Seattle Insight Meditation Society

In western cultures, our heart and mind are typically seen as separate.  Our mind is what thinks, reasons, and figures, while our heart is the feeling and emotional aspects of ourselves.  In Buddhism these two are seen as one – the heart/mind, or citta in Pali. In this course we will be exploring how wisdom and heart practices support each other and enable us to see clearly and respond to life’s challenges with kindness and compassion.  This talk is from a four-week class series taught by the SIMS Local Dharma Leaders (LDLs), Anna Ossenfort, Lyndal Johnson, Sooz Appel, Susan Alotrico, Lauren Wilson, Steve Wilhem, and Jerry Harter. This is second of two talks from the first week. 

In western cultures, our heart and mind are typically seen as separate.  Our mind is what thinks, reasons, and figures, while our heart is the feeling and emotional aspects of ourselves.  In Buddhism these two are seen as one – the heart/mind, or citta in Pali. In this course we will be exploring how wisdom and heart practices support each other and enable us to see clearly and respond to life’s challenges with kindness and compassion.  This is the first of a four-week class series taught by the SIMS Local Dharma Leaders (LDLs), Anna Ossenfort, Lyndal Johnson, Sooz Appel, Susan Alotrico, Lauren Wilson, Steve Wilhem, and Jerry Harter. This talk was co-taught by Anna Ossenfort and Jerry Harter. 

In western cultures, our heart and mind are typically seen as separate.  Our mind is what thinks, reasons, and figures, while our heart is the feeling and emotional aspects of ourselves.  In Buddhism these two are seen as one – the heart/mind, or citta in Pali. In this course we will be exploring how wisdom and heart practices support each other and enable us to see clearly and respond to life’s challenges with kindness and compassion.  This talk is from a four-week class series taught by the SIMS Local Dharma Leaders (LDLs), Anna Ossenfort, Lyndal Johnson, Sooz Appel, Susan Alotrico, Lauren Wilson, Steve Wilhem, and Jerry Harter. This is first of two talks from the first week. 

In western cultures, our heart and mind are typically seen as separate.  Our mind is what thinks, reasons, and figures, while our heart is the feeling and emotional aspects of ourselves.  In Buddhism these two are seen as one – the heart/mind, or citta in Pali. In this course we will be exploring how wisdom and heart practices support each other and enable us to see clearly and respond to life’s challenges with kindness and compassion.  This talk is from a four-week class series taught by the SIMS Local Dharma Leaders (LDLs), Anna Ossenfort, Lyndal Johnson, Sooz Appel, Susan Alotrico, Lauren Wilson, Steve Wilhem, and Jerry Harter. This is second of two talks from the first week. 

Offered by Tim Geil at SIMS at University Friends on Oct 21, 2019 This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1106

Practice and Reflection: Tranquility/Calm Bring attention to the presence and absence of tranquility in your practice and life. How does it balance joy and restlessness/worry? Is there a shadow if we deny our agitation in order to appear calm? How do our actions affect the level of tranquility? How does working with reactivity affect calmness? Do insights generate tranquility?   This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1102

Practice and Reflection: Cultivation of Joy Instead of the normal sources of joy that change (experiences, objects, situations), can we cultivate a different source of joy? •    Try a daily, written gratitude and appreciation practice this week. •    Practice sympathetic joy by reflecting on another’s good fortune. Offer phrases like, “May your happiness and success continue to grow and deepen.” •    Practice releasing the familiar self-belief of innate unworthiness. Relax into the unknown beyond all self belief. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1099

Offered by Tim Geil at SIMS at University Friends Meeting House, Sep 9 2019   This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1091

In this talk, we explore the first two sermons the Buddha gave 2,600 years ago, just weeks after attaining enlightenment. In these first two talks he laid out the core principles of his teachings, including the four noble truths, in ways that were startling and transformational to his first five disciples. In fact, they woke up right there. We share a bit about what the Buddha said, why it was so radical, and why it caused such changes among those who were listening to him.

Offered by Jerry Harter at Seattle Insight Meditation Society August 19, 2019

This month we are exploring the third factor of Awakening – Energy. We can practice with energy in two ways. First, through our level of commitment.  Be truthful and assess the amount of energy you bring to your spiritual growth. What is your honest commitment to being awake?  What priority does opening your heart have in your life? What holds you back from greater urgency?  When do you feel this urgency, when do you not? Are you more likely to practice during difficult times or when your life is going well? There is no judgment here.  This is about learning to see the role energy and intention plays in practice.  We want to make it less about “me needing to do something” and more about becoming aware of the intentions and assumptions behind our action or lack of action.  Secondly, energy is about developing right effort.  Try practicing with simply letting go of any unskillfulness without judgment or comment, set an intention to not pick up an unskillful habit, cultivate opening heart/softening your attitude and really appreciate any moments of kindness and/or care. This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1085

Practice and Reflection: Investigation Pause: slow down impulse to act, connect with body sensations Ask: What is present? What is driving? What is the most tender? Sense: Feel in body what sensations, emotions and beliefs emerge Surprise: Be willing to drop assumptions and to be surprised   This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1083

This talk explores different aspects of mindfulness as a factor of awakening.  Offered at SIMS at University Friends Meeting House June 17, 2019 This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1076

This talk explores different aspects of mindfulness as a factor of awakening.  Offered at SIMS at University Friends Meeting House June 17, 2019 This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1076

Tuere Sala offers a DharmaTalk on The Seven Factors of Enlightenment: Mindfulness June 10, 2019 This talk is also presented in video here: https://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/1073