Annie Nugent has practiced since 1979 and was an IMS Resident Teacher, 1999-2003. Her teaching style aims to reveal how all aspects of our lives can help us come to a clear and direct understanding of the Truth.
This talk shows how, supported by mindfulness, the seven factors, when balanced in terms of the energizing and the calming factors, work together to bring about the conditions for awakening...
The teaching of “no-self” often leads to the mind trying to figure it all out. Using the simile of the chariot this talk helps to turn the investigative mind, rather than the thinking mind, towards dispelling this wrong view of who we think we are.
The practice of insight is all about developing wisdom. This talk describes both how this wisdom comes about – and what the resulting wisdom actually is....and how it shows itself in our worldly life.
At first our practice is for ourselves alone...but as wisdom begins to unfold through reflection and practice, we come to understand that all beings are in the same predicament that we are - suffering and wanting to be happy. Thus we can do our practice for the benefit of all beings. This was the motivation of the Buddha.
Of all of the vastness of the Buddha's understanding, he summed up the essence of his discovery with just these 4 truths - which are not meant to be an intellectual understanding, rather we need to see them manifest directly....in all areas of our lives. In this way our lives are onward leading towards freedom.
Seeing the 8 fold path within the most mundane of daily life experiences shows us that the dharma is always available to us when we recognize it's presence. If we do, confidence prevails.... we know that we can live the dharma in each moment.
Because there are many different styles of teaching related to concentration, this sometimes leads to doubt in our own practice. The intention in discussing this topic is to call forth a common sense, broader perspective on what this important quality is and how it fits into the practice.
The skillful means for working with these difficult states of mind(emotions) vary from person to person and even day to day, depending on what is appropriate NOW. This talk looks at ways to develop a gently intuitive attitude of mind to support letting be with what is, revealing the true nature of these emotions.
