Troubled Times (2026): Talks to the Israeli Vipassana Community (Download and Streaming Video)
Vipassana
This product is directly related to Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka.
Author: Fleischman, Dr. Paul R.
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2026-04-01
Product Type: Download and Streaming Audio
Pages:
Language:
SKU:
SKU:707005
Description
Description
These live Zoom video talks by Dr. Paul R. Fleischman, delivered to the Israeli Vipassana community in March 2026, provide practical and psychological guidance on maintaining a meditation practice amidst the pressures of modern life and global instability.
In the first talk, "Don’t Use Dhamma to Harm Yourself," Fleischman addresses the common struggle of maintaining a daily routine after leaving a formal course, warning against the pitfalls of guilt, self-criticism, and rigid asceticism. He reframes "monkey mind" and daydreaming as natural survival tools of the human brain rather than failures of practice, encouraging meditators to use "Dhamma volition" to simply show up on the cushion. By emphasizing that the "two-hour-a-day" standard is a helpful modern anchor rather than an ancient dogma, he advocates for an adaptive approach that prioritizes equanimity and life responsibilities—such as parenting—over rigid timekeeping.
The second talk, "Meditating in Troubled Times," explores Vipassana as a specialized tool for navigating historical and personal crises. Dr. Fleischman argues that "troubled times" are a semi-permanent feature of human history and that the Dhamma was specifically designed as a response to the inherent insecurity of life. He provides strategies for processing intense negativities—such as fear, vigilance, grief, and despair—without judgment, noting that these are often useful evolutionary adaptations. Integrating concepts from modern "positive psychology", the talk highlights how friendship, generosity, and mettā (loving-kindness) serve as biological and mental safeguards that change brain chemistry and foster resilience.
Ultimately, these talks offer a compassionate roadmap for integrating wisdom into a chaotic world, emphasizing that even the most difficult hours of meditation contribute to a long-term "compounding" of peace and mental clarity.
Don’t Use Dhamma to Harm Yourself; Only Use Dhamma to Help Yourself (March 20, 2026)
Meditating in Troubled Times (March 27, 2026)
Find audio and video podcasts by Paul R. Fleischman in our podcast area.
We are grateful to the volunteers who offered their time and skills creating this product so that we can offer it freely. If you wish to help us record more audiobooks, please email us at volunteer@pariyatti.org.
VIPASSANA PRODUCTS
Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. More information about Vipassana as taught by S.N. Goenka is available at www.dhamma.org.
The tag Vipassana identifies products that are directly related to this tradition and differentiates them from other Theravada resources available on our site. While the main emphasis in Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka is on actual practice, this product may provide inspiration and guidance to a Vipassana meditator.
We also carry titles from the Theravada tradition, as we feel that by exploring the wider world of the Theravada texts, which include the Buddha’s discourses, commentaries, and scholarly articles and treatises, meditators have an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Dhamma and thereby enrich their meditation practice. This kind of intellectual exploration also helps a meditator to gain an understanding of the evolution and historical context of their meditation tradition. This understanding in turn deepens their practice and understanding of the Dhamma.
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