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

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha called contentment "the greatest wealth." Contentment, "santutthi" in Pali, supports many other wholesome states including, renunciation, equanimity, peace, gratitude and generosity. We can cultivate contentment on and off the cushion while not being complacent or lazy in our dharma practice.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Suffering can lead to contraction and more suffering or can be a catalyst for awakening. Just why and how some people have the good karma to hear the Dharma and practice is a mysterious blessing and precious opportunity.

This talk explores the different temperaments that fuel practice, known as the Four Iddhipadas.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) If we can remember the skillful attitude of relaxation, interest and kind awareness with our experience the practice unfolds naturally and deeply.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Suffering is an integral part of life—the First Noble Truth. How is it possible that some people go through suffering and even trauma and, instead of becoming bitter or damaged, use it as a catalyst for deep compassion and awakening? Most people don’t realize they have the choice to work skillfully with regard to the challenges life gives them. This is one of the greatest blessings of practice. Consciously appreciating this blessing brings a deeper connection to practice.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) When things don’t go the way we hoped, resistance is often a natural response. A key element in our practice is how we respond to that resistance. Of course accepting things as they are is an essential part of our practice. This includes accepting the resistance. But an even more powerful practice is actually embracing the resistance so that it becomes a direct doorway to freedom.

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) In this discourse the Buddha explains how we get lost in our stories through papanca or proliferation of thought. The talk focuses on how papanca works in our lives and how we can work with it to free ourselves of confusion.