Leela Sarti has been a student of the Buddha's teachings and practices since she was 16 years old. She lives with her family in Sweden and in addition to teaching Insight Meditation retreats internationally works individually with students in her psychotherapy practice in Stockholm. She is a long term student of the Diamond Approach and part of a teacher training program in that tradition.
When we simply pause instead of immediately filling up the space, we are called to meet, taste and endure the feeling of emptiness and deficiency. The gift of an authentic willingness to be present with the difficult, without moving beyond our window or capacity of presence, opens up real space and the the satisfying substantiality of the heart; objective compassion, joy and the pleasure of being. Compassion nourishes the attitude of "this too can be here", heals the split between head and heart, and supports us to be present in a robust way. Joy helps us orient inwards instead of externalizing satisfaction and meaning, until we wake up to the knowing that the deepest intimacy is presence.
The word "intimate" means "to make known". What do we wish to make known, to make real and alive? What does it mean to be intimate with oneself and life? The talk touches on the importance of making a turn towards the retreat: to value simplicity, silence, being and and attitude of loving care.
This talk explores the fixation of identity, and the isolating limitation of being an "I" and how, when we become less engaged in the constructed, defended and fabricated, the great way of practice opens up. As we align with reality of the three characteristics of existence, we sense a different belonging and the vibrant intimacy of living an embodied life.
A talk on the real possibility of transforming self hate, self loathing and the force of ill-will, by making it a conscious part of your insight meditation practice.
Every moment of true mindfulness is kind. This talk explores the possibility of cultivating a mind that can be with the reality of life. When we turn to experience with openness, we also become more open to insights, and our confidence in ourselves and our capacity for awakening becomes grounded in life.
Deeply opening to the impact of the characteristics of human existence; anicca, anatta and dukkha, supports us to grow in wisdom and brings intimacy and aliveness to our being. From the silence of being flows the essential radiant qualities of mind and heart; love, compassion, joy and equanimity. Our unfolding is held and nurtured by the supporting containers of awakening practice; sila, samadhi and panna.
"There is a cry deeper than all sounds whose serrated edges cut the heart as we break open, to the place inside which is unbreakable and whole, while learning to sing" - Rashani There is an illness in being somebody and and illness in being nobody. When we meet that which is hard to bear in our experience in general, and the force of self judgement in particular, we can come to rest in natural being and open to the fullness of life.
