Venerable Robina Courtin weaves a tapestry of modern Buddhist commentary as she illuminates this ancient spiritual path with humor, wit and intensity. This Buddhist program aims to give every listener an opportunity to ponder some of life’s deepest questions such as: “Why do bad and good things happen? Is it karma? How can I overcome insecurity and start to care deeply for other beings? Can I lessen my depression and fears? Is reincarnation real? What is the mind? Exactly what is enlightenment? A Buddhist nun since the late 1970s, Robina Courtin has worked since then with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, a worldwide network of Tibetan Buddhist activities of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinopche. She has served as editorial director of Wisdom Publications, editor of Mandala magazine, and executive director of Liberation Prison Project. Her life, as well as her work with prisoners, has been featured in the documentary films “Chasing Buddha and Key to Freedom”.
Buddha Nature And Your Mind's Potential
Be Your Own Therapist Series Teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center, January 11, 2020 YouTube Learn techniques to reframe situations and attitudes in order to increase physical and mental well being. Accessible, entry level class.
2/5/2024 • 58 minutes, 39 seconds
Everything is a Viewpoint (Part 1 of 2)
01:27:56 | 20 October 2021 Teachings for Tse Chen Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre, San Francisco, USA. YouTube
2/2/2024 • 1 hour, 27 minutes, 56 seconds
Everything Is A Viewpoint (Part 2 of 2)
01:23:06 | 21 October 2021 Teachings for Tse Chen Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre, San Francisco, USA. YouTube
2/2/2024 • 1 hour, 23 minutes, 6 seconds
When We Know The Benefit, We Want To Make The Effort (STTA69)
Something To Think About Series #69 00:01:59 | Sept 21, 2021 YouTube
2/1/2024 • 2 minutes
Greet The Problem (STTA68)
Something To Think About Series #68 00:02:07 | Sept 21, 2021 YouTube
2/1/2024 • 2 minutes, 7 seconds
Control Your Speech (STTA67)
Something To Think About Series #67 00:02:30 | Sept 16, 2021 YouTube
2/1/2024 • 2 minutes, 30 seconds
Compassion For Others, Compassion For Ourselves (STTA66)
Something To Think About Series #66 00:01:27 | Sept 9, 2021 YouTube
2/1/2024 • 2 minutes, 31 seconds
Attachment (Oct 18, 2020)
Be Your Own Therapist Series 00:54:08 | Oct 18, 2020 YouTube Learn techniques to reframe situations and attitudes in order to increase physical and mental well being. Accessible, entry level class. Teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center
1/23/2024 • 54 minutes, 8 seconds
When Things Go Well, We Can’t Stand That It Might Change (STTA65)
Something To Think About Series #65 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:49 | Sept 3, 2021 YouTube
1/22/2024 • 1 minute, 49 seconds
Be Your Own Therapist Series (10112020)
Be Your Own Therapist 00:57:07 | Oct 11, 2020 YouTube Learn techniques to reframe situations and attitudes in order to increase physical and mental well being. Accessible, entry level class. Teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center
1/22/2024 • 57 minutes, 7 seconds
When We See Suffering, It Drags Us Down (STTA64)
Something To Think About Series #64 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:51 | Sept 21, 2021 YouTube
1/12/2024 • 1 minute, 51 seconds
Things Change (STTA63)
Something To Think About Series #63 00:02:01 | Aug 24, 2021 YouTube
1/12/2024 • 2 minutes, 25 seconds
Medicine Buddha Mantra For Suffering People Everywhere (STTA62)
Something To Think About Series #62 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:02:01 | Aug 19, 2021 YouTube
1/12/2024 • 2 minutes, 1 second
When We Don’t Get Approval, We Assume We’re A Failure (STTA61)
Something To Think About Series #61 00:01:56 | Aug 17, 2021 YouTube
1/12/2024 • 1 minute, 57 seconds
Happiness - Part 2 of 2 (STTA60)
Something To Think About Series #60 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:57 | Aug 14, 2021 YouTube
1/11/2024 • 1 minute, 58 seconds
Happiness - Part 1 of 2 (SSTA59)
Something To Think About Series #59 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:02:04 | Aug 9, 2021 YouTube
1/11/2024 • 2 minutes, 4 seconds
What Is Activism? (STTA58)
Something To Think About Series #58 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:31 | Aug 5, 2021 YouTube
1/11/2024 • 1 minute, 31 seconds
How Can We Make Other People Less Lonely? (STTA57)
Something To Think About Series #57 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:38 | July 30, 2021 YouTube
1/11/2024 • 1 minute, 38 seconds
The Antidotes To Loneliness
Something To Think About Series #56 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:51 | April 21, 2021 YouTube
1/10/2024 • 1 minute, 51 seconds
Loneliness (2)
Something To Think About Series #55 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:02:20 | July 24, 2021 YouTube
1/10/2024 • 2 minutes, 20 seconds
Loneliness (1)
Something To Think About Series #54 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:02:07 | July 21, 2021 YouTube
1/10/2024 • 2 minutes, 7 seconds
Everything's Impermanent
Something To Think About Series #53 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:27 | July16, 2021 YouTube
1/10/2024 • 1 minute, 46 seconds
Compassion With Strength And Iron
Something To Think About Series #52 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:27 | July 11, 2021 YouTube
1/10/2024 • 1 minute, 35 seconds
We're A Work Progress
Something To Think About Series #51 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:40 | July 6, 2021 YouTube
1/10/2024 • 1 minute, 40 seconds
Remember To Offer
Something To Think About Series #50 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:22 | July 2, 2021 YouTube
1/10/2024 • 1 minute, 22 seconds
Our Mind Is Naturally Pure
Something To Think About Series #49 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:48 | June 28, 2021 YouTube
1/10/2024 • 1 minute, 48 seconds
The Wisdom Wing And The Compassion Wing
Something To Think About Series #48 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:29 | June 24, 2021 YouTube
1/9/2024 • 1 minute, 29 seconds
Karma Is Self-Creation
Something To Think About Series #47 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:02:14 | June 21, 2021 YouTube
1/8/2024 • 2 minutes, 14 seconds
Things Are Not Set In Stone
Something To Think About Series #46 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:02:07 | June 16, 2021 YouTube
1/8/2024 • 2 minutes, 7 seconds
Don't Put Things Off
Something To Think About Series #45 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:44 | June 10, 2021 YouTube
8/19/2023 • 1 minute, 45 seconds
The Mind Functions Like a Mirror
Something To Think About Series #44 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:44 | June 8, 2021 YouTube
8/19/2023 • 1 minute, 45 seconds
Divine Pride
Something To Think About Series #43 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:02:46 | June 6, 2021 YouTube
8/19/2023 • 2 minutes, 47 seconds
Always Aspire to do What's Most Beneficial
Something To Think About Series #42 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:23 | June 2, 2021 YouTube
8/19/2023 • 1 minute, 24 seconds
We've Got to Learn to be Content
Something To Think About Series #41 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:38 | May 31, 2021 YouTube
8/19/2023 • 1 minute, 39 seconds
What is Meditation?
Something To Think About Series #40 00:02:03 | Mar 27, 2021 YouTube
8/19/2023 • 2 minutes, 4 seconds
When We Understand Our Own Mind We Can Have Compassion for Others
Something To Think About Series #39 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:20 | May 25, 2021 YouTube
8/14/2023 • 1 minute, 21 seconds
Anxiety
Something To Think About Series #38 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:02:03 | May 19, 2021 YouTube
8/14/2023 • 2 minutes, 4 seconds
We’re Not Stuck With the Mind We’re Born With
Something To Think About Series #37 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:43 | May 15, 2021 YouTube
8/14/2023 • 1 minute, 44 seconds
Patience
Something To Think About Series #36 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:38 | May 11, 2021 YouTube
8/14/2023 • 1 minute, 39 seconds
We Need to Rejoice in Our Good Qualities
Something To Think About Series #35 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:27 | May 05, 2021 YouTube
8/13/2023 • 1 minute, 56 seconds
Perseverance
Something To Think About Series #34 00:01:50 | April 28, 2021 YouTube
8/13/2023 • 1 minute, 51 seconds
When We Live in Denial There is More Fear
Something To Think About Series #33 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:27 | April 21, 2021 YouTube
8/13/2023 • 1 minute, 27 seconds
The Mantra of Tara
Something To Think About Series #32 Santa Fe, NM, USA 00:01:52 | April 17, 2021 YouTube
7/23/2023 • 1 minute, 52 seconds
Medicine Buddha Mantra
Something To Think About Series #31 YouTube
7/23/2023 • 1 minute, 19 seconds
Never Give Up
Something To Think About Series #30 YouTube
7/22/2023 • 1 minute, 26 seconds
Death Is A Powerful Wake-up Call
Something To Think About Series #29 YouTube
7/22/2023 • 1 minute, 32 seconds
If You Work On Your Own Mind, You Become More Courageous
Something To Think About Series #28 YouTube
7/22/2023 • 1 minute, 41 seconds
The Difference Between Attachment and Love
Something To Think About Series #26 YouTube
7/22/2023 • 2 minutes, 2 seconds
If You Want to Benefit Yourself and Others, Practice Compassion
Something To Think About Series #27 YouTube
7/21/2023 • 2 minutes, 5 seconds
Be Your Own Therapist (May 3, 2021)
Learn techniques to reframe situations and attitudes, in order to increase physical and mental well being. An accessible, entry-level, discussion-based class. Questions are most welcome. 54:23 | Teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center. YouTube
10/11/2021 • 54 minutes, 28 seconds
Controlling our Thoughts / Medicine Buddha
Express Meditation series. Start the day with your mind pointed in positive direction. YouTube 30:49 | Teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center.
9/22/2021 • 30 minutes, 50 seconds
We’ve Got To Have The Courage To Become Our Own Person
Something To Think About Series #25 YouTube
9/18/2021 • 1 minute, 48 seconds
It’s Good To See The Fault, But Learn Not To Add Anger
Something To Think About Series #24 YouTube
9/18/2021 • 2 minutes, 3 seconds
Low Self-Esteem
Something To Think About Series #23 YouTube
9/18/2021 • 2 minutes, 1 second
Learn To See What’s Going On In The Thoughts That Underpin Our Emotions
Something To Think About Series #22 YouTube
9/18/2021 • 1 minute, 33 seconds
We Can Mould Our Mind Into Any Shape We Like
Something To Think About Series #21 YouTube
9/18/2021 • 1 minute, 39 seconds
Form and Emptiness
Venerable uses a variety of metaphors to clarify one of the most perplexing phrases in all of Buddhism. 11:14 | Extracted from "Karma and Emptiness" teaching hosted by Maitripa College (Portland, Oregon, USA) Full teaching: YouTube
9/9/2021 • 11 minutes, 15 seconds
If Someone Steals From You, Decide You've Given It
Something To Think About Series #20 YouTube
8/30/2021 • 1 minute, 1 second
Compassion
Something To Think About Series #19 YouTube
8/30/2021 • 1 minute, 23 seconds
The Bird Needs Two Wings: Wisdom And Compassion
Something To Think About Series #18 YouTube
8/30/2021 • 1 minute, 24 seconds
Start Believing The Good Voices
Something To Think About Series #17 YouTube
8/30/2021 • 1 minute, 59 seconds
We Need To Own Our Amazing Qualities
Something To Think About Series #16 YouTube
8/30/2021 • 1 minute, 27 seconds
Four Mantras
Something To Think About Series #15 YouTube
8/30/2021 • 1 minute, 33 seconds
We Have The Potential To Control Our Thoughts
Something To Think About Series #14 YouTube
8/30/2021 • 2 minutes, 3 seconds
Try To See Something From Another Point Of View
Something To Think About Series #13 YouTube
8/30/2021 • 1 minute, 50 seconds
We Need To Taste Our Own Potential
Something To Think About Series #12 YouTube
8/30/2021 • 2 minutes, 7 seconds
The Dirt Has To Come Out
Something To Think About Series #11 YouTube
8/29/2021 • 1 minute, 24 seconds
Express Meditation - Concentration
Start the day with your mind pointed in positive direction. 30:35 | Teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center.
8/2/2021 • 30 minutes, 36 seconds
Express Meditation - Green Tara
Start the day with your mind pointed in positive direction. 31:53 | Teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center.
8/2/2021 • 31 minutes, 54 seconds
Something to Think About 10: If we can own what is in front of us, we can be much more courageous
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin YouTube
7/12/2021 • 1 minute, 37 seconds
Something to Think About 09: Have the courage to do what is most beneficial
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin YouTube
7/12/2021 • 1 minute, 56 seconds
Something to Think About 08: You can’t change the action, but you can purify the results
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin YouTube
7/12/2021 • 1 minute, 46 seconds
Something to Think About 07: The difference between guilt and regret
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin YouTube
7/12/2021 • 1 minute, 59 seconds
Something to Think About 06: Changing the stories in our head
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin YouTube
7/12/2021 • 1 minute, 40 seconds
Express Meditation - Finding the I Meditation
Start the day with your mind pointed in positive direction. 27:24 | Teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center.
7/9/2021 • 27 minutes, 25 seconds
Be Your Own Therapist (Jun 6, 2021)
Learn techniques to reframe situations and attitudes, in order to increase physical and mental well being. 57:54 | Teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center.
7/9/2021 • 57 minutes, 55 seconds
Something to Think About 05: See it from another point of view
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin YouTube
7/4/2021 • 1 minute, 40 seconds
Something to Think About 04: Thank you for showing me how not to be
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin YouTube
7/4/2021 • 1 minute, 38 seconds
Something to Think About 03: Mantras Benefit You and Benefit Others
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin YouTube
7/4/2021 • 1 minute, 35 seconds
Something to Think About 02: Giving up Attachment and Aversion
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin. YouTube
6/30/2021 • 1 minute, 23 seconds
Something to Think About 01: Everybody in the Universe is Kind
Thought of the day from Venerable Robina Courtin. YouTube
6/30/2021 • 1 minute, 23 seconds
Getting a Grip on Our Actions
At first, we don’t recognize any problem with negative habits, like harmful speech. We need to develop an awareness of how our actions can affect others. Then we can see how those actions create our own experience. 9:14 | Extracted from "The Power of Speech" teachings on July 27, 2020 at Land of Medicine Buddha Soquel, CA. Full teaching: Audio Video
5/25/2021 • 9 minutes, 15 seconds
Developing a Heart of Compassion
The Mahayana path targets our basic selfishness, or self-cherishing. Gradually, by understanding our interdependence, we can learn to put others first. 13:57 | Extracted from "Courageous Compassion" teachings on Dec 9, 2020 at Gonpo Ludup Laguna Beach, CA. Full teaching: Audio Video
4/16/2021 • 13 minutes, 58 seconds
Concentration Requires Technique
Calm Abiding, or concentration, is essential for understanding emptiness. For concentration, we need several special qualities operating together. 14:31 | Extracted from "The Six Perfections" teachings on Jan 31, 2021 at Thubten Kunga Ling. Full teaching: Audio Video
3/30/2021 • 14 minutes, 32 seconds
Getting Rid of Negative Karma
We need to counteract negative states of mind with effective purification practice. Purification starts with the four R’s: Regret, Reliance, Remedy and Resolve. 07:42 | Extracted from "Living With Uncertainty" teachings on Aug 15, 2020 at Langri Tangpa Buddhist Centre Brisbane. Full teaching: Video
3/3/2021 • 7 minutes, 43 seconds
Source of Samsara and Nirvana
We might have a belief about how happiness and suffering emanate from “out there.” We don’t recognize our own minds’ role in our own happiness and suffering. That’s being a “Samsara-ist.” 11:57 | Extracted from "Samsara and Nirvana" teachings on Jan 12-17, 2021 at Shantideva Center - Brooklyn, New York. Full teaching: Video
2/17/2021 • 11 minutes, 58 seconds
Getting Ready for ‘Thought Transformation’
To practice compassion we need to subdue habitual selfishness. First, we need to understand some Buddhist psychology about the sources of suffering. Then, with wisdom, we become a suitable vessel for various Bodhisattva practices. 18:22 | Extracted from "Cultivating Happiness" teachings on Sep 11, 2020 at Vajrayana Institute Sydney. Full teaching: Video
2/3/2021 • 18 minutes, 23 seconds
The Very Heart of Suffering
Misconceptions cause incredible suffering. We can correct these misconceptions through a path of inquiry to get to the root of the problem. This inquiry leads us to the topic of emptiness. 19:17 | Extracted from "Living With Uncertainty" teachings on Aug 15, 2020 at Langri Tangpa Buddhist Centre Brisbane. Full teaching: Video
1/20/2021 • 19 minutes, 18 seconds
Compassion Needs Wisdom
Sometimes we stick our noses in when it is not appropriate. We think that’s compassion, but it’s just coming from your own attachment. Wisdom sometimes means you leave people alone, especially when they aren’t open to your help. 7:41 | Extracted from "Living With Uncertainty" teachings on Aug 8, 2020 at Langri Tangpa Buddhist Centre Brisbane. Full teaching: Audio
1/7/2021 • 7 minutes, 42 seconds
A quick look at the Two Truths
Here is a quick overview and some definitions that help us understand the different ways things exist. 9:35 | Extracted from "How to Discover Our True Nature" teaching hosted by Zopa Noble Park Buddhists (Melbourne, Australia) Full teaching: Audio.
12/22/2020 • 9 minutes, 36 seconds
Internal and external energy
Body and mind make up essential parts of being and they are interdependent. Disturbances of mental energy can affect the health of the body. 3:46 | Extracted from "How to Discover Our True Nature" teaching hosted by Zopa Noble Park Buddhists (Melbourne, Australia) Full teaching: Audio.
12/22/2020 • 3 minutes, 57 seconds
Start with Your Own Suffering - Be Your Own Therapist series
At first, we practice and study to address our own suffering. We accomplish that by analyzing our actions, words and thoughts. Look to see how attachment, anger and various mistaken views mess us up. 13:37 | Extracted from "Be Your Own Therapist (Oct 18, 2020)" teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center. Full teaching: Audio Video.
12/8/2020 • 13 minutes, 38 seconds
Be Your Own Therapist (Oct 11, 2020) - Personal Power
Can Buddhist training help develop self-esteem, confidence and personal power? 4:16 | Extracted from "Be Your Own Therapist (Oct 11, 2020)" teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center. Full teaching: Audio Video.
11/24/2020 • 4 minutes, 17 seconds
Be Your Own Therapist (Oct 11, 2020) - Calm Abiding
Is this what is sometimes called “Calm Abiding” meditation? 3:48 | Extracted from "Be Your Own Therapist (Oct 11, 2020)" teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center. Full teaching: Audio Video.
11/24/2020 • 3 minutes, 49 seconds
Be Your Own Therapist (Oct 11, 2020) - Mahamudra
A style of practice called Mahamudra meditation looks at the mind without getting caught up in thoughts. Ven. Robina describes the technique in introductory detail, dispelling misconceptions and elucidating its purpose. 40:21 | Extracted from "Be Your Own Therapist (10-11-2020)" teachings at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center. Full teaching: Audio Video.
11/24/2020 • 40 minutes, 22 seconds
The Path to Wisdom
The Lam Rim, or "Gradual Path” teachings provide a reliable sequence of contemplations that help us clarify our intentions. 17:05 | Extracted from "Finding Freedom and Ultimate Happiness" teachings given Aug 3, 2019 at Ocean of Compassion (Gyalwa Gyatso) Buddhist Center. Full teaching here.
11/11/2020 • 17 minutes, 6 seconds
Four Noble Truths
17:26 | Extracted from "Karma, Morality & Happiness" on Lawudo Trek 2019. Full teaching here.
10/28/2020 • 17 minutes, 27 seconds
Medicine Buddha Meditation
The practice begins with a visualization, described in vivid detail. Next we add the sound of the mantra. Reflect that all beings want happiness equally. Additional stages of this visualization makes this practice a profound tool for transformation. 8:05 | Extracted from "Fireside Chat with Ven. Robina" at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London. Full teaching here.
10/1/2020 • 8 minutes, 6 seconds
What We Perceive
Sensory consciousness and mental consciousnesses do different things. Unraveling them we see that the senses are rather limited. It is the mental consciousness that creates mental judgments and opinions. 6:58 | Extracted from "Buddhist Psychology Part 1 with Ven. Robina" on Lawudo Trek 2019. Full teaching here.
9/15/2020 • 6 minutes, 59 seconds
Does rapid change always bring suffering?
How can we learn to work with impermanence, or rapid change, which seems so difficult? Buddha taught that rapid change is normal. It is our clinging fear of change that actually causes our suffering. 12:55 | Extracted from "Fireside Chat with Ven. Robina" at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London. Full teaching here.
9/1/2020 • 12 minutes, 56 seconds
What about emptiness?
Our strong grasping that we exist independently, intrinsically from our own side, is actually completely mistaken. Ven. Robina breaks it down with precise definitions and relevant context. 10:23 | Extracted from "Subatomic (Dependent Arising is in the Details)" teachings given at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center. Full teaching here.
8/18/2020 • 10 minutes, 24 seconds
Subatomic (Dependent Arising is in the Details)
Dependent Arising? Emptiness? Details? How do we utilize these concepts in our every day life? 11:43 | Extracted from "Subatomic (Dependent Arising is in the Details)" teachings given at Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center. Full teaching here.
8/6/2020 • 11 minutes, 44 seconds
Anger: Friend or Foe?
Buddhism looks at anger with real precision. Consider how the angry mind seethes. It drives you crazy with depression and frustration. It distorts the way everything appears. 09:08 | Extracted from "Taste of Buddhism - Be Your Own Therapist with Ven. Robina Courtin" teachings given at Tse Chen Ling Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies. Full teaching here.
7/21/2020 • 9 minutes, 9 seconds
Disturbing Emotions
All suffering comes from our non-virtues. So, the first level of practice is to work on my own actions, my body, speech and mind. 04:00 | Extracted from "Enlightenment and Peace Are They Possible" teaching given at Maitripa College April 18, 2020. Full teaching here.
7/7/2020 • 4 minutes
Anger and Political Activism
When it comes to activism, people think you need anger because it feels so noble. But anger exaggerates everything. It distorts complex situations. Anger makes you feel strong love this and strong hate for that. As an activist you would burn out very quickly. 17:57| Extracted from "Activism and Empathy" teaching given at Maitripa College April 17, 2020. Full teaching here.
6/30/2020 • 17 minutes, 58 seconds
How to Understand Suffering
In the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha explained the inner workings of our own fear, anxiety and jealousy. 12:15 | Extracted from "Managing Your Mind in Difficult Times" teachings given at Maitripa College. Full teaching here.
6/16/2020 • 12 minutes, 16 seconds
Concentration – A Practice of Mental Attention
When we develop this skill, we see what’s happening in the mind. A focused awareness, along with mindfulness and alertness, create a strong and stable mind. 16:20| Extracted from "Managing Your Mind in Difficult Times" teachings given at Maitripa College. Full teaching here.
6/2/2020 • 16 minutes, 21 seconds
Grow Your Own Virtue
We can counteract our negative attitudes. Rejoice in your good conditions and recognize the virtue in any situation. This drowns out the heavy delusions and their suffering. 6:05 | Extracted from "How To Approach Our Fear of Missing Out" teachings given at Buddhist Society of Western Australia. Full teaching here.
5/19/2020 • 6 minutes, 6 seconds
How Karma Works
Let’s look at the mechanics behind the natural law of cause and effect: karma. Everything we think, do, or say, is the process of programming ourselves, sowing seeds that will produce our future experiences. 12:57 | Extracted from teachings given at Buddhist Society of Victoria on Aug 18, 2018. Full teaching here.
5/5/2020 • 12 minutes, 58 seconds
Buddha's Model of the Mind
14:38 | Extracted from teachings given at Ocean of Compassion (Gyalwa Gyatso) Buddhist Center August 18, 2017. Full teaching here.
4/21/2020 • 14 minutes, 39 seconds
Let’s look at the subtle mind
The Buddha taught in ancient India when many great masters developed various disciplines of mental awareness. As we practice awareness in meditation, we observe how the sensory consciousness and cognitive process unfolds to the inner experiencer. This opens up a deeper familiarity with the mind, thus allowing us to step out of our self-imposed mundane storyline and imagine different ways of being. 16:36 | Extracted from "Taste of Buddhism - Be Your Own Therapist with Ven. Robina Courtin" teachings given at Tse Chen Ling Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies. Full teaching here.
4/7/2020 • 16 minutes, 37 seconds
Karma, Kindness and Covid-19 (includes Green Tara Meditation)
Everything that appears “out there” can be considered our own projection, or karmic appearance. That is, how we view the Covid-19 will largely depend on our attachments, our mental habits and expectations. One practice that His Holiness the Dalai Lama recommends during this time of pandemic, is the Green Tara practice and mantra recitation. 12:22 | Extracted from “Buddhist perspective on how to think about the outbreak” teachings given at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London. Full teaching here.
3/24/2020 • 12 minutes, 23 seconds
Green Tara Meditation - What to Practice During a Pandemic
One practice that His Holiness the Dalai Lama recommends during this time of pandemic, is the Green Tara practice and mantra recitation. 6:39 | Extracted from “Buddhist perspective on how to think about the outbreak” teachings given at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London. Full teaching here.
3/24/2020 • 6 minutes, 40 seconds
The Lies Within
On the deepest level, attachment and ego-grasping make us miserable. They leave us wanting and craving approval from the outside world. We believe we are nothing unless someone notices us, talks to us, praises us, etc. Look beneath one’s sadness and you might see some internalized anger projecting a broad feeling of hollow neediness. Look carefully at those dynamics and challenge these default thought patterns. Instead, consider your own, sublime potential. Identify with those amazing qualities and you are on the path! 9:24 | Extracted from "How To Approach Our Fear of Missing Out" teachings given at Buddhist Society of Western Australia. Full teaching here.
3/10/2020 • 9 minutes, 25 seconds
Mindfulness and the doorway to mental exploration
Mindfulness is merely the skill to place one’s attention without wavering. It is only one part of the whole package of skills we develop along the path. Buddhist psychology requires curiosity into thoughts, consciousness and the whole system of suffering and happiness. For that, we need to get the teachings on the mind. Then we can use mindfulness to verify those findings. 19:36 | Extracted from "How to love your problems January 2017" teachings given at Yeshe Norbu Mind Training Center. Full teaching here.
2/25/2020 • 19 minutes, 37 seconds
Purification to Bless One’s Speech
Following these instructions will purify how you relate to the world through your ability to speak. This brief ceremony protects us from creating an awful mess by saying fooling and harmful things. Practicing this profound aspect of Buddha’s perfect conduct imbues us with new abilities to always speak truthfully, skillfully and carefully. 12:16 | Extracted from "Deconstructing Emotions Retreat" teachings given at Thubten Norbu Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center January 29-31. Full teaching here.
2/11/2020 • 12 minutes, 17 seconds
Healthy Thoughts about Death and Dying
Buddha taught this topic in a way that breaks through our usual attitudes about death. We have so much fear, regret and terror about death. We can overcome these by contemplating the certainty of death, that the time of death is uncertain and that at the time of death, nothing can be of benefit except for the imprints for ethical living. 11:28 | Extracted from "Deconstructing Emotions Retreat" teachings given at Thubten Norbu Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center January 29-31. Full teaching here.
1/28/2020 • 11 minutes, 29 seconds
Buddha’s Logic of Love
When we are talking, joking and caring for each other, that’s love. We are interdependent beings and when we act within that worldview, our natural default is peace, love and compassion. When we get irritated, however, a separate sense of an “I” stands out, and the “we” is split in half. This worldview contradicts the reality of interdependence and results in conflict and despair. 3:53 | Extracted from "Deconstruction Emotions Retreat" teachings given at Thubten Norbu Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center January 29-31. Full teaching here.
12/5/2019 • 3 minutes, 54 seconds
The Heart Sutra: A Glimpse of Freedom from Ego-Grasping
By understanding emptiness - that there's nothing intrinsic in anything - we can slowly loosen the grip of ego-grasping and begin to develop our marvellous potential for clarity, contentment, love and the other qualities that Lord Buddha says are innate within us. 17:40 | Extracted from teachings given at Jamyang Buddhist Group March 2017. Full teaching here.
11/20/2019 • 17 minutes, 41 seconds
Four Noble Truths
To understand the whole purpose of Buddha’s teachings, we can learn and internalize the Four Noble Truths. The Buddha challenges us to consider that suffering can indeed end. The implications are huge. 17:32 | Extracted from teachings given at Chenrezig Institute, April 4, 2013. Full teaching here.
10/17/2019 • 17 minutes, 33 seconds
Emotional Detox Takes Patience And Insight - Part 2 or 2
The Buddhist approach to anger is to understand these feelings in their widest context. We get angry when we don’t get what we want. So, first, we use patience, not in a passive-aggressive way, but to create some space and avoid acting out. We use that time to break down the causes for our own particular anger. New understanding can drain the power out of those toxic emotions. 24:43 | Full teaching here
10/1/2019 • 24 minutes, 44 seconds
Wisdom and Compassion Starts with Concentration - Part 1 of 2
There are special skills we develop on the path. Rather than focusing on the external world, we learn to pay attention to the internal landscapes of our mind. At first, it might seem these crazy thoughts are unworkable. But slowly, with skill and work, we learn how to see, and eventually change our minds. 23:01 | Full teaching here
9/17/2019 • 23 minutes, 2 seconds
What is a ‘mind?’
There are subtle levels of cognition that help us understand who we are in vivid detail. But we have to get familiar with what we mean by “mind,” or “mind stream.” Buddha says “mind” is an experienced result from previous moments going back in time. And he challenges us to explore the mind, to ascertain how our senses and thoughts create positive, negative, and neutral experiences, habits and propensities. This is a radical discovery. 25:58 | Extracted from teachings given by Ven. Robina on the 2017 Lawudo Trek - Stillness Beyond Samsara, April 04, 2017. Full teaching here
9/4/2019 • 25 minutes, 59 seconds
Congratulations! You have a mind
The Buddhist path is primarily concerned with working with one’s own mind. Why? Because that’s the source of all our suffering. 2:44 | Extracted from "When the Chocolate Runs Out" teachings given at Ocean of Compassion (Gyalwa Gyatso) Buddhist Center, August 18, 2017. Full teaching here
8/20/2019 • 2 minutes, 45 seconds
Attachment and the Cure (Being Fearless in a Fearful World – Part 3 of 3)
On a deep level, we all have an intuitive craving or attachment. This frantic junkie mind gets reinforced with fear and hunger and drives us to suffering. We can learn to identify it and work with it over time to reduce it. This is the job of the Buddhist. 11:19 | Extracted from teachings given at Vajrayana Institute, September 22, 2017. Full teaching here.
8/13/2019 • 11 minutes, 20 seconds
Buddha’s Deep Psychology (Being Fearless in a Fearful World – Part 2 of 3)
“Know your own mind,” sums up the Buddhist view. Consider the Buddha’s view that the mind is the root cause for both pleasant and unpleasant emotions. We might not be able to change difficult external things, but we can change how we internally process things in the present. Rather than blame the outside world for our troubles, look at what we can change. That’s the Buddha’s cognitive therapy. 20:52| Extracted from teachings given at Vajrayana Institute, September 22, 2017. Full teaching here.
7/30/2019 • 20 minutes, 53 seconds
Thought Training to Build Compassion (Cultivating Emotional Awareness Part XIII)
These steps lead through a counter-intuitive, courageous and altruistic state of mind. By contemplating these eight stanzas, we expand our capacity to understand a new perspective on suffering. We replace narrow selfishness with love for countless others. 20:16 | This is part of a series of talks given at the Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Center in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 5-7, 2019. Full teaching here (Session 7)
7/18/2019 • 20 minutes, 17 seconds
Karmic Purification (Cultivating Emotional Awareness Part XI)
If you look honestly at your mind, you will see anger, irritation, or craving. These negative mental states are called disturbing emotions because they do just that, disturb our well-being and get in the way of real practice. How does Buddha address this? He laid out four simple steps to purify negative karma. The four stages are Regret, Refuge, Remediation and Resolve. Take care of your own karma first, then you can open your potential for a much larger sense of compassion. 23:39 | This is part of a series of talks given at the Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Center in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 5-7, 2019. Full teaching here (Session 6)
