One of the glories of our practice is the capacity to respond skillfully, with wisdom and compassion, to difficult, challenging, and/or painful experiences. In this talk and discussion, we explore six ways to practice skillfully with difficulties, focusing more in 1-5 on “inner" practices: (1) Stay connected with core teachings and perspectives, particularly about working with reactivity; (2) develop mindfulness in these situations, which helps us with non-reactivity and knowing what is happening; (3) have a few ways to come back to balance and non-reactivity after one is reactive, lost, stuck, or overwhelmed; (4) take the difficult situation as an opportunity to go more deeply, potentially uprooting some of the roots of reactivity and habitual tendencies; (5) continue to cultivate awakened qualities, helping us to shift our center of gravity from reactivity to responsiveness; and (6) cultivate ways of responding more skillfully in “outer” ways, including speech and interactions.

Connecting wit body, feeling tone, mind/heart and wisdom as foundations for practice

{This talk is part of a set of three recordings from the retreat (Vedana; Instructions – Mindfulness of Vedana; Guided Meditation – Mindfulness of Feeling Tone). All three recordings focus on mindfulness of feeling tones with general explanations, practical instructions and guided meditation.}

{This talk is part of a set of three recordings from the retreat (Vedana; Instructions – Mindfulness of Vedana; Guided Meditation – Mindfulness of Feeling Tone). All three recordings focus on mindfulness of feeling tones with general explanations, practical instructions and guided meditation}.

{This talk is part of a set of three recordings from the retreat (Vedana; Instructions – Mindfulness of Vedana; Guided Meditation – Mindfulness of Feeling Tone). All three recordings focus on mindfulness of feeling tones with general explanations, practical instructions and guided meditation.}

Exploring the nuances of mindfulness is a vehicle and methodology of liberation.

Working with sexual energy (0:08); social justice in line with Dhamma (15:20); mindfulness, thinking, speaking & listening (35:03)