These regularly scheduled evenings will begin with a guided meditation and then open up to our practice questions allowing us time to deepen in Sangha through mindful community discussion.

Guided compassion meditation

Sympathetic Joy - wishing that others may appreciate their goodness

Using citta to cultivate citta with experience; using the imagination / the world of the citta to help steer the citta; using the Five Subjects of Frequent Recollection; taking it up at least at the end of each day; cleaning up at the end of the day

the intelligence of citta responding to the needs of the puja; noticing (vitaka) and getting into the flow (vichara) sampling, assessing, appreciating, snuggles in - like trying on new clothes; the result is piti (a refreshing lifting up) and the citta appreciates this; these are the factors and not the object(s) of Samadhi; how does your citta fit in your body?; posture and balance can trigger it; feel it and adjust the two experiences – adjusting to it and sensitivity to it; can be sensed (a visual sense) and feel it (tactile) and can adjust between the two of these to be with it; thoroughly sensitive to it; calming any excitement or over eagerness with the breath; noticing the experience and noticing the noticing; sensitive to the mind consciousness, its objects; we are aware that we are aware; objects releasing by themselves

the sense of space/ distance; responding tonalities / intensities and the effect on awareness and the citta; appreciating body sensitivities to pressure, vibration, intensity, tension; the experience of noticing the body and appreciating the apparent sensitivities on the citta; returning to a mildly agreeable sensation; direct felt experience and its qualities; handing mental inclinations with a similar sensitivity; effects on the citta of the background pressure to “get it right”; the citta’s obsession to become something; learning the art of sensitivity; using discomfort as vehicle to attend internally to sensitivity and physical and emotional pain; widening the emotional lens

Developing the skill of recollection and the experience on the citta; where does the meaning sit?; the arising of citta to meaning; cultivating the immeasureables; the experience comes first; what is the quality of being touched by others’ suffering? Being willing to stay present with that is the movement of compassion; mudita; appreciating a feature or lucky moment for another, for oneself; appreciating the absence of physical pain; learning, sustaining and enriching the experience