Practice talk by OI member Nicole Dunn. August 14th, 2022. Location: inaugural day of mindfulness at Empty Mountain. emptymountain.org

Roots & Wings

Practice talk recorded at Deer Park Monastery on Sunday November 13, 2022, by OI member Nicole Dunn.

Cultivating Joy: 5 Myths, 5 Practices & 5 Discoveries

A few years ago, I put my own melody to the opening verse of the sutra  "Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone." And just recently, I started singing this as my morning chant before I sit, with the addition of bells. 
Recorded at Empty Mountain, May 2023 (with the lovely addition of rain in the background :)

New Morning Chant

Practice talk/PSA about how to up our game in the skillful speech department. Recorded at Deer Park Monastery on Monday December 4, 2023.

Skillful Speech: Being Better At It

Practice talk by Nicole Dunn on sangha building, given at Deer Park Monastery on January 11, 2024.

Practice talk on Sangha Building

This short talk is part 1 of 4 of a free online practice group called Four Arenas, hosted by Empty Mountain and organized & led by Nicole. The arena our group will be centered on for our first week, which starts on January 14, is Joy.

4A Practice Group: Joy

This short talk is part 2 of 4 of a free online practice group called Four Arenas, hosted by Empty Mountain and organized & led by Nicole. The arena our group will be centered on for our second week, which starts on January 21, is Gratitude.

4A Practice Group: Gratitude

This short talk is part 3 of 4 of a free online practice group called Four Arenas, hosted by Empty Mountain and organized & led by Nicole. The arena our group will be centered on for our third week, which starts on January 28, is Self-Befriending.

4A Practice Group: Self-Befriending

Part 4 of 4 of a free online practice group called Four Arenas, hosted by Empty Mountain and organized & led by Nicole. The arena our group will be centered on for our fourth & final week, which starts on February 4, is Comfort-Zone Expansion Work.

4A Practice Group: Comfort-Zone Expansion Work

Encouragement to invest in heartfulness. Talk recorded on April 2, 2024 at Empty Mountain practice center, by Nicole Dunn.

Heartfulness

On Sitting Meditation

Practice talk by Nicole Dunn given during a day of mindfulness at Empty Mountain Practice Center on June 9, 2024.

The Poetry of Living

Recorded at Empty Mountain Practice Center on Sunday July 14, 2024. 

Coming Home to Our Self

A song written and sung by Nicole Dunn. Recorded on a Sunday in the woods at Empty Mountain.

Sunday Morning in the Woods

This recording is a reading of the first chapter of Pema Chodron's book "Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change."

Book Reading: chapter one

Practice talk by Nicole Dunn, given on Aug 18, 2024 as part of the 2nd annual Empty Mountain camping retreat.

Befriend Self Befriend the World

Five Powers: Faith

Talk given en route and on the road, recorded on May 14, 2025 whilst driving through Kansas.

Usages of Time & Self Regulation

I recently took a solo road trip to Arkansas and on the way there & back (3 there & 3 back), I wrote a short road song each day I was driving. This audio is me singing each of the 6 songs. Recorded whilst driving through Wyoming on my return home, May 16, 2025.

Road Songs

Recorded on June 15, 2025 at Empty Mountain during a day of mindfulness.

Seven Roots of Wellness

Sorrow. Rest. Joy.

Recorded on July 10, 2025. Image art by Kelly Borberg. This is a reading of a blog post. To see the blog post: https://goingoutwordsandinwords.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/the-way-is-hard-worth-it/

The Way Is Hard & Worth It

Offerings in this recording:
A passage from "The Sun My Heart" by Thich Nhat Hanh; today's reading (July 17) from "365 Tao" by Deng Ming-Dao; the poem "Kindness" by Naomi Shihab Nye; a poem I penned this morning; the chant I do every morning before my session of sitting meditation, and the words of the chant come from the opening passage of the sutra on Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone (the ending words of which I edit slightly)


2 Readings, 2 Poems & 1 Chant

Present Moment Living

Lyrics:

Heart open on the path
Feet steady as she goes
and where I'm heading
only god knows

and I am getting better
at walking in the unknown

oh my heart
I am here for you
and I will take good
care of you my friend

Feet steady as she goes
and where I'm heading
only god knows

and I am getting better
at walking in the unknown

Heart open on the path
Feet steady as she goes
Steady as she goes

(original song by Nicole Dunn)

Steady As She Goes (song)

Long Way: Cover song by Antje Duvekot

Practice talk: Showing Up

A poem by Angi Sullins

To read the blog post this audio is linked to: https://goingoutwordsandinwords.wordpress.com/2025/11/11/how-to-start-a-meditation-practice/

Online Resources:

Meditation apps & timers
Plum Village app
Headspace
Insight Timer
Calm

Finding a meditation group 
- In the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh (online or in person): https://www.plumline.org/
- Also, according to a quick search I did: You can find a meditation group directory through online platforms like Meetup, Psychology Today, and Insight Timer, as well as dedicated sites like Mindful.org and Shambhala

Guided meditations
https://www.youtube.com/@moenschmicha (I would especially recommend his music-infused guided meditations; this channel is from former Brother Freedom, who I had the pleasure of meeting & getting to know a bit at Deer Park Monastery before he returned back to lay life, I like him so so much)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv6hAq_jiOQ (deep relaxation by Kaira Jewel Lingo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAsy2Ojbm00 (by Brother Phap Linh with cello)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arBeN_9N7Qw&t=44s (10-min sit by Susan Piver)

How to start a meditation practice

4S online practice group

Ordained member of the Order of Interbeing, as part of Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village mindfulness tradition.

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