Talks

Deconstructing Yourself Podcast

Host Michael Taft talks with dharma teacher and author Tina Rasmussen about ways to understand nondual awareness and the progress of nondual meditation, including her own unique comparison between the Formless Realms of early Buddhist meditation and the Boundless Dimensions taught by Hameed Ali (aka AH Almaas) of the Diamond Approach. Listen here

Imperfect Buddha Interview

Tina discusses compatibility issues between neo-Advaita and Buddhism, generational conceptions of practice; from Boomers to Millennials, the need to evolve our understanding and ways of thinking about and describing awakening/enlightenment, the phases and stages of a practising life, roadblocks, hurdles, maturation; limitations, critiquing the language we use to talk about self, ego, awakening, the way belief shapes practice, perception, and expectations and the contours of subjectivity. Listen on SoundCloud

“After Awakening” Interview

Tina is interviewed by Ryan Burton of “After Awakening.” This is Tina’s best interview covering aspects of awakening. Ryan has studied with Tina for many years, so they have a lot of fun! You can read the transcript on Ryan’s website. Listen on Spotify or Ryan’s website.

Guru Viking Interview

Tina talks to “Guru Viking” (Steve James) about her life-defining quest for enlightenment, undertaking a 1-year solo retreat, awakening, jhāna practice, and the integration of awakening into ordinary life. Listen on SoundCloud

Dharma Talks

Most of Tina’s public talks are available at DharmaSeed.org. Use this link which will take you to Tina’s Dharma Seed page for a complete list where you can listen to all of the talks.  Below is a partial list of talks on Dharma Seed and elsewhere with direct links to many of Tina’s talks. Please see the Videos page for Tina’s videos.

  • Samatha Anapanasati Meditation Instructions

  • Tina Rasmussen provides 13 minutes of instruction on the Samatha (concentration and serenity) meditation, in particular the anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing) practice. This includes everything that a person needs to know to begin practicing Samatha anapanasati meditation.. (12:48), taught by Tina Rasmussen

  • Posture Instructions

  • Tina Rasmussen provides a 10 minute overview on how to support your meditation practice by setting up your posture at the beginning of each sitting period. Guided instructions are provided to create a supportive posture before you begin meditation. (10:32), taught by Tina Rasmussen

  • Science and Non-duality Conference

  • What Does 2,500 Years of Buddhism Have to Teach the Modern Non-dual Practitioner? (21:00), taught by Tina Rasmussen

  • Spirit Rock

  • Concentration Meditation: Purification of Mind (6:37:49), taught by Tina Rasmussen

  • Reggio Emilio, Italy

  • Italy Interview, Introductory Overview Talk (31:07) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder. This interview provides an excellent overview of the teaching and work of Awakening Dharma, and Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder. » Download Transcript

  • Spirit Rock

  • Focused Attention: Meditation for Developing Concentration and Serenity (6:03:23) with Tina Rasmussen. Practicing focused attention meditation collects the mind stream and “builds the muscle” of concentration, enabling us to turn away from the constant pull of our smartphones, computer screens, games, and entertainment, allowing us to settle into the serenity of our deeper nature. The practice also reveals with heightened clarity our habitual patterns that cause us to suffer both on and off the cushion. Then, as we build the capacity to turn away from these patterns, a laser-like awareness can develop that can lead to profound stillness and deep joy.

  • Cloud Mountain

  • Anapanasati Concentration / Samatha Meditation 30 minutes with full instructions and reminders (30:04) with Tina Rasmussen. Tina Rasmussen provides 6 minutes of instruction on mindfulness of breathing meditation (anapanasati), a form of concentration / samatha meditation, followed by 24 minutes of silent meditation that includes 3 brief reminders.

  • Cloud Mountain

  • Posture Instructions 10 minutes (10:48) with Tina Rasmussen; Tina Rasmussen provides a 10 minute overview on how to support your meditation practice by setting up your posture at the beginning of each sitting period. Guided instructions are provided to create a supportive posture before you begin meditation.

  • Spirit Rock

  • Concentration Meditation: Purification of Mind (3:48:41) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder

  • Various Locations

  • Italy Retreat Transcript from Interview for Italian Newspaper (5:55) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
  • Bramaviharas as Concentration Practice (1:17:22) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
  • Upekkha Follow-up; Purification of Heart (55:52) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
  • Mudita Follow-up; Upekkha overview and instructions (68:07) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
  • Karuna overview and instructions (27:43) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
  • Karuna Follow-up; Mudita overview and instructions (59:32) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder; Bramaviharas, Metta overview and practice overview, instructions (58:18) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
  • More About Metta and Follow-up (61:47)with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
  • Spirit Rock Introduction to Concentration Meditation Daylong Part 1 (59:41) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder Introduction to Concentration Meditation Daylong Part 2 (63:19) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder Introduction to Concentration Meditation Part 3 (14:32) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder Introduction to Concentration Meditation Part 4 (1:12:15) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder

  • Cloud Mountain

  • Chanting–Homage to the Buddha, Refuges, Precepts (5:23) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
  • Introduction to Concentration Meditation Daylong Part 2 (37:50) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder Introduction to Concentration Meditation Daylong Part 1 (50:06) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder

  • Spirit Rock

  • What is Purification of Mind? (1:15:05) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder What is the Samatha Practice (Concentration Meditation)? (39:41) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder

  • Spirit Rock

  • Differences Between Samatha and Vipassana (27:38) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder What’s Compelling about the Concentration / Samatha Practice? (40:20) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder

  • Forest Refuge

  • The Four Elements Practice; The Buddha As Our Role Model (61:22) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
  • Am I Going To Get Jhana? Talk #3 (1:11:33) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
  • First Sit To First Jhana – talk #2 (49:55) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder
  • What Is The Jhana Practice? #1 (66:22) with Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder

Buddhist Geeks Interview

Below are two interviews of Tina and Stephen, by Vince Horn at BuddhistGeeks. It was a lot of fun talking with Vince about the “Jedi Warrior Training” the yogis described experiencing one of our retreats.

Part 1: BG 159: Mastering the Jhanas  Transcripts

Part 2: BG 160: The Jedi Mind Training of Concentration  Transcripts

Theravada Dhamma Society Talk

at the Request of Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw

In November, 2009, Tina and Stephe were invited by Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw to give a talk to the Theravada Dhamma Society, a Burmese Buddhist community in the San Francisco Bay Area. Below is a hotlink to the talk in two parts (as the talk was 2 hours long.) This talk is a good condensed overview of the samatha practice as it is presented in the lineage of Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw.

Samatha Practice Overview Part 1

Samatha Practice Overview Part 2

Monthly Practice Group Dharma Talks

These talks were recorded at a January-May, 2008 monthly sitting group with Tina and Stephen. They describe the Samatha meditation practice as presented in the tradition of Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw. This practice leads to purification of mind and the development of powerful concentration that can lessen suffering and and increase the joy of Being, and can lead to the meditative absorptions known as jhanas. To listen or download in MP3 format, please click on the hotlink below each talk, which will take you to the www.DharmaSeed.com where these talks are stored. The talks build on each other, so it is helpful to listen to them in the order they were presented.

Talk #1

Overview of the Samatha Practice

Includes:  The three stages of practice (Sila, Samatha, Vipassana); The Buddha’s practice of the jhanas; Why do this practice?; and an overview of the path of practice as taught by Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw; meditation instructions. Please also download the accompanying Practice Chart from the hotlink below, which accompanies the audio.

Talk #1 – Overview of the Samatha Practice
Length of talk: 43 minutes | File size: 29.3 MB
 
Click here to download the Practice Chart that accompanies this talk

Talk #2

The Three Types of Concentration, and the Territory from the First Sit to First Jhana

Includes: What is concentration? The three types of concentration (momentary, access and absorption) and the differences between them; the progression of practice from your first sitting all the way through entering first jhana; meditation instructions; and Q&A.

Talk #2 – The Three Types of Concentration, and the Territory from the First Sit to First Jhana
 
Length of talk: 48 minutes | File size: 33 MB

Talk #3

How the Jhana Factors Neutralize the Hindrances, and Concentration Practice as Purification of Mind

Includes: Jhana factors overview; how hindrances relate to jhana factors; the role of sila / wholesomeness in this practice; how concentration practice leads to purification of mind; meditation instructions; and Q&A.

Talk #3 – How the Jhana Factors Neutralize the Hindrances, and Concentration Practice as Purification of Mind
 
Length of talk: 1 hour 14 minutes | File size: 50.7 MB
 

Talk #4

Skillful Effort

Includes: intention; surrender; persistence; Yin and Yang; meditation instructions; and Q&A.

Talk #4 – Skillful Effort
 
Length of talk: 1 hour 22 minutes | File size: 56.3 MB

Talk #5

Actions that Support Practice; The Five Jhana Masteries; “Psychic Powers”

Includes: silence, breathing, timing, resolves; the masteries required in completing a jhana and moving on to the next; and what is meant by “psychic powers” and whether they are necessary; meditation instructions; and Q&A.

Talk #5 – Actions that Support Practice; The Five Jhana Masteries; “Psychic Powers”
 
Length of talk: 1 hour 22 minutes | File size: 56.3 MB