The Balance of Mindfulness
Gil Fronsdal of Insight Mediation Center, Talk given September 9, 2009
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Non Conflict
Gil Fronsdal talks about how “non conflict” is one of the central themes in Buddhism. Recorded at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California on Sept. 2, 2009.
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Buddhist Geeks 2.0
Vince Horn founder and host of Buddhist Geeks, a wonderful podcast, is seeking support in the form of “micropatrons” to help expand Buddhist Geeks even further.
Buddhist Geeks would like to offer more premium content for free, produce a digital magazine, and plan a conference next year called BuddhaDharma 2.0. The information on the Buddhist Geeks website will explain all of the details.
It’s such a generous act to offer the personal sacrifice required to do this kind of work for the online Buddhist community. Let’s help enable this by extending our generosity to Vince and Buddhist Geeks. Please help with your support by becoming a patron of Buddhist Geeks.
Links:
BuddhistGeeks.com
Buddhist Geeks Podcast
BuddhaDharma2.0
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Being One’s Own Teacher
by Gil Fronsdal
The Kalama Sutta is a much-quoted discourse in which the Buddha radically challenged most sources of religious authority. The discourse is often read as a warning not to seek truth outside of oneself. It is quoted and misquoted as teaching that we should not believe anything unless we know it from our own experience. While the Buddha does advise reliance on what can be known through direct experience he does so in a particular and limited way.
Continue reading ‘Being One’s Own Teacher’
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Last night we were informed Thich Nhat Hanh is in Massachusetts General hospital with Pneumonia. He is eighty three years old, and still teaching the Dharma to his beloved Sangha. I met Thay almost two years ago to the day on August 18th 2007, and I will never forget being in his presence. He is a beloved teacher, and we wish him a quick recovery. Here is a hand written letter from Thay to his Sangha:
Continue reading ‘Thich Nhat Hanh, we are with you, you are with us.’
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A talk by Jack Kornfield, on The Bodhisattva. More videos, meditations and articles available on Jacks site.
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Buddhism, the Dharma, and ones practice is a personal and individual relationship and experience. It is a relationship between you, your teacher, and the Dharma.
Buddhism has it’s roots strong in the west. It has been here for a long time. Some are concerned that Buddhism is being “secularized”. I believe this so called “secularization” is an indication that Buddhism and the Dharma is even further permeating our society.
When one learns the truth from a mindfulness or mediation only practice, from a Tolle book, or some “secularized” source, this is just as well, if it suits this individual to end their suffering. The truth comes in many different ways, but when one opens this door, it still leads to the truth. All of these doors can lead to a healthy western Buddhist practice.
We have wonderful innovations in publishing technologies to deliver the Dharma, such as podcasting, and varying flavors of teaching approaches emerging here in the west, but there is no new truth emerging. There is no truth 2.0. Ultimately, it is the Dharma, and teaching of the Buddha, ending delusion one person at a time, and that journey starts where I started this message, by the individual; between the teacher, the Dharma, and the practice, and this is very accessible here today in the west.
If you follow the teachings of the Buddha, it is not about attachment to a religion. “Find your own light”, and eventually you do not need the teachings. When the truth is in your heart, and seen by your own eyes, you do not need it described to you any longer, it is no longer your religion, it is your being, and that is freedom. That freedom is available to you here in the west.
Be diligent in your practice. Find your teacher, and find many. If you feel your not getting the whole truth seek more. You may need many teachers to experience the full Dharma. Even the Buddha himself used many techniques. You will find a rich soil here in the west to plant your practice.
I’m thinking very positive about Buddhism in our society. There has been a major change in our culture. Buddhism is changing western society, not the other way around. Let me repeat that, Buddhism is changing western society, not the other way around.
I’m happy to say that Buddhism is very alive and well, in the west. May it help you find your freedom, and experience the true wonder of life.
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Letters
From Todd, a Listener of Zencast :
I really want to thank you for having Zencast.org and providing these podcast that you do. Wish I did live in the California area so that I could visit you guys and See it all in person. But these podcasts are about as good as being there.
I want to thank all that are involved with bringing these great podcasts to the world.. I don’t know all of your names but please accept my greatest thanks.. I do know the below teachers, and thank them by name, but everyone involved thank you. You have given so much.
Gil Fronsdal, I have to admit has help me and my middle son the most.. Jack and Tara are great too.. But Gil has really said alot of things I really needed to hear. And has really helped me to connect more with my Timmy so that I could reach him. My middle son Timmy is Autistic. While I love all three of my boys very much. Timmy has been my greatest challenge and my greatest teacher.
Alot of people are unfamiliar with Autism they hear a little bit about it on the news or they might of even seen rain man.. Both don’t give the full story or really show the challenges to overcome.. If I had to sum up what is Autism. “Its being trapped in your own mind, without knowing how to communicate to the outside world” Or maybe I should rephrase that.. They try to communicate but the outside world doesn’t know how to listen to them.I guess you could say that about any one person, but it is more extreme with a child with autism.
Your podcast with subject such as meditation, mindfulness, and calming the mind, and most important compassion. Have really helped me to speak Autism with my son.. And for that which you have taught me , I am so thankful to all of you that provide these podcasts.
I use to want to cure my son, now I know I was the one in need of cure. And these podcast where the medicine I needed. Thank you so much.
If I was ever to request a podcast. It would be how to do we help people with special needs. I am not sure if Buddha had any experience with this but would love to hear how he dealt with it.
I know Compassion is the key, because that is what has worked with Timmy and, all of my sons. Timmy is still non-verbal, but he speaks alot to me. He has gone from being a distant child to one that sits in my lap, or gives me a kiss before he sleeps. He will sit in my lap as I meditate , while my youngest sits on my head.. :> No my meditations are not quiet but they are beautiful thanks to my children. To me that is a miracle. And your teachings have been a part of that..
Thank you so much and keep this up, you are bringing good things to this world..
Todd
This Letter was made public with permission from Todd.
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Hivelogic, a website about discovering quality, living more efficiently, and leading a simpler, more mindful life, has a wonderful post on how to Start a Meditation Practice, with some good sound advice, and resources.
Over the years, a daily meditation practice has completely transformed my life, helping me to be happier, more effective and productive, and less reactive to daily difficulties.
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No matter how old or young you are, no matter what’s going on in your life, or how little time you may have to devote to it, it’s likely that a meditation practice will be of great benefit to you.
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A Tribute to Alan Watts
A Tribute to Alan Watts
From the Les Project
He died in 1972, I believe. For the time, I would imagine that he was well-known in some circles, though not ‘famous famous’ – I doubt he ever made the Johnny Carson Show, if you catch my drift.
He wrote 27 books in his lifetime, and He loved to talk, and he talked mostly of philosophy, of different religions, and of his own observations on life and it’s significance. It sounds a bit boring, and perhaps some of them were if lectures aren’t your cup of tea, but he spoke with a warm and certain English accent that almost always had a hint of a smile in the voice, and he had an entertaining way of presenting his topic, veering off into small eddies of interest here and there, yet never losing his main point.
Continue reading ‘A Tribute to Alan Watts’
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Beginning Meditation Class 1
Beginning Insight Meditation with Rodney Smith, guiding teacher of the Seattle Insight Meditation Society. Visit us at seattleinsight.org
More videos here: http://bit.ly/1mX0UJ
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Music to Quiet the Mind
On Saturday I received my copy of Eckhart Tolle’s “Music to Quiet the Mind” a hand-selected collection of Eckhart’s favorite pieces. It is a wonderful compilation of soothing calming music. Eckhart has great taste in Music. Infact Eckhart is the one who introduced me to Kirtana an artist whom I really enjoy.
So what is actually on this album ?
1 Incantation – Deva Premal
2 Now is Forever – Kip Mazuy
3 Heavens’ Door – Jeff Johnson
4 Gnossienne3 – Helvia Briggen and Djamel Ghezali featuring Praful
5 Joyful Spirit – David Sun
6 Threshold Between Worlds – Benjy Wertheimer
7 Om Hraum Mitraya – Deva Premal
8 Wisdom and Compassion – Nawang Khechog
9 Clair De Lune – Martin Jones
10 Structures From Silence (excerpt) – Steve Roach
11 Let it Be – Maneesh de Moor
I recommend this collection if your looking for high quality calming music. It is available at Eckhart’s web site here.
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A preview of Meditator 2.0
Back in August of 08, I introduced Meditator a little iPhone app project for a simple meditation timer for iPhone and iPod touch. I asked many of you for your help and feedback to make it even better. Today I am pleased to show you a preview of what is to come in Meditator 2.0. It is in the form of a ‘lite’ version I have released called Meditate. Meditate is a preview of the next version of Meditator, but has some great benefits you can take advantage of today.
1) the sound engine is now re-designed to allow interruption free meditation
2) Time settings can be set in finer increments, 1 min. vs. 5 mins.
3) If your interrupted or quit out of Meditate you can resume where you left off.
4) If you pause your session, you can resume with Preparation time.
5) Meditate tracks your meditation statistics.
This preview release gives me the opportunity to further refine the app before releasing Meditator 2.0.
For more information about Meditate check our my companies website
or Meditate on iTunes
Filed under: Meditation, Meditation Timer, Practice, Technology | 4 Comments
Now you can connect with the Insight Meditation Center (Home of Gil Fronsdal, and Audio Dharma) on Facebook. Check it out.
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If your a technoligist, and a student of Zen, then ValleyZen.com has some real treats for you. Drue Kataoka, in her wonderful spirit has some of the best interviews I have ever seen that combined technology and the principles of Zen. During her interviews she brings out the essence and the art of doing business with a Zen mind.
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