James Baraz's most recent Dharma talks (Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge)

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Practice can sometimes feel complicated with so many different techniques and instructions on how to extricate oneself from identifying with our experience. Using approaches from Tibetan Dzogchen and other non-dual teachings this talks explores the profound simplicity of letting go of all trying as a way to come back to our true nature.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) James has been offering reflections on the Dhammapada, the Buddha's collection of pithy teachings, and how they can be practically applied in our lives. Dhammapada Verse #165 emphasizes that individuals are responsible for the direction of their own spiritual unfolding. No external force or person can do it for us. This talk explores the implications.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk continues exploring teachings from the Dhammapada, the most well-known collection of the Buddha's words. It shares the Buddha's teachings on harmlessness and the consequences of causing harm or threatening to cause harm. These verses seem relevant to current times.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Dhammapada is the most well-known collection of the Buddha's words. Consisting of 26 chapters in 423 verses, it contains pith teachings from discourses that are found throughout the Pali Canon. This talk explores some verses that are relevant in these times.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk shares a teaching from the great 10th Century Tibetan master, Tilopa. Tilopa and his succession of Dharma heirs formed the core of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He passed his teachings on to Naropa, whose student Marpa transmitted them to Milarepa, who then gave transmission to Gampopa. Tilopa's teaching is summed up in his timeless "Six Words Of Advice" which are instructions on how to stay connected to the present moment. These instructions are explored in this talk.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) We often need something to be special to catch our attention. It takes practice to be mindful of ordinary experiences like the breath, a sound or a sensation. When we practice looking at reality through the lens of Sacred Perception, however, everything becomes holy and worthy of our attention. This talk explores Sacred Perception as a practice that makes even the mundane come alive.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) This guided meditation shifts the subject of attention from objects to the awareness that knows.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Letting go is the direct instruction to move from the Second Noble Truth (there is a cause of suffering) to the Third Noble Truth (there is an end to suffering), Letting go on many levels within practice and in our lives is explored..

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) By Incorporating intention in our practice we see the connection between mind and body. The body moves when the mind has an impulse. And the mind is affected by bodily needs and discomforts. This addition to practice leads to a deeper subtlety of awareness of the mind-body connection.