Teachers: Toni Packer
The following talks by Toni Packer are free downloads in MP3
format. These and other talks are available
to order as CDs and tapes.
December/January
1992/93 Day 5 (California)
Questions include:
"Is a spiritual life incompatible with one's business?"
"How does one explore anger in oneself?"
"How does one explore one's reaction to anger in another?"
"Who is aware?"
November 1990
Day 6 Retreat Talk
Toni goes into retreatants' questions:
"In spite of all my present disbeliefs I still yearn for a
God to protect me and for an afterlife in which I will be
reunited with those whom I love."
"You have had a background in thorough Zen practice for many years. How do you know that someone who hasn’t had that or similar kind of training can get to the same place you are in now?" [In addressing this question Toni talks of her spiritual background--deep questioning, then Zen, then describes coming upon the writings of Kirishnamurti as the most catalytic thing in her life.]
"How does one know if one is really truly seeing or what one is seeing is the truth?"
"Can one see clearly what is truth and what is illusion?"
Fear of dying and yearning for a protective god.
June-July 1985
Day 4 Retreat Talk
Effort part I. Effort is always connected with
resistance. It is up to the individual to test this out by
exploring the complex program of thinking that one needs to
make an effort.
June-July 1985
Day 5 Retreat Talk
Effort, part II.Toni deals with questions raised by the
first, including "What's wrong with working hard and
achieving?" She goes into the difference between setting a
goal, using willpower to achieve it, and working hard
without opposition.
June-July 1985
Day 6 Retreat Talk
Effort, part III. Does insight into the complex program
of making an effort need a quiet hillside retreat in order
to happen? Can one withstand the current of pushing and
attaining when one returns to home and job? Toni addresses
these questions at the beginning of the third talk, then
goes on to speak of dying.
February 1987 Day 1
Retreat Talk
What is a talk? Anger/pain - what do I do about it? Open
listening.
February 1987 Day 2
Retreat Talk
The question of the self. Is it real?
February 1987 Day 3
Retreat Talk
I don't know where I'm going. Is there anyplace to go?
February 1987 Day 4
Retreat Talk
Would one ever do anything if there wasn't a motive? Can
there be action without motive?
February 2006 Day 2
Retreat Talk (8.6 MB)
Attention versus awareness: it's both. Attention moves from
here to there to take it all in, while awareness has already
taken it all in. In silence behind silence, what makes
seeing possible can be felt.
February 2004 Day 6
Retreat Talk (8.1 MB)
Choicelessly awaring how the mind moves and chooses,
seeking what to be aware of. Naming requires sequence, but
in sitting all can be as it is naturally, simultaneously.