x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage

Mary Stancavage

Dharma talks from meditation teacher Mary Stancavage. These focus primarily on the pragmatic aspects of Buddhist teachings and philosophy drawing strongly on wisdom and heart practices. All are viewed through the lens of learning to live with an Undefended Heart. (photo by @kimanhuynh)

religion & spirituality buddhism

All Episodes

21:31

Patience and Freedom

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/08/12

It's said that if there is impatience, it's because there is resistance to what is and that is the definition of the second noble truth - our inability to be with things as they are. In this reflection, Mary discusses how powerful it can be to cultivate patience, how it is a key part of equanimity and how we can see it's importance in our everyday lives. Recorded August 9, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like ...

en-us

18:49

Being Aware of Our Legacy

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/08/05

Often when we think of our legacy, we think about what people will remember about us when we die. Instead, we can think of our legacy as what we leave in our wake as we move through the world. How do we show up? Are we kind? Are we wise? Are we generous? This is our legacy. Shout out to Lama Rod Owens for planting the seeds of this talk. Recorded August 2, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's n...

en-us

28:57

10,000 Joys and 10,000 Sorrows

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/07/29

With so much going on these days it can be challenging to stay balanced and present for whatever shows up in our world - pleasant or unpleasant. In this talk Mary discusses the idea of joy and sorrow and the eight worldly winds as a teaching to ground us right here and be open to whatever shows up. Denying the present moment is a hallmark of dukkha and our path is to move away from that dukkha. Recorded July 26, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! ...

en-us

21:52

Don't You Know Who I Am?

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/07/22

In our world today we can chase after certificates and degrees to prove who we are and what we know. In this talk Mary reflects on the words of Ajahn Chah who says that these are only "appendages". "We think they are real and we carry them around with us" to prove who we are. Instead, we are invited to turn inwards and allow our inner wisdom to arise. This takes effort, a dedication to the practice, and seeking the advice of those who have walked the path, but, as the Buddha said, we can find...

en-us

8:07

Simple Reflections

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/07/15

This week Mary offers a few reflections on suffering and patience and invites your comments and thoughts. Recorded July 15, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks. Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

en-us

18:17

It's Not Personal - or Permanent or Perfect

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/07/08

Reflecting on Ruth King's framing of the Three Characteristics, Mary discusses this wonderful perspective on meeting the world. We can make everything so personal and chase perfection or permanence, but to do so only leads to dissatisfaction. Learning to let go of our shoulds and have to's leads to freedom in each moment. Recorded July 5, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automa...

en-us

32:29

The Undefended Heart - Now More Than Ever

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/07/01

To live with an undefended heart is a cornerstone of Mary's practice and teaching. However with all the challenges in today's world, does it still make sense. In this talk Mary discusses what it means to live this way and how it is more important than ever right now. Keeping our hearts open is the path to freedom and allows us to be fully present for each moment - whatever it brings. Recorded June 28, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name a...

en-us

30:59

What is Liberation?

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/06/24

We talk often about the practice being a path to liberation, but what do we actually mean when we say that? In this dharma reflection, Mary investigates what liberation, freedom, awakening all mean in the various schools and lineages of Buddhism. Although the ideas may vary across the teachings, they are all grounded in compassion, wisdom and clear seeing. Recorded June 21, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would ...

en-us

21:08

Sangha as Beloved Community

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/06/17

The Buddha created the sangha, or community, of monastics, but his teaching spread to every level of society and we can each be part of a sangha. In this talk Mary discusses the ethical foundations of such a community and how we can create a wise and supportive community where we are. Recalling the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's idea that we "are tied together in a single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable net of mutuality" and Thich Nhat Hanh's idea of Interbeing, Mary invites us to...

en-us

18:32

The Truth is Right Here

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/06/10

Mary reflects on how often we look for reality or truth somewhere else, when there really is nowhere else. We're invited to recognize how our mind struggles to create different stories to suit what we want but freedom lies in being able to stay right where we are. Recorded June 7, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks. Visit Mary's website for more info o...

en-us

25:09

Building a Foundation for Freedom

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/06/03

When we don't pay attention to our thoughts, we’re often acting from habits that have been strengthened over the years, and which can be difficult to break. The Buddha’s teaching on liberation and awakening, the Eightfold Path, also offers us a path to freedom from these habits. When we intentionally use this path as a roadmap for how we move through the world, we are building a foundation that is strong and serves us in all aspects of our lives. It’s a foundation that offers freedom gr...

en-us

13:27

Calm Knowing

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/05/27

This is a short reflection on the arising of insight from knowing and sensing and the calmness that allows us to meet each moment as it is. The world is on fire and developing the capacity to be present for ourselves and others is vital. Insight meditation practice offers us a way to meet the moment. Recorded May 24, 2025 in the virtual world Bhikkhu Bodhi's Commentary in Lion's Roar Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's...

en-us

20:44

Managing the Transition

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/05/20

With every ending there is a time to reflect before the beginning, but we often neglect this time in our haste to be on to the next new thing. The Buddha's teaching of impermanence or anicca, reminds us that all things come to an end whether we're ready or not. Citing William Bridges' work in The Way of Transition, Mary reminds to be present with the time between endings and beginnings, and to tend to the experience in the time of not-knowing. Recorded May 17, 2025 in the virtual world Send m...

en-us

21:11

Skillful Means

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/05/13

Mary discusses the idea of Skillful Means which Joseph Goldstein says is "for liberating the clinging mind from suffering." Using the wisdom, discernment and compassion that has arisen from our practice, we can navigate life skillfully while being fully grounded in the Buddha's teachings. Being fully present in the moment allows us to respond to everything wisely and skillfully. We let go of what doesn't serve us anymore as we develop new and wholesome, or skillful, ways of being in the...

en-us

23:26

Internal Revolution of the Heart

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/05/06

During these days when greed, hatred and delusion are running rampant, the Buddha's teachings on nonviolence and compassion are extremely relevant. Mary offers some examples from the suttas and points out the similarities to other world traditions who are deeply grounded in love. Recorded May 1, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

en-us

22:18

Just Collecting Data

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/04/29

Additional reflections on insight practice and how our insights are experienced at the somatic and instinctive level rather than our trying to figure things out. Inspired by the teachings on a recent retreat, Mary offers thoughts on seeing clearly, intuitive awareness and paying attention wherever we are. Recorded April 26, 2024 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

en-us

12:26

Reflections on Retreat

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/04/22

Mary attended a retreat this week and offers some reflections on kindness to ourselves, awareness, insight and interconnections. The name of the retreat was Retreat as Ceremony: Mindfulness and Indigenous Presence for Wellness and Healing. Check it out! Recorded April 21, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

en-us

20:14

Heirs to Our Actions

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/04/15

The Five Remembrances (AN 5.57) allow us to become comfortable with our mortality and the human condition and serve as an antidote to clinging. The fifth remembrance is to reflect on the fact that all we have are our actions since we will be separated from everything because of impermanence. Mary discusses the importance of understanding this idea so we can move through the world acting wisely and skillfully, for our own liberation and for the liberation of all beings. Recorded April 12, 2025...

en-us

19:45

Care for Ourselves, Care for Others

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/04/08

Reflecting on the Rajan Sutta, Mary talks about the twofold teaching it offers. Just as we hold ourselves dear, we realized that others feel the same and knowing this, we vow to cause no harm. However, this can be a challenging practice and Mary offers thoughts on what might get in the way and how we can begin to hold both ourselves and others with kindness and compassion. Recorded April 5, 2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Visit Mary's website for more ...

en-us

29:07

Relax the Body, Relax the Mind

Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage ·

2025/04/01

We're often given the instruction to relax during meditation. It is not just so that we feel relaxed or calm, but it allows us to let go of what we're holding and to make space for what's right here. We're creating the environment to be present for reality and move towards equanimity in each moment. Recorded 3/29/2025 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

en-us

358 results

Similar Podcasts

Jeff Haygood, Pastor

PodPoint

PASTOR ALVARO VALENCIA

Pastor Alvaro Valencia

Grace Life Church CT.

PodPoint

Pleasant View Church

Ted Nance

Christian Heritage Church"s Podcast

PodPoint