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Retreat Dharma Talks at Cloud Mountain Retreat Center

Cooling the Mind, Warming the Heart

Cooling the mind begins with developing our ability to resolve our own negative thoughts and emotions like desire, irritation, anger, resentment, confusion, etc., the things that make our mind “hot” and bring unhappiness. This first step in cooling the mind also includes learning skillful ways to deal with the negative attitudes and behaviors of others. Cooling continues with deepening states of calm and stillness on and off the cushion and comes to completion with full liberation.
Warming the heart is an essential part of our practice as we develop the mind and is usually accomplished through cultivation of generosity and the Brahmaviharas: kindness, compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity.

2024-06-07 (14 days) Cloud Mountain Retreat Center

  
2024-06-11 Compassion 30:00
Ayya Santussika
2024-06-11 Choosing Mudita 45:03
Ayya Santussika
Examples from the suttas of mudita arising from living in harmony and its importance in developing the practice.
2024-06-12 Finding Your Own Inspiration 17:33
Ayya Santussika
What do you find inspiring? Sutta Nipata 5.19, "Preserving the Way to the Far Shore", or Anguttara Nikaya 11.2, "Making a Wish", or is it something else?
2024-06-12 Present with the Cycle of Feeling and Letting Go 29:57
Ayya Santussika
Based on a guided meditation by Ajahn Amaro, found in his book, "Just One More..." pg. 63.
2024-06-12 Developing Upekkha 53:19
Ayya Santussika
AN 7.53 Nanda's Mother MN 152 The Development of the Faculties
2024-06-13 Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space 18:48
Ayya Santussika
MN 62
2024-06-13 Calming the body, calming the mind 30:28
Ayya Santussika
2024-06-13 Q&A 2 66:01
Ayya Santussika
Our second evening of Q&A
2024-06-14 Reaching the End of the World 26:15
Ayya Santussika
Reading from AN 4.45 Rohitassa "It is in this fathom-long body endowed with perception and mind that I proclaim the world, the origin of the world, the cessation of the world, and the way leading to the cessation of the world."
2024-06-14 Mindfulness of the Body Techniques 43:44
Ayya Santussika
Based on Majjhima Nikaya 119
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