Dharma talks from meditation teacher Mary Stancavage. These focus primarily on the pragmatic aspects of Buddhist teachings and philosophy drawing strongly on wisdom and heart practices. All are viewed through the lens of learning to live with an Undefended Heart. (photo by @kimanhuynh)
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Secular Dharma Podcasts
If you would like to support the work I do, Please consider making a donation. https://www.paypal.me/satisila To find out more, or to join one of my many programs check my site: https://www.davesmithdharma.com/ For nearly 30 years, Dave Smith has held a practice rooted in the Insight Meditation (Vipassana) tradition. He was empowered to teach through the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society, is a certified teacher for Cultivating Emotional Balance (CEB) which is combines contempora ...
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Wild Heart Meditation Center's podcast offers an assortment of talks given on topics as they relate to Buddhist practice. Wild Heart teachers Mikey Livid & Andrew Chapman, along with other group facilitators share their experience with Buddhist practice, specifically offering practical teachings and instructions for our everyday, ordinary, lives.
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New grassroots school or sect of Nichiren, Lotus Sutra based secular Buddhism. A philosophical and ethical meditation practice and way of life. Buddha was not a god or deity. He was just a super "woke" aka enlightened human. We ALL have the ability to attain buddhahood, enlightenment, wokeness. Let's do it together and help ourselves, each other, and the planet! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/secular-lotus-buddhists/support
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Dedicated to liberation in all its forms, Deconstructing Yourself is passionate about fearlessly investigating, attempting, and questioning all things to do with awakening, meditation, mindfulness, brain hacking, consciousness, neurofeedback, and more. Your host Michael W. Taft interviews some of the most interesting thinkers, authors, and teachers around, as well as other offerings. In this hard-hitting, radical, and fun podcast we look at secular post-, non-, un- Buddhism, Vajrayana, nondu ...
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David Vago, PhD and Lisa Dale Miller, LMFT, LPCC, SEP tackle the traditional Buddhist concept of "enlightenment" from their modern clinical points of view in a stimulating and fun discussion. Part 2 focuses on S-ART, David's neurobiological framework for describing the positive effects of meditation on self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence; Theravada, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna notions of awakening and not-self; secular mental training; different interventions for different psy ...
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David Vago, PhD and Lisa Dale Miller, LMFT, LPCC, SEP tackle the traditional Buddhist concept of "enlightenment" from their modern clinical points of view in a stimulating and fun discussion. Part 2 focuses on S-ART, David's neurobiological framework for describing the positive effects of meditation on self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence; Theravada, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna notions of awakening and not-self; secular mental training; different interventions for different psy ...
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Prison Mindfulness Podcast for those bringing mindfulness and transformational contemplative practices to underserved populations. Our nonprofit focuses on teaching mindfulness in prisons, jails, and all those impacted by the criminal justice system.
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Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat - Loving Kindness Towards All Beings
44:46
44:46
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44:46This episode was recorded at the Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat in Sewanee, TN July 2025. Andrew Chapman offers the final instructions of the retreat on loving kindness to all beings. ***Get Your Mind Right: A Young People's Retreat on the Four Great Efforts with Mikey Livid and Rachael Tanner-Smith Nov. 13th-16th: https://southerndharma.org/re…
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In reflecting on 17 years of teaching the Saturday Afternoon Sit, Mary also talks about the invitation to check in with our spiritual practice every decade or so. We often want to see immediate results to whatever we're doing, but deepening our spiritual practice and cultivating wisdom and compassion takes time. We may see some immediate results, b…
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Talking about Deity Yoga with Peter McEwen
55:01
55:01
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55:01Host Michael Taft talks with meditation coach Peter McEwen about devotion in meditation practice, the need for stability in groundlessness, the ontological status of deities, common failure modes of practice, how to handle formless panic, the magical matrix, and the lasting power and beauty of deity yoga in the Vajrayana tradition. Peter McEwen is …
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Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat - Second Afternoon Instruction - Please Try! The Effort of Loving Kindness
43:44
43:44
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43:44This episode was recorded at the Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat in Sewanee, TN July 2025. Andrew Chapman offers the second afternoon instructions on the effort of loving kindness. ***Get Your Mind Right: A Young People's Retreat on the Four Great Efforts with Mikey Livid and Rachael Tanner-Smith Nov. 13th-16th: https://southerndharma.org/retrea…
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In this talk Mary takes a deep dive into what it means to take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. These reflections all point to a path to liberation - trusting in our awakening, how to get there, and how we support each other on the journey. This is an invitation to practice in the Triple Gem. Recorded August 24, 2025 at Insight Com…
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Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat - Second Morning Instruction - Expanding Loving Kindness Towards Yourself
38:35
38:35
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38:35This episode was recorded at the Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat in Sewanee, TN July 2025. Mikey Livid offers the second morning instructions on expanding loving kindness towards self. The phrases offered are: May I be at ease. May I be at peace. May I be kind and gentle with myself. May I be filled with loving kindness. Enjoy! *** Get Your Mind…
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By dave smith
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The Buddha's famous teaching, often called The Fire Sermon, is about how easy it is to be caught up in the flames of greed, aversion and ignorance when we don't pay attention. Our senses are easily pulled into stories and reactions that keep us trapped in samsara. Nirvana/Nibbana means cessation as in putting out a flame and as we practice resistin…
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From Big Heart City Friday night class.By dave smith
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Sharon Salzberg - The Power of Loving Kindness
1:01:03
1:01:03
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1:01:03Meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author, Sharon Salzberg offers a talk on The Power of Loving Kindness. This episode was recorded Saturday, August 9th at an online fundraiser for Wild Heart Meditation Center. Enjoy! ***Get Your Mind Right: A Young People’s Retreat on the Four Great Efforts with Mikey Livid …
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It's said that if there is impatience, it's because there is resistance to what is and that is the definition of the second noble truth - our inability to be with things as they are. In this reflection, Mary discusses how powerful it can be to cultivate patience, how it is a key part of equanimity and how we can see it's importance in our everyday …
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Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat - First Evening Dharma Talk - The Qualities of a Good Friend
47:16
47:16
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47:16This episode was recorded at the Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat in Sewanee, TN July 2025. Mikey Livid offers the first afternoon instructions on loving kindness meditation. The phrases offered are: May I be at ease. May I be at peace. may I be kind and gentle with myself. May I be filled with loving kindness. Enjoy! SHARON SALZBERG online fundr…
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Often when we think of our legacy, we think about what people will remember about us when we die. Instead, we can think of our legacy as what we leave in our wake as we move through the world. How do we show up? Are we kind? Are we wise? Are we generous? This is our legacy. Shout out to Lama Rod Owens for planting the seeds of this talk. Recorded A…
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Talk 3 at RMERC. Natural Awareness Retreat.By dave smith
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The talk is from Vallecitos, and covers the teaching on the four foundations of Mindfulness.By dave smith
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Over of gratitude and guided practice from Vallecitos.By dave smith
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By dave smith
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Progress on the path: short reflection...
17:53
17:53
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17:53From the Sunday weekly mentoring group. If you are interested in our mentoring program you can find out more HEREBy dave smith
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Beautiful theory of mind pt. 1: Talk
1:01:28
1:01:28
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1:01:28By dave smith
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Final talk at Vallecitos - July 2025.By dave smith
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Beautiful theory of MInd pt 2: talk
1:07:11
1:07:11
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1:07:11Second talk at RMERC.By dave smith
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Talking about Dark Retreat, Part 2 with Andrew Holecek
1:12:32
1:12:32
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1:12:32Host Michael Taft continues his conversation with with Andrew Holecek about the transformative practice of Dark Retreat; the reasons behind the recent surge of interest in darkness practices; its relationship to the feminine principle and as an antidote to runaway patriarchy; the three “tracks” or “schools” of dark retreat in Tibetan Vajrayana: Kal…
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An Interview with Sharon Salzberg - The Power of Loving Kindness
45:10
45:10
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45:10In this episode Wild Heart guiding teacher Mikey Livid interviews meditation pioneer and New York Times best selling author Sharon Salzberg. Sharon will be teaching an online fundraiser for Wild Heart Meditation Center Saturday, August 9th and 6pm central. Register link can be found here: https://www.wildheartmeditationcenter.org Wild Heart Meditat…
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Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat - First Afternoon Instruction - Loving Kindness Meditation
40:40
40:40
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40:40This episode was recorded at the Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat in Sewanee, TN July 2025. Mikey Livid offers the first afternoon instructions on loving kindness meditation. The phrases offered are: May I be at ease. May I be at peace. may I be kind and gentle with myself. May I be filled with loving kindness. Enjoy! SHARON SALZBERG online fundr…
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With so much going on these days it can be challenging to stay balanced and present for whatever shows up in our world - pleasant or unpleasant. In this talk Mary discusses the idea of joy and sorrow and the eight worldly winds as a teaching to ground us right here and be open to whatever shows up. Denying the present moment is a hallmark of dukkha…
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Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat - First Morning Instruction - Mindfulness of Breath
1:18:38
1:18:38
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1:18:38This episode was recorded at the Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat in Sewanee, TN July 2025. Andrew Chapman offers the first morning instructions on mindfulness of breathing with the attitude of kindness. Enjoy! SHARON SALZBERG online fundraiser of WHMC Aug. 9th at 6pm central! Register here: https://www.wildheartmeditationcenter.org Wild Heart Me…
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In our world today we can chase after certificates and degrees to prove who we are and what we know. In this talk Mary reflects on the words of Ajahn Chah who says that these are only "appendages". "We think they are real and we carry them around with us" to prove who we are. Instead, we are invited to turn inwards and allow our inner wisdom to ari…
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This week Mary offers a few reflections on suffering and patience and invites your comments and thoughts. Recorded July 15, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks. Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and tea…
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It's Not Personal - or Permanent or Perfect
18:17
18:17
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18:17Reflecting on Ruth King's framing of the Three Characteristics, Mary discusses this wonderful perspective on meeting the world. We can make everything so personal and chase perfection or permanence, but to do so only leads to dissatisfaction. Learning to let go of our shoulds and have to's leads to freedom in each moment. Recorded July 5, 2025 in t…
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Mindfulness & the addiction economy: Talk
35:25
35:25
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35:25Given at Wild Heart in Nashville, just before the Southern Dharma retreat.By dave smith
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Full audio sessions from my 4 week course for New York Insight. Begins with an overview of 4 noble truths, intro sessions, conversations with Stephen Batchelor and then live teaching sessions from the course. If you find these audio offerings of benefit please consider dropping me some cash. This shit takes a lot of time, everything is appreciated.…
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The Undefended Heart - Now More Than Ever
32:29
32:29
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32:29To live with an undefended heart is a cornerstone of Mary's practice and teaching. However with all the challenges in today's world, does it still make sense. In this talk Mary discusses what it means to live this way and how it is more important than ever right now. Keeping our hearts open is the path to freedom and allows us to be fully present f…
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Mikey Livid discusses a practical approach to the often overly intellectualized Buddhist concepts of no self (anatta) and the five aggregates. The five aggregates are: form, feeling, perception, mental inclination, and consciousness. Enjoy! UPCOMING RETREATS: July 16th-20th Sewanee, TN - Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat: https://www.floweringlotu…
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We talk often about the practice being a path to liberation, but what do we actually mean when we say that? In this dharma reflection, Mary investigates what liberation, freedom, awakening all mean in the various schools and lineages of Buddhism. Although the ideas may vary across the teachings, they are all grounded in compassion, wisdom and clear…
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Host Michael Taft talks with author David Godman about the sage Ramana Maharshi and his nondual view of the world, whether he considered taking sannyasa (renunciation) to be necessary to achieve awakening, the power of the physical presence of the guru, Sri Ramana's seemingly miraculous learning of Sanskrit, an introduction to Lakshmana Swami—a ver…
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2 talks put together from the Sunday mentoring program. Find out more HEREBy dave smith
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The Buddha created the sangha, or community, of monastics, but his teaching spread to every level of society and we can each be part of a sangha. In this talk Mary discusses the ethical foundations of such a community and how we can create a wise and supportive community where we are. Recalling the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's idea that we "are ti…
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Talk three from retreat at Southern Dharma, mindfulness and the four noble truths.By dave smith
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Brahma vihara's and the four noble truths: Talk
52:33
52:33
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52:33Talk two from retreat at Southern Dharma, mindfulness and the four noble truths.By dave smith
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Talk one from retreat at Southern Dharma, mindfulness and the four noble truths.By dave smith
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Good in the beginning, middle, and end. Talk: Shannon Smith
22:26
22:26
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22:26This talk was given for Big Heart City. During this talk Shannon offers perspectives on the Dharma as being good in the beginning, middle, and end. Many thanks to Vinny for the invite. Enjoy.By dave smith
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Mary reflects on how often we look for reality or truth somewhere else, when there really is nowhere else. We're invited to recognize how our mind struggles to create different stories to suit what we want but freedom lies in being able to stay right where we are. Recorded June 7, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comme…
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Mindfulness and the Addiction Economy: Talk
41:06
41:06
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41:06Given for my good friends at Sangha Live: https://sangha.live/dharma-library-archive-sunday-sangha-recordings/ . This talk offers current perspectives on the world and how we might relate to it, without all the victimhood.By dave smith
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When we don't pay attention to our thoughts, we’re often acting from habits that have been strengthened over the years, and which can be difficult to break. The Buddha’s teaching on liberation and awakening, the Eightfold Path, also offers us a path to freedom from these habits. When we intentionally use this path as a roadmap for how we move throu…
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Guest Teacher: Dave Smith - Mindfulness and the Addiction Economy
36:37
36:37
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36:37Dave Smith discusses the ever growing expansion of social media's "attention economy" into what has become an addiction economy. Dave explores Buddhist practices as a way to approach modern addiction to social media. Enjoy! Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat July 16th-20th: https://www.floweringlotusmeditation.org/2025-tennesee-summer-loving-kindne…
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This is a short reflection on the arising of insight from knowing and sensing and the calmness that allows us to meet each moment as it is. The world is on fire and developing the capacity to be present for ourselves and others is vital. Insight meditation practice offers us a way to meet the moment. Recorded May 24, 2025 in the virtual world Bhikk…
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Compassionate Holding, Compassionate Responding
22:21
22:21
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22:21Mikey Livid gives a talk on compassion in response to the pain and confusion of ICE's presence in Nashville, TN and many cities in the United States. Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat July 16th-20th in Sewanee, TN:https://www.floweringlotusmeditation.org/2025-tennesee-summer-loving-kindness-retreat Wild Heart Meditation Center in a non-profit Budd…
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