Wild Heart Meditation Center

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.