Boundless Heart explores the Buddhist path to cultivating kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. It delves into practical techniques and real-life applications of these qualities. The book emphasizes the interconnectedness of these four virtues and their role in alleviating suffering. Feldman draws on her extensive experience as a Dharma teacher to offer insightful guidance and relatable examples. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of how to integrate these virtues into their daily lives for greater well-being.
This book is a complete guide to meditation, beginning with the simplest breathing and sitting techniques. It is based on three key skills: concentration, mindfulness, and lovingkindness. The 28-day program includes exercises, journal prompts, and guided meditations available for download. It aims to transform lives by bringing greater resiliency, creativity, peace, clarity, and balance. The book also addresses common concerns of beginners through an extensive FAQ section and provides practical advice on maintaining a daily meditation practice[1][3][5].
For episode 257 we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Christina Feldman.
This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the seventh episode in this series. Christina is of the generation of dharma teachers that began teaching in the west in 1975 after spending some years in Asia studying and practice in both the Mahayana and Theravadan traditions. She is a co-founder of Gaia House and served as a guiding teacher of IMS beginning in its early days. She teaches Buddhist psychology in several university settings in Europe, and she teaches both traditional retreats and study programs. Christina is the author of Boundless Heart: The Buddha’s Path of Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity and co-author of Mindfulness: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Psychology, among other books. The conversation begins with a guided practice led by Christina.
In this conversation, Christina and Sharon discuss:
- How Christina accidentally ended up in India
- First encountering Tibetan refugees
- Christina first learning meditation
- Dharma as an immersive experience
- Sharon’s first attempts to meditate
- Different techniques in Christina’s early practice
- Goenka’s impact on Sharon
- Secular Mindfulness
- Practice versus Path
- Definitions of Dukkha
- What Christina is teaching lately
- Bodhi College
- Sharon’s work with caregivers
- Equanimity as embodied understanding
- How Christina has developed as a teacher
The conversation segues to questions from the audience with a guided meditation from Christina. Sharon and Christina then take questions on specificity of intention, working with physical pain, emptiness as a practice, moving from knowing a truth to living a truth, and Christina’s yearly intentions.
You can learn more about Christina’s work right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here.
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Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg 
