teachings however, it's not just about not causing harm or not stealing, but rather livi...

Right Speech can also be considered Right Communication. How we show up in the world and communicate with others is so important and critical in moving on this path toward liberation for ourselves, and all beings. Mary discusses the Buddha's teaching on this factor as well as offering an invitation to look at all the ways we communicate. Shout out to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Rec...

Continuing the series on The Eightfold Path, Mary discusses Right Intention and the three components: Renunciation, Good Will and Harmlessness. This factor works to break up the defilements of greed and aversion and helps us move into harmony with the world.  Recorded July 10, 2021 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a r...

The Eightfold Path is the Buddha's the path to end suffering. In this video Mary discusses Right View, the first factor in the path. Right View allows us to move away from ignorance - seeing where we've been snagged by delusion - and into clarity and wisdom.  First talk in the series. Recorded July 3, 2021 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your n...

In this Lovingkindness, or Metta, meditation, Mary guides us in finding the phrases that are meaningful to us. Metta is a powerful practice to soften our hearts both to ourselves and to all beings. Recorded May 29, 2021 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks. Visit Ma...

Along with the Impermanence (Anicca) and Suffering (Dukkha), the teaching of Anatta or non-self is one of the Three Characteristics of Existence taught by the Buddha. In this talk Mary discusses what this actually means and how to work with it in daily life. Recorded June 17, 2021 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a re...

Ancient teachers in the Theravada tradition collected four meditation subjects which the Buddha taught that they considered to be protective and worthy of dedicated practice. Drawing on work by Bhikkhu Bodhi, Mary discusses these four subjects (Mindfulness of the Buddha, Lovingkindness, 32 Parts of the Body and Death Meditation) and talks about how the protection they offer is a deep grounding in...

This short talk is a reflection on how we can see the dharma everywhere if we keep our eyes and ears open. It is so easy to keep ourselves and others separated into different containers when in reality we share more than we think. The invitation is, as always, to pay attention. Recorded June 3, 2021 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if...

As the pandemic restrictions ease we are either looking for a return to normalcy or expecting a new way of life. Each of these ideas indicates an arrival and an attachment to the way it's supposed to be. Instead, we are asked to recognize that we are always in transition - beginnings and endings are happening all the time and the only place to be is right here, fully present.  Recorded May 29...

Delusion, not seeing clearly, is something we find everywhere, both in our personal lives and at the collective and national level. Sometimes it is recognizable, but often it's subtle and we don't even notice how pervasive it is. Along with greed and aversion, delusion can cause so much harm and suffering that we must investigate what we see, hear and believe with mindfulness and the int...

The ease with which humans create identities around self and other makes it challenging to recognize our shared humanity and live in harmony. Listening to the news on any day will prove this point. The Buddha, however, gave us teachings and practices which enable us to be in wise and kind relationship with each other if we make the effort. Mary talks about the ethical practices of wise speech and...

The Buddha was very clear in talking about how we allow small misperceptions to blossom into full blown delusions which cause harm to ourselves and others and continue the cycle of suffering. In this talk Mary discusses the extremely relevant Vipallasa Sutta which talks about how ignorance grows and how it is eliminated, both for ourselves and for the world. Recorded May 8, 2021 in the virtual wor...

Sometimes our humanity just smacks us right in the face and there is no getting around the fact that life can be messy and there are no secret ways out of feeling. The world continues to rage and dance around us as we make our way the best we can, finding joy where it lays. Making friends with mortality is a good way to find peace in this moment.  Recorded May 1, 2021 in the virtual world Send me...

Energy or effort is an important part of the path to awakening. Our practice is not simply sitting back and waiting for something to happen; instead we bring a wise energy and effort to guide the heart-mind to wise and compassionate action. In this talk Mary discusses energy (viriya) as a paramita, part of the Eightfold Path and one of the Awakening Factors. This talk was offered at the Insight Co...

The Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta is called the direct path to realization, or in other words, the path to awakening. These important instructions are all about developing our mindfulness practice and cultivating wisdom and insight. In this talk, Mary discusses the teachings from a Satipaṭṭhāna retreat she did with Bhikkhu Anālayo, one of the foremost experts on the text and the practice. This is a practical...

Mindfulness is not about striving or getting things done. Instead, the practice is about a relaxed receptivity which allows a more spacious and embodied awareness. In this talk Mary discusses how to open into awareness and clear knowing. Props to Bhikkhu Anālayo and his book, Satipatthāna Meditation: A Practice Guide , for some wisdom on this practice. Recorded April 1, 2021 in the virtual world. ...

The idea of a Bodhisattva runs throughout Buddhist scriptures and tradition. It means "destined for Buddhahood" and also means one who is dedicated to the spiritual path. It is especially powerful when it denotes someone who works to end suffering for all beings. The invitation to be a Bodhisattva is open to everyone and is especially important in our world today where there is so much h...

To pause is such a little thing, a breath, a count to ten, yet it can mean a world of difference. We're so wound up in our habits, reactions and even being productive, that pausing is a challenging practice. Mindfulness offers us a way to pause and to find a path to freedom. A path away from reaction and towards wisdom. Recorded March 20, 2021 in the virtual world Send me a text with any ques...

In several suttas the Buddha mentions the 37 qualities needed to move toward freedom and enlightenment. In this talk Mary discusses these qualities and important ethical living and mindfulness are to finding liberation. Recorded March 11, 2021 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automat...

Blame and shame are two items we're all pretty familiar with these days - they seem to be everywhere. What did the Buddha have to say about them, if anything, and how do we let go? Mary discusses the Buddha's teachings on blame and shame and answers a question on where resentment falls into this conversation. Recorded Feb 27, 2021 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or...

When your eyes and ears are open, the lessons of the dharma can be found everywhere. In this talk, Mary offers several examples, ranging  from Bob Marley to Aristotle to James Baldwin, of how our practice can be supported simply by paying attention.  Recorded Feb 20 2021 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - i...

The Buddha talks about the fetters which are what bind us to Samsara and a cycle of suffering and discontent. There are three fetters, self-illusion, doubt, and attachment to rites and rituals that are the first three we should examine to move towards liberation.  Mary discusses these fetters and how they can show up in our lives and how to let go and move towards 'stream-entry'. Recorde...

We're living through a time of continuing change and challenge. It's easy to become overwhelmed by it all which makes it doubly important to pause and be present for the joy that exists in all of our lives. Mary talks about taking to time to find that joy that occurs when we allow the mind to quiet. She also discusses the steps we can take to cultivate joy in our lives. Recorded Feb 6, 2...