Vedana, or the feeling tone of pleasant, unpleasant or neither-pleasant-nor-unpleasant that arises with each sense contact, was considered important enough by the Buddha to be a foundation of mindfulness, one of the five aggregates, and central to the teaching on dependent origination. It is also at the heart of the Dart Sutta in the Samyutta Nikaya, where the Buddha talks about the two common responses to suffering: to bemoan and lament the fact that suffering is happening, but often to try to avoid the unpleasant by chasing after the pleasant. This talk looks at these different teachings to help us understand the importance of bringing mindfulness to vedana in our practice and in our lives.

End of the second week set of instructions - a general invitation to mindfulness.

Thoughts on the relationship of mindfulness and wisdom, and how wisdom is nurtured and developed.

Mindfulness of difficult emotions can lead to a pleasant progress to peace, happiness, and awakening.

Mindfulness of sloth and torpor can help us in turning the hinderance into opportunities for alertness and awareness.

Part 2 - Teachers: Bob Stahl and Steve Flowers

Part 1 - Teachers: Bob Stahl and Steve Flowers

Beginning meditation instructions: mindfulness of the body, breathing, and sounds