Talks
Dharma Talks
Most of Stephen’s public talks are available at DharmaSeed.org. See that website for a complete list. Below is a partial list of talks on Dharma Seed and elsewhere with direct link to many talks. Please see the Videos page for videos.
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2018–Reggio Emilio, Italy
- March 16 Italy Interview, Introductory Overview Talk (31:07) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen SnyderThis interview provides an excellent overview of the teaching and work of Awakening Dharma, and Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder. » Download Transcript
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2017–Spirit Rock
- July 11Concentration Meditation and the Jhanas (6:15:06), taught by Stephen Snyder
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2016–Spirit Rock
- January 16Concentration Meditation: Purification of Mind (3:48:41) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
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2015–Various Locations
- August 7–Italy Retreat Transcript from Interview for Italian Newspaper (5:55) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
- February 18-Cloud Mountain Talk 7–Bramaviharas as Concentration Practice (1:17:22) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
- February 17 Talk 6–Upekkha Follow-up; Purification of Heart (55:52) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
- February 16 Talk 5–Mudita Follow-up; Upekkha overview and instructions (68:07) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
- February 15 Talk 3–Karuna overview and instructions (27:43) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder Talk 4–Karuna Follow-up; Mudita overview and instructions (59:32) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
- February 14 Talk 1– Bramaviharas, Metta overview and practice overview, instructions (58:18) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder Talk 2–More About Metta and Follow-up (61:47)with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
- January 17–Spirit Rock Introduction to Concentration Meditation Daylong Part 1 (59:41) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder Introduction to Concentration Meditation Daylong Part 2 (63:19) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder Introduction to Concentration Meditation Part 3 (14:32) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder Introduction to Concentration Meditation Part 4 (1:12:15) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
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2014–Cloud Mountain
- October 1 Chanting–Homage to the Buddha, Refuges, Precepts (5:23) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
- March 1Introduction to Concentration Meditation Daylong Part 2 (37:50) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder Introduction to Concentration Meditation Daylong Part 1 (50:06) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
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2013–Spirit Rock
- February 2 What is Purification of Mind? (1:15:05) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder What is the Samatha Practice (Concentration Meditation)? (39:41) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
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2012–Spirit Rock
- January 14 Differences Between Samatha and Vipassana (27:38) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder What’s Compelling about the Concentration / Samatha Practice? (40:20) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
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2008–Forest Refuge
- July 5 The Four Elements Practice; The Buddha As Our Role Model (61:22) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
- July 4 Am I Going To Get Jhana? Talk #3 (1:11:33) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
- July 3First Sit To First Jhana – talk #2 (49:55) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
- July 2 What Is The Jhana Practice? #1 (66:22) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
Buddhist Geeks Interview
Below is our interview by Vince Horn at BuddhistGeeks. It was a lot of fun talking with Vince about the “Jedi Warrior Training” the yogis described experiencing one of our retreats.
Part 1: BG 159: Mastering the Jhanas Transcripts
Part 2: BG 160: The Jedi Mind Training of Concentration Transcripts
Theravada Dhamma Society Talk
at the Request of Ven. Pa Auk SayadawIn November, 2009, we were invited by Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw to give a talk to the Theravada Dhamma Society, a Burmese Buddhist community in the San Francisco Bay Area. Below is a hotlink to the talk in two parts (as the talk was 2 hours long.) This talk is a good condensed overview of the samatha practice as it is presented in the lineage of Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw.
Monthly Practice Group Dharma Talks
These talks, recorded at our January-May, 2008 monthly sitting group, describe the Samatha meditation practice as presented in the tradition of Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw. This practice leads to purification of mind and the development of powerful concentration that can lessen suffering and and increase the joy of Being, and can lead to the meditative absorptions known as jhanas. To listen or download in MP3 format, please click on the hotlink below each talk, which will take you to the www.DharmaSeed.com where these talks are stored. The talks build on each other, so it is helpful to listen to them in the order they were presented.
Talk #1
Overview of the Samatha Practice
Includes: The three stages of practice (Sila, Samatha, Vipassana); The Buddha’s practice of the jhanas; Why do this practice?; and an overview of the path of practice as taught by Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw; meditation instructions. Please also download the accompanying Practice Chart from the hotlink below, which accompanies the audio.
Talk #1 – Overview of the Jhana Practice Length of talk: 43 minutes | File size: 29.3 MB Click here to download the Practice Chart that accompanies this talkTalk #2
The Three Types of Concentration, and the Territory from the First Sit to First Jhana
Includes: What is concentration? The three types of concentration (momentary, access and absorption) and the differences between them; the progression of practice from your first sitting all the way through entering first jhana; meditation instructions; and Q&A.
Talk #2 – The Three Types of Concentration, and the Territory from the First Sit to First Jhana Length of talk: 48 minutes | File size: 33 MBTalk #3
How the Jhana Factors Neutralize the Hindrances, and Concentration Practice as Purification of Mind
Includes: Jhana factors overview; how hindrances relate to jhana factors; the role of sila / wholesomeness in this practice; how concentration practice leads to purification of mind; meditation instructions; and Q&A.
Talk #3 – How the Jhana Factors Neutralize the Hindrances, and Concentration Practice as Purification of Mind Length of talk: 1 hour 14 minutes | File size: 50.7 MB Click here to download the Jhana Factors / Hindrances Chart that accompanies this talkTalk #4
Skillful Effort
Includes: intention; surrender; persistence; Yin and Yang; meditation instructions; and Q&A.
Talk #4 – Skillful Effort Length of talk: 1 hour 22 minutes | File size: 56.3 MBTalk #5
Actions that Support Practice; The Five Jhana Masteries; “Psychic Powers”
Includes: silence, breathing, timing, resolves; the masteries required in completing a jhana and moving on to the next; and what is meant by “psychic powers” and whether they are necessary; meditation instructions; and Q&A.
Talk #5 – Actions that Support Practice; The Five Jhana Masteries; “Psychic Powers” Length of talk: 1 hour 22 minutes | File size: 56.3 MB
Practicing The Jhanas:
Traditional Concentration Meditation As Presented By The Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw