PLEASE NOTE: 'The Mirrored Gates' is a set of talks (recorded by Rob from his home) attempting to clarify, elaborate on, and open up further the concepts, practices, and possibilities explained in previous talks on imaginal practice. Some working familiarity with those previous teachings will provide a helpful foundation for this new set; but a good understanding of and experiential facility with practices of emptiness, samatha, the emotional/energy body, metta, and mindfulness is necessary and presumed, without which these new teachings may be confusing and difficult to comprehend.

This talk distinquishes Sati and Sampajanna.

PLEASE NOTE: 'The Mirrored Gates' is a set of talks (recorded by Rob from his home) attempting to clarify, elaborate on, and open up further the concepts, practices, and possibilities explained in previous talks on imaginal practice. Some working familiarity with those previous teachings will provide a helpful foundation for this new set; but a good understanding of and experiential facility with practices of emptiness, samatha, the emotional/energy body, metta, and mindfulness is necessary and presumed, without which these new teachings may be confusing and difficult to comprehend.

While fear is a natural and intelligent emotion, when fear goes on overdrive, we are in a trance of fear that contracts our body, heart and mind. Our resistance to the direct experience of fear sustains the trance and leads to decisions and behaviors that harm ourselves and others. Only by facing fear with mindfulness and compassion can we awaken from trance and reconnect with our capacity for creativity and full aliveness, wisdom and love.

An exploration of the 3rd Establishment of Mindfulness.

TBD

Mindfulness is one particular aspect of awareness that is shining through us all the time. As we tune into awareness, we connect with a spacious perspective that counteracts the solidification of a small separate self and opens us to connection with all things and true freedom.

The hindrances are part of the inner landscape on the journey to wholeness and awakening. When we recognize them with mindfulness, they don't need to be a problem.

While fear is a natural and intelligent emotion, when fear goes on overdrive, we are in a trance of fear that contracts our body, heart and mind. Our resistance to the direct experience of fear sustains the trance and leads to decisions and behaviors that harm ourselves and others. Only by facing fear with mindfulness and compassion can we awaken from trance and reconnect with our capacity for creativity and full aliveness, wisdom and love.

Back to basics: What is mindfulness? How does it function? And how much mindfulness do we need to practice?

Unification of Body, mind, and Heart. The functions of Samadhi. The Buddha's 4 guidelines on mindfulness of the breath: The long breath, the short breath, experiencing the whole body, and calming the body as you breathe in and out.

This talk offers some reflections on mindfulness of the body and its intersection with embodiment.

Using inspiration techniques and exercises developed by Joanna Macy, along with guided mindfulness meditation, we will explore the many ways we are connected to each other and to the life of the planet.

This talk introduces the practice of opening to and meditating upon the chanting of the Satipatthana Sutta, the discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. It utilizes the chanting of Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhita Thero.

Morning Instructions: Mindfulness of Thoughts

The two aspects of mindfulness, general comprehension and bare attention. General comprehension understands our purpose, the refuge of why we are being attentive contextualizes our attention and knowing with wisdom and caring.

Through the practice of mindfulness and wisdom, we can begin to understand the gratification, danger and escape in case of sensual pleasure.

Shaila Catherine concluded our lecture series on the Great Disciples, with a talk about the Venerable Mahakaccana. He was a monk famous for explaining difficult and perplexing teachings. The Buddha sometimes gave brief teachings that left the listeners confused. Sometimes the disciples did not ask the Buddha questions to clarify their doubt. Instead they sought out another monk to elucidate the matter and explain the detailed meaning. The Pali Canon preserves several insightful discourses in which initial enigmatic teachings by the Buddha are systematically explained by Venerable Mahakaccana. He addresses profound topics including the construction of I-making and mine-making, craving, conceit, views, mindfulness of sense perceptions, obsession with thoughts of past and future, and overcoming desire and lust. His methods of exposition became the basis of early commentary, and Mahakaccana became known as the first Buddhist commentator.

Here and now, how the deepening levels of Mindfulness and Loving Awareness can free the heart and mind.