Dharma Seed - dharmaseed.org: dharma talks and meditation instruction

(Common Ground Meditation Center)

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center) We are living through a profound pivot point. The old myths of our civilization–endless growth, rugged individualism, and “us first” hierarchies are crumbling. In their place, fear, division, and the architecture of fascism are rapidly rising. As the Jungian analyst Edward Edinger warned, when a central myth breaks down, meaning drains away, and primitive forces rush in. The Buddha also lived in a world burning with greed, hatred, and delusion. He challenged the systems of his time, endured attempts on his life, negotiated peace between warring factions, and even stood before armies bent on destruction. In the Sakka-pañha Sutta, when asked why beings who wish for peace end up in rivalry and violence, he pointed to the root: the mind entangled in papañca, the web of proliferating stories that harden separation. How then do we understand this immense historic moment? We can take courage from the Buddha. He didn't always succeed. Even with his wisdom and compassion, he could not prevent the destruction of his own people. Yet he still stood before armies, still spoke truth, and still acted with courage. Even when outcomes are uncertain, we too are called, at this time, to step forward with clarity, compassion, and steadfastness. Together we will explore how to bring the medicine of the Dharma into this moment of profound challenge, not as escape, but as a path of right action, refuge, and renewal.

(Flagstaff Insight Meditation Community)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Cittaviveka)

(Buddhist Society Summer School)

(Gaia House) A meditation, reflection, and (just the) responses to questions on the theme of appropriate calming and energising: and what it reveals and opens about experience and freedom.

(Buddhist Society Summer School) 00:11 Q1 I have an urge for an inspirational, imaginational arising. It shows itself as a wish to be inspired. I find it hard to connect with Buddhist mythology, "seeing things as they are” seems not to be beneficial all the time. Some people in places seem to have a special effect on me and I can have so many positive feelings just by thinking about them. It feels like a gift. Is it real? Or constructed idea? 26:11 Q2 What is the relationship between the citta which is intrinsically luminous, nibbana, sensation and the anidassana viññāṇa described as endless and luminous all over. 36:52 Q3 How can we live wisely with past hurts? Related Q: I've noticed a change within the spectrum of love and hate that surprises me. It's not that I feel less for people but the craving and the attachment are missing in a way that allows me to feel more completely as I don't get lost in it.

(Karuna Buddhist Vihara) This dhamma talk, guided meditation, questions and responses was offered on September 6, 2025 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” 00:00 - Guided Meditation 19:45 - DHAMMA TALK 45:10 - Questions & Responses

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Metta Chanting and Practice

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) Most of us like to have some sense of security thinking planning ahead or knowing what to expect can help us be more at ease. But the real freedom comes from realizing we really don't know how things will unfold. Although that might seem unsettling, it can allow us to be more at ease with the fundamental unpredictability of life.

(Buddhist Society Summer School) 00:09 Q1 Could you explain again what is meant by the phrase “post-truth world”? 02:15 Q2 - mic was far away, very difficult to hear; seems to be: What advice can you give regarding speech? 11:08 Q3 My dilemma is whether I watch the news or switch it off. It's so overwhelming. But if I don't watch it, what am I doing?

(Buddhist Society Summer School)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha saw the core problem in human life as "ignorance"(avijjā), not an ignorance of facts or information, but rather a not-knowing about the basic nature of reality and our experience. The Dalai Lama tells us: "There is a fundamental disparity between the way we perceive the world, including our own experience in it, and the way things actually are." We explore how similar understandings of a core human ignorance are found in Plato, Christian and Islamic traditions, and in later Buddhist traditions. The Buddha said, in particular, that we are ignorant about impermanence, dukkha (or reactivity), and the nature of the self. We look into some of the main habitual constructions of experience, including a sense of permanent, stable, separate external objects, and a sense of a separate, independent self, pointing to ways of exploring such constructions meditatively. We also point to experiences in which we go beyond such constructions, in meditation and also in "flow" experiences. The talk is followed by discussion.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We begin with about 7-8 minutes of developing concentration, becoming more settled and less distracted. We then explore the impermanence in several ways, noticing the arising, staying and changing, and passing away with (1) sounds, (2) body sensations, and (3) the open flow of experience (about 2 minutes). Then there is a period of mindfulness practice with the additional instruction of looking out for a moderate or strong sense of self. We close with a short period of a heart practice such as lovingkindness or compassion; brief instructions are given for self-compassion practice (as developed by Kristen Neff).

(Flagstaff Insight Meditation Community) This talk offers reflections being with the anchor. The guided meditation entitled: "Being with the Anchor" accompanies this talk.

(Flagstaff Insight Meditation Community) Further Reflections on the dimensions of being with the anchor that are explored in this guided meditation are offered in the dharma talk entitled, The Art of Being with the Anchor

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) The fifth talk in a series on the Meghiya Sutta

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Teachings and Practice on working with thoughts in meditation

(East Bay Meditation Center) Sometimes it is thought that Buddhist practice is exclusively about "inner" transformation. However, the Buddha himself spoke of going out for the benefit of others and understood basic ethical guidelines socially. Later approaches and tradition, such as embodied in the rule of King Ashoka and the Mahayana vision of the bodhisattva, also manifest the connection of inner and outer transformation. In this talk, a contemporary "Eightfold Path" is offered to support connecting inner and outer transformation--bringing our practice into engagement with our contemporary society and world in great need. There are three wisdom guidelines, two meditation guidelines, and three ethical guidelines. The talk is followed by discussion.

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Teachings on receiving and offering metta to a friend

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Stories and reflections on the Meghiya Sutta including spiritual friendship, wise talk about dharma and the power of pilgrimmage

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Aloka Earth Room) Short Reflection & Guided Meditation including a prayer for the UN Environmental Sabbath Program | Earthworm Practice for the Anthropocene III | Online Wednesday-Mornings

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Practicing Equanimity in the world and in deepening in practice

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Balancing wholesome states of mind

(Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center)

(Dhamma Stream Online Sessions)

(Dhamma Stream Online Sessions)

(Karuna Buddhist Vihara) This dhamma talk, guided meditation, questions and responses was offered on August 9, 2025 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” 00:00 - Meditation 15:59 - Dhamma Talk 33:45 - Questions & Responses

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Mental Status Plus Vedana (Feeling Tones)

(Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Adding Dear Friend or Loved One to previous categories of Oneself and Benefactor

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) The balancing factors of the 5 Spiritual Faculties