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Retreat Dharma Talks

Concentration Retreat

Concentration (samadhi), the collection and unification of the mind, was emphasized by the Buddha as one of the aspects of the Eightfold Path. It can bring joy to your practice and lead to the skillful use of pleasure in the meditative process. Whatever your level of practice, you can improve your Insight Meditation (Vipassana) by strengthening your concentration skills. Your ability to concentrate will develop in response to the attention you give it.

This retreat offers a series of techniques for staying on the meditation object for extended periods of time. We will explore the factors of concentration that lead to the deep absorption states known as jhana. Teachers will also give instruction for utilizing concentration during insight practice.

2019-08-18 (10 days) Spirit Rock Meditation Center

  
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2019-08-19 Day 1 Morning Sit with Instructions (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 63:27
Phillip Moffitt
2019-08-19 Guided Metta Practice #1: Dear One, Self (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 32:48
Beth Sternlieb
Finding ease in the heart.
2019-08-19 Release the Tension, Building Samadhi (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 60:50
Phillip Moffitt
2019-08-20 Samadhi: Eight Supportive Conditions and the Five Jhanic Factors 60:46
Nikki Mirghafori
What is samadhi (most often translated as concentration)? Why do we engage in samatha practice on this path? How does it differ from vipassana? Eight supportive conditions to establish samadhi are discussed. A brief exposition of the five jhanic factors are offered at the end of the talk.
2019-08-21 Connecting with the breath as a good friend 31:49
Nikki Mirghafori
Easing into samadhi (concentration) through befriending the breath.
2019-08-21 Guided Metta Practice #2: Self-Compassion (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 40:46
Beth Sternlieb
Caring for the heart.
2019-08-21 5 Jhana Factors and 5 Hindrances (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 64:06
Tempel Smith
With mindfulness of breathing as a concentration practice we intentionally develop the 5 jhana factors. We also will definitely experience their opposites. - the 5 hindrances. As the 5 jhana factors become stronger we experience fewer hindrances.
2019-08-22 Day 4: Guided Meditation on the 5 Jhana Factors (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 61:58
Tempel Smith
Following the talk on the 5 jhana factors and the 5 hindrances from the night before... We welcome a sense of contentment in our starting conditions, take interest in our breath and remind ourselves it is all we need while meditating. From here, we aim and sustain our attention.
2019-08-22 The Craft of Samadhi (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 55:23
Beth Sternlieb
Taming and training the heart- concentrated in goodness, concentrated in Dhamma
2019-08-23 Guided Metta Practice #3: Neutral (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 42:58
Beth Sternlieb
People we meet stepping stones to Metta.
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