Judging ourselves or comparing ourselves with others is a central issue for many. How we get caught and how to skillfully work with these habits is the topic of the talk.
We explore the nature and importance of samadhi (or concentration) practice in the context of the sequence of the three core practices of the retreat—samadhi practice, insight practice, and opening to “radiant mind.” We also examine a number of ways to engage skillfully in samadhi practice, including in the context of several core challenges to such practice.
Mindfulness of mind is the ability to hold the range of mind states in the field of mind so that dispassionate presence is realized. This ‘holding’ is not grasping any phenomenon as a real thing, more relating to it as a potential citta characteristic.
To respond to what arises is important – how to avoid blind reactions? Citta, core presence, can be accessed through mindfulness. When it is stable, a true response arises.
