Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage

 The Buddha often ended a teaching with the sentence, "This is how you should train yourself," and training the mind is a common phrase. How does one actually do that and what does it look like on and off the cushion? Mary discusses training the mind to let go of its conditioning and its importance in the journey towards liberation. Recorded Aug 1, 2020 in the virtual world Send me a tex...

In Buddhist teachings impermanence is one of the three characteristics of existence. We're often aware of this especially when things end that we're attached to. However, change sometimes does not come soon enough and we suffer because of that. Mary discusses how to see the process of impermanence at the micro and macro levels and let go of attachment or aversion to change. Recorded July...

The practice of insight allows us to become more intimate with ourselves and our emotions. However it's difficult to cultivate this intimacy if we don't also cultivate kindness and gentleness. Mary talks about what that might look like and how to do it. It's important at any time, but so much more important during these challenging times. Recorded June 16, 2020 in the virtual world....

This talk was part of the Wise Action Series offered by the San Francisco Dharma Collective . In the Eightfold Path Wise Action and Sila are the Buddha’s prescription for moving through the world without causing harm and for ending suffering where we find it. This practice of integrity is as important today as it was 2,600 years ago and can serve as a solid foundation as we face a world where gree...

Oftentimes the Buddha's teaching is misunderstood as 'Life is Suffering' which is very far from the truth. Wanting things to be pleasant all the time can lead to dissatisfaction, but we have to realize that there are pleasant experiences in life. It's when we cling to these we suffer. This talk investigates to Buddha's admonition to recognize there is gratification in sens...

Using the book, The First Free Women: Poems of the Early Buddhist Nuns by Matty Weingast, Mary talks about how relevant their words are for our practice today. There is also conversation about the state of full Bhikkhuni ordination today. Recorded June 27, 2020 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 no...

The practice is all about staying present and aware so we can see clearly what our experience is at any time. With our emotions so close to the surface much of the time it's important to know where we are. This dharma talk, part of a half day retreat, is about how we develop our our mindfulness and ability to be with what is, with kindness and without judgement. Recorded June 27, 2020 in the...

Equanimity, or equipoise, is that place where we can hold all the world has to offer without being overwhelmed or lost in craving. The teachings on mindfulness offer a path to equanimity and we can respond to the challenges we face each day without a need for it to be different. There is so much grief and heartbreak right now and this practice helps us be open to both the deepest pain and the grea...

Lama Rod Owens speaks about the need to find something to hold you so you feel safe enough to let your heart crack open. In this podcast Mary talks about being held by the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha - taking refuge - as a way to hold our pain, grief and joy and to find connection. Recorded June 6, 2020 in the virtual world. Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email...

Joy is a natural occurrence when our hearts are awake, but much of the time we need to take the time to look for it or even allow ourselves to feel it, especially when going through difficult and challenging times. In this talk Mary discusses the importance of joy in our lives and how to find it even during a global pandemic.  Recorded May 23, 2020 in the virtual world Send me a text with any ques...

The Buddha's teaching on Ehipassiko or see for yourself what leads to calm and what leads to suffering is as important today as it was 2600 years ago. There is so much chatter and so many talking heads spewing so-called facts that we need a path through the mess. The Buddha's teaching offers a way of discernment and wisdom. Recorded May 16, 2020 in the virtual world Send me a text with a...

The COVID-19 Pandemic has brought the inequities of our culture into stark relief. How do we hold the powerful emotions that show up when we're face to face with the greed, hatred and ignorance that seem to be everywhere? Mary also discusses the idea of Engaged Buddhism and how our practice invites us to take action to end the greed, hatred and ignorance where we see it and to end suffering f...

Guarding the Sense Doors is a teaching that is so important right now. Taking care of what we consume, not just the food we eat, but through our reading, watching, listening and even noticing how we speak to ourselves. Paying attention and tending to this consumption with care is important to get to a place of balance in this day-to-day world - pandemic or not. Recorded May 2, 2020 in the virtual...

Mary revisits Rick Hanson's teaching on Wise Effort. How do we abandon unskillful thoughts and cultivate those that are more beneficial?  It's so easy to get lost in thoughts about tomorrow or yesterday without even being aware of it. This talk offers pragmatic ways to impact our thoughts and let go of what does not serve which is especially helpful as we continue to move through extreme...

Deep practice in Insight Meditation brings us to to a kind and compassionate heart. Sometimes, however, we need to develop these practices more intentionally in order to find kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity in our daily lives. Paying special attention to the heart will cultivate the tenderness we need, especially in dealing with our experiences during these challenging times.  Recorded Ap...

It's so easy to shut down during this time as we navigate some big unknowns. Our old habits can come back and we let the armor build up. However, there is a way to keep our hearts open and willing to be intimate with our experience no matter how difficult or unpleasant. Mary talks about normal reactions to a pandemic and how to move through them with compassion and kindness. Recorded April 11...

In this time of groundlessness it's important to see how sometimes being stuck in fixed views and the way things SHOULD be intensifies our stress or discomfort. Mary discusses how we get stuck in these views, how to identify them, and how we can let go. This podcast includes group sharing at the end. Recorded April 4, 2020 in the virtual world. Send me a text with any questions or comments! I...

The Buddha's teaching on the Eight Worldly Winds describes situations we experience regularly as human beings. This teaching is especially helpful today as we navigate a constantly shifting ground beneath our feet. Recorded March 28, 2020 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 automa...

This meditation is an invitation to find a solid base and to rest in the present moment regardless of what arises and passes. Recorded March 28, 2020 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 Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

In the midst of a global pandemic, our minds could be working overtime on things that are not very beneficial. This propensity for the mind to run off in a million directions, or focus on one not so useful thought is nothing new and the Buddha offered a path of practice to address this proliferation of thought. Mary discusses ways to take care of ourselves and tend to the mind during this difficul...

Everything is changing practically minute by minute and we're dealing with all the emotions that dealing with the unknown and uncertainty brings up. Why wouldn't fear show up right now? Acknowledging it with love is a way not to become overwhelmed. Mary discusses this and offers Tonglen practice as a way to  take care of yourself in the moment. Recorded March 14, 2020 in the virtual worl...

Ajahn Chah was a monk in the Thai Forest Tradition and a wise teacher to many. His wisdom resonates as much today and is as relevant as it was in the last century. In this talk Mary cites many of his teachings as a guide to navigating today's challenging environment. Recorded March 7, 2020 in Los Angeles Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would l...

With gratitude to Tina Turner, Larry Yang, and the Metta Sutta, Mary discusses the importance of love as the foundation for our relationship to ourselves and to all others. Cultivation of kindness and vulnerability is a path to liberation and a base of great power for how we show up in the world.  Recorded Feb 22, 2020 in Los Angeles Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name...

Life can be so fragile but we can easily lose sight of that. The Five Remembrances give us a way to attune to this fragility yet not be overwhelmed by it. These reflections on aging, sickness and death as offered by the Buddha offer a freedom from the suffering attached to the human condition. Recorded Feb 6, 2020 in Los Angeles Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and...

All of us feel discomfort at some point and to greater and lesser degrees. We may call it fear, anxiety, something else or simply dukkha . How we deal with it is what is important and the practice of RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) is an excellent tool to practice being with our most difficult experiences without being overwhelmed. Mary discusses this practice as part of our journey...