00:18 Q1 It said that the awakened ones attained nibbana through mindfulness of the body. What about going through the formless realms? How do you maintain awareness of the body until nibbana? 13:02 Q2 I consider that for nibbana it requires mindfulness to be present every second, not just a while but continuously. This may be uncomfortable, perhaps we should bite the bullet and speak it out. On the other hand it's common when one has a strong practice for extended hours, for a few hours to think maybe I'm close? 25:35 Q3 Can you say more about the cultivation of the measureless states. 34:39 Q4 Ajahn Chah says something like happiness and unhappiness are both suffering and Buddhism seeks peace not happiness. Could you help me hear that as less of a bummer? 37:32 Q5 A person mentions that both teachers on the retreat like each other and are happy not just peaceful. Could you speak about this? And, why do you bother to dress your salad? 40:57 Q6 Regarding the spinal, sense could you please expand on this as a place of security and refuge, neutrality and Buddha. Does it have anything to do with the chakras? 48:35 Q7 Can you talk about practice to forgive oneself and others?

This talk overviews the four foundations of mindfulness, and then explores the second foundation of vedana, feeling tone, as a doorway to freedom.

Ajahn responds to several questions around the themes: Is it necessary to have an attitude of sanctity or divinity when one is mindful in the sati sampajanna way? Is it possible to get anywhere in the practice without being ordained? How long should I sit and what particular process should I go through? Will I arrive at a certain recognizable state?

First Foundation Body-teaching and Guided Meditation

Q1 00:52 When you're walking around and brushing your teeth what's your experience of the sense world and nibbana? I'd like to experience more beauty and sacredness in the sense world and cultivate a relationship with the transcendent, but it feels so out of reach; Q2 17:43 Recently I listened to a talk by Ajahn Tanissaro and he said he didn't know any practitioner in the West who was a stream enterer. I was disheartened. Can you say something about this? Q3 28:09 can you give some advice on cell phones and technology please? They drain my energy quickly. Q4 35:34 (several questions) In mindfulness of breathing, does one proceed sequentially through the 16 phrases, or pick up the steps that seem to fit with whatever seems to be arising. Why is it presented as a graduated training? Also, can you speak about releasing the heart? Q5 44:18 What are the differences between attention and awareness? What are their Pali terms? Q6 49:42 "One reviews the extent to which one's mind is liberated..." In the Book of the 5s. If one's mind is non-liberated how do you go about it? Q7 52:59 How to relate when resistance arises in practice from feeling blocked, to discouraged or lost etc etc etc.

Identifying the appearance of the 7 Awakening Factors in meditation with Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing as a basis.

We begin with guidance to develop samadhi (concentration). About mid-way through, we move to mindfulness practice, cultivating insight, and then to two important areas of liberating insight--insight into impermanence and insight into reactivity (the most fundamental meaning of dukkha).

Guided meditation (following Chi Gong practice) beginning at the root chakra paired with mindfulness, traveling up through the chakras and awakening factors for visualization and investigation.

Chi Gong to "shake off" tension in the body and ground the body with a mindful body scan that ends in sitting meditation.

Mindfully and kindly bringing attention to the body parts on the traditional list plus.

Establishing mindfulness and turning to investigation of whatever is present in this moment.

After establishing mindfulness and scanning through the body, this guided meditation addresses the 5 hindrances and describes a natural progression through the 7 Factors of Awakening.

Options for “warming up” mindfulness of breath practice with somatic practices and inclining to kindness

Continuing to explore the fourth precept, the commitment to refrain from false and harsh speech, by looking at mindful listening as a support for skilful speech

How to use touch to self-regulate and for self-compassion

In this instruction we will move from a focus on the object and turn towards an investigation of the quality of the mind and an awareness of what arises in the body

Mindfulness of breath opening into mindfulness of the whole body, including working with the feeling tones and pain

A gentle guide through all the steps with a focus on Dhamma reflection.

Based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, this talk explores our relationship with the body, feelings, mind and Dhamma - to untangle the tangle of suffering.

We may think some experiences are better than others to support awakening, but the Buddha said otherwise. This talk explores the liberative quality of mindfulness and the implications of this understanding.

Reflections on how mindfulness can be a refuge you can invest in