Mindfulness of the body feelings, emotions, thoughts, and hindrances.

Forgiveness does not mean condoning others evil or unskillful behaviors, but it does mean letting go of the emotion connection of feeling hurt and wounded.

Understanding intention

Some examples of how things can be noted when practicing "open awareness". Response to a question about "trying" in meditation

This talk was given as a part of the series "Enhancing Mindfulness Skills: A Seven-Week Series Dedicated to Cultivating Transformative Insight." This talk focuses on "Four Elements." It is a traditional practice of mindfulness of the body. In ancient India, the materiality of the body was thought to be composed of four elements—earth, fire, wind and water. These four elements, in turn, have twelve characteristics—(earth) heaviness and lightness, hardness and softness, roughness and smoothness; (fire) heat and coolness; (wind) pushing and supporting; (water) fluidity and cohesion. All of these characteristics can be known with our mind and in our body. Discerning the characteristics of material elements will lead to a profound contemplation of impermanence and death. Seeing the impermanence of the body, we know we cannot control it. The body is not-self, it is not possessable, not I, and not eternally me. Understanding the impermanence of material elements and this body composed of elements, we learn to let go. This talk concludes with a guided meditation of body scans, with emphasis on the four elements and their respective characteristics.

Meeting pain with mindfulness is a very skilful way of understanding the true nature of unpleasant physical sensation.

Working with thoughts

Meditation on Tear, Grease, Saliva, Mucus, Oil of the Joint and Urine