Reflections and guided practice on the third foundation of Mindfulness of the Heart-Mind (Cittanupassana).

Introduction to satipatthana with a guided meditation on sounds and breathing

Short teaching on the practice of mindful eating, including quote from Sonya Renée Taylor (author of The Body is Not an Apology).

We continue to explore how we might practice metta (and other heart practices) in a way integrated with mindfulness, wisdom, and insight, building on last week's session. We begin looking at some of the ways historically and culturally that the "mind" and "reason" have been separated from emotion, dating from Plato and the Greeks, and continued in the modern world with the understanding of reason and science as separate from emotion (and the body). This has been a major part of our social and cultural conditioning, evident in how mainstream education occurs, and also linked with gender conditioning. We also examine how, dating from Buddhaghosa's text, the Visuddhimagga (The Path of Purification), from the 5th century, metta and compassion has been labeled as practices leading to concentration, and not as linked directly with wisdom and awakening. This has been the basis for the 20th century Burmese approaches to metta and mindfulness, which have been the main influences in the West. However, when we look to the Buddha's actual teachings, as well as later Mahayana and Vajrayana teachings, we find much more of a connection between metta, compassion, and wisdom. We can see this in a number of texts which we explore, including ones in which the heart practices are seen as leading directly to wisdom, and development in awakening. In the last part of the talk, we explore ways that we can, in our formal and informal practices, integrate metta and wisdom. The talk is followed by discussion.

We begin with about 10 minutes of settling with our mindfulness (or another) practice. This is followed by about 5 minutes of practicing metta where it flows as easily as possible, and then by a guided practice in radiating metta, extended to radiating in a boundless way. We then return to a brief way of practicing radiating metta without visualization, followed by returning to mindfulness, infused with metta.

Reflections and Guided Meditation

Continuing to explore freedom in the context of the Buddha's teachings, how mindfulness supports it, and some ways to maintain mindfulness in everyday life

Countless people live with shame and distress about their eating. Dr. Judson Brewer, scientist, professor and author of “The Hunger Habit” and many other groundbreaking books, is a thought leader in the field of habit change. He’s also a decades long practitioner of mindfulness, and a dear colleague and friend. In this conversation we explore how combining mindfulness practice with a basic understanding of habit change science can free us from unhealthy eating habits. We also look at the larger societal forces that drive overconsumption, as well as the shame that eating behaviors can evoke. Pick up your copy of The Hunger Habit at: https://drjud.com/the-hunger-habit/

We often hear that the heart of the teachings and practice is to connect wisdom and compassion, clear seeing and the kind heart, developing what Jack Kornfield calls the "wise heart." Yet such a connection or integration can be challenging in several ways. First of all, we have major conditioning in modern Western culture to separate the "mind" and the "heart" (or emotions), as well as the body. Also we find tendencies in the Theravada tradition to see Metta practice as separate from Insight practice, as in the way that Buddhaghosa in the influential text, the Visuddhimagga, lists Metta practice as a form of Concentration practice, and in some of the ways that Metta is taught as a complement to insight practice in the West. In this talk, we begin to explore what it might look like to integrate more fully Metta and wisdom, mindfulness, and insight, both in formal practice and daily life. The talk is followed by discussion.

We begin with the basic instruction in metta (lovingkindness) practice, using the silent repetition of phrases. Then we move to a period of mindfulness practice, followed by metta practice, where the metta is most accessible, followed by an invitation to return to mindfulness practice, integrated with the energy and intentions of metta practice.

Reflections and Guided Meditation

Each moment is fresh, and we can learn to meet the pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral unfolding so we stay present and open without being pulled into greed aversion or ignorance.

Reflections and Guided Meditation

Steadying awareness on the experience of breathing, then opening to sounds, thoughts and emotions coming and going

Instructions for paying attention to the mind and mental activity, knowing thoughts and emotions without taking them personally and identifying with them

Steadying awareness on the experience of breathing, then opening to hearing and physical sensations through the whole body

Exploring different qualities of mindfulness, opening up from the "anchor" of the breath to bring awareness to sounds and physical sensations

Establishing mindfulness of the body sitting, then bringing awareness to the rhythm of breathing and the subtle energetic effects of inhaling and exhaling

A short introduction to mindfulness of the body, including posture instructions

Welcome and introduction to the workshop purpose: to deepen the practice of Insight Meditation, which harnesses the power of mindfulness to develop understanding in all aspects of our lives, which leads to greater ease, happiness, and peace of mind

Metta practice is a wonderful, ancient practice that has parallels in the cultivation of kindness and love in other spiritual traditions; developing the wise heart of kindness is an ancient vocation. There are also parallels with the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his emphasis on bringing love to help transform injustice; we play a brief recording from Dr. King. We also explore different dimensions of Metta practice and how it relates to other pathways of awakening through mindfulness and wisdom. We then look at some of the main challenges of Metta practice, such as distraction, repetitive thoughts, sleepiness, and challenging emotions and body states, and how to practice with them.

Reflections and Guided Meditation

This talk was offered during a month-long teaching period at the Forest Refuge. The theme is how training mindfulness and concentration fit into the teachings of the 4 Noble truths and the eightfold path.

Teachings on working with strong emotions and moods, including a guided RAIN meditation.

Using mindfulness of breathing to support energising and lightening into subtle pleasantness and joy

Introduction to the teachers and the theme: the Awakening Factors as good friends Guided meditation establishing mindfulness of the body and breathing

When physical or emotional pain is too much, our conditioning is to pull away and avoid direct contact with raw feelings. The result is a trance – we are split off from the wholeness of our aliveness, intelligence and capacity to love. This talk explores how this dissociation shows up in our lives and how mindfulness enables us to integrate cut-off parts of our being in a powerful way, and awaken from this trance.

00:00 Q1 When we're doing sitting meditation are we to be mindful of feelings inside the whole body as we breathe in and out? When anybody sensations or pain arises are we to contemplate them with loving kindness? 10:55 Q2 Is it okay to use the mantra Bhudo for sitting meditation? 11:58 Q3 Are there different realities of truth? For example historical, scientific, personal? Ultimate reality? Everything is what it should be, no good no bad. 17:07 Q4 How can the dhamma help two people in a relationship resolve an indiscretion of the moral code? How does the dhamma guide one to accept responsibility for actions that harm another? 20:23 Q5 Citta - is it a harmony between the brain and the heart? Does it include all levels of consciousness? 31:36 Q6 At the point of death what do we do when we're overwhelmed with pain? If the mind is too weak to maintain equanimity? What happens if one dies totally consumed by pain? 41:09 Q7 Could QiGong help me to be more balanced in body and mind?

Questions are précised: 00:00 Q1 Can you please distinguish between citta anupassana and dhamma anupassana. Which frame of reference should one apply to such contemplation? 28:43 Q2 During mindfulness of breathing, I find vichara (sensing and evaluating) to be an issue. How can I strengthen vichara? 35:47 Q3 I am a project manager, and there is a lot of planning and decision making. Is this a sankara? How to do so wisely and skillfully?

Questions are précised - 00:22 Q1 How to practice mindfulness of death? 16:27 Q2 We take in the world through the five senses. If we do not hear or see any news does that mean things, like the war in Gaza, are not really happening? 28:07 Q3 How do we know whether a kalyanamitta (spiritual friend) is trustworthy? 29:44 Q4 I get tension and constrictions in the chest and other places. I often get frustrated with this. Perhaps I am too preoccupied with it? 37:23 Q5 I am eager to understand imbalances – like jealousy and comparison - and to break through them quickly. What is your advice? 44:01 Q6 How can one influence or talk to other people about other views, like politics for example?

00:13 Q1 Sense restraint and diligence in daily life: I'm motivated to practice when there's suffering, when life is fine I slacken off and indulge in sense pleasures. Please advise. 28: 14 Q2 Questions on sleepiness: How to deal with sleepiness on waking up in the morning? I take a lot of caffeine to avoid sleepiness. Is there an alternative? How can I be mindful all the time? 40:46 Q3 When I sit the body collapses and the energy required to straighten the body makes it hard to feel relax. Any advice? 44:44 Q4 I have a compulsive need to feel liked and even try and force people to like me. What can I do? 52:55 Q5 Nama rupa vinayana (name form and consciousness). Can you explain more about this please?

This talk explores the Buddha’s teaching of Anattā (Not-self) and ways to practice with the world experience or perception of self and how we can notice with mindfulness how this sense of self ebbs and flows with conditions. The Buddha also suggested beneficial ways to engage the self such as to use conceit as a tool to generate faith.

Our deep potential is to live from an awake, loving heart. This talk looks at how, with a kind and mindful attention, we can decondition habitual tendencies toward grasping and self-centeredness, and nourish the sense of connectedness and care that gives rise to generosity. As we bring these heart practices alive in our most immediate relationships, they have the power to evolve consciousness in widening circles across the world.

Mindfulness of the six senses, and removing the fetters can lead to various stages of enlightenment

Relationship of mindfulness to Samadhi: Mindfulness of Breathing

Mindfulness of the five aggregates of clinging can lead to freedom from clinging and letting go of conceit and wrong view

Discusses being with craving with mindfulness, and connecting also with the absence of craving

Mindfulness of Emotions