"Hi Cynthia,
The rarity does not pertain to the number of people alive now. That is the present conditions. The rarity pertains to all past incarnations. An eternity on the wheel of death and rebirth is just that, an eternity. Being…"
Insight Meditation Center Community
Welcome to the IMC/Audio Dharma worldwide sangha
Gil Fronsdal's Practice Instructions:
Dear Dharma Friends,
In response to requests, I am happy to offer these weekly mini-talks to provide you with some short and simple instructions for meditation. The instructions will be sequential. I encourage you to meditate each day so you can get the most from these talks.
The talks are available on Audio Dharma
With metta,
Gil
Gil Fronsdal Answers Your Questions:
Dear Dharma Friends,
Here is the chance for you to ask me questions about your practice, and any other Dharma related questions you may have. Obviously, I cannot answer each question. Each month, the IMC Online Community moderator submits a few of your questions to me, and I record my answers for the benefit of the whole IMC Online Community.
You can listen to this month's Questions and Answers on AudioDharma.
If you would like to ask me a question, please send the question to Marguerite Manteau-Rao.
With metta,
Gil
Groups
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SF East Bay Friends
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Practicing Mindfulness M…
104 members
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Beginners in meditation
208 members
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UK Friends
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Poetry Club
39 members
IMC News
Welcome to the IMC Online Community
Hello, and welcome to IMC Community, the online sangha for Insight Meditation Center and AudioDharma. IMC Community was created to answer the demand from many of you in the IMC/AudioDharma worldwide community, for a place to connect, take refuge, and help each other with various aspects of dharma practice.
Here you can:
When on the IMC Community site, please remember to practice skillful communication, writing truthfully, with goodwill, kindly, and on matters relevant to dharma practice.
May this be a place where you meet many good dharma friends!
With much metta,
Marguerite & Rob
Here you can:
- Participate in online discussions in the Forum section
- Join or start local dharma Groups based on your geographical area
- Start your own Blog
- Live Chat with other members
When on the IMC Community site, please remember to practice skillful communication, writing truthfully, with goodwill, kindly, and on matters relevant to dharma practice.
May this be a place where you meet many good dharma friends!
With much metta,
Marguerite & Rob
Latest Activity
Cynthia commented on Cynthia's blog post how rare it is to be human"I don't understand. Why is it so rare to be human, when there are 7 B people on the earth today (or soon enough). What does 'rare' mean in this context? Thanks for trying to be helpful. I still don't get it."
Joe Bones commented on Cynthia's blog post how rare it is to be human"Yes it is. You misunderstood the context of the original question, unless you knew it was about reincarnation? Now it appears you're still conflating the context, did you not understand what I wrote? I was just trying to be helpful. I'm…"
Cynthia commented on Cynthia's blog post how rare it is to be human"It is not beyond the scope of the original. The original, I see it above, it says, "It is really so rare to be human?""
Joe Bones commented on Cynthia's blog post how rare it is to be human"Hi Cynthia,
That's beyond the scope of your original question. Your question had to do with ancient stories, aka Buddhist culture. That question is metaphysical. You might as well ask, why is the grass green. It's just how it…"
Cynthia commented on Cynthia's blog post how rare it is to be human"So... why are there 7 B people in the world today? How come there is a huge explosion in the opportunity to be enlightened?"
Joe Bones commented on Cynthia's blog post how rare it is to be human"I believe it has to do with reincarnation. The idea is that we are stuck on the wheel of death and rebirth until we are born as a human. Only humans have the ability to become enlightened and therefore escape the wheel. Even gods are subject to…"
Dave Selby posted a discussionTrying to find an old podcast, factors to balance for meditation
Hi All,Quite a while ago Gil did a podcast where he explained the 5(?) factors that needed to be balanced for meditation, energy, mindfulness ... etc ... he went into each and at the time I found this podcast very helpful but can no longer find it, does anyone have any idea which podcast this was ?Many thanksDaveSee More
Stef Maruch replied to Cynthia's discussion Taking notes"I tend to listen to dharma talks while driving and I write down notes when I get home.
I think taking notes or keeping a journal is great if you're so inclined. It would only be a problem if you do it so much that it prevents you from doing…"
Joe Bones replied to Cynthia's discussion Too many talks"Better than a thousand hollow wordsIs one word that brings peace.Better than a thousand hollow versesIs one verse that brings peace.BuddhaDhammapada."
Diego Hemken replied to Cynthia's discussion Too many talks"For fear of causing harm, I want to add that we should all listen to MORE Dhamma, not less. Dhamma talks given by the Sangha of the Buddha's Disciples can be found…"
Cynthia replied to Cynthia's discussion Taking notes"I would really like to hear if more people take notes. I know journaling is important in some practices. Sometimes I think I am going through the same patterns but I don't realize it just because -- I forget! I am so wrapped up in what's…"
Diego Hemken replied to Cynthia's discussion Too many talks"Sometimes I think I am neglecting being mindful when I just listen to dhammatalks for the pleasant sensation but don't really pay attention diligently or put the teachings into practice.
But even if that's the case, I think…"
Joe Bones posted a blog postThe Truth
All truth is simple... is that not doubly a lie?The truth, strictly speaking, doesn't exist. If it did exist, what would it be? Graven stone tablets? Parchments maybe? Those things are just recordings though, so what's being recorded? Ideas, obviously, but then, whose ideas? More to the point, whose ideas are "the truth"? Yours? Mine? So what then is "the truth"? The opposite of telling a lie is telling the truth, so what is "the truth?" IMO, it's just a projection. I can't, in fact, tell you…See More
Forum
Trying to find an old podcast, factors to balance for meditation
Hi All,Quite a while ago Gil did a podcast where he explained the 5(?) factors that needed to be balanced for meditation, energy, mindfulness ... etc ... he went into each and at the time I found…Continue
Started by Dave Selby in General sharing yesterday.
Taking notes 4 Replies
Do any of you take notes on things -- observations, dharma talks, or anything like that? Is this a good idea or a bad idea?Continue
Started by Cynthia in General sharing. Last reply by Stef Maruch on Sunday.
Too many talks 4 Replies
Is it possible to listen to too many dharma talks? Has anyone ever wondered this?Continue
Started by Cynthia in General sharing. Last reply by Joe Bones May 11.
Bay Area Housing Requests/Offers 17 Replies
Please post any housing requests and offers for sangha members. This is designed for use in the SF Bay Area.
Started by IMC in Non-Dharma Topics. Last reply by John Nathan Betts May 8.
Looking for career counselor
Hello, All. I am pleased to have just joined the online IMC Community. One reason I joined is because, in participating in the online auction, I noticed that there is a career counselor who offered…Continue
Started by Bonnie Ann Payne in General sharing May 5.
Hello, and thank you! 1 Reply
Although I have been listening to the talks for some time, this is my first post on these forums and I just wanted to say "thank you" to everyone who is involved.The talks themselves are outstanding,…Continue
Tags: internet, forum, gratitude, thanks, talks
Started by David Wright in Sharing about Audio Dharma talks. Last reply by domenique brouwers May 1.
Seeing yourself as whole 9 Replies
This talk might be heart-warming at times -- but I'm not sure because I really don't get it, at all.Continue
Started by Cynthia in General sharing. Last reply by James Apr 19.
"Training" talk on 4/2 13 Replies
I love this talk. However, I so wanted to ask a question afterward...The first questioner after the talk nearly asked it for me but not quite, so maybe some of you out there have some ideas about…Continue
Started by Vanessa Beihl in Sharing about Audio Dharma talks. Last reply by Cynthia Apr 15.
Blog Posts
The Truth
Posted by Joe Bones on May 9, 2012 at 9:28pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
All truth is simple... is that not doubly a lie?
The truth, strictly speaking, doesn't exist. If it did exist, what would it be? Graven stone tablets? Parchments maybe? Those things are just recordings though, so what's being recorded? Ideas, obviously, but then, whose ideas? More to the point, whose ideas are "the truth"? Yours? Mine? So what then is "the truth"? The opposite of telling a lie is telling the truth, so what is "the truth?" IMO, it's just a projection. I can't, in…
Five Aggregates, Thanissaro Bhikku
Posted by Cynthia on April 26, 2012 at 9:41pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Taan Geoff, Venerable sir. Do you realize how much your talk was reminding me of vampire tv shows we have all been watching lately? I mean, the idea of 'feeding'; and the idea that some point we will need to feed less and less. That's Godric! A 2000 year old vampire.. He barely needs to feed.
I do not mean to make fun. Except in a very nice way. Perhaps the idea behind your talk and the idea behind True Blood is the same: We live by consuming other things, and at some point, we will…
Continue Recent Talks
Posted by Cynthia on April 18, 2012 at 3:58pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Andrea's talk on Selfing: "There is choice, but it's not you making the choice." Hmm --- that is food for thought.
how rare it is to be human
Posted by Cynthia on April 15, 2012 at 6:42pm 7 Comments 0 Likes
I was just telling my daughter how rare it is to be born a human.
-- A blind turtle..
-Oh, it's much rarer to be a turtle! They're endangered! There's BILLIONS of us!
--Swimming in the ocean, comes up for air every 100 years and has to find the hole in the log floating on the ocean.
--That's completely random and very hard to understand.
So Gil, there's your challenge. Is it really so rare to be a human? We are mass produced, with pretty…
Continue
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