DHARMA TALKS

Dharma Talks

Below are Dharma Talks offered by our Guiding Teacher Marjolein Janssen and Guest Teachers.

These talks have been recorded during IMCR sangha gatherings, like on Tuesday evenings.

The Noble Eightfold Path - Wise Effort (Working with Unwholesome States)

Wise Effort is about preventing unwholesomeness, overcoming unwholesomeness, arousing wholesomeness, and maintaining wholesomeness. In this talk we go deeper into working with unwholesome state of heart and mind.

The Noble Eightfold Path - Wise Effort (An Introduction)

Wise Effort is about preventing unwholesomeness, overcoming unwholesomeness, arousing wholesomeness, and maintaining wholesomeness. In this talk an introduction to the topic.

The Noble Eightfold Path - Wise Intention (Kindness and Compassion)

Wise Intention consists of three parts: renunciation, kindness and compassion. In this talk a closer look at the aspect of kindness and compassion.

The Noble Eightfold Path - Wise Intention (Renunciation)

Wise Intention consists of three parts: renunciation, kindness and compassion. In this talk a closer look at the aspect of renunciation.

The Noble Eightfold Path - Wise Speech (part 2 of 2)

Speech is an important aspect of our lives. The Buddha has practical advice on how to engage in speech that is wise and wholesome. This is part 2 of 2. Both parts can be listened to independent of each other.

The Noble Eightfold Path - Wise Speech (part 1 of 2)

Speech is an important aspect of our lives. The Buddha has practical advice on how to engage in speech that is wise and wholesome. This is part 1 of 2. Both parts can be listened to independent of each other.

The Noble Eightfold Path - Wise Livelihood

The teachings on what wise livelihood is are very rich and go deeper than one might think at first.

The Noble Eightfold Path - A High Level Overview

In this talk a high level overview of the Noble Eightfold Path. This talk give the greater brush strokes of the Path and goes deeper into the topics of virtue, wisdom and meditation.

Overcoming the Three Defilements With Help of The Five Faculties

The three defilments are also called “the three unwholesome roots of existence”, they are: greed, aversion and delusion. With the help of the Five Faculties (faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom) we can overcome these three mind states.

The Five Faculties - An Essay by Bhikkhu Bodhi

An Essay by renowned Buddhist scholar Bhikkhu Bodhi about the Five Faculties, read and commented on by Marjolein Janssen. This is the link to the article.

The Five Faculties

An overview of the Five Faculties: faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom. These five aspects need to be developed and brought into balance with each other in our practice.

Practice in Daily Life

Often we think of meditation as sitting on a cushion for X amount of time. However the Buddha points out that we can be mindful during daily activities as well. We can bring our practice to our everyday lives, from the moment we get up out of bed until the moment we fall asleep.

The Hindrances: Doubt

The five classical hindrances in Buddhism are: sensual desire, ill will, sloth&torpor, restlessness&remorse, and doubt. During a series of talks we’ll go deeper into each one these. This time a deep dive into “Doubt”.

The Hindrances: Restlessness & Worry

The Hindrances: Sloth & Torpor

The Hindrances: Ill Will

The Hindrances: Sensual Desire

Dealing with Difficulty (RAIN)

The acronym RAIN is explored as a way to deal with difficult emotions and feelings.

The Four Noble Truths: The Third Noble Truth (part 2 of 2)

Series on The Four Noble Truths. After discussing the first, second and fourth noble truths, we now discuss the Third Noble Truth: the end of unsatisfactoriness. [Note: the first 5 minutes and 20 seconds the microphone was not properly attached, you can skip this part if the sound is not good enough.]

The Four Noble Truths: The Third Noble Truth (part 1 of 2)

Series on The Four Noble Truths. After discussing the first, second and fourth noble truths, we now discuss the Third Noble Truth: the end of unsatisfactoriness.

The Four Noble Truths: The Fourth Noble Truth

Series on The Four Noble Truths. After discussing the first and second noble truths, we first take a look at the Fourth Noble Truth: the Path leading to the end of unsatisfactoriness. In the following talks the Third Noble Truth will be discussed.

The Four Noble Truths: The Second Noble Truth

Series on The Four Noble Truths. The Second Noble Truth: the cause of unsatisfactoriness is craving.

The Four Noble Truths: The First Noble Truth

Series on The Four Noble Truths. The First Noble Truth: there is unsatisfactoriness.

Compassion (Karuna)

Compassion is often experienced as a quivering of the heart when confronted with suffering, accompanied by the urge to alleviate it. It is a warm, accepting and even loving quality of heart and mind that is distinct from pity. While pity can cause us to suffer, compassion enables us to be fully present for the suffering of others without becoming overwhelmed by it or losing ourselves in it.

Nature as a Support for Practice

In his teachings, the Buddha urged his followers to practice in nature. Indeed, nature can serve as a valuable ally in our spiritual practice, offering a profound source of support. Immersing ourselves in nature’s tranquil surroundings can have a calming effect on our minds and bodies, helping us to unwind and release the stresses of daily life.

Equanimity (Upekkha)

Equanimity (upekkha) is one of the four brahmaviharas, or heavenly abodes. It can be cultivated through the Buddhist equanimity meditation. In this talk more information on equanimity and how we can cultivate this wholesome state of being.

Sympathetic Joy (Mudita)

Sympathetic joy (mudita) is one of the four brahmaviharas, or heavenly abodes. It can be cultivated through the Buddhist mudita meditation. In this talk more information on mudita and how we can cultivate this wholesome state of being.

Goodness and Suffering

In this talk the invitation to open to the truths of both goodness and suffering; in ourselves, in others and in the world.

Things Should be Different Than They Are

Underlying much of our suffering is this pattern or belief that “things should be different than they are”. In this talk an exploration of this pattern and how to work with it from a Buddhist perspective.

Loving Kindness (Metta)

Metta, loving kindness, is a quality of heart and mind that we can cultivate. In this talk more information on this beautiful state of being and how we can grow and develop it through intention and practice.

Developing Calmness and Relaxation

Calmness, relaxation, concentration, collectedness etc. are wholesome states of mind. In this talk some Buddhist viewpoints on the topic, as well as some tools to cultivate these qualities.

Teachings on Old age, Sickness and Death

The Buddha’s teachings on Old age, Sickness and Death can be profound and have the potential to liberate us. They are not meant to depress us, but to invigorate us to practice.