Meditation Instructions for Day 6

How seeing the three universal characteristics of anicca-dukkha-anatta (impermanent, imperfect, impersonal) can support the releasing of anxiety and fear

La perspective de l’impersonnalité (anatta) dans notre méditation.

Aspects de l’impersonnalité (anatta) dans notre méditation.

There is no question more engaging, universal and mysterious than the question: ‘Who Am I?’ As soon as we move out of automatic living and start to question and explore who or what we are, we open a Pandora’s Box and our life can get dramatically more deep and interesting, and sometimes more disturbing. We find ourselves in a world of paradox, mystery, and yet unimagined freedom. ‘Who is in charge of my life?’ ‘What in me is changing and what is constant?’ ‘Which of the many voices within me can I rely on?’ ‘How can I let go of the sense of separation between me and the world?’ ‘Is my life leading me somewhere?’ Questions such as these become a journey of discovery. They help us peel off the layers of conditioning and beliefs and live more wisely, more lightly and more freely. In the dharma, we meet ourselves as a constantly changing field of experience, not as an intellectual puzzle. We are actually more transparent than we first thought. This is an insight into anatta, non-self, and sunyata, emptiness. This removes the veil or filter through which we usually view the world, which then appears meaningful, joyful, and unlimited. In this event, we will explore these questions concerning self and world, by means of a talk, meditation, and inquiry.

1) The difference between tanhā and upādāna – which is more important to address? 2) Stream entry – what is it, what helps get to the next level, different definitions of the ‘noble disciple’. 3) Questions about citta – difference between citta and citta saṅkhāra, between mano and citta. 4) Jealously, loneliness, lack of love. 5) Ānāpānasati sutta – is it sequential, do we develop each step in every sitting? 6) Ajahn’s one word of advice. 7) Questions on identity and anattā.

After a brief overview of the “three ways of seeing that liberate” (into anicca, dukkha, and anatta, or impermanence, reactivity or suffering, and not-self), and how to practice investigating anicca and dukkha, we explore a practical way to understand and investigate anatta or not-self. We focus on two ways of investigation: (1) noticing when the sense of self is “thick,” and studying it; and (2) learning in a number of ways to be with the flow of experience with less or little or no sense of self, as we “thin” the self.

How the chain of cognition leads to proliferative thinking centred around a distorted sense of self, and how mindfulness can stop the cycle, redirecting awareness instead to transcendent dependent origination which culminates in freedom

Exploring the three characteristics or marks of existence - anatta, anicca, dukkha. How learning to perceive these can help free us from suffering.

We can start to understand the teaching on not-self (anatta) by getting familiar with the experience of the sense of self.

Seeing anicca, dukkha and anatta through the lenses of science and practice.

A deep understanding of evolution & the teachings of anicca, dukkha & anatta can lead us to ending tribalism & having less suffering in our world

Description: We first explore how concentration practice is both helpful and important for insight practice, and how the two practices are related. We then look at the nature of insight practice, and in particular examine three ways of liberating seeing in insight practice, namely practices in which we cultivate seeing anicca (impermanence), dukkha (reactivity or unreliability or suffering), and anatta (not-self).

The third in a series of talks on the three characteristics of experience: impermanent, unsatisfying and not me or mine.

Dharma as Nature. Exploring Anatta in relation to one's body. You are not the owner of your body!

An introduction to anatta or not-self and an exploration of the suffering that comes from clinging to the five aggregates

Exploring Annicca (change), Dukkha (stress) and Anatta (not self), their relationship to one another, and the role they play in freeing the mind/heart.

Some exploration of dimensions of "I-Making and My-Making", investigating dependent arising of selfing, ways of cultivating the perception "not self" the emptiness of all phenomena, and the im[portace of honoring the "relative self" and personal dimensions.

Both Sayadaw U Jagara and Nikki Mirghafori share answers and reflections on pre-written questions: What’s the nutriment for equanimity and doubt? What is the difference between a cause and a condition? Explain anatta — If there is not a self, whose kamma gets reborn? Etc.

Exploring Anatta: constructing and de-constructing the sense of self - a six-week study and practice course Week 6: Non-grasping as the connection between anatta and Nibbana More info here: https://jill0shepherd-insightmeditation.com/2018-05-six-week-study-course-exploring-anatta/

Exploring Anatta: constructing and de-constructing the sense of self - a six-week study and practice course Week 5: short guided meditation cultivating compassion for oneself and others More info here: https://jill0shepherd-insightmeditation.com/2018-05-six-week-study-course-exploring-anatta/