Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage
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)
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 28 minutes
- Episodes
- 341
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
Working with the Insanity of the World
Our world can seem upside down at times. In this talk Mary discusses how to hold the reality of what's going on. We can come to it both from a place of love, and a place of engagement.
Recorded March …
Gratitude
Mary discusses gratitude, what the Buddha has to say about it and how, perhaps, gratitude and grumbling cannot exist at the same time. Gratitude is an anchor to the present time.
Recorded Nov 24, 2018
Nirvana Right Here, Right Now
How do we taste the freedom of letting go of craving and aversion in this moment?
Recorded at Against the Stream on Dec. 23, 2015.
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Working with the Body
Reconnecting with our bodies is an important part of our practice.The Buddha said, “Within this fathom-long body and mind is found all of the teachings" yet we are so disconnected from our physical e…
Faith and the Five Spiritual Faculties
A discussion of the concept of Faith in Buddhist teachings and how it forms part of the the Five Spiritual Faculties.
Recorded Feb 23, 2019
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Wake Up to Your Conditioning
We are conditioned by our families, friends, culture and society from the moment we are born and this conditioning is the cause of much suffering. Based on the Buddha's teachings of conditioning, Mar…
Wise Concentration - 8th Factor of the Eightfold Path
Mary discusses the 8th and final factor of the Eightfold Path.
Recorded Dec 22, 2018.
The Metta Sutta
Mary discusses the Buddha's instructions that we should be kind to all beings, omitting none.
Recorded at Against the Stream on Dec 27, 2017.
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Wise Mindfulness - The 7th Factor of the Eightfold Path
A discussion focusing on the Buddha's teaching on mindfulness: the Satipatthana Sutta.
Recorded in Los Angeles on Dec 10, 2018.
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Awakening Joy
Based on the James Baraz book of the same name, Mary talks about how we can cultivate joy into our lives, regardless of our circumstances. Joy is one of the seven factors of awakening and and importa…
Wise Effort - 6th Factor of the Eightfold Path
Letting go of thoughts that don't serve us and cultivating beneficial ones are key pieces of finding freedom from our conditioning.
Recorded Dec 8, 2018.
Setting Intention with Wisdom and Compassion
Intentions are not resolutions which often have a harsh edge and are tied to achievement. When we set intentions we need to make sure we see clearly how they will be of benefit to ourselves and other…
Wise Action - 4th Factor of the Eightfold Path
This factor is foundational for how we relate to others without causing harm. Also includes a short piece on Wise Livelihood.
Recorded Dec 1, 2018
Wise Speech - 3rd Factor of the Eightfold Path
Wise speech is all about how we communicate with others in a wise and skillful manner. It's also about saying the things that need to be said, not just making nice. The beginning is cut off, but Mary…
Hope and Love
Hope and Love investigated through the lens of Buddha's teachings. Inspired by a conversation between John Legend and Bryan Stevenson.
Originally recorded at Against the Stream in Los Angeles on Jan 1…
Wise Intention - 2nd Factor of the Eightfold Path
Wise intention is the bridge from seeing clearly to direct action. We incline the mind towards renunciation, good will and non-harming.
Recorded in Los Angeles, Oct. 27, 2018.
Wise View - 1st Factor of the Eightfold Path
Beginning the investigation of the Eightfold Path with the first factor, Wise View or Wise Understanding. The Eightfold Path is the Buddha's teaching on freedom from craving and the road to liberatio…
Avoiding the Second Arrow
We experience difficulties simply as a result of being a human being, and then there is the extra level of difficulty we create for ourselves when we get caught up in craving and aversion. The Buddh…
The Fourfold Task
Looking at the Four Noble Truths and also Stephen Batchelor's view on seeing them as a call to action in the Fourfold Tasks. Based on his work in After Buddhism.
Recorded 10/13/18.
Letting Go of Fixed Views
Waking up to how we have created fixed ideas around how our lives should be. These fixed views are what create so much discomfort, stress and suffering in our lives. The Buddha's teachings offer us a…