Mindfulness, Concentration and the Monkeys of the Sacred Forest

Sharon Beckman-Brindley gave this dharma talk on Aug 1, 2017 at the Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville. In our practice, we regularly hear beautiful and wholesome instruction on presence, on peace and on mindfulness and concentration: "Be here now." When we actually sit on our cushions, however, especially after reading the morning headlines, or anticipating a difficult phone call, or following a challenging day at work or with those hordes of visiting relatives, or considering the white supremacy rallies in Charlottesville, we can easily despair as the mind and emotions wander about. This evening's talk will explore very specifically how our practice points us directly to peaceful and calm abiding - as well as to wise and skillful action - in the midst of life's inner and outer challenges. For more information, please visit: imeditation.org