Cultivating mindfulness and non-harming brings us to the practice of compassion.

These recordings are available publicly from a retreat held in person at Big Bear Retreat Center. Learn more about the center and upcoming offerings for retreats in nature, gathered in community. bigbearretreatcenter.org/upcoming-retreats/ Healing the Self, Loving the Self, Forgetting the Self Matthew Brensilver July 9 - 13, 2024 Co-sponsored by Insight Retreat Center (IRC) and Big Bear Retreat Center In this silent retreat, we explore how mindfulness supports the healing of the self. Many of the Buddhist teachings help us to tend to painful memory, old pains and the habits that compound suffering. As we become more gentle and loving towards experience, the self becomes less and less of a preoccupation. The more completely we accept ourselves, the easier it becomes to forget the self and rest in an awareness unencumbered by self-consciousness. This retreat includes sitting and walking meditation instructions, and dharma talks.

What is Natural Awareness? This talk gives context for accessing and playing with a type of mindfulness that is open, spacious, luminous, and boundless. Natural awareness connects us to "awareness of awareness." The talk begins with an explanation of the spectrum of awareness (using some entertaining props) and includes on the spot glimpse practices.

The weekly practice groups are designed to be a cornerstone for one's practice by providing ongoing instruction and teachings that will help illuminate the simple but challenging practice of mindfulness. The Buddha taught that mindfulness is the way to go beyond habits of distraction and grasping. To walk this path of wisdom and compassion, we need the support of a community that shares this intention. Each session includes a guided meditation, dharma talk, and discussion. Both experienced and beginning meditators are welcome.

The weekly practice groups are designed to be a cornerstone for one's practice by providing ongoing instruction and teachings that will help illuminate the simple but challenging practice of mindfulness. The Buddha taught that mindfulness is the way to go beyond habits of distraction and grasping. To walk this path of wisdom and compassion, we need the support of a community that shares this intention. Each session includes a guided meditation, dharma talk, and discussion. Both experienced and beginning meditators are welcome.

First day of a retreat. How do we start our practice? Learn how to focus our attention.

We start with a brief reflection on today's holiday, Juneteenth. Then we review last week's initial exploration of practicing with views, including (1) identifying the main teachings on views given by the Buddha, and (2) three basic ways to practice with views, including developing mindfulness of views, inquiring when there is a charge related to another's view, and developing careful listening. This review is followed by bringing in several further ways to understand and practice with views, including working with a specific teaching and letting the "view [coming from the teaching] be the meditation," exploring how sometimes to rest in a kind of unknowing, and then how awakening lies beyond views and concepts. The talk is followed by discussion.

After initial instructions in developing stability and concentration, and then mindfulness, there are further instructions, given after 10 and after 20 minutes, on developing more mindfulness of views, stories, and narratives (related to the talk given after the meditation). At the end, there is an invitation to reflect on views or stories that have been prominent in the last few days.

02:00 Q1 Regarding the sankaras, is it possible for feelings to land on contact without being in the realm of sankaras? If so how would this perception manifest? 17:15 Q2 Could you please explain the distinction between mental formations and consciousness. 30:02 Q3 Some questions on mindfulness of breathing. Should we regulate the breath and use the length of the breath as the object of mindfulness? 38:24 Q4 Can you speak about the third tetrad of the anapanasati sutta.

How the emotions are sensed in the body and why it's important to learn to feel them.

Sweeping the body -- front, back and inside - observing the feeling tone.

Three short suttas from the Vedana Samyutta for reflection on Mindfulness of Feeling. SN 36.1, SN 36.12, and SN 36.24

This is the opening morning of the retreat, offering guidance in working with the breath skillfully by infusing the mindfulness with lovingkindness.

Using AN 8.63 and MN 10 to investigate the practice of Mindfulness of Feeling as a way into deep meditation.

Reading and reflection on "The Chapter on Mindfulness of the Body" AN 1.575-615

Based on Majjhima Nikaya 119

Bringing mindful awareness to the mind, emotion, or quality of the mind.

Mindfulness of the five hindrances