Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage

In a recent talk, dharma teacher Larry Ward mentioned living rather than believing.  Mary spends time unpacking what this might mean and how one could go about just being present without ties to fixed views and beliefs. Recorded July 21, 2022 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 automati...

When the Buddha gave his first teaching after his Awakening it is thought of as when the wheel of the dharma was set in motion. The Buddha taught the middle way between the two extremes of sensual indulgence and asceticism.  Mary talks about the middle way and the first core teachings of the Buddha. Recorded July 16, 2022 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include...

The importance of connection cannot be overstated and we are currently in a time of deep division on so many levels. In this talk Mary discusses the ways we are disconnected and how we use the practice to cultivate empathy, compassion and connection. The Buddha's teaching offer practical insights in how to move through this world in deep recognition of our interconnectedness. Recorded July 9,...

The Buddha taught the nature of suffering and the end of suffering. Then end of suffering is liberation. In this talk Mary discusses what liberation can mean in our lives right now and how to see what is getting in our way.  What do we have to let go of to get free and how do we go about it? Recorded July 3, 2022 in Palm Springs Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and...

The Buddha taught about the five hindrances as what gets in the way of our liberation. Although we may have memorized the list, recognizing the subtle ways they show up in our lives is another matter. Mary talks about recognizing them and seeing how they work to keep us trapped in delusion. Recorded June 18, 2022 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name...

In this short talk, Mary reflects on the the statement that thoughts are not the enemy, although often we think they are.  It's not the thoughts as much as our relationship to them that are what we need to look at. How do we recognize thoughts? How do we tell the difference between thoughts and thinking? How do we relate to all our experiences and sensations? The invitation in this practice i...

Because the challenges we face these days are so daunting and seemingly endless, it is even more important to have love and connection as a foundation of both our practice and how we move through the world. In this talk Mary shows how the Buddha teaches that love must be a part of our practice and how we can bring it into our lives more fully. Recorded June 4, 2022 in the virtual world Send me a t...

The onslaught of violence, hatred, greed, and ignorance has been relentless and it's in these moments we ask how is it even possible to live with an undefended heart, and would we even want to. Mary discusses the challenges of today and how to use these teachings to be fully present and intimate with each moment, and to take care of ourselves. Recorded May 28, 2022 in the virtual world Send m...

From the Archives : This talk is the second in the Undefended Heart series. Mary discusses how we can use the heart practices to chip away at the armor that has built up around our hearts and which keeps us from being fully present in our lives. Recorded May 17, 2013 Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included auto...

Taking refuge in the Buddha is part of what's known at the Triple Gem - Refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. In this talk Mary talks about how when we take refuge in the Buddha, we're taking refuge in awakening. The Buddha / Siddartha Gotama was a human being who was able to fully let go and become the Enlightened One. His teachings offer a way for each of us to move towards liberati...

In this short talk Mary discusses the ongoing challenges of the world today and how we can utilize our practice to take care of ourselves. We need to watch our reactivity, be willing to step back, and take refuge in the sangha. How are you taking care of you? Recorded May 7, 2022 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a res...

If we can't let go of our preconceived notions or ideas, we're bound to stay stuck. The Buddha taught us to let go of our views and the teachings on 'don't know mind' or 'beginner's mind' address this help to address this and offers ways to get unstuck. Recorded April 30, 2022 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your n...

What does this even mean? What is the dharma? How do you do it? How does it do you? Mary reflects on this idea and how the practice, dedication to the teachings and the development of insight allow the dharma to work you. Recorded April 23, 2022 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 auto...

With the chaos in the world today it's really important that we don't lose sight of the joy that is available regardless of circumstances. In this talk Mary discusses the Buddha's teachings on joy and how to move towards it's awakening. Recorded April 16, 2022 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a res...

Most of us are familiar with the traditional way the Brahma Viharas, or heart practices, are taught. However the usual phrases and categories of people we offer loving kindness, compassion,  and joy to are first seen in the commentaries, not in the earlier suttas , or discourses. There, the Buddha offers a different way to embody these beautiful qualities and in this talk Mary discusses these teac...

The fifth and final of the lay precepts is about avoiding alcohol and drugs that lead to heedlessness. Mary discusses the differing viewpoints on this precept as well as how we can expand it out to include all the things we might ingest that lead to being mindless which can lead to causing harm to ourselves or others. Recorded April 2, 2022 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or...

The 4th Precept is about being wise and careful not only with our speech, but with all our communications. In this day and age of instant connection it's especially imperative that we bring awareness and kindness to our interactions with others. Mary discusses the Buddha's teachings on this and applies them to our modern experience. Recorded March 27, 2022 in the virtual world Send me a...

The 2nd Precept is not to take what is not freely offered and the 3rd is to avoid sexual misconduct. In these teachings and admonitions, the Buddha was able to touch into behaviors that cause so much harm and suffering in our world. Mary discusses the broad invitation of these precepts and how to use them to move into a practice of generosity, honesty and equanimity.  Recorded March 19, 2022 in th...

FROM THE ARCHIVES: This talk, recorded almost five years ago, is still timely today. How do we deal the the excruciating moments that can happen in our lives? How do we deal with grief, loss, fear and so on with compassion and equanimity?  Recorded Sept. 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not...

Starting with this talk Mary will look at the Five Training Precepts. The Precepts are the Buddha's advice to lay people on how to live in harmony with the world. The first one asks us to not take a life intentionally, or cause harm. Implicit in this is an invitation to live a kind and compassionate life. Recorded March 6, 2022 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comment...

One more time the moments we're living through are extremely turbulent and it can be easy to be overcome with emotions. The practice the Buddha offered us is a way to be with the world it its ugliness and its beauty without being taken over. Mary discusses how to tend to the emotions that are present and to meet he world with kindness and compassion. Recorded Feb 26, 2022 in the virtual world...

With a nod to Jack Kornfield's book of the same name, Mary discusses the luminous quality of the mind before it is dulled by all of our attachments. Wisdom is training the mind to wake up to be fully present to reality. This clarity allows for the blossoming of a kind and compassionate heart. Recorded Feb 19, 2022 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include you...

The concept of samvega in Buddhism means that we come face to face with the realization that often we're stuck in attachment and aversion and ignorant of the true nature of existence. It can be a shocking wake-up call, but if we are willing to embrace the truth of impermanence and cultivate a kind and loving heart it will lead to clarity and confidence as we move through our lives. Recorded F...

When we get overwhelmed or caught up in all the things going on in our lives, the Buddhist teaching of  papañca,  or proliferation of thought, is a wonderful way to bring ourselves back to the present. It's extraordinary how we carry so much around, yet most of it is simply in our minds and if we make the effort to let go, there will be a spaciousness that allows us to work with each moment a...

The great Vietnamese Zen teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh died on Jan 22. In this talk, Mary reflects on some of his teachings which had the most impact on her: Engaged Buddhism, Seeds of Consciousness, and Death. Deep bows of gratitude to Thay. Recorded Jan. 29, 2022 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...