Intermediate Mindfulness
This is a 4-week class introducing the principles and practices which deepen a mindfulness practice. The teacher is Gil Fronsdal and all the lectures are available for free. Suggested participation requirement is 45 minutes of daily meditation practice and keeping a meditation journal. Suggested prerequisite is an introductory course in mindfulness practice or equivalent. Homework materials (Word documents) for each week are also available for download. There is also Advanced Mindfulness class series available.
http://www.audiodharma.org/series/1/talk/1761/
Satipatthana Sutta
This series is based on the Satipatthana Sutta, the Discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, from the Majjhima Nikaya (The Middle Length Discourses) MN10. It covers the Buddha’s comprehensive practical instructions on the development of mindfulness.
http://www.audiodharma.org/series/1/talk/1742/
Dependent Origination
John Peacock has been both an academic scholar as well as a Buddhist practitioner/teacher for more than thirty years. These first 3 talks in the series gives a serious and concise description of Dependent Origination (I had to cut out DO out of the beginning class materiel due to lack of time)
Buddhism before the Theravada Part 3
Buddhism Before the Theravada Part 2
Buddhism Before the Theravada Part 1
Buddhism Before the Theravada (Series)
http://www.audiodharma.org/teacher/207
Goenka Retreat Information
Here is what I consider the bible of modern Vipassana Meditation
Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha by Daniel Ingram
This book launched the Pragmatic Dharma movement and literally transformed the vipassana meditation experience. There are various styles of Vipassana (noting, body scanning), as I learned, and switching methods after four years was what was needed to make explosive progress.
In the book Daniel advises to ask yourself: “What type of life do I want to come back to?”
So I quit my job and reset everything to no commitment whatsoever and went on a twenty day retreat where I obtained stream entry (first time experiencing nirvana) on day seven. I obtained 2nd path around day 12. 3rd and 4th paths where months later back at home during daily practices.
The book is available on Amazon: MCTB at Amazon
and Daniels web site as a pdf: Mastering Core Teacings Buddha
Here are some links to Vipassana Meditation communities where you will find the answers to all your questions
Dharma Overground Website
This is a website which seem to spring up after Mastering Core Teachings of the Buddha was published (around 2008). There is a vast archive of discussions between yogi/yoginis related to their meditation practices ~ helping each other, offering advice and experiences. Also found here are practice journals that meditators write and publish, it is a journal of your path. Reading/commenting on other peoples’ practice journals becomes very helpful to your own practice and sustains this vibrant supportive community.
http://www.dharmaoverground.org
The Hamilton Project
This is a great resource and easy to navigate. Nick really helped me a lot. He was in a wave of initial meditators that did really awesome, helpful practice journals back in 2009/2010. He and some friends who wanted to help others started this website. They also host Practice Journals although this community is not as active as the Overhead Dhamma Group. Keeping a journal here offers the benefit of publishing your journal, which helps inspire you to practice, while at the same time gives a more intimate flavor since there isn’t a large volume of journals being updated continuously . Highly recommended is the Yogi Toolbox articles.
http://thehamiltonproject.blogspot.com/
Dan Harris, ABC Nightline New anchor has done some Meditation Retreats and wrote “10% Happier” about his experiences.
Here he interviews Steve Armstrong about the progress of Insight. Steve becomes a bit bizarre talking about attainments, and doesn’t offer full disclosure, but otherwise the interview is educational:
Ken Harris interview of Steve Armstrong
A video that discusses Advance Concentration Practices.
Dr. Willoughby Britton interviews Leigh Brasington
Researcher Willoughby Britton of the Cheetah House interviews concentration and Jhana teacher Leigh Brasington on the Dark Night and psychological difficulties that can arise during concentration practice. At a few points in here he gives some very sound practice advice.
