The Buddha taught not to chase after the past or place expectations on the future but that's often where we end up when we're trapped in an unexamined mind. He says to nourish the present in order to break the trance of tomorrow and yesterday. This talk discusses how we might become trapped and how to break out of the cycle of past and future and stay attuned to the present.
Recorded October 12, 2019

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Mary discusses Rick Hanson's chapter in Buddha's Brain on Letting in the Good. This is how we can discover and cultivate beneficial qualities while letting go of the non-beneficial qualities that do not serve at all. This is held in the context of the Four Efforts and also brings ideas from neuroscience that support this cultivation.
Recorded at Against the Stream March 27, 2017, in Los Angeles.

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Greed, hatred, delusion, the hindrances and so many other unskillful and harmful behaviors can be grouped under ignorance. Inspired by Arinna Weisman, Mary talks about the beautiful qualities the Buddha offered us as an antidote to these and their timeliness in today's world.
Recorded Oct. 5, 2019

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This is a set of phrases we commonly use, especially when doing walking meditation or to build our concentration. In this talk, Mary takes a closer look at these phrases and what they mean in our daily lives.
Recorded Sept 28, 2019

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"Hatred never ceases through hatred, only through love. This is the eternal law." The Buddha offered us this teaching thousands of years ago and it is as timely now as it ever was. Leading with the heart is a way we make sure we keep the focus on love and avoid slipping off into hatred. 
Recorded Sept. 21, 2019

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Cultivating wisdom allows us to see more clearly what is beneficial or not in our actions. Setting an intention or aspiration helps us act more skillfully and wisely and in alignment with our values. Mary discusses how we do this in our daily lives.
Recorded Sept 5, 2019

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The Paramis are a lovely teaching on ten qualities that are suggested we develop in order to become enlightened. They are accessible to everyone and can be practiced in our daily lives. Sylvia Boorstein calls these perfections of the heart, "the Buddhist path of kindness". 
Recorded Aug. 31, 2019

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Pema Chodron says that much of our discomfort stems from our need to be okay all the time and our 'resistance to the fundamental uncertainty of our situation." How do we come to terms with our shifting experience and let go of the need to have everything figured out? Mary talks about working with this fluidity and holding it with ease.
Recorded Aug. 24, 2019

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Celebrating the 11th anniversary of teaching this class, Mary talks about her life and her dharma journey. She also weaves in Joanna Macy's teaching on the Shambhala Prophecy which says we must cultivate wisdom and compassion as we move through the world.
Recorded on Aug 10, 2019

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Spiritual Bypass is a term which means using our practice to avoid actually doing the work. It's a common defense mechanism or distraction that is important to recognize and let go of. Are you spiritually bypassing?
Recorded 8/1/2019

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