In this short talk, Jill looks at some classical definitions of Nibbāna, then relational practice exploring how you taste or touch freedom in your own life. link to talk

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In the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha identified attachment and ignorance as the root of all suffering or dissatisfaction. Attachment and aversion are two sides of the same coin. Bruce discussed “The Three Poisons” : attachment, aversion and ignorance and their antidotes and led a guided mettā meditation practice - the antidote to aversion or hatred.

Jane read and discussed an excerpt from Jack Kornfields book: A Path with Heart.

Together and alone: Finding freedom individually and collectively. Link to video. For information on this retreat and to register, click here.

Death is one of the greatest fears that many of us have. Recognising the pervading nature of impermanence and addressing the delusion that somehow it wont happen to me, are ways that can free us up and allow us to live more fully. Link to talk.

Continuing to explore freedom in the context of the Buddha's teachings, how mindfulness supports it, and some ways to maintain mindfulness in everyday life. Link to talk.

A short talk introducing a new theme for the start of the new year The Way to Freedom: what hinders, and what helps. Each week we'll be looking at some of the common obstacles that cause stress, distress and suffering in our lives, and what we can do to support experiencing more ease, happiness and peace. In this talk, Jill focuses on what freedom means to each of us then looks briefly at the three core afflictive energies of greed or compulsion, hatred or aversion, and ignorance or delusion. Link to talk.

Exploring what supports kindness and what gets in the way, focusing on self-view and clinging to being right; includes a short guided meditation on "practicing being wrong". link to talk

Some reflections on how the pāramī of patience and resolve provide crucial support for both regular meditation practice and retreat practice. Jill explores the need to honour natural rhythms, and how metaphorically "lying fallow" allows deeper healing and wisdom to emerge. link to talk

In Buddhism patience has three essential aspects: gentle forbearance, calm endurance of hardship, and acceptance of the truth. Marysia explored these three aspects through readings by US dharma teachers Michelle McDonald Finding Patience Inside and Out and Jack Kornfield: Patience is the Wrong Word

Jane presented a reading from and discussion around Kristen Neff’s book: Self Compassion- stop beating yourself up and leave insecurity behind. She also referred to Rick Hansen’s book: Hardwiring Happiness, and made connections between these texts and her recent 14 day Insight Meditation retreat experience. You can listen to more of Jane’s guided meditations on the Insight Timer app.

“You know quite well, deep within you, that there is only a single magic, a single power, a single salvation… and that is called loving. Well, then, love your suffering. Do not resist it, do not flee from it. It is your aversion that hurts, nothing else” - Herman Hesse

Reviewing The Ten Pāramī, in conversation with Auckland Insight sangha members. Link to talk

Talks from the recent Te Moata retreat with WILLA REID, ELIZABETH DAY and JILL SHEPHERD. If you’d like to listen to some of the talks and instructions from this two-week retreat, you can find them on Dharmaseed with this link.

We were fortunate to have visiting Insight Meditation teacher, Anushka Fernandopulle facilitate our Thursday evening gathering. Anushka lives in San Francisco and teaches meditation retreats and workshops around the world. She is on the Spirit Rock Teacher's Council and has trained for over 30 years in the Theravada Buddhist tradition in the U.S., India, and Sri Lanka. link to talk - What is Dhamma?

We welcomed our Guiding Teacher, Jill, back from teaching at the Barre Centre for Buddhist Studies in Massachusetts. Jill led a heartfelt guided meditation and followed with a discussion of equanimity- a pāramī that has a central place in Buddhist thought. link to talk

The pāramī of renunciation is a central ingredient of the path to Awakening and is intimately connected with our heart's capacity for deep joy, wonder, openness and freedom. What might it mean for us in our lives? link to talk by Rob Burbea.

Starting with a guided meditation based around some of Thich Nhat Hanh’s mindfulness phrases, Liz went on to explore some of the wise words of Upasika Kee Nanayon, the Thai Buddhist lay practitioner who is regarded as probably the foremost woman Dhamma teacher in twentieth-century Thailand.

In this recent article published in Lion’s Roar, Jill explores the relationship between the perfection of energy and wisdom, and how applying our energy and effort wisely leads to less harm to ourselves and others. link to article

Jane led a relaxing, grounding, guided meditation, then we listened to a podcast of Tara Brach interviewing Dr Judson Brewer, author of the book Unwinding Anxiety. In this podcast they examined how anxiety is a habit that can be unlearned as we cultivate a curious and kind mindful presence. Link to interview

We are very grateful to Willa for traveling up to visit our sangha. After a beautiful guided meditation she posed the question: are we relating to our practice as being for our long-lasting welfare and happiness? When the pāramī of sīla (ethical framework) and mettā (kindness) are used correctly together they will contribute to our happiness. However to use sīla as a way to judge our own shortcomings negatively only leads to further stress and distress. By training ourselves to ground all experience in mettā we can “reprogram” our old habitual negative self talk. Kihikihi Meditation and Yoga Website

See our Events and Retreats page for details on our latest meditation retreats.

Bruce led a guided meditation and presented a recorded talk by Ajahn Sucitto in which he discussed the Ten Pāramī of Buddhism. This was part of a longer dharma talk entitled Pāramī the Support for Attention. Listen to the full talk here.

A short exploration of kindness: how it's supported by our capacity to rest, and is itself a restful quality. Link to talk

After a beautiful self-compassion meditation, Jane discussed the pāramī of mettā in relation to self-compassion and how we can be kinder to ourselves in difficult times. Jane read from Kristen Neff’s book: Fierce Self-Compassion and Ajahn Sucitto’s: Pāramī - Ways to Cross Life’s Floods. You can listen to more of Jane’s self-compassion meditations on the Insight Timer app.

After a 30 minute guided meditation, Jill’s talk explored the quality of resolve as a resource in three arenas: for strengthening our commitment to regular meditation practice; going on retreat; and facing in to the challenges of the climate crisis. Link to talk.

Guided meditation and talk by Jill which explores truthfulness in relation to speech, and how in some circumstances, the Buddha advocated for speaking "dispraise" of those who are worth of dispraise. Link to talk