A guided meditation through previous steps up to gladdening the mind with different methods, with insight, awareness of mind, with metta and other serenity practices.
Basic instructions in developing concentration and stability, on the one hand, and mindfulness, on the other, are given in the context of the teaching of the Seven Factors of Awakening; concentration and mindfulness are two of the seven factors. We also explore inquiry or investigation, a third factor, in the context of mindfulness.
This meditation uses any personal images people might have from considering what might constitute a beautiful life for them, and considering Naikan questions (in this case what one has received from the world, what one has given, what problems or difficulties one thinks one has caused), and tuning in to the impact these images have on the energy body. The later part of the meditation focusses on putting images aside. It’s partly a practice to develop appreciation, to see the felt impact of one’s actions, and partly - towards the end - an exercise in letting go of images.
