In this episode Rev. Mikey Noe and Callan Dawn offer a talk on the Five Spiritual Faculties which are: faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. Enjoy!
In this episode WHMC facilitator Roy Wyman takes a deep dive into Viparinama Dukkha. He discusses how practicing with the understanding that all pleasant things are subject to change, can be a powerful vehicle for insight. Can we be willing to acknowledge that clinging to pleasant experiences and things will not bring lasting happiness?
In this episode, guest facilitator, Jennifer Wang, and Andrew Chapman tag team a talk on equanimity. Jennifer starts off by talking about how equanimity fits into the larger scheme of the Heart Practices, as a balancing factor. Then, Andrew talks about the experience of equanimity as spaciousness and letting go of control. Lastly, Jennifer shares about the common misconceptions of equanimity and then Andrew outlines the practice and offers a guided meditation. Enjoy!
in this talk, WHMC Facilitator Maddie Finn talk about equanimity. how do the Buddha's teachings and the meditation path that we're on help us develop more evenmindedness and balance with life's inevitable joys and sorrows? how do we find peace, even when life itself is not feeling very peaceful? this is the practice of equanimity: a deep abiding sense of steadiness inside of oneself. Enjoy!
This is the second talk in a month of practice on compassion. Andrew discusses Self-Compassion and the 4 aspects of: Understanding, Empathy, Equanimity, and Compassion. Enjoy!
This is the last talk in a month of practice focused on Metta - or lovingkindness. Andrew shares two practices: 1. Metta for a benefactor, and then 2. Viewing all experiences through lovingkindness. Enjoy!
Andrew begins a series of talks on the Brahmaviharas, sometimes referred to as The Heart Practices. These qualities of Lovingkindness, Compassion, Gratitude, and Equanimity are said to be sublime states that can be cultivated in one's heart and practiced in all aspects of life. Among the many beautiful teachings the Buddha offers, perhaps the heart practices are the most accessible and immediately beneficial for transforming suffering into peace and liberation from reactive habits of body, speech and mind. Enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel and Andrew Chapman team up to offer a talk on the 4 Noble Truths and a guided meditation on R.A.I.N.
The Four Noble Truths are:
1. There is pain and difficulty in life. Embrace this truth.
2. Reactive and repetitive craving is the cause of suffering. Let go of reactivity.
3. There is an end to suffering. See the freedom.
4. The eightfold path is the path away from suffering. Act in accordance to the eightfold path.
R.A.I.N. stands for Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture. Peace & Love. Enjoy!
On the final full day of retreat, Andrew offers the afternoon instructions for the group to practice for the remainder of the day. He talks about dropping the concentration meditation practice and opening up to experience with curiosity. Enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a talk and guided meditation on the 3rd foundation of mindfulness: mindfulness of the mind. This talk was given at the Peace Within The Wild Heart Retreat in Bay St. Louis, MS on Sept. 1st-5th, 2022. Enjoy!
On the second evening of the five day Wild Heart Meditation Center residential retreat, Andrew talks about how we've been set up for survival rather than happiness. He talks about the Buddha's teaching on the second noble truth, how craving and clinging cause suffering, and how we often, unknowingly, exchange short term pleasure for long term unhappiness in our lives... and how we can break that cycle through mindfulness. enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers an overview and guided meditation on compassion as a way to meet all unpleasant feelings, whether they be physical, mental, or emotional. This talk was given at the Peace Within The Wild Heart Retreat in Bay St. Louis, MS on Sept. 1st-5th, 2022. The phrases Mikey offers are: "I feel you. I know you. I care about you."
Enjoy!
On the second morning of the Peace Within the Wild Heart Retreat, Marika Maypop offers an overview and meditation instructions on the 2nd foundation of mindfulness, "Mindfulness of Feeling Tone". By exploring our relationship with the pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral feelings of each moment, we can see how the mind's reactivity builds up, causing clinging and aversion. The link between feeling tone and reactivity is where the Buddha instructs us to practice letting go, and experiencing the liberation that comes from stepping out of reactive patterns in the mind. Enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a dharma talk titled, "Showing Up For Peace". Mikey explores aspects of his own personal story of finding peace within meditation and emphasizes the importance of simply showing up regardless of internal conditions. Mikey also honor's Dipa Ma on the anniversary of her death, using her story and teachings to motivate perseverance in spiritual practice. Enjoy!
In this episode, Marika Maypop offers further instructions on developing "Mindfulness of Breathing". This is often the most foundational practice and is essential for developing tranquility which is a support for the liberating insight that comes through meditation. Enjoy!
On the first morning of the most recent Wild Heart Retreat, Andrew offers a brief talk and meditation instructions on the first foundation of mindfulness- mindfulness of the breath and body. Enjoy!
Andrew finishes a series on the core teachings of the Buddha, "The Four Noble Truths & The Eightfold Path", with a talk on "Wise Concentration". Cultivating Samadhi, or calmness & tranquility, is an essential characteristic of developing concentration in our meditation practice. A calm mind leads to a more equanimous awareness and a more refined observations of our experience, which leads to liberating insight.
In this episode, Andrew continues his series of talks on the Buddha's Eightfold Path, discussing the topic of "Wise Mindfulness". Mindfulness is such a popular focus of the Buddha's teaching, but what did he actually say about it 2600 years ago? We hope you enjoy!
Peace Within The Wild Heart
Sept. 1st-5th (Labor Day Weekend)
with Andrew Chapman, Mikey Noechel, & Marika Maypop
William J. Kelley Retreat Center
Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi
Presented by Flowering Lotus Meditation
Learn more & sign up at:
https://www.floweringlotusmeditation.org/peacewithinthewildheart
Wild Heart has an upcoming Meditation Retreat in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi September 1st - 5th. Link here
https://www.floweringlotusmeditation.org/peacewithinthewildheart
Andrew & Mikey take questions from the audience on a Wednesday night Dharma & Discussion group. The questions range from topics about developing wisdom, transmuting anger into compassion, how to work with trauma & depression, and more. Enjoy!
Andrew continues his series of talks on the eightfold path with Wise Effort. He starts off by asking the questions: "why don't we do the things that we want to do?". What makes us stop doing, or never start doing, the things in live that we truly value or find happiness in? The Buddha offers as a reflection, the teachings on wise effort. Enjoy!
This talk was recorded at Wild Heart's Memorial Day Loving Kindness Retreat on May 27th-30th at Heartwood Refuge in Hendersonville, NC. Mikey Noechel offers a Dharma talk on developing a kind and compassionate view of the world through loving kindness (metta.)
In this short talk from the Memorial Day LovingKindness Retreat Andrew offers a reflection on the gentle effort that it takes to be with the present experience with an open heart. He also offers a short LovingKindness meditation at the end of the talk. Enjoy!
This talk was recorded at Wild Heart's Memorial Day Loving Kindness Retreat on May 27th-30th at Heartwood Refuge in Hendersonville, NC. Mikey Noechel offers a Dharma talk on loving kindness (metta) towards all experiences. The emphasis of the talk is to develop an indiscriminate friendly attitude towards all experiences whether they be pleasant or unpleasant. Peace & Love. Enjoy!
This talk was recorded at Wild Heart's Memorial Day Loving Kindness Retreat May 27th-30th, 2022 at Heartwood Refuge in Hendersonville, NC.
Mikey Noechel offers a Drama talk and meditation on loving kindness (metta) towards yourself. The emphasis of the talk and meditation are to concentrate the mind on loving kindness and relaxation.
Andrew offers a Dharma talk on LovingKindness and the Five Hindrances on the first night of the Memorial Day Weekend Retreat at Heartwood Refuge. He talks about these visiting tendencies of the mind -- craving, aversion, restlessness, lethargy, and doubt -- and how they obstruct wisdom. Rather than attempting to get rid of these mind states, the Buddha offers something more radical, to meet them with kind awareness. Kind awareness naturally diffuses their grip on the mind and helps us move out of the reactive habits that flow from these mind states. Enjoy!
Andrew offers the morning instructions on the first day of the WHMC Loving Kindness Memorial Day Retreat, Metta for a Benefactor. The cultivation of Metta, or lovingkindness, is said to be a sublime state that can be cultivated to alleviate suffering and view the world through kind eyes. In this talk, Andrew offers instructions for how to begin Metta practice, by developing this quality of kindness towards someone that is easy to evoke this attitude towards--a benefactor.
Papanca is a Pali Sanskrit word that means "metal proliferation" or is literally translated as "spreading out". What does the Buddha say about what to do when the mind is tripping? And when we're caught in the grip of our thoughts, where does it usually go? Andrew and Mikey talk about the ins and outs of papanca and the ways that mindfulness helps us get out of the rabbit hole. Enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a talk and meditation on the third Brahma Vihara, sympathetic joy or mudita. Mudita is the ability to find joy in others' joy.
The phrases Mikey uses for the meditation are:
May your happiness grow
May your happiness continue
I am rooting for you
In this episode, Andrew talks about one of the Brahmaviharas, appreciative joy and gratitude. Practicing gratitude can widen our perspective when going through a hard time and help us practice non-attachment during times of pleasure and joy. Enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a talk and meditation on compassion and the process of excavating the heart. Enjoy! Peace & Love.
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a talk and meditation which combines the two wings: wisdom and compassion. He covers the four noble truths and how compassion meditation can help us understand these truths directly.
How do the words I speak effect the peace and happiness in my life?
Communication is so much of what we do! Whether it's with others, or even just the voice in our head, the way we talk to ourselves and others can either be a source of peacefulness or great pain in our lives. The Buddha includes Wise Speech in 3 individual factors of the eightfold path (speech, action, and mindfulness) and he offers helpful guidelines to radically transform the ways we communicate in service of living in a more peaceful way. Enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a talk and meditation on metta (loving kindness). This talk is part of a series on the bhramaviharas or the heart practices. These heart practices are: metta (loving kindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (joy), upekkha (equanimity).
Mikey offers a guided loving kindness meditation at the end of this talk. The phrases he uses are:
May you be at ease
May you be at peace
May you be kind and gentle with yourself
May you be filled with loving kindness
In this episode Andrew talks about the second factor of the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path: "Wise Intention". Andrew discusses the link between Wise View and Wise Intention (the first two "wisdom factors" of the eightfold path), the 3 ways that the Buddha taught about intention in the suttas, and then finally he discusses the 3 wise intentions: renunciation, goodwill, and harmlessness. Renunciation combats craving and greed, Goodwill combats aversion or illwill, and Harmlessness combats cruelty or harm. We hope you enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel explores Buddhist practices for working with shame. Mikey specifically outlines the benefits of mindfulness, sympathetic joy, and community. Peace & Love!
Andrew speaks on the topic of Wise View. He talks about mindfulness being not just for the sole purpose of being present, but as a practice that radically changes the way that we see and relate to the world. In the Buddha's teachings, wisdom is cultivated by seeing our human experience through the lens of the 3 marks of existence: the impermanent, impersonal and imperfect nature of the world.
Don Givens speaks on the topic of Impermanence. This is the fundamental principle behind the Buddha's teachings: that everything changes. Our practice is aimed at embracing change as a way to reduce suffering in our lives. Enjoy!
In this episode, Mikey Noechel offers a talk and meditation on forgiveness. Mikey explores the two wings, wisdom and compassion, and how they both apply to the process of forgiveness.
In this episode, Andrew discusses the Noble Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path serves as a guiding structure that helps to bring forth our innate wisdom and compassion, rather than a set of rigid rules and requirements to follow heedlessly. Similar to how one might excavate an ancient ruin to get to the beauty underneath, the Eightfold Path are our tools for doing the deep digging required for peace and freedom. Andrew also provides a brief overview of the Eightfold Path factors. Enjoy!
In the episode, WH facilitator Maddie Finn offers a talk on present moment awareness as a way to work with "future tripping".
In this episode, Mikey Noechel offers a talk and meditation on the topic, "Tea With Mara".
In this episode, guest facilitator Chris Benitez offers a talk on how to work with the inner critic.
In this episode, Andrew speaks on the topic of Awakening. Far from the ever-elusive state of bliss that we often think of when we hear the words awakening, enlightenment or nirvana, the Buddha was very clear that awakening is an on-going process of stepping out of reactivity through engaging with the eightfold path. Awakening isn't a special or privileged state that is only achieved by superior meditators, it is instead the cooling down of reactivity that is the natural result of cultivating a simple and pragmatic path of ethical living, mindfulness, and wisdom.
In this episode, guest teacher Sister Clear Grace shares her personal experience of her path traveling in The Great Aspiration. The Great Aspiration is a van she calls her mobile monastery. In this talk she speaks on MN 4 Bhaya-bherava Sutta: Fear & Dread.
About Sister Clear Grace:
Venerable is a Buddhist Monk who received novice ordination in 2018 as Sister True Moon of Clear Grace in the Plum Village Vietnamese Zen tradition headed by the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh. In 2020, she received higher ordination and carries forward both the Theravada and Mahayana lineages of her preceptor, Venerable Dr. Pannavati Karuna of whom she was transmitted the name Dayananda.
The Dharma has been her greatest source of insight and transformation to heal from injustice and suffering of all kinds. She shares these learned truths to help others unlearn deeply embedded beliefs that have kept them away from the liberation of such sufferings in daily life. She shares these integrative skills, understandings, wisdom traditions and worldviews to help alleviate suffering for self and all beings.
Formerly a successful executive managing corporate operations, key people training and systems development, she now manages her mobile monastery operations and TravelingNunk.org as she continues to provide spiritual guidance and training to lay persons and monastics in her travels across the country.
In this episode, WH Facilitator, Don Givens, talks about the Three Refuges. These are core principles that we turn to for stability and support as we navigate the instability of trudging through life on life's terms. In a path that teaches of impermanence and the inconstancy of life, where can we find a solid ground to stand? The Buddha: representing our greatest potential for a wise and compassionate heart, The Dharma: representing the principles and practices outlined in the Noble Eightfold Path, and The Sangha: representing the community of wise friendship and spiritual companions on the path.
In this episode Mikey Noechel shares his personal story of how he found his path towards the Dharma. He discusses ways to find appreciation and motivation from the most terrible things that happen in our lives. No mud, no lotus.
Andrew continues the series on the Buddha's core teachings, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, speaking on the topic of the Second Noble Truth: Craving & Clinging. Although life is unpredictable and largely outside of the realm of our control, we can learn to meet these ups and downs with less reactivity, with less craving and clinging. When we become reactive, we make life harder than it has to be. Mindfulness helps us to step back and observe when reactivity arises, without taking the bait. I hope you enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel discusses the refrain from the Satipatthana Sutta, "contemplating with a mind free from desire and discontent in regard to the world". Mikey further expands on this topic by introducing the five hindrances.
The five hindrances are: greed, hatred, sloth, restlessness, and doubt.
Andrew kicks off a series of talks on the 4 noble truths and the eightfold path, speaking on the first noble truth: dukkha!
The first truth has often been misinterpreted as the Buddha making a claim that "life is suffering", but rather than a claim to be believed, the Buddha is offering a task to be put into practice centered around embracing the difficulty and vulnerability of our lives rather than running from it. His teaching captures the essence of the reality that when we resist pain, we suffer further, when we embrace pain, we experience freedom from the unnecessary layer of suffering that comes from reactivity and avoidance.
In this episode Don Givens offers an overview of The Buddha's foundational teaching on the four noble truths.
In this episode, Andrew finishes off a series of talks on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, speaking on the Fourth Foundation: Mindfulness of Dhammas. He highlights the aspect of this teaching called the "Seven Awakening Factors". What do we need to cultivate in our search for more freedom in our lives? The Buddha says these seven qualities are key: mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, and concentration.
Andrew continues a series of talks on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. This is a 2600 year old teaching from the Satipatthana Sutta, which includes a comprehensive set of instructions on how to establish mindfulness in order to cultivate the liberating insights set out in the Buddha's teachings. This episode covers Mindfulness of the Mind, which look particularly at the three poisons of greed, hatred and delusion.
The second talk in a series on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. In this episode, Andrew discusses the Second Foundation of Mindfulness - Mindfulness of Feeling Tone. The Buddha instructs us to notice the reactivity that often arises around pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral feelings as a method of unhooking from the impulses of reactivity that often lead to suffering.
In this episode, Mikey Noechel offers a talk on practicing kindness and acceptance to the thoughts, feelings, and emotions which may be viewed as wrong, bad, or evil. Mikey offering a loving kindness meditation with the phrases:
May you be at ease
May you be at peace
May you be kind and gentle with yourself
May you be filled with loving kindness
Andrew kicks off a series of talks given on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, beginning with mindfulness of body. Establishing mindfulness of the body serves as the foundation for stilling the mind and assisting in the development of mental clarity that brings about transformative insight into the three characteristics: the impersonal, impermanent, and unreliable nature of our human experience.
In this episode, Mikey Noechel offers a talk on self compassion and the power of saying "yes!" to the less desirable parts of our experience. Mikey also offers a guided RAIN meditation.
RAIN stands for:
Recognize
Allow
Investigate
Nurture
Andrew concludes a series of talks on the 10 Paramis (only 5 are listed on the podcast), which are the spiritual principles that serve as the foundation for the Buddha's teaching. In this talk, Andrew speaks on the topic of "equanimity", which means even-mindedness, balance, and non-reactivity. Equanimity is all about finding peace amidst the worldly winds of life's 10,000 joys and sorrows.
In this episode Mikey Noechel explores Buddhist practices for working with depression.
Andrew continues a series of talks on the Paramis - The 10 Perfections of the Heart, speaking on the topic of Truthfulness. Enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a talk on the first foundation of mindfulness, mindfulness of the body. He presents specifically what is outlined in the Satipatthana Sutta.
First foundation of mindfulness:
Thus have I heard.
At one time the Blessed One was living in the Kurus, at Kammasadamma, a market-town of the Kuru people.
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus as follows: "This is the only way, O bhikkhus, for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the destruction of suffering and grief, for reaching the right path, for the attainment of Nibbana, namely, the Four Arousings of Mindfulness."
THE FOUR AROUSINGS OF MINDFULNESS"What are the four?
"Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending (it) and mindful (of it), having overcome, in this world, covetousness and grief; he lives contemplating the feelings in the feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending (them) and mindful (of them), having overcome, in this world, covetousness and grief; he lives contemplating consciousness in consciousness, ardent, clearly comprehending (it) and mindful (of it), having overcome in this world covetousness and grief; he lives contemplating mental objects in mental objects, ardent, clearly comprehending (them) and mindful (of them), having overcome, in this world, covetousness and grief."
1. THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE BODYMindfulness of Breathing
"And how, O bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu live contemplating the body in the body?
"Here, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty place, sits down, bends in his legs crosswise on his lap, keeps his body erect, and arouses mindfulness in the object of meditation, namely, the breath which is in front of him.
"Mindful, he breathes in, and mindful, he breathes out. He, thinking, 'I breathe in long,' he understands when he is breathing in long; or thinking, 'I breathe out long,' he understands when he is breathing out long; or thinking, 'I breathe in short,' he understands when he is breathing in short; or thinking, 'I breathe out short,' he understands when he is breathing out short.
"'Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe in,' thinking thus, he trains himself. 'Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe out,' thinking thus, he trains himself. 'Calming the activity of the body, I shall breathe in,' thinking thus, he trains himself. 'Calming the activity of the body, I shall breathe out,' thinking thus, he trains himself.
"Just as a clever turner or a turner's apprentice, turning long, understands: 'I turn long;' or turning short, understands: 'I turn short'; just so, indeed, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, when he breathes in long, understands: 'I breathe in long'; or, when he breathes out long, understands: 'I breathe out long'; or, when he breathes in short, he understands: 'I breathe in short'; or when he breathes out short, he understands: 'I breathe out short.' He trains himself with the thought: 'Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe in.' He trains himself with the thought: 'Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe out.' He trains himself with the thought: 'Calming the activity of the body I shall breathe in.' He trains himself with the thought: 'Calming the activity of the body I shall breathe out.'
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body externally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-things in the body, or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in the body, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in the body. Or indeed his mindfulness is established with the thought: 'The body exists,' to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent and clings to naught in the world. Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
The Modes of Deportment
"And further, O bhikkhus, when he is going, a bhikkhu understands: 'I am going'; when he is standing, he understands: 'I am standing'; when he is sitting, he understands: 'I am sitting'; when he is lying down, he understands: 'I am lying down'; or just as his body is disposed so he understands it.
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body externally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-things in the body, or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in the body, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things, in the body. Or indeed his mindfulness is established with the thought: 'The body exists,' to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent and clings to naught in the world." Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
The Four Kinds of Clear Comprehension
"And further, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, in going forwards (and) in going backwards, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in looking straight on (and) in looking away from the front, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in bending and in stretching, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in wearing the shoulder-cloak, the (other two) robes (and) the bowl, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in regard to what is eaten, drunk, chewed and savored, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in defecating and in urinating, is a person practicing clear comprehension; in walking, in standing (in a place), in sitting (in some position), in sleeping, in waking, in speaking and in keeping silence, is a person practicing clear comprehension.
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally... and clings to naught in the world. Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
The Reflection on the Repulsiveness of the Body
"And further, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu reflects on just this body hemmed by the skin and full of manifold impurity from the soles up, and from the top of the hair down, thinking thus: 'There are in this body hair of the head, hair of the body, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, fibrous threads (veins, nerves, sinews, tendons), bones, marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, pleura, spleen, lungs, contents of stomach, intestines, mesentery, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, solid fat, tars, fat dissolved, saliva, mucus, synovic fluid, urine.'
"Just as if, O bhikkhus, there were a bag having two openings, full of grain differing in kind, namely, hill-paddy, paddy, green-gram, cow-pea, sesamum, rice; and a man with seeing eyes, having loosened it, should reflect thinking thus: 'This is hill paddy; this is paddy, this is green-gram; this is cow-pea; this is sesamum; this is rice.' In the same way, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu reflects on just this body hemmed in by the skin and full of manifold impurity from the soles up, and from the top of the hair down, thinking thus: 'There are in this body: hair of the head, hair of the body, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, fibrous threads (veins, nerves, sinews, tendons), bones, marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, pleura, spleen, lungs, contents of the stomach, intestines, mesentery, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, solid fat, tears, fat dissolved, saliva, mucus, synovic fluid, urine.'
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body, internally... and clings to naught in the world.
"Thus also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
The Reflection on the Modes of Materiality (Elements,
Dhatu)
"And further, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu reflects on just this body according as it is placed or disposed, by way of the modes of materiality, thinking thus: 'There are in this body the mode of solidity, the mode of cohesion, the mode of caloricity, and the mode of oscillation.'
"O bhikkhus, in whatever manner, a clever cow-butcher or a cow-butcher's apprentice, having slaughtered a cow and divided it by way of portions, should be sitting at the junction of a four-cross-road; in the same manner, a bhikkhu reflects on just this body, according as it is placed or disposed, by way of the modes of materiality, thinking thus: 'There are in this body the mode of solidity, the mode of cohesion, the mode of caloricity, and the mode of oscillation.'
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally... and clings to naught in the world.
"Thus also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
Cemetery Contemplation 1
"And further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body dead, one, two, or three days: swollen, blue and festering, thrown into the charnel ground, he thinks of his own body thus: 'This body of mine too is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.'
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally... and clings to naught in the world.
"Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
Cemetery Contemplation 2
"And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees, whilst it is being eaten by crows, hawks, vultures, dogs, jackals or by different kinds of worms, a body that had been thrown into the charnel ground, he thinks of his own body thus: 'This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body, and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.'
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally or he lives contemplating the body in the body externally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-things in the body or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in the body, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in the body. Or indeed his mindfulness is established with the thought, 'The body exists,' to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent, and clings to naught in the world.
"Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
Cemetery Contemplation 3
"And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body, thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to a skeleton together with (some) flesh and blood held in by the tendons, he thinks of his own body thus: 'This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body, and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.'
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body externally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body internally and externally.
"He lives contemplating origination-things in the body or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in the body, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in the body. Or indeed, his mindfulness is established with the thought, 'The body exists,' to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent, and clings to naught in the world.
"Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
Cemetery Contemplation 4
"And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to a blood-besmeared skeleton without flesh but held in by the tendons, he thinks of his own body thus: 'This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body, and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.'
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally... and clings to naught in the world.
"Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
Cemetery Contemplation 5
"And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to a skeleton held in by the tendons but without flesh and not besmeared with blood, he thinks of his own body thus: 'This body of mind, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body, and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally... and clings to naught in the world.
"Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
Cemetery Contemplation 6
"And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to bones gone loose, scattered in all directions — a bone of the hand, a bone of the foot, a shin bone, a thigh bone, the pelvis, spine and skull, each in a different place — he thinks of his own body thus: 'This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body, and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.'
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally... and clings to naught in the world.
"Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
Cemetery Contemplation 7
"And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to bones, white in color like a conch, he thinks of his own body thus: 'This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, going to be like that body and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body;'
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally... and clings to naught in the world.
"Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
Cemetery Contemplation 8
"And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to bones more than a year old, heaped together, he thinks of his own body thus: 'This body of mine, too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.'
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally... and clings to naught in the world.
"Thus, also, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
Cemetery Contemplation 9
"And, further, O bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu, in whatever way, sees a body thrown in the charnel ground and reduced to bones gone rotten and become dust, he thinks of his own body thus: 'This body of mine too, is of the same nature as that body, is going to be like that body and has not got past the condition of becoming like that body.'
"Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body externally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-things in the body, or he lives contemplating dissolution-things in the body, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-things in the body. Or his mindfulness is established with the thought, 'The body exists,' to the extent necessary just for knowledge and remembrance, and he lives independent and clings to naught in the world.
"Thus, indeed, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu lives contemplating the body in the body."
In this episode, Andrew continues the series of talks on the 10 Paramis, discussing the topic of "Effort & Energy". It's said that the Buddha taught about effort more than any other topic in his Noble Eightfold Path, which is likely because of how essential it is for the development of wisdom and compassion, as well as the nuance of how to cultivate energy without becoming rigid or falling into the other extreme of lethargy or complacency.
In this episode Mikey Noechel explores the 7th factor of the eightfold path which is wise mindfulness.
In this episode, Andrew continues a series of talks on the 10 Paramis (The 10 Perfections), discussing the topic of "Renunciation". Enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel introduces the second factor of the eightfold path, wise intention. He specifically outlines the 3 wise intentions, renunciation, non-harming, and good will. Enjoy!
Andrew begins a series of talks on the 10 Paramis, starting with generosity. Generosity was often the very first teaching that the Buddha would give to folks interested in starting their spiritual search. In this talk, we discuss why the focus of service and generous giving is so essential to the Buddhist path.
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a talk on the first factor of the eightfold path, which is right view. He specifically discusses the view of karma and the four noble truths.
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a guided meditation on compassion for all beings. We begin with wishing compassionate phrases to a friend, then towards ourselves, then towards a neutral person, then a difficult person and finally to all beings everywhere.
Compassion meditation phrases we use are:
May you be open with the pain and difficulties in your life.
May you care for the pan and difficulties you in your life.
You be free from suffering.
On the final night of the Spring Retreat, Andrew & Mikey discuss the Noble Eightfold Path. Enjoy!
On the fifth night of the Spring Retreat, Mikey offers a talk on the "Flower Sermon". He highlights the importance of the simple, experiential wisdom, that comes from being fully attentive to the here and now.
On the 4th evening of the WH Spring Retreat, Andrew offers a talk on the Five Hindrances. These five visiting tendencies that obscure the luminous mind - craving, aversion, lethargy, restlessness, and doubt. Enjoy!
On the third night of the recent Wild Heart residential retreat, Mikey tells the story of Angulimala. A story of pain, suffering, and confusion, as well as, a story of redemption, forgiveness and great compassion. Enjoy!
On the second night of WH's Spring Retreat, Andrew offers a talk on "The Way to the End of Suffering". He shares personal reflections, the life story of the Buddha, and offers a teaching on the 4 Noble Truths.
From the recent, Wild Heart Spring Retreat, at Heartwood Refuge in North Carolina, Mikey offers a talk on "Happiness in the Here & Now" on the first night of the retreat. He speaks to the difference between "Hedonic Happiness" and "Genuine Happiness" and the importance of finding a type of contentment that comes from relating to the world with wisdom and compassion, instead of trying to attain happiness through worldly pursuits.
In this episode Mikey Noechel discusses MN 62 "The Greater Discourse of Advice to Rahula". This discourse can be viewed here:
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.062.than.html
Guest Teacher, Martine Batchelor, joins us to talk about renunciation. She talks about breaking free from habits, not just our behavioral habits, but our mental habits of reactivity. Enjoy!
In this episode Kit Canlas offers a talk on sukkha or otherworldly happiness.
In this episode, Andrew reflects on the five hindrances - sensual desire, aversion, lethargy, restlessness, and doubt - and how, if given adequate attention, they are noble companions in the development of wisdom and compassion.
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a talk and meditation on loving kindness for addiction recovery. Mikey explores how loving kindness can be used as a method to approach addiction as well as how to develop a recovery support community.
Loving Kindness phrases:
May you be filled with loving kindness
May you be well
May you be peaceful and at ease
May you be happy
There is the happiness of temporary satisfaction that comes from worldly pursuit - sensory pleasure, material gain, praise, validation, and acknowledgment - and then there is the happiness that comes from the removal of craving and clinging to the world - being at peace within oneself. The Buddhist path aims towards the highest happiness. Andrew discusses "The Highest Happiness" in this episode.
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a talk and meditation on equanimity. Equanimity is the quality of living in the middle of life's extremes of pleasure and pain, gain and loss, praise and blame, fame and ill repute.
In this episode, Andrew talks about "why" we practice mindfulness. Adopted from Shinzen Young's teaching, Andrew offers a description of some of the basic skills that we develop through a daily mindfulness practice - focus, sensory clarity, & equanimity.
In this episode Mikey Noechel discusses ways to meet Mara or difficult mind states with compassion.
In this episode, guest teacher, Chris Benitez from Albuquerque Insight Meditation Center discusses "Imposter Syndrome". Enjoy!
In the episode Mikey Noechel offers a guided meditation of the five remembrances which are:
I am subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging.
I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness.
I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death.
I will grow separate from all that is dear to me.
I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, to that will I fall heir.
The phrases we use for this meditation are:
“breathing gently, I lovingly remember, this body is aging”
“breathing gently, I lovingly remember, this body is subject to sickness”
This is a special episode from the Buddhist Recovery Podcast with Dave Smith. Andrew's long-time friend and teacher, Dave Smith, interviews him about all things Buddhism and Recovery. enjoy!
In this episode Mikey Noechel explores the topics of reincarnation, rebirth, transmigration of the soul and rebirth linking consciousness. This episode is inspired by the Netflix series Surviving Death episode 6 which covers reincarnation. Peace & Love.
In this episode, Andrew discusses the essential Buddhist teachings of the Five Aggregates and Anatta ("not-self"). Rather than a philosophical or intellectual undertaking, the Buddha encourages meditators to contemplate the impermanent and impersonal nature of the mind-body process. Through our investigation of the causes and conditions that make up our direct experience, we come to see the nature of reality, that "we" (as people) are not-selfs (I.e. permanent entities that exist as nouns), but an ever changing flow of phenomena arising and passing in each moment.
In this episode Mikey Noechel offers a reflection on the Metta Sutta, the Buddha's discourse on loving kindness.
Metta Sutta:
This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:
Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech,
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied,
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm and wise and skillful,
Not proud or demanding in nature.
Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.
Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born —
May all beings be at ease!
Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings;
Radiating kindness over the entire world:
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.
In this minisode, Andrew breaks down Alan Watts teaching on the "Backwards Law: the desire for a more positive experience is a negative experience, and the acceptance of a negative experience is a positive experience." He talks about the cultivation of "equanimity", and how this is developed in a practical way through meditation.
This is a Dharma Minisode on Buddhist Ethics and the 5 precepts! We are going to be releasing Dharma talks each week, some of which will be live and some will be shorter recorded talks on a variety of Dharma topics. Enjoy!
In this episode, Andrew discusses the Buddhist Heart Practice of "Compassion". He speaks about compassion as a "radical act" that comes from letting go of fixing or solving our problems and coming into a space of deeper intimacy with the pain and difficulties that we face in our lives.
In this episode, Andrew speaks on the topic of "Breaking the Addiction to the Thinking Mind". He discusses what happens when we get lost in thought, and how meditation helps us to break out of the repetitive cycle of suffering that comes from getting lost in thought.
In this episode, Andrew discusses one of the most fundamental Buddhist teachings, "The 3 Marks of Existence": the impermanent, impersonal, and imperfect nature of reality.
Andrew offers the final dharma talk of the retreat on the topic of "awakening".
On the second full day of the retreat, Mikey talks about the practice of self-compassion.
In this series of talks from the recent WHMC retreat, Andrew offers a talk on the 3rd Foundation of Mindfulness. Enjoy!
In this series from the recent WHMC retreat, Mikey offers a dharma talk on the topic of "seeing clearly & responding wisely". Enjoy!
On the first afternoon of the recent WHMC retreat, Andrew offers an overview and instructions on Metta - loving-kindness meditation.
In this series of talks from WHMC's recent residential retreat, Mikey starts off the first morning with instructions on establishing the first foundation of mindfulness - breath and body awareness.
In this episode, Andrew discusses the 7 factors of awakening: mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration and equanimity.
In this episode, Andrew discusses many facets of "Wise Effort"-- the sixth factor of the eightfold path. He talks about the importance of "resolve" and having a strong commitment to spiritual practice. He also details the nuance of developing a "gentle approach" to investigating mind states during meditation, and the difference between discernment v. self-judgement. Finally, he discusses the "Four Great Efforts" as outlined in the Buddha's teaching.
Andrew continues on the theme of "Wise View", speaking on the topic of "The Four Noble Truths".
Andrew discusses the first of the eightfold path factors, "Wise View". He discusses the role of meditation in breaking out of habitual patterns of reactivity in our lives.
Mikey Noechel offers a guided meditation on equanimity, or balance between pleasure and pain.
I feel you.
I know you.
I care about you.
I appreciate you.
Mikey Noechel offers a guided meditation on gratitude towards self.
May I appreciate the joy and happiness I experience.
May my happiness and success continue to grow.
May I be filled with gratitude.
Mikey Noechel offers a guided meditation on compassion towards self.
May I open up to the pain and difficulties in my life.
May I care for the pain and difficulties in my life.
May I be free from suffering.
Mikey Noechel offers a guided meditation on loving kindness towards a benefactor.
May you be at ease.
May you be at peace.
May you be kind and gentle with yourself.
May you be filled with loving kindness.
Andrew discusses the 4th factor of the Buddha's eightfold path, "Wise Action". In order to bring better clarity to discerning the skillfulness and appropriateness of our behavior, we must first look at Wise View and Intention as a way to challenge the distortions of perception and the aspirational principles that should be guiding our decisions; this lays the foundation for embodying these principles instead of just "believing in them". As we learn to embody principles in our lives, we can move into the world into a place of engagement that is better in line with our values and moves us towards more collective harmony and peace as a society.
Mikey Noechel offers a guided meditation on loving kindness towards self.
"May I be at ease.
May I be at peace.
May I be kind and gentle with this experience.
May I be full of loving kindness."
In this episode Katie Burke reads the Metta Sutta, the discourse on Loving Kindness.
Andrew discusses the Buddha's teaching on the "middle path", as well as the personal experience of losing and rediscovering one's spiritual path.
In this episode, Andrew speaks to the necessity of developing a long-enduring mind on the path of awakening, and a few of the experiences that we will need to endure along the path.
In this episode, Andrew lays out the fundamental principles of cultivating compassion. Enjoy!
In this episode Katie Burke reads the Satipatthana Sutta, the discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.
First Foundation: Mindfulness of Breath and Body
Second Foundation: Mindfulness of Feeling Tone
Third Foundation: Mindfulness of Mind
Forth Foundation: Mindfulness of Dhammas
Andrew offers some reflections on Impermanence, Change, and Loss & how leaning into these inevitable truths of life can bring about urgency and direction for spiritual practice.
In this episode, Mikey Noechel discusses the first verse of the Dhammapada and how suffering is made in the mind.
"All dhammas are preceded by the mind.
They governed by the mind and formed by the mind.
If one speaks or acts with an impure mind
suffering follows from there from
just as the wheel of the cart follows the ox that pulls it.'
In this episode, Andrew discusses the importance of "seeing the goodness" in our lives. The Buddha taught that gratitude and sympathetic joy were important antidotes to misery and jealousy. How can we actively cultivate these mind states in our lives?
In this episode, Andrew discusses how liberating insight is only developed if we take the time to cultivate the conditions that support it. He also talks about the concept of "sudden awakening, gradual cultivation".
In this episode Mikey Noechel discusses the enemies of compassion. The far enemies, which are known as the furtherest things from compassion, are violence and cruelty. The near enemies of compassion are the things we may confuse with compassion, which are pity and despair.
In this episode Mikey Noechel discusses the four Brahma Viharas, which are also know as the Heart Practices.
Loving Kindness (Metta)
Compassion (Karuna)
Sympathetic Joy (Mudita)
Equanimity (Upekkha)
Spirit Rock Meditation Center teacher, Tempel Smith, visits Wild Heart Nashville and discusses the power of unconscious habits, and how mindfulness can be an essential tool for uncovering and dismantling these habits.
In this episode, Andrew discusses one of the most cliche but perhaps essential aspects of the Buddhist path, letting go. When we hold onto impermanent things, we suffer tremendously. But this means that we must be willing then to confront the fear that comes from surrender.
Katie offers a guided meditation of Mudita or sympathetic joy
In this episode, Andrew discusses the metaphor of the "Realm of the Hungry Ghosts", which in Buddhist cosmology is the realm of an "insatiable thirst" and "longing for more" that is so much the cause of much of our unhappiness in life.
In this episode, Andrew discusses the practice of Metta, "Loving-Kindness Meditation", as a way of inclining one's practice to reach beyond self-centeredness and into connection with others. This is the highest aspiration of practice, to move beyond defense and separateness and into connection with others.
Katie offers a guided meditation on Metta towards self, loved ones, neutral people, difficult people, and all being.
Borrowing the title, "No Self, No Problem", from author Chris Niebauer's most recent book, Andrew discusses the Buddha's teaching on Anatta, the teaching of "not-self". What happens when we learn to take the mind less personally & see the present sensory experience unfold without identifying with feelings, perceptions, or thoughts as self? We find more space to creatively engage with our world.
If we are interested in living a more wakeful and intentional life, it's important that we consider the elements that serve as the foundation for a spiritual path. The Buddha calls these "The Five Spiritual Powers" or "The Five Spiritual Faculties". These are: faith, energy, mindfulness, stillness of mind, and wisdom.
“People have suffered in one place, so they go somewhere else. When they have suffered there, they run off again. They think they are running away from suffering, but they are not. It goes with them. They carry suffering around without knowing it. If we don’t know suffering, then we can’t know the cause of suffering. If we don’t know the cause of suffering, then we can’t know its release.” – Ajahn Chah
Mikey offers a guided meditation on compassion towards self.
In this episode Mikey Noechel discusses the story of Angulimala, the serial killer who became a follower of the Buddha.
In this episode, Andrew discusses the traditional Buddhist practice of the "Five Reflections". This practice helps us to remember the preciousness of this human life, to not sweat the small stuff, to approach our spiritual practices with urgency, and to live with more acceptance of the natural laws of aging, sickness, death & separation.
In this episode, Andrew discusses the 3rd factor of the Buddha's eightfold path (wise communication). He discusses the importance of mindful listening, as well as some guidelines for how to bring wisdom into our speech.
Why do we keep doing things that cause suffering in our lives? Usually, it's because those destructive habits temporarily provide us with comfort, even though they don't serve our long-term wellbeing. When we practice letting go of destructive habits or thoughts, there is often a fear of losing the temporary relief that those thoughts and behaviors provide. In letting go, it requires that we practice resting in the faith of our spiritual practice- the faith to persevere through the discomfort and into the liberation that comes from letting go of things that no longer serve our happiness.
Mikey Noechel explores the question “What is insight?”. He specifically covers the three characteristics of impermanence, suffering, and selflessness as they relate to insight meditation practice.
Andrew offers a guided mindfulness of breath meditation.
Andrew offers a guided meditation on Metta, lovingkindness towards self.
Andrew discusses the 3rd Foundation of Mindfulness (Mindfulness of Mind). He talks about developing "inner space" through mindfulness, and how we can begin to understand our mind states so that we don't have to enact our emotion's demands.
In this episode Andrew discusses a term coined by Alan Watts as "The Backwards Law". The backwards law states, "the desire for more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one’s negative experience is itself a positive experience”.
Recorded live in Nashville, TN! Asked to introduce Zen and share his own personal journey Dave goes bare bones honest with a talk about giving up and giving in to disillusionment and the liberation that comes when the bottom drops out on life and reality turns out to be nothing like what you asked for. Dave drops some history with Zen's beginnings amid the chaos of 9th century China and the worst disaster in human history and how Zen gave the only honest answer to that moment with its great promise of nothing. He goes on to tells his own story of giving up at the bottom of the barrel and the happy hopelessness you find when you finally admit to what you don't know. Along the way the sangha discusses how to help people in a world where no one wants your help, how to be angry without getting angry, and why you would never recommend Zen to a friend you want to keep.
In this talk, Andrew discusses some common hang-ups around the topic of "concentration" in mindfulness practice & some practical tips for steadying the mind in meditation practice.
Andrew offers an overview of two fundamental aspects of the Buddha's teachings on meditation - non-reactive awareness (clear seeing) & skillfulness (wise responding). Meditation practice entails both the ability to step back from automatic perceptions and impulses & the ability to respond wisely to meet life on life's terms. In this talk, Andrew details both of these aspects of mindfulness, focusing specifically on an overview of the heart practices. This episode includes a guided meditation practice.
In this talk, Andrew discusses "The Five Hindrances". These are 5 frequently occurring mind states that obstruct clarity & often lead to reactivity in our lives. Andrew talks about how to view the hindrances as a pathway into practice rather than an obstacle to practice, as well as discussing some skillful ways to work with these commonly occurring states of mind.
Andrew shares his life experience with faith, inspiration & conviction. He discusses how spirituality (opening to mystery) is a key aspect of his own practice.
In this episode, Andrew draws questions from participants, discussing "Spiritual Bypass", "Dukkha & My Mom", "Staying Positive in the Face of Adversity", and "Our Relationship to Money".
In this episode, Andrew provides and overview of the Buddhist View and Practice of Equanimity. How can we learn to come to terms with things the way that they are, rather than how we want them to be? Mindfulness help us to make space for the dis-ease of our lives by resting in compassionate awareness and helps us to make space for the joy in our lives by resting in non-attached appreciation. Enjoy!
Mikey Noechel offers personal stories and practices around Mudita, or appreciative joy, as a way to work with isolation and incline the mind towards seeing the pleasant aspects of life.
In this episode, Andrew provides an overview of the eightfold path. He discusses the Buddhist path as a training in happiness. From a Buddhist perspective, happiness is a collection of good habits - wise view, wise intention, wise speech, wise action, wise livelihood, wise effort, wise mindfulness, and wise concentration.
Why do we practice meditation? In the Western world, meditation is often packaged as a catalyst for developing more focus and relaxation; however, in the Buddhist context, meditation is practiced for the purpose of developing liberating insight into 3 fundamental characteristics of human existence. Andrew discusses these 3 marks of existence in this week's talk.
Andrew offers a talk on "Sympathetic Joy", which is the practice of taking active delight in the joy and successes of others. We often get caught up in comparison, competition, and insecurity when we hear about others' successes; this usually comes from a place of scarcity (that there is not enough) or a fear of falling out of our place in the tribe (that we are losing our status). The Buddha offered a practice for working with these common expressions of fear, calling "Sympathetic Joy" one of the sublime states of mind.
So much of spiritual practice is about getting into the weeds and looking into the messy areas of our lives. It's important to balancing the "dirty work" with the enjoyment and appreciation of what is going well in our lives. In this talk, Andrew explores some themes related to the practice of gratitude.
Andrew offers a guided gratitude meditation. Enjoy!
Mikey Noechel discusses how suffering creates addiction and the practice of compassion at the Southeast Refuge Recovery Conference in Asheville, NC.
Scott Tusa & Andrew Chapman discuss perspectives on Metta (loving-kindness) as a way of overcoming self-importance and self-obsession. This talk includes a portion of Q&A. Enjoy!
Scott Tusa visits from Brooklyn, NY to teach at Wild Heart Meditation Center. In this talk, Scott speaks on the topic of "Finding More Joy Through Embodied Awareness". Enjoy!
Andrew continues his discussion from last week on Mindfulness of the Mind, highlighting the role of effort in meditation practice. He specifically focuses on the topics of equanimity (non-reactivity) & active awareness (cultivating skillful mind states and abandoning unskillful mind states) and how they work together.
Andrew offers some practical perspectives on engaging skillfully with distortions of thought and perception through mindfulness practice. He shares about how the goal of mindfulness is to cultivate a wise view of the world (to see things as they are, instead of how we want them to be). Enjoy!
Andrew shares some reflections on the Buddha's personal path to awakening - leaving the comfort of worldly pleasures in seek of deeper abiding fulfillment. He discusses how the Buddha uncovered the cause of much of human dissatisfaction to be led by a seemingly unquenchable desire for things to be different than the way they are in the present experience - this is what is called, tanha, or craving. The Buddha taught a way of cultivating a deeper sense of abiding happiness that is not dependent upon craving for temporary conditions to be pleasant; this deeper happiness is what we call the Noble Eightfold Path (wise view, intention, speech, action, effort, mindfulness, and concentration).
Andrew discusses one of the most essential of the Buddha's teachings: the reflection into the nature of dukkha -- dis-ease, stress, & dissatisfaction. How do we learn to cope with the inherent fragility and unpredictability of living in a world that is ruled by ever-changing conditions? Learning to embrace the vulnerability of the human condition is the heart of the Buddhist quest for awakening. Seeing clearly into the nature of reactivity in the mind and learning to embrace what is, instead of what is wanted or not wanted.
Andrew offers some perspectives on approaching relationships with mindfulness, highlighting the eight-fold path factor of "wise speech".
Andrew offers some reflections on setting intentions for the New Year & recommitting to spiritual practice.
Andrew discusses the Buddha's teachings on "Metta" (loving-kindness). The Buddha taught kindness as a path to having a liberated heart and mind; the following talk discusses some of the ways of approaching this practice in daily life. Enjoy!
Andrew continues a discussion on the Buddha's liberating teaching of "not-self". He describes how our sense of self arises through what the Buddha refers to as the "5 bundles" - form, feeling, perception, sankhara (inclinations / impulses), and consciousness.
Andrew discusses one of the Buddha's most foundational teachings, Anatta, or "not-self". Not-self is a practice of understanding that by clinging on to and seeking lasting security in temporary roles and identities causes suffering in our lives. Somewhat paradoxically, the Buddha also taught the importance of creating a healthy sense of self by forming relationships with wise people, practicing service, and practicing skillful habits in our lives. In this talk, Andrew riffs on some of the themes of "building up and breaking down" the self.
Andrew continues a two part series of talks on Gratitude. This time, he talk at length about the practice of sympathetic joy (pali sanskrit - "Mudita). Sympathetic joy is the practice of taking active delight in the joy of others.
Andrew discusses the key role of gratitude in developing inner and outer wellbeing. He talks about the neuroscience and psychological research surrounding cultivating gratitude in one's life.
Mikey Noechel discusses the practice of Maranasati, mindfulness of death.
In this episode, Andrew discusses the role of intention in spiritual practice. He discusses three functions of intention: moment-to-moment decision-making, determination, and living with integrity & wisdom.
In this episode, Andrew discusses the key role of "faith" on the spiritual path. Although faith can be a hard sell for many of us, especially for those who have appreciation for the Dharma's largely non-theistic approach to practice and whom are largely skeptics of dogmatism. Faith is essential for the development of motivation, direction, and perseverance on the spiritual path. Enjoy!
In this episode, Andrew discusses "The Seven Factors of Awakening": Mindfulness, Investigation, Energy, Piti, Tranquility, Concentration, & Equanimity. Although we may not explicitly develop these qualities, these 7 factors are fundamental in the the development of a meditation practice. Enjoy!
Andrew finishes a two part series on the topic of "engaging with difficult people during difficult times". In this episode, he discusses how we can use Buddhist practices and principles to engage with those difficult people in our lives -- both the "close" difficult people, as well as the "far away" difficult people.
Andrew starts a two-part series on the topic of "Engaging with difficult people during difficult times". In this episode, he talks about what it means to practice "engaged Buddhism" and how to bring one's mindfulness practice to the greater social, political, and economic issues facing our world.
Andrew offers a summary of "what mindfulness is not" and then offers a definition and a set of skills for the practical development of the practice in our day-to-day lives.
Andrew discusses many themes of "awakening". He discusses the practical role of awakening in extinguishing the fires of reactivity in our day-to-day lives.
Andrew discusses the three flavors of craving: craving for sensory pleasure, craving "to become" someone, and the craving for non-existence. Enjoy!
Andrew continues a series of talks on the foundational Buddhist teachings. This time, he discusses the 2nd Noble Truth -- craving & clinging. How do we compulsively react to our desires and resist experiences to create suffering in our lives? And, how do we learn to abandon our reactivity?
Andrew continues a series of talks on the foundational Buddhist teachings: the 4 noble truths. In this talk, he discusses the 3 flavors of "dukkha" -- how do we come to fully understand the ways that we suffer in our lives? what are the flavors of stress in our lives?
Andrew reflects on the Buddha's first teaching after his awakening. He discusses the foundational teaching of turning towards the suffering and stress in our life, and how, although it can seem morbid and counter-intuitive at first glance, this honest reflection of dukkha is really a path towards greater freedom in our lives.
Andrew shares the hagiography (myth) of the Buddha's awakening & then discusses the historical context of the Buddha's teachings. In this talk, we take a deeper look into 'why the Buddha taught the way that he did'. Enjoy!
Andrew discusses how to work with difficult emotions and how to better understand the beliefs and stories that activate and perpetuate destructive emotions. Enjoy!
WHMC guiding teacher, Andrew Chapman, shares his personal experience with coming into Dharma practice -- from early life, through drug addiction, to the present day.
Andrew Chapman and Scott Tusa discuss the role of View & Intention on the path towards liberation. Enjoy!
Visiting teacher, Scott Tusa, speaks at Against the Stream Nashville, discussing Buddhist methods for working skillfully with emotions. Enjoy!
Andrew continues a non-traditional series of talks on the 4 foundations of mindfulness. In this episode, he discusses Mindfulness of Mind, looking at how the 3 poisons of greed, hatred, and delusion cloud our mind and perpetuate suffering in our lives.
Andrew offers another discussion on feeling tone, but diverts from the traditional discourses to discuss the importance of "finding contentment" through presence, awareness, and acceptance.
Andrew provides a brief overview of the second foundation of mindfulness and provides some meditative techniques for working with pain.
In this episode, Andrew expands on last week's talk, discussing the Buddha's instructions on establishing embodied awareness. He talks about mindfulness of body through the topics of "seclusion", "mindfulness of breathing", and "liberating insight".
Andrew begins a series of talks on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. He kicks it off by discussing some practical benefits of living with embodied awareness.
Andrew gives a weird talk on the theme of "Going Forth: From home to homelessness", discussing how we can learn how to let go of societal expectations and live with more individual purpose and authenticity. Enjoy!
Mikey Noechel discusses the Second Factor of the Eightfold Path, Wise Intention. Mikey specifically covers the intentions of renunciation, good will, and non-harming.
Andrew discusses the practice of mindfulness for the purpose of liberation! Enjoy!
In response to recent school shootings, ATS facilitator Mikey Noechel discusses the link between toxic masculinity and the national epidemic of school shootings. Mikey explores themes such as emotional detachment, hyper competitiveness, aggression, intimidation, violence, and sexual objectification, which help define toxic masculinity.
Andrew shares an overview of Buddhist perspectives on Addiction & Recovery from a day workshop in Knoxville on 5/20/18. Enjoy!!
Andrew sets up some themes on awakening, wisdom & compassion for a day retreat in Asheville, NC on 5/19/18. Enjoy!
Andrew closes the final talk in a four part series on the Five Hindrances by discussing the topic of doubt. Depending on its application, doubt can be either a helper or a hindrance on the path of awakening. Enjoy!
Andrew continues a series of talks on the Five Hindrances. This time, he discusses the mental qualities of lethargy & restlessness and some resources for working with these frequent and pervasive states of mind.
Andrew continues a series of talks on the Five Hindrances, discussing "craving & clinging".
Andrew begins a series of 4 talks on the Five Hindrances. This talk explores the mental states of aversion, anger, & resentment.
Sorry for the shitty sound quality on this one ;)
Andrew offers a guided meditation from a Day Retreat on 4/21, "Integrating Heart & Mind".
Andrew Chapman offers a guided meditation from a Day Retreat on 4/21/18, "Finding A Ground".
Awakening is both sudden & gradual. Awakening is not tied down to any particular methods or belief system, but it arises from using methods and belief systems skillfully. Ultimately, Awakening is the activity of our thoughts, speech, and mind -- it is a behavior. In this episode, Andrew discusses the variety of activities that contribute to our awakening process.
Andrew discusses two practical steps towards working more skillfully with difficulty & pain in our lives -- Understanding & Caring. These two steps are the foundation for empathy & compassion, which both serve as essential aspects of the path to awakening.
Buddhism can often feel like a bummer... dukkha dukkha dukkha... blah blah blah. What about being present with what's pleasant?
In this Dharma talk, Andrew discusses the role of appreciative joy & sympathetic joy -- how to be present with the goodness of our lives and the lives of others. Enjoy!
Andrew offers an overview and instructions on the four heart practices.
Andrew speaks on the topic of "Buddhism Without Borders". Enjoy!!
Andrew discusses opening to difficulty on the path -- how to familiarize the heart with the dissatisfaction that is inherent in our life's journey, for the purpose of acceptance & compassion.
Andrew discusses the role of energy & effort in the Buddhist path of practice, in particular, looking at the qualities of urgency, applied effort, persistence, & patience.
Andrew Chapman returns back after a 20 day silent retreat in Myanmar. He shares some personal reflections regarding his relationship to Buddhist practice, while also discussing the importance of faith & encouragement on the path.
Andrew offers a guided meditation, using 'breathing' as the primary object.
Against the Stream Founder, Noah Levine, visits Against the Stream Nashville & offers a Dharma Talk on the Fire Sermon. Enjoy!!
Against the Stream Founder, Noah Levine, visits Nashville & offers a period of practice and a Dharma Talk. Here is Part 1 - Meditation Instructions & Guided Meditation. Enjoy!!
Andrew elaborates on the role of samadhi (concentration / focus / unification of mind) in the development of insight. How does concentration play a role in helping us to deepen and sustain our attention within the mindfulness practice?
The Buddha's path of practice is aimed at extinguishing the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion that so often overwhelm our unconscious motivations and behaviors. In doing so, we must learn how to look deeply into our own minds to examine our beliefs and motivations and learn to practice and intentional way of relating to the changing conditions of our lives. Our ability to awaken demands that we have access to enjoyment, learning to take active delight in the pleasures and successes of our lives without falling into the habit of enmeshment, obsession, or unhealthy attachment. We must also learn to take delight and sympathize with the goodness of all beings. Having an ability to see the good in others allows for the development of a compassionate heart, one that dissolves the barriers of separateness that so often keep us isolated and in conflict.
One of the most transformative aspects of the Buddha's teaching is his teaching of Anatta ("Not-Self"). Through the practice of vipassana ("insight meditation") we can learn to identify the destructive and confining views of ourselves (i.e. sakkaya ditthi - 'self view') and learn to embody a more spontaneous and authentic way of relating to our lived experience.
ATS Facilitator, Mikey Noechel, discusses Buddhist practices for working with Shame.
Forming intimate relationships are necessary for both an integrated sense of self in the world and the development of healthy coping mechanisms to help us overcome life's inherent struggles. Often times, some of our most troubling experiences stem from our interactions with others. Through our formative years, most of us have learned patterns of communicating that are often maladaptive and push people away, despite our need to feel close. In this talk, Andrew explores how the Buddha's teachings on Wise Communication can bring us into healthy relationships.
Often times we develop clarity and wisdom through the most challenging aspects of our lives. As we embark on a contemplative path of practice, we learn to tune into more moments of experience and investigate the nature of dissatisfaction in the mind. Although we will never rid our lives of painful physical, emotional, or mental experiences, through practice, we learn that we can, indeed, come to liberate ourselves from the very habits that perpetuate further depths of dissatisfaction and distress -- the "extra" suffering. The Buddha discussed the importance of fully knowing the wide breadth of our humanity -- the pleasure & pain, gain & loss, and beauty & tragedy of our lives. Learning to embrace the existential reality: we are susceptible to woundedness, but we don't have to wound ourselves.
What is taking up unnecessary space in our lives? What types of behaviors and what particular patterns of thoughts no longer serve us any more? One way to look at renunciation is the practice of "not needing anything extra". Through mindfulness and the ethical trainings in Buddhist practice, we can learn to bring awareness to the aspects of our life that are taking up space and causing ourselves and others distress and come to liberate ourselves from unnecessary patterns of suffering. We call this the Joy of Renunciation. Because, counter to our cultural messages, it is by letting go of our attachment to things that we learn to truly find peace and ease in our lives.
The process of awakening is likened to tending to a field for harvest. The growth and deepening of wisdom develops as we learn to: 1. Survey the land, 2. Plan & Prepare the field, 3. Plant the seeds, 4. Tend to the crop, and 5. Pick the fruit. The Buddhist path of practice invites us to take a seat in the middle of several fields of experience, amidst the intersection of our internal & external lives. The Buddha offered a holistic map in which we can navigate and tend to our fields of experience with greater clarity, empathy, and wisdom: complete view, wise intention, wise speech, action, and livelihood, and wise effort, mindfulness, & concentration
The Buddha offered the cultivation of mindfulness as the direct path to liberating wisdom. Through observing our thoughts, emotions, and feelings in present awareness, we develop insight and familiarity with our inner landscape. However, we are often looking at our direct experience through the lens of aversion, fear, obsession, etc... "HOW" we focus on our present experience is just as important as what we are paying attention to. With mindfulness, we learn to bring a gentle, kind, & friendly attitude to the practice of present time awareness. Mindfulness is, and should always be, looked at in the context of the Buddhist ethical basis of "non-harming". Buddhist meditation asked us, how can we look into our own hearts and minds with a kind & gentle quality of awareness? How can we learn to befriend the mind?
The historical Buddha's style of teaching was open, inviting personal exploration and investigation (pali sanskrit term, Ehipassiko, meaning "come and see"). Although the encouragement of mindfulness practice is to bear witness to one's own subjective involvement in moment to moment experience, we can often fall into the trap of judging our experience as "right" or "wrong" or "good" or "bad".
“Although discerning skillful from unskillful is basic to the Buddha’s teaching, in our Western culture it is a very delicate process. For many people, it is an easy step from recognizing a particular mind state, [mood, or attitude] as being unwholesome to the feeling that you’re a bad person for having it, or that somehow it’s wrong for the mind state to even arise. This pattern of reaction simply leads to more self-judgment, more aversion, and more suffering. It’s not a helpful cycle” - Joseph Goldstein.
Often, when we build up our defenses around the heart, we are trapping ourselves inside the walls with the pain we are trying to protect.
Forgiveness is the intentional practice of "giving up any hope for a better past", learning to dissolve the resentments towards ourselves and others that keep us bound to past experiences. We can learn to understand that harm is caused out of suffering, and we can learn to let people back into our hearts, without letting them back into our homes.
Andrew continues his discussion of the 4 Foundations of Mindfulness, speaking on the theme of the Five Hindrances. Through mindfulness, we can bring active awareness to the most subtle defenses of our minds and learn to transform obstacles on the path into opportunities for awakening. Listen to explore how we can bring active awareness and skillful resourcing to these Five Hindrances: craving, aversion, laziness, restlessness, & doubt. Enjoy!
In this talk, Andrew discusses the theme of awakening & the forms of the Dharma that support awakening. How does our ethical commitment to non-harming combined with the mental trainings of mindfulness and heart practice both protect the heart & cultivate its release from distress?
The Buddha said that the nature of this world lies within our perceptions and thoughts. In this talk, Andrew discusses how our often unexamined patterns of thinking generate distress (magnification, fixation, rumination, and proliferation) and how the Buddha proposed we begin to examine and liberate the mind from unconscious and habitual patterns of suffering.
How can active awareness help us better manage the pleasure & pain of our lives? What does it look like to bring mindfulness to the primary sense impressions of the body & mind? How do we deal with pain, and how do we take active delight in the pleasure of our lives?
Andrew discusses mindfulness of feeling tone & how mindfulness can help us to minimize the habitual & unconscious reactions that often build up around the pleasure & pain in our lives.
Andrew builds on his discussion from last week, outlining the 3 skills of mindfulness practice (concentration, observation, & equanimity), to discuss the ways that mindfulness meditation promotes insight into the 3 marks of existence (impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, & impersonality).
Andrew offers a wide overview of meditation and its general affect on the brain. He discusses how mindfulness provides clarity into the nature of the stress manufactured by the brain, and how the skills of concentration, observation, & equanimity are cultivated and fine-tuned through practice.
Andrew provides a brief overview of satipatthana (The foundations of mindfulness) and then offers a discussion on 4 applications of mindfulness that are offered throughout the Buddhist discourses in the Pali Cannon.
Do you consider your relationship to Money to be a part of your spiritual practice? What about work? The Buddha encouraged contemplative practice as a means of uncovering causes of stress & suffering in our lives. For lay practitioners (non-monastics), it is essential to begin to reflect on our relationship to money and our livelihood, as these are often areas of great excitement, dis-ease and anxiety.
Andrew discusses the role of Buddhist ethics on the path of awakening. He overviews the nuances of ethical practice as it relates to sexuality. He discusses some of the difficulties of working with sexuality, as well as the potential of working with sexual energy on the path.
The eightfold path factor of Wise Action is not meant to be another set of commandments or rules that will help us become a better Buddhist, but instead a set of trainings that help us to engage with our day-to-day lives with more ease and wellbeing. In order to 'act' with more ease, we must learn to SLOW DOWN, gauge the impact of our emotions, and develop supports that encourage changes in behavior. Before we jump into discussing Wise Action, it's important to discuss Stabilization & Support.
Dave speaks on the topic of "the wound that seeks the arrow", discussing 'woundedness' as it relates to the Buddhist path of practice.
Dave Smith speaks to the 'heart of the Dharma'. He talks about our tendencies towards defense and avoidance of the heart & how the cultivation of the brahmaviharas ('heart practices') help us to uncover and liberate the heart's release.
Andrew discusses the eightfold path factor of "Wise Communication". He discusses the importance of founding communication on attainment and active listening, and then he discusses guidelines that support the use of wise and effective speech.
Andrew discusses the ethical foundation of the Buddhist path of practice. He discusses the importance of developing and engaging in action through non-harming, and how this ethical base sets the stage for the development of wisdom.
Dave Smith offers a brief context of insight meditation practice, followed by a discussion of Metta-Vipassana. Metta-vipassana combines the development of present time awareness & goodwill. Enjoy!
Andrew discusses the eightfold path factor of 'intention', detailing the intentional cultivation of goodwill. He discusses the practice of 'metta', from its etymology to its practical application. Enjoy!
Dave Smith offers an overview of working with hindrances and awakening factors on the path.
Andrew continues his discussion of the Buddha's core teachings, detailing the connection between the first and second factors of the eightfold path: view and intention.
Andrew continues a discussion on the core teachings of the Buddha: the Four Truths & the Eightfold Path. He discusses common misconceptions about 'karma' and how developing an understanding of karma encourages wise movement on the path of awakening.
Andrew continues his discussion of the core teachings as outlined by the Buddha, discussing an overview of the eightfold path of practice.
Dave Smith discusses the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as they relate to the Buddhist path of practice. Enjoy!
Dave Smith speaks on the topic of "The Vicissitudes" -- the ups and downs & the push and pull of existence. Enjoy!
Sangha member, Mikey Noechel, discusses the third noble truth, the task of beholding the ceasing of reactivity in our lives.
Andrew details the practice of metta (kind-friendliness) as a means of easing reactivity in our lives.
Andrew continues a discussion on the 2nd Noble truth, discussing varying themes related to craving and clinging. He also discusses practices to help curb and relinquish controlling tendencies and reactive habits.
Continuing a series of talks on the core teachings of the Buddha, Andrew discusses the second noble truth - craving & clinging - and its various forms.
Dave Smith discusses the topic of 'investigation' and its role in dharma practice and the cultivation of mindfulness.
Andrew speaks on the five spiritual faculties (or "five supportive faculties"). He discusses the role of faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom in the Buddhist path to awakening.
As mindfulness helps us wake up to the vulnerable, insecure, and stressful parts of our lives, we are often wrought with feelings of doubt, overwhelm, or fear. The Buddha taught us that a compassionate response is often a courageous response to our deepest sorrows and doubts. In this talk, Andrew discusses the role of compassion in learning to "embrace dukkha"; he details ways of developing the inner resource of compassion.
The second part in a series of three talks on the Buddha's noble truth of "dukkha", Andrew discusses the tenets of the Buddha's teaching on the five aggregates, and how the habitual tendency to cling to the aggregates causes a stressful existence.
ATS Brooklyn facilitator Eloise Luke Mayton and ATS Nashville facilitator Andrew Chapman co-lead a dharma talk on the First Noble Truth: the truth of dukkha. They discuss some of the qualities of dukkha and ways of experiencing and understanding the vulnerable, insecure, and unsatisfying aspects of our human experience.
Andrew begins a series of talks on the core teachings of the Buddha (4 Noble Truths & Eightfold Path) talking about "Awakening". What is meant by awakening? Where does awakening take place? And, how is awakening cultivated through direct practice?
Although including the 'thinking mind' as a part of one's meditation practice can seem counter to some folks perception of meditation, it is of essential and vital importance in developing a wise understanding and compassionate relationship to one's distressing thinking patterns, general anxiety, and overall mental anguish.
Diana (DBT Therapist) & Andrew discuss some practical tools for wise communication.
Andrew discusses the first path factor of the Buddha's eightfold path: Wise/Appropriate View.
Andrew talks about some of the fundamentals of developing a meditation practice: 1. why we commit to practice; 2. how we approach meditation; and 3. what we do while we meditate.
Andrew discusses topics that were brought forth from members of the group: tenets of vipassana, working with neutral feeling tone, engaged buddhism, & when to share the Dharma.
Special guest, Lizzie Harrigan, & ATS facilitator, Andrew Chapman, offer some reflection after the recent election. They provide a Buddhist framework for looking at separateness and divisiveness, and the social suffering that manifests in our local, national, and global communities. Lizzie speaks specifically to practicing self-compassion and the need to understand emotional triggers and healthy ways to cope.
The Buddha spoke about "Balanced Effort" more than any other factor of the eightfold path. Simply put, effort is the part of our human experience that provides the capacity for all other things. It is the foundation of what helps us establish a purpose, cultivate and sustain and practice, and develop a steadfast and gentle patience within the gradual process of awakening.
Andrew speaks on the topic of "Papanca" - i.e. mental proliferation. He discusses how themes of craving/clinging, self-obsession, and fixed views and opinions lay the ground for much of the mental anguish in our lives.
Andrew discusses the role of cultivating "kindness" as a foundation for Buddhist practice. He discusses the role of undertaking training precepts, as well as offering some context and practical application of Metta practice.
Tonight, Andrew talks about the very exciting and confusing world of emotion. He offers both a Buddhist psychological framework and a Western psychology framework for emotion activation, and then discusses some of the primary ways that mindfulness assists in emotion regulation.
On the fifth night of Against the Stream's annual Fall retreat, Andrew discusses the role of non-attached appreciation and sympathetic joy on the path of awakening.
Andrew describes the process of awakening as an action, as a behavior, rather than a destination. He discusses the role of purifying one's karma as a procedure that promotes greater insight, self-awareness, and more moments of awakening. Enjoy!
Andrew details the importance of the development of equanimity in Buddhist practice. He offers a definition, description, and practical application of the practice. Andrew also discusses some of the nuances of the practice, including the near-enemy of "indifference".
Andrew discusses the path of freedom outlined by the Buddha: Liberation through non-clinging. He discusses how the relational practice of mindfulness can help us identify areas of our lives where we cling and hold on to unnecessary suffering.
Leading retreat at New Life Foundation in Thailand, Dave Smith discusses the role of "faith" as a means of letting go. He demystifies our cultural stigma around "faith" and details the practical application of faith in Buddhist practice.
Andrew discusses how mindfulness practice lays the groundwork for cultivating insight on the path to awakening. He details 4 applications of mindfulness practice: simple awareness, protective awareness, introspective awareness, and contemplative awareness.
Andrew discusses the role of commitment, faith, and devotion on the path of awakening. He discusses the traditional Buddhist practice of taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
On day three of retreat at New Life Foundation, Dave Smith talks about addressing the causes and conditions of our suffering. He describes how developing mindfulness and compassion can help to untangle even our most deeply rooted sources of dissatisfaction and distress.
Dave Smith talks about what it means to turn towards the parts of ourselves that we ordinarily avoid. He talks about how, as we begin to open ourselves to mindfulness practice, we begin to confront and can learn to embrace the underlying causes of dissatisfaction in our lives.
Dave Smith leads a retreat at New Life Foundation and speaks on the topic of "Awakening". Where does the Buddhist path lead, and what is the process of awakening?
Andrew discusses the human tendency towards self-harshness and self-improvement, and how this "negativity bias" of the mind gets in the way of finding joy and fulfillment in life.
Do we consider SEX a part of our spiritual practice? Andrew discusses the importance of including sexuality & intimacy as a part of our spiritual path. He discusses motivations for sex both within and out of committed relationships and how to work towards developing more intimacy and less harm around our sexuality.
For tonight's group, Andrew opens up dialogue surrounding separateness and suffering. He discusses how our deepest insecurities and fears, combined with years of history and subordinate vs. dominate (i.e. "self" and "other") dynamics influence our actions and our resistance to collective awakening.
Andrew discusses the role of samadhi (i.e. concentration or "collectedness of awareness") in mindfulness practice. He discusses how the meditator can better develop insight and overcome stressful obstacles by first "breaking the addiction" to the thinking mind. Once the meditator is grounded in a primary object of meditation (i.e. breath), they can then start to observe patterns of stress and rumination in the mind.
Andrew speaks at the Against the Stream center in Santa Monica and discusses the "Power of Perception" and the role of perception in awakening. Andrew specifically highlights how distorted perceptions often get us into trouble, as outlined in the Vipallasa Sutta.
Andrew offered this talk at Alameda Sangha in Oakland, CA. He discusses the Buddha's teaching, "The Noble Quest," highlighting the Buddha's discussion of the path to liberation as both a shift in perspective from "place" to "ground" and a path that goes "against the stream."
Andrew visits Against the Stream in Oakland and offers a talk on the "two wings" of Buddhist practice, wisdom and compassion. Andrew offers the practical framework of using mindfulness as a means of "seeing clearly" and "responding wisely;" he discusses the role of creativity and intention as supports for engaged Buddhist practice.
Dave Smith is in town at Against the Stream Nashville! Andrew and Dave share personal experience with confronting life's ups and downs on the path and how committing to dharma practice has transformed their relationship to pain and loss.
Andrew discusses contemplating the Buddha's core teaching--the 4 Noble Truths--as a means for awakening.
Andrew continues his discussion of the 4th Foundation of Mindfulness contemplations, focusing on the Five Aggregates. He discusses how, as sensitive beings, we are affected and inclined to act based upon how we feel and perceive the world. He also touches on the Buddha's teaching on Not-Self.
Andrew discusses his personal experience with compassion practice and the role of willingness, empathy, and limit-setting in engaged Buddhist practice.
In this talk, Dave Smith discusses the Second Noble Truth, highlighting the push and pull of craving and how this manifests as reactivity and dis-ease. This talks was given during Dave's time teaching at New Life Foundation in Thailand.
Andrew discusses the 4th Foundation of Mindfulness, highlighting the contemplation of "The Five Hindrances" as they relate to Buddhist practice.
In this episode, Andrew talks about the difficulty of confronting depression. He discusses how we can use the practices of mindfulness and equanimity to engage with and alleviate some of causes and conditions associated with depression.
He details the importance of dropping beneath our habitual emotional reactivity and compulsive thinking patterns into a more embodied and direct experience of our lives. How can we use mindfulness of feeling to free ourselves from the many destructive habits that no longer serve our personal and interpersonal wellbeing.
Dave Smith discusses the importance and challenge of "letting go" of obstacles that get in the way of our freedom. He discusses the role of faith and confidence as it relates to Buddhist practice. He also details the roll of renunciation and "un-hooking" from the many things that preoccupy our thoughts and provoke our fears and stressors. Enjoy!
The following is a talk from Against the Stream Nashville Founder, Dave Smith, that he gave while teaching a retreat at New Life Foundation in Thailand. Dave discusses the "Wisdom of Dissatisfaction" as it relates to Buddhist teaching and practice. The First Noble Truth is the cornerstone of the path to developing a deeper understanding of the ways in which we self-generate stress and often dismiss, avoid, or avert our attention from what is painful and difficult. Often, in our efforts to avoid pain, we often create more pain. Dave discusses the importance of turning towards the difficulty of life as a way of liberating the heart and deepening our understanding of human nature. Enjoy!
Andrew discusses the role of commitment and motivation in the undertaking of spiritual practice. He talks about the pali sanskrit word, samvega (“spiritual urgency”) as a foundational element of Buddhist practice. This talk spotlights the five reflections (Upajjhatthana Sutta) as a tool for remembering the temporariness of our life, health, and wellbeing. By taking time to reflect on the impermanent nature of life, we can remember how important it is to be present and available for the many challenges and joys that make life meaningful.
Dave Smith offers practical instructions on the first foundation of mindfulness--breath & body.
Dave Smith offers a talk and meditation instructions on the mindfulness discourses as they pertain to "mindfulness of breathing."