Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage

St. Francis of Assisi invited us to wear the world as a loose garment and in this talk, Mary discusses how this is an invitation to equanimity. How do we turn towards the world without rigidity, yet with a willingness to stay present and meet life where it is?

Recorded July 4, 2026 in the virtual world

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One of the things we release on the journey to awakening is our attachment to fixed views. These are the stories that have become rigid and that we believe about ourselves and the world. This practice invites us to pause and take a look at our views and ask if they're even true. Freedom lies with our letting go of shoulds and opening to this moment as it is.

Recorded June 27, 2026 in the virtual world

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In order to move on the path of liberation, we need to see what gets in the way. The Buddha's teaching of the Five Hindrances is a helpful way to recognize these sometimes subtle obstacles and learn how to release them so we can continue towards freedom.

Recorded June 20, 2026 in the virtual world

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In the book, "Dancing With Life", Phillip Moffitt writes about the three insights associated with each of the Four Noble Truths: Reflecting, Experiencing and Knowing. This is a wise way to look at his core teaching and Mary offers a summary of Phillip's teaching. She calls these insights a journey of awareness from the head to the heart.

Recorded June 13, 2026 in the virtual world

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The 5th precept is more than just an admonition not to drink or use drugs, but is an invitation to look at our consumption and how we may numb ourselves and become lost in delusion. It's from this deluded place where we can cause the most harm to others and to ourselves.

Recorded June 6, 2026 in the virtual world

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Held in the shadow of Mary's husband's illness, this talk is a simple reflection on life's realities and the sentiment, "Very sad, no problem," as a path of equanimity. Sadness, joy and everything else does not need to be a problem. Instead, it's simply reality and we can choose how to show up.

Recorded May 30, 2026 in the virtual world

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Dogen said that enlightenment is an intimacy with all things. Mary reflects on this thought and it's similarity to equanimity and an undefended heart. How do we show up for the reality of the moment with complete openness. It is a journey and all we can do is begin with right now.

Recorded Mary 23, 2026 in the virtual world

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In this talk, recorded at Insight Community of the Desert, Mary discusses the Second Precept. It's often just referred to as not stealing, but this precept is about recognizing all the different places that craving and greed show up and how to let go of that. Additionally, the cultivation of generosity is an important step in freedom from craving and a way to live in harmony with others and in contentment with ourselves.

Recorded May 17, 2026 at ICD in Palm Springs

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The Buddha taught the Five Remembrances as a way to normalize our relationship to the human condition. We we all grow old, get sick and die, yet some of us fight tooth and nail against, especially in our Western culture. But when we truly greet this reality there is quite a freedom - we no longer have to hide or try to change our reality. Become a friend to this teaching and find some ease.

Recorded May 2, 2026 in the virtual world

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Oftentimes when things are especially awful, we think that joy may be inappropriate and that we must stay focused on the difficulties. But this is not the case. Bhikkhu Bodhi says that cultivation of joy is important to regulate despair. In this talk Mary discusses what gets in the way of joy and how to allow it into our lives. Equanimity means being present for everything that shows up, even the good.

Recorded April 25, 2026 in the virtual world

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Our practice is really about developing a different relationship with our mind - one that is wise and kind. In this talk Mary reflects on how the Buddha talks about the mind using the Dhammapada, and how Rick Hanson explains the mind from a scientific perspective. These two offer insights in how we can tend to our thoughts and reactions in a wise way that leads towards more freedom and less suffering.

Recorded April 16, 2026 in the virtual world

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The Buddha's wise teaching on the Eight Worldly Winds reminds us that the ups and downs of life (pleasure and pain, gain and loss, praise and blame, fame and disrepute) are common to all humanity. It is a teaching on equanimity - the capacity to be present with our experience, whatever it may be. We're invited to let go of chasing specific experiences and open to what is here.

Recorded April 11, 2026 in the virtual world

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We spend so much time in the future and the past entangled in experiences that do not actually exist. In this talk, Mary discusses what we get stuck on and how to let go. There is no other place to be but right here, so working towards being there is important and part of the journey towards liberation.

Recorded April 2, 2026 in the virtual world

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The Shambala Warrior is a 1200 year old Tibetan prophecy that is relevant to our world today. The weapons of this warrior are wisdom and compassion. Mary talks about each of these as tools to liberation for ourselves, others and to aid in healing the world.

Recorded March 30, 2026 in the virtual world

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Grief is an emotion that all humans experience although many of us have a difficult time turning towards and being with it. Right now so many folk are grieving a multitude of losses and in this talk Mary reflects on the invitation to meet our grief and take care of ourselves as we open to wholeness - not hiding from any part of our experience.

Recorded March 19, 2026 in the virtual world

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Effort and persistence are an important part of the path to liberation and awakening, but sometimes we get caught in thinking we should be there by now and ask when it's enough. This is when the practice of patience is necessary. Patience is necessary when there is resistance to what is. In this talk Mary reflects on the effort of equanimity and letting go of expectations. There is only right here and right now.

Recorded March 15, 2026 for Insight Community of the Desert in Palm Springs

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In this talk Mary reflects on the Mahayana idea of bodhicitta. At it's heart, it is the idea of an awakened mind and an aspiration to awaken and experience an end of suffering both for ourselves and for all. And why not?

Recorded March 7, 2026 in the virtual world

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So much of what we think, say and do is habitual - we react without thinking. The Buddha taught that our reactivity is also impacted by whether we experience something as pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. In this talk Mary discusses how this colors our experiences in the world and how to create new habits that are not reactive, but instead, are truly in the moment and grounded in wisdom and compassion.

Recorded Feb. 28, 2026 in the virtual world

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The word Samadhi is usually translated as concentration, but it's also thought of as collectedness of mind and steadiness. This important teaching - the 8th factor on the Eightfold Path is necessary for awakening and liberation. Mary discusses what Samadhi is and isn't and how we cultivate this important quality.

Recorded Feb. 21, 2022 in the virtual world

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In this time of great dukkha, it's imperative to remember the importance of love and how we ground ourselves and our practice in it. Mary reflects on the wisdom of bell hooks and others to find a way to make this a foundation of our practice, and our intention as we move the the world and deal with the vicissitudes of life.

Recorded Feb 14, 2026 in the virtual world

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The old story about a good wolf and bad wolf that live in our minds aligns beautifully with the Buddha's teachings on cultivating what's beneficial and letting go of what isn't. Mary reflects on how we often feed the ideas that don't serve us and how to move in a different, more wise, direction.

Recorded Feb. 7, 2026 in the virtual world

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In this important teaching, the Buddha invites us to become intimate with the human condition and to see how we create levels of suffering for ourselves. There is also the recognition that there is a way out - the Eightfold Path. Mary also reflects on Stephen Batchelor's Four Tasks which brings a pragmatic lens to this essential teaching. 

Recorded Jan 31, 2026 in the virtual world

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Every day we're inundated with stories and images of violence, and the three poisons of greed, hatred and ignorance that the Buddha spoke of centuries ago. How do we greet this moment in time? How do we handle the emotions we experience with wisdom and compassion? How do we stay connected to the world we live in and work to end the harm we see?  Mary reflects on the reality of this moment and how to take care of ourselves and others.

Recorded Jan. 25, 2026 in the virtual world

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The Buddha's teaching on Wise Speech remains as important and necessary today as it did over 2,500 years ago. It may be even more important to be grounded in wisdom and clarity because there are so many more ways to interact with each other and we see the impact and harm of unwise speech around us on a daily basis. Mary talks about how we can make this part of our life.

Recorded Jan. 17, 2026 in the virtual world

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Mary answers the question, "How do we offer Loving Kindness to those that commit atrocities?"  This is a common question, and is especially relevant right now. The heart practices do not ask us to ignore feelings or emotions that arise when faced with the violence and oppression so rampant today. Instead we are invited to greet whatever shows up and reflect on where we are and how we are holding our own pain. The heart practices invite us into our own healing which allows us to open to others.

Recorded Jan. 10, 2026 in the virtual world

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There are a lot of misconceptions of basic Buddhist teachings and in this talk Mary reflects on a few. The Buddha did not say that "Life is Suffering", but instead that there is suffering, and there is a way out. Additionally, equanimity and being present for what is, does not condone injustice or greed, hatred and ignorance. Buddhist practice is a way of being in the world and fully engaged with it.

Recorded Jan. 2, 2025 in the virtual world

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Delusion is one of the greatest impediments to freedom and in this talk, Mary discusses how being embodied and whole allows for clear seeing. When we're stuck in the habit energies of our minds, we're often disconnected from reality and our journey is back to wholeness, to clarity and to living with a wise heart.

Recorded Dec. 27, 2025 in the virtual world

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In a recent episode of the Insight Myanmar podcast Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi spoke about four areas that Western Buddhists should should work on for a flourishing of the dharma. Mary describes the four domains and reflects in further detail about how it would look unfolding in our own lives.

Recorded Dec. 20, 2025 in the virtual world

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Using an article by Sayadaw U Tejaniya as a jumping off point, Mary discusses what being mindful all the time might look like in our lives, and how do we practice being present for whatever shows up. Being present is the key to liberation and is necessary even in the most mundane of situations. It takes effort, but the freedom is worth it.

Recorded Dec. 11, 2025 in the virtual world

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The saying that life teaches you how to live it is so aligned with Buddhism's invitation to be present in each moment for whatever is at hand. Mary reflects on this topic and the wisdom of being present for our lives.

Recorded Dec. 6, 2025 in the virtual world

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Reflecting on the invitation to "live as though the truth were true," Mary examines this through the Buddhist lens of being fully present with reality. So often we're in opposition to the 'truth' or reality because it differs from our wants or desires. The Buddha's teachings offer a way to align ourselves with reality and indeed, live as though the truth were true. A path of liberation.

Recorded Nov. 29, 2025 in the virtual world

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November is often thought of as a month to give thanks, but the cultivation of gratitude is a practice that benefits us throughout the year. Gratitude is a heart practice that expands our awareness and connection to ourselves and others. Through it we learn to release negative conditioning and cultivate a wise heart. Making gratitude integral to our lives lets us be present for all things, and see the beneficial where we have missed it before.

Recorded Nov. 22, 2025 in the virtual world

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In this talk Mary emphasized the importance of being connected to our body and the wisdom it contains. When we live in our heads, we can get stuck in views and perceptions and we miss out on the experience of the moment. The Buddha said that the world is in this fathom-long body, not just in our heads. Being connected allows us to live with a wise heart.

Recorded Nov. 15, 2025 in the virtual world

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We are all experiencing an onslaught of information and it can be challenging to keep up. The fact is, we cannot keep up and the invitation to pause in practice is important. Mary discusses what gets in our way and how to find a path to equanimity among all the chatter.

Recorded Nov. 8, 2025 in the virtual world

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Our reactivity to situations often takes over and determines how we feel and act. However, if we can pause before reacting, we may have a very different experience. In this talk Mary discusses how we need to recognize how nothing in our reaction will change the situation, but how our reactions will impact our level of dukkha.

Recorded Nov. 1, 2025 in the virtual world

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Reflecting on the Parami of Truthfulness, Mary investigates what gets in the way and keeps us removed from reality and not seeing the world clearly. We are invited to reflect on being honest with the world and, what is sometimes even more difficult, being honest with ourselves. There is freedom in truth.

Recorded Oct. 19, 2025 at Insight Community of the Desert

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In this talk Mary reflects on the idea of emptiness which can be thought of as an absence of attachment to self or I, Me and Mine. This freedom can seem elusive, but we can recognize it in our daily lives as we work on letting go.

Recorded Oct. 9, 2025 in the virtual world

After Buddhism by Stephen Batchelor

Pay Attention, for Goodness' Sake by Sylvia Boorstein

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Reflecting on a piece of writing from Kittasaro, Mary talk about the 'gap between thoughts' which is so important but also something that we miss most of the time. It's when we make the effort to release the habitual thinking mind that we make space for deep knowing and wisdom to arise. This is the path to liberation and awakening.

Recorded Oct. 4, 2025 in the virtual world

America's Racial Karma by Larry Ward

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The development of Wisdom is a key component in Buddhist teachings and practice. It is not just knowledge of facts, but is a deep and embodied understanding of the nature of experience. Wisdom, Wise View and clear seeing are necessary for our awakening and liberation. Mary discusses wisdom and how we cultivate it in our daily lives.

Recorded September 25, 2025 in the virtual world

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Inspired by aquotes, Mary reflects on how we contain multiplicities and can hold them all at once. We can experience suffering, and also awe. We can experience grief, and also gratitude. It's when we get stuck on one experience and block out others, that we are not fully present. Buddha's teachings invite us to be present for the fullness of our humanity. With the chaos around us today, this is a good reminder to stay grounded and present to each moment. When we make space for suffering, we're also making space for awe.

Recorded Sept. 20, 2025 in the...