Many of us are familiar with the teaching of the five hindrances, but how do they manifest in our lives and keep us from liberation. Mary discusses the nuanced ways that craving, aversion, restlessness, dullness and doubt can show up, how to recognize them, and how to let them go as we move towards awakening.
Recorded Oct. 15, 2022 in the virtual world

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The Eightfold Path is the path away from being stuck in our conditioning which is often not very helpful and can even be harmful. It is a path towards liberation and awakening and Wise View is the first factor of the path and points the way. It invites us to recognize where we get stuck and to begin to move in a different direction - one of wisdom rather than ignorance. Mary discusses Wise View and how we can begin to see more clearly as we live our lives.
Recorded Oct 8, 2022 in the virtual world

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It's vital to be reminded of the importance of kindness as a practice and as an intention. It's easy to be abrupt, to get on with things, be driven by so many deadlines that connecting with kindness falls to the background. In this talk Mary discusses how our mindfulness practice allows us to connect with kindness for ourselves and for others, and how it is an antidote to the greed and ill-will so prevalent in the world today. The Buddha reminded us to be kind and it's something we should practice every day.
Recorded Oct. 1, 2022 in the virtual world

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Karma is often thought to be what happens to us if we do something bad. Instead karma in the Buddhist sense means action. In each moment we have the opportunity to move in a direction which takes us away from suffering and shift karma. In this talk Mary discusses the choice we have to break out of conditioning and move mindfully, and with intention, towards liberation.
Recorded Sept. 24, 2022 in the virtual world

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The Pali word dukkha is usually translated as suffering, but it can mean so many other things, including not being okay with the way things are. In this talk, Mary discusses the various understandings of the word and invites us to see how dukkha shows up in our life. We have to recognize it and be with it in order to let it go. 

Recorded Sept. 17, 2022 in the virtual world

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A guided meditation on being in the now.
Recorded Sept. 17, 2022 in the virtual world

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The Eightfold Path is what the Buddha offered as a path to liberation. In this talk Mary discusses the different factors with an invitation to find your way with them. Although the path is numbered 1-8, it's not linear. You can work with any or all of the factors at any time especially since they support each other. They grow in meaning and subtlety the more you practice.
Recorded Sept. 10, 2022 in the virtual world

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In our world it seems that hate and anger are so prevalent it can feel overwhelming at times. As awful as that is, in our own lives, it's easy for us to slip into aversion and othering while finding it fully justified. In this talk Mary discusses the need to name love as a foundation of our practice. This foundation of love will allow us to fully open to the world and to ourselves, letting go of the need to other, and the need to create barriers. Turning towards love is the answer.
Recorded Sept 3, 2022 in the virtual world

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Mary reflects on fourteen years of teaching a weekly dharma: where she and the world were in 2008, and the qualities of willingness, effort and determination which are necessary both for teaching a class and for growth and freedom in the practice.  It's beneficial to check in with our spiritual practice every decade or so.
Recorded Aug 27, 2022 in the virtual world

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Grief and loss are an inescapable part of the human condition but we're not always ready or able to deal with these emotions. In this talk Mary invites us to identify these feelings and, using mindfulness practices, turn toward them with compassion. She shares her journey in learning how to move toward this intimacy with these difficult emotions.
Recorded with Insight Community of the Desert on Aug 21, 2022 in the virtual word

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Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.