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Mindfulness Talks
Mindfulness is the cognitive skill, usually developed through meditation, of sustaining meta-attentive awareness towards the contents of one's own mind in the present moment. Mindfulness derives from sati, a significant element of Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and is based on Chan, Guān, and Tibetan meditation techniques. Though definitions and techniques of mindfulness are wide-ranging, Buddhist traditions describe what constitutes mindfulness, such as how perceptions of the past, present and future arise and cease as momentary sense-impressions and mental phenomena. Individuals who have contributed to the popularity of mindfulness in the modern Western context include Thích Nhất Hạnh, Joseph Goldstein, Herbert Benson, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Richard J. Davidson.
Clinical psychology and psychiatry since the 1970s have developed a number of therapeutic applications based on mindfulness for helping people experiencing a variety of psychological conditions. Mindfulness practice has been employed to reduce depression, stress, anxiety, and in the treatment of drug addiction. Programs based on mindfulness models have been adopted within schools, prisons, hospitals, veterans' centers, and other environments, and mindfulness programs have been applied for additional outcomes such as for healthy aging, weight management, athletic performance, helping children with special needs, and as an intervention during early pregnancy.
Clinical studies have documented both physical- and mental-health benefits of mindfulness in different patient categories as well as in healthy adults and children. Studies have shown a positive relationship between trait mindfulness (which can be cultivated through the practice of mindfulness-based interventions) and psychological health. The practice of mindfulness appears to provide therapeutic benefits to people with psychiatric disorders, including moderate benefits to those with psychosis. Studies also indicate that rumination and worry contribute to a variety of mental disorders, and that mindfulness-based interventions can enhance trait mindfulness and reduce both rumination and worry. Further, the practice of mindfulness may be a preventive strategy to halt the development of mental-health problems. Mindfulness practices have been said to enable individuals to respond more effectively to stressful situations by helping them strike the balance between over-identification and suppression of their emotional experiences by finding the middle point which is recognition and acceptance.
Evidence suggests that engaging in mindfulness meditation may influence physical health. For example, the psychological habit of repeatedly dwelling on stressful thoughts appears to intensify the physiological effects of the stressor (as a result of the continual activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis) with the potential to lead to physical-health-related clinical manifestations. Studies indicate that mindfulness meditation, which brings about reductions in rumination, may alter these biological clinical pathways. Further, research indicates that mindfulness may favorably influence the immune system as well as inflammation, which can consequently impact physical health, especially considering that inflammation has been linked to the development of several chronic health conditions. Other studies support these findings.
Critics have questioned both the commercialization and the over-marketing of mindfulness for health benefits—as well as emphasizing the need for more randomized controlled studies, for more methodological details in reported studies and for the use of larger sample-sizes. While mindfulness-based interventions may be effective for youth, research has not determined methods in which mindfulness could be introduced and delivered in schools.
Title | Speaker | |
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Buddhas And Sentient Beings Are Not TwoSerial: SF-01026 One-day sitting lecture: positive encouragement; nirvana; five hindrances; preliminary practices; three worlds; jhanas - benefits and ptifalls; Four Noble Truths; Mahayana... Hindrances, Nirvana, Concentration, Samadhi, Four Noble Truths, Liberation, Freedom,... |
Sep 16 2006 Green Gulch |
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The Great MatterSerial: SF-00085 How awareness of death, and our own mortality, spurs us to greater effort in practice. Birth-and-Death, Suzuki Roshi, Impermanence, Gratitude, Heart Sutra, Ceremony,... |
Mar 11 2006 City Center |
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Sesshin Lecture Mindfulness, Letting Go, Practice Period, Hindrances, Liberation, Balance,... |
Nov 12 2005 Tassajara |
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Dining Room Lecture Posture, Zendo, Mindfulness, training, Big Mind, Bell, Bowing, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen,... |
Aug 31 2005 Tassajara |
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Sunday LectureSerial: SF-00940 World's largest ball of twine, snobbery, insight, calming our minds, shamata - tranquility practce, Dhammapada, monuments to warfare, GGF farm and kids, hate crime and Tam High... Vow, Precepts, Hate, Non-violence, Bodhisattva Precepts, Intimacy, Interview,... |
Dec 19 2004 Green Gulch |
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DisciplineSerial: SF-00077 Relationship with the rules while training. training, Practice Period, Vinaya, Emotions, Don't Know Mind, Mindfulness,... |
Oct 20 2004 |
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Breathing In and Breathing OutSerial: SF-00934 One-day sitting lecture: Book of Serenity Case 3, Anapanasati Sutta, Six Subtle Dharma Gates Mindfulness, Dragons, Lotus Sutra, Concentration, Book of Serenity, Bodhidharma,... |
Sep 18 2004 Green Gulch |
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Living The Good LifeSerial: SF-00933 Sunday Lecture Patience, Ordinary Mind, Mill Valley, Big Mind, Attachment, Commitment, Silence,... |
Aug 29 2004 Green Gulch |
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Eight AwakeningsSerial: SF-03589 Zendo Lecture Mindfulness, Greed, Attachment, Daily Life, Right Speech, Posture, Precepts, Zendo,... |
Jul 16 2004 Tassajara |
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January Class Mindfulness, Posture, Instruction, Duality, Four Noble Truths, Four Foundations,... |
Jan 13 2004 Green Gulch |
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Zen's Path: Practice as Awakening Practice, Mindfulness, Suzuki Roshi |
Oct 11 2003 City Center |
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Tenzo Kyokun Class Practice Period, Suzuki Roshi, Don't Know Mind, Mindfulness, realization, Mill... |
Nov 07 2000 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Four Noble Truths, Right Effort, Greed, Attachment, Bodhidharma, Karma, Three... |
Sep 17 2000 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Letting Go, Ceremony, Freedom, Zazen, Bodhidharma, Interview, Mindfulness, Silence,... |
Mar 05 2000 Green Gulch |
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Wednesday Lecture Practice Period, Monastic Practice, Mindfulness, Buddha Mind, Nirvana Sutra, Ceremony... |
Feb 23 2000 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Right Speech, Freedom, Precepts, Happiness, Buddha Nature, Conversation, Priest,... |
Jul 04 1999 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Emptiness, Nirvana Sutra, Zazen Mind, Posture, Sangha, Mindfulness, Teacher-and-... |
Mar 07 1999 Green Gulch |
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The Feeling Of Practice PeriodSerial: SF-00148 Wednesday talk; the heart and determination to study - to support and appreciate the practice period. Practice Period, Impermanence, Mindfulness, Precepts, Zazen Mind, Silence, Big Mind,... |
Oct 21 1998 Green Gulch Farm |
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Sesshin Lecture Posture, Mindfulness, Emotions, Birth-and-Death, Suzuki Roshi, Bell, Instruction,... |
Aug 18 1998 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Heart Sutra, zen meditation, Mindfulness, Religion, Koan, resistance, Letting Go,... |
May 17 1998 Green Gulch |
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Wednesday Lecture Practice Period, Silence, Posture, Three Treasures, Mindfulness, Tassajara Zen... |
Apr 01 1998 Green Gulch |
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Scholarship Conference PaperSerial: SF-03238 Sunday Lecture Heart Sutra, Lineage, Platform Sutra, Soto Zen, Religion, Study Period, Emptiness,... |
Nov 16 1997 Green Gulch |
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Majjhima Nikaya ClassSerial: SF-03195 Middle-length Discourses Attachment, Addiction, Mindfulness, confusion, Four Noble Truths, Emptiness, Zazen,... |
Oct 14 1997 Green Gulch |
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Majjhima Nikaya ClassSerial: SF-03194 Middle-length Discourses Attachment, Evil, Delusion, Hate, confusion, Don't Know Mind, Observe, Letting... |
Oct 07 1997 Green Gulch |
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Questions and AnswersSerial: SF-04820 Commercially Produced cassette: Sounds True - - Pain, Love and Happiness with Thich Nhat Hanh - September 1-6 1997 Sponsored by the Community of Mindful Living Happiness, Bell, Freedom, Peace, Daily Life, Birth-and-Death, Mindfulness, Offering,... |
Sep 01 1997 Unknown |
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Transmissions of the Mindfulness TrainingsSerial: SF-04814 Commercially Produced cassette: Sounds True - - Pain, Love and Happiness with Thich Nhat Hanh - September 1-6 1997 Sponsored by the Community of Mindful Living Mindfulness, Practice, Community |
Sep 01 1997 Unknown |
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Dharma Talk - WednesdaySerial: SF-04818 Commercially Produced cassette: Sounds True - - Pain, Love and Happiness with Thich Nhat Hanh - September 1-6 1997 Sponsored by the Community of Mindful Living Time, Mindfulness, Pain |
Sep 01 1997 Unknown |
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Dharma Talk - TuesdaySerial: SF-04812 Commercially Produced cassette: Sounds True - - Pain, Love and Happiness with Thich Nhat Hanh - September 1-6 1997 Sponsored by the Community of Mindful Living Practice, Mindfulness, Pain |
Sep 01 1997 Unknown |
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Mindfulness Practices PanelSerial: SF-04816 Commercially Produced cassette: Sounds True - - Pain, Love and Happiness with Thich Nhat Hanh - September 1-6 1997 Sponsored by the Community of Mindful Living Mindfulness, Practice, Time |
Sep 01 1997 Unknown |
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Wednesday Lecture Karmic Consciousness, Separation, Fasting, Precepts, Karma, Religion, Balance,... |
Jul 30 1997 Green Gulch |
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Majjhima Nikaya Mindfulness, Hindrances, Evil, Liberation, Soto Zen, Lay, Doubt, Faith, Daily Life,... |
Jul 10 1997 Green Gulch |
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The Most Important Thing: Just This As It Is Gratitude, Suzuki Roshi, Monastic Practice, Don't Know Mind, Practice Period,... |
Apr 26 1997 |
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No Species Is Only ItselfSerial: SF-03103 Sunday Lecture: Tigers are awesome, unchained wildness; species are disappearing; every species exists as an important factor in the world of many other species; for humans,... Forgiveness, Dream World, Mindfulness, Ego, Four Foundations, Commitment, Beginners,... |
Mar 02 1997 Green Gulch |
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Journey from Prince to Plum BlossomSerial: SF-03623 Sunday Lecture Practice Period, Mindfulness, Precepts, Funeral, Obstacles, Vow, Priest, Freedom... |
Feb 02 1997 Green Gulch |
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On Breath and BreathingSerial: SF-03114 Sunday Lecture - if you pick up one piece of dust, the whole universe comes with it Emotions, Mindfulness, zen meditation, Four Noble Truths, confusion, Hindrances,... |
Jan 12 1997 Green Gulch |
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Mindfulness SutraSerial: SF-00069 January PP Class; introduction of Mindfulness Sutra; quotes from Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman; Walden and Leaves of Grass. Mindfulness, Four Foundations, Four Noble Truths, Forgiveness, Concentration, Letting... |
Jan 08 1997 Green Gulch Farm |
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Lessons From the Movie 'Secrets and Lies'Serial: SF-03215 One-day sitting Mindfulness, Commitment, Practice Period, Equanimity, Emotions, Letting Go, Posture,... |
Nov 16 1996 Green Gulch |
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Making DistinctionsSerial: SF-03113 Sunday Lecture Balance, Hsin Hsin Ming, Suzuki Roshi, Lay, training, Conversation, Emotions,... |
Aug 11 1996 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Practice Period, Letting Go, Enthusiasm, Addiction, New Year, confusion, Patience,... |
Jan 06 1996 Green Gulch |
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BodhidharmaSerial: SF-03627 Sunday Lecture Forgiveness, Three Treasures, Mindfulness, Bodhidharma, Emptiness, Precepts, Blue... |
Oct 01 1995 Green Gulch |
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Our Bodies and Our PracticeSerial: SF-03528 Wednesday Lecture Practice, Time, Mindfulness |
Sep 20 1995 Green Gulch |
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Putting Our Effort Into SittingSerial: SF-03607 One-day sitting realization, Posture, Mindfulness, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Emptiness, Harmonizing,... |
Sep 16 1995 Green Gulch |
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Shantideva Class Anger, Patience, Enthusiasm, Emotions, Letting Go, Right Speech, Happiness, Zazen,... |
May 09 1995 Unknown |
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Shantideva Class Anger, Enemies, Letting Go, Renunciation, Happiness, Concentration, Patience, Aspects... |
May 02 1995 Unknown |
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Shantideva ClassSerial: SF-03200 Practice of Morality/Ethics Mindfulness, Doubt, Enemies, Emotions, Discrimination, Anger, Don't Know Mind,... |
Apr 25 1995 Unknown |
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Wednesday Lecture training, Practice Period, Heart Sutra, Subject-and-Object, Posture, Instruction,... |
Nov 30 1994 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Hate, Mindfulness, Letting Go, Happiness, Zazen, Patience, resistance, Commitment,... |
Aug 28 1994 Green Gulch |
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Fear Emptiness, Mindfulness, Right Speech, Don't Know Mind, Commitment, Anger,... |
Aug 05 1991 City Center |