This talk explores how deepening understanding of the truth of impermanence leads to greater compassion and ease. The development of equanimity (non-reactivity, equilibrium, upekkha in Pali) gives rise to greater peace and joy. This talk was offered during a BCIMS Online Daylong following the passing of beloved dharma teacher Steve Armstrong, and towards the end of the talk, it includes memories and teachings of Steve in last months. The talk also explores how mindfulness gives rise to insight.

The First Foundation of Mindfulness of the Body

Mindfulness in the mainstream world and what brings us to practice

We start by tuning into our intentions, both our "larger" or "deeper" intentions for why we practice and a more specific intention for this practice session based on how we are in the moment (maybe really settled or maybe distracted by what happened yesterday). We then work to develop concentration (samadhi) in one of several ways, particularly setting an intention either to be more relaxed (if we tend to be "tight" and over-efforting) or to be more effortful (if we tend to be overly relaxed). We later tune in to how the practice is going and see if we want to respond with an intention. After a period focusing on developing concentration, we practice mindfulness, again after a while seeing how things are and whether we want to set a skillful intention related to mindfulness. We close with a series of reflections on what we want to let go of in the next period of time, and what calls us.

Teachings and Guidance on RAIN meditation.

Teachings and guided meditation on mindfulness of the body using sensations, sounds, and breath.

On Solstice, Ayya Anadabodhi speaks about enduring darker moments and difficult aspects of self that have momentum by applying sati (mindfulness) to gradually return to the light.

With all sensory and mental experience-body sensations, hearing , seeing, tasting, smelling, thinking emotions and moods.

A discussion of Equanimity and confidence and Mindfulness

We start with settling for about 8 minutes followed by about the same time with basic mindfulness practice. Then we explore "moderate" experiences of pleasant or unpleasant when they occur, whether a bodily experience, an emotion, or a thought (or a mix), experiencing pleasant or unpleasant and seeing whether there follows wanting (or not wanting) and reactivity (habitual grasping or pushing away). We close with some reflection on what we explored, with an emphasis on skillful aversion: Was some of the not wanting skillful? Unskillful? What do we find in some daily life examples of aversion? This exploration is related to the talk given a short time later.

This talk explores vedanā within the framework of dependent origination, highlighting the role it plays in shaping habitual reactivity and suffering. It shows how mindfulness of feeling tone reveals the moment where suffering is conditioned—and where freedom becomes possible. By learning to meet vedanā directly, we cultivate equanimity and the capacity to relate to all experience with balance and ease.

Morning instructions of expanding the field of awareness to include the attitude of mind as well as working with thoughts and emotions

We start with settling for about 7-8 minutes followed by about the same time with basic mindfulness practice. Then we explore "moderate" experiences of pleasant or unpleasant when they occur, whether a bodily experience, an emotion, or a thought (or a mix), experiencing pleasant or unpleasant and seeing whether there follows wanting (or not wanting) and grasping (or pushing away). We close with some reflection on what we explored: Was some of the wanting or not wanting skillful? Unskillful. This exploration is related to the talk given a short time later.

An invitation to drop into the body and meet this moment without contention, this talk explores how mindfulness becomes a doorway to recognizing the sacred in everything and an opportunity to learn to be well with what comes and goes because when we can actually meet the moment, that's where our power lies.