Undefended Dharma with Mary Stancavage

A Wise and Skillful Way

The term Upaya, or Skillful Means can be a very helpful concept to consider as we move through our lives and is a practice of equanimity. How do we respond to our experie

Continuity of Mindfulness

We don't meditate to get good at meditation. Instead, our practice lays the ground for awareness which we, hopefully, carry throughout our days. Continuity of mindfu

Because of this...

A core teaching of Buddhism is Dependent Origination although it can seem difficult to understand at times. In this talk, Mary offers a simple overview of this important

Stay in the Now Now

In this dharma reflection Mary discusses the idea we so often carry about the now, the future and the past and how easy it is to be caught up in a world that is somewhere

Undefended Heart - 2026

Living with an undefended heart is not only a saying, but it is a practice that moves us toward liberation and away from greed, aversion and ignorance. In this talk Mary

Checking Our Spiritual Progress

The Dalai Lama suggests that we check in with our spiritual practice every ten years or so. Using the 18th anniversary of teaching as a jumping off point, Mary checks in

Opening in Awareness

Using the teachings of Sayadaw U Tejaniya, Mary reflects on awareness, and how we find it in our lives.  Recorded August 6, 2026 in the virtual world Send me a text wit

The Necessity of Mindfulness

Sati, or mindfulness is foundational to our practice and necessary for liberation. In this talk Mary discusses what mindfulness is and the Buddha's teaching on how w

Grief and Kindness

So many things are coming at us these days, it can feel so overwhelming. In this talk Mary reflects on the grief we may be feeling about so much loss in the world, and ho

The Three Poisons

The Buddha says the root of suffering begins with what he calls the three defilements, also known as the three poisons. These are greed, aversion or ill-will, and ignoran

Saying Hi to the Demons

In this talk, Mary reflects on the famous story of Milarepa and the demons who take over his cave. It's a wonderful reflection on our spiritual journey of aversion a

Touching the World Lightly

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

Releasing the Stories

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 ourselve

What Gets In the Way

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 som

Know That You Know

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. Thi

The 5th Precept

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 i

Sad - No Problem

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 o

The Intimacy of Now

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

Do Not Take What is Not Freely Offered

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

Finding Freedom with the Way it Is

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 an