Non-Greed, Non-Hatred and Non-Delusion were taught by the Buddha as the three roots of happiness. Stating each in a positive way they are 1) Letting go/Generosity, 2) Loving-Kindness and ClarityWisdom. Every moment that we're mindful we're cultivating these qualities. This talk explores both the moment-to-moment as well as the relational aspects of these three qualities.
A guided practice for letting go of specific objects or sense doors to practice open or choiceless awareness. For some people this is a more natural way of practicing. The intent is to become mindful of one’s mental activity as it is drawn to different experiences arising at any of the six sense doors. From this practice you can gain insight into how the mind works and find freedom no matter what the experience.
Continuing from the Anapanasati sutta we turn to vedana, the 2nd foundation of mindfulness. With great courage. we can develop contentment no matter the pleasure, pain or neutrality of any give moment. In not understanding vedana we are forever imprisoned by our wrong views. When we can breath consciously in a greater range of pain, pleasure and neutrality we find the path to non-conditional contentment.
Instruction and guided meditation on the 2nd foundation of mindfulness called vedana (feeling tone). This is the factor of each moment of consciousness which is pleasant, unpleasant and neutral. Being able to be mindful of vedana allows us to cut off our reactivity.
Wise or Right Effort includes cultivating wholesome states and then maintaining and increasing them. This talk explores how to maintain and increase these states and the importance of consciously including them in our practice. Particular emphasis is on the power of investigation, as well as mindfulness.
This talk was offered at the month-long concentration retreat. It discusses how faith, effort/energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom develop and support each other.
In many discourses the Buddha gave very detailed instructions on how to develop Mindfulness of Breathing from our first awareness of breathing in and out through calming the mind into samadhi (concentration) and then steps to cultivate liberating insight. These 16 steps also include the cultivation of happiness and contentment as an aspect of the path to freedom.
