Seattle Insight Meditation Society

On February 10, 1988, the legendary Ajahn Buddhadasa gave a powerful Dharma Talk during a month-long retreat at Suan Mokkh Monastery in Thailand. His words remain powerful to this day. The talk, entitled "The Prison of Life," is about learning to understand the thing we call “prison,” and in doing so, learning to understand the thing we call “life.” In the talk, Buddhadasa leads students from the more superficial and easily recognizable aspects of attachment and clinging into the subtler aspects until he finally unravels the essence of attachment, our fundamental problem in life. This talk is a perfect culmination to SIMS’s current exploration of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Noble Truths. In this recording, we hear the talk, read by Ven. Pannavati with her commentary, followed by meditation. This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/954

When asked to name qualities that distinguish the long-term practitioner, a wise person once replied, in part, "Perseverance." With tonight's talk we will investigate and discuss several elements of this powerful principle: 1) why it's so vital to our practice; 2) how our thoughts and actions either discourage or encourage it to arise; and 3) practical ways to bring it about on the cushion and in our daily lives.   This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/953

This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/951

In Japanese Zen, the term shoji translates as “birth-death.” There is no separation between life and death other than a small hyphen - a thin line that connects the two. We cannot be truly alive without maintaining an awareness of death. Death is not waiting for us at the end of a long road. Death is always with us, in the marrow of every passing moment. She is the secret teacher hiding in plain sight. She helps us to discover what matters most. And the good news is we don’t have to wait until the end of our lives to realize the wisdom that death has to offer. (Please note: The recording ends during the Q&A period, because of an equipment limitation.)   This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/952

Using Rodney’s new book, Touching the Infinite, these talks employ the Satipatthanna Sutta as our practice guide. In a series of talks offered over two days, Rodney considers whether The Four Foundations are ultimately meant to move us from the solidified shapes, projected interpretations and isolating meanings we impart to the world toward the wondrous and formless expression of awareness immediately before our eyes. This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/950

Using Rodney’s new book, Touching the Infinite, these talks employ the Satipatthanna Sutta as our practice guide. In a series of talks offered over two days, Rodney considers whether The Four Foundations are ultimately meant to move us from the solidified shapes, projected interpretations and isolating meanings we impart to the world toward the wondrous and formless expression of awareness immediately before our eyes. This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/949

This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/948

This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/947

There are three important aspects of meditation: mindful attention, open awareness and loving kindness. By practicing these, we can let go of negative mental patterns and expand our heart and mind, bringing about joy, peace and inner freedom. Anam Thubten will teach and guide participants in developing these three aspects of meditation and share Buddhist wisdom on working with our thoughts and emotions. Anam Thubten grew up in Tibet and at an early age began to practice in the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is the founder and spiritual advisor of Dharmata Foundation, teaching widely in the U.S. and occasionally abroad. He currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also the author of The Magic of Awareness and No Self, No Problem. Through his personal experience on the spiritual path, Anam Thubten brings alive the timeless teachings of the Buddhist tradition and invites everyone to participate. For more information on his teachings, please see www.dharmata.org. This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/946

This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/945

This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/942

With Tim Geil and Tuere Sala. This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/941

This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/940

This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/939

This talk is also presented in video here: http://seattleinsight.org/Talks/Talk/TalkID/937