Ajahn Sucitto's most recent Dharma talks (Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley)

(Cittaviveka) Cultivate what brings joy, and is immediately accessible. These bring us to our 'Dhamma home'. Here is an unbinding, a subsiding of the complexities of the mind that allows the factors of the Path of Awakening to arise and guide us.

(Cittaviveka) What is the knowing? It’s not the phenomena, not the mood, not the mind. It’s a basic openness that helps one get less impacted by the pleasant and unpleasant. Recognize the aggregates and how they are activated, then stay with the knowing where is no establishment, no activation. This knowing makes way for discernment to arise.

(Cittaviveka) Samadhi is generally translated as 'concentration' but it is based on one-pointedness of purpose, rather than on focusing on a point in the body. As a factor of the Path, concentration represents the gathering of uplifting qualities and the removal of hindrances that block wisdom.

(Cittaviveka) This is a desire realm - we have desire. We’re not trying to eliminate it, but train it. Where it goes wrong is where desire becomes craving, when it’s shrouded by ignorance. I don’t create craving, craving creates me. Take the me out of it, and there’s the possibility to view things differently. Moments, thoughts, objects, so intensely configured, begin to lose their hard edges. There is a stilling, a chance to clear one’s residues.

(Cittaviveka) With effort, citta is the main thing. It’s both the heart quality from where intention streams and that which harvests the results. Then one knows where to best apply energy and how that’s done. Practise the application of effort to mindfulness of breathing, acknowledging and moderating the tools being used and the material they’re being applied to. When you practise rightly, there will be fortunate results.

(Cittaviveka) March 2025 retreat - talk 1 - This teaching uses the metaphor of a keel of a boat, that which gives balance in open ocean waters, to point to how to handle conditionality. Finding that balance between what we restrain from (varita) and what we do (charita); between internal and external. The heart already knows this balance, if we can just shine a light on it.

(Cittaviveka) Whether one’s context is of a meditative community, or a natural world, or of mainstream society, one’s world is based on perceptions. To get perspective on this, bodily presence is basic. It opens an awareness before the mind gets going, and before the world of circumstance. Learn to filter the shocking ‘world’ of the media.. Sustain perceptions of the bright and worthy- and live in accord. Don’t go automatic!

(Dhamma Stream Online Sessions) Questions are précised. 00:36 Q1. Can you please clarify the difference between awareness and presence; 09:04 Q2 I became a monk but left due to overwhelming negative meditation experiences which are still continuing. Can you suggest something please? 15:24 Q3 In the evening I think I would like to get up early so there’s more time for practice; 19:42 Q4 I’ve been a Buddhist for 35 years but only recently have started to open up the heart. I’ve never been able to cry, only anger and depression. Since my mother died I cry a lot, even through the day. What can I do?22:43 Q5 I’m on two and a half solitary retreat. I use body practices but I am experiencing migraines. What can you suggest; 27:42 Q6 I live by myself after being asked to leave by house mates with no explanation. In my new place the neighbours pick fights with me and yell at my door. My previous housemates said I was psychotic. I am depressed. How do I not loose heart? 42:18 Q7 How can one embrace this human existence and remain unattached to any identity?

(Dhamma Stream Online Sessions)

(Dhamma Stream Online Sessions)