Taking a look at the active force of samadhi/concentration... the unperturbed, peaceful and lucid state of mind attained by the practice and process of mental concentration.
What is mindfulness? Why is it important? How does its practice bring us toward freedom? We look generally at mindfulness and then at how we practice mindfulness of 1. the body 2. feeling tone 3. thoughts and emotions (citta) and 4. larger patterns of experience (dhammas).
One of the most powerful spiritual practices in the world is to reflect on your heart's deepest intention. These two talks look at the way that ego-based intentions perpetuate thoughts, feelings and actions that keep us imprisoned in feeling separate and limited. In contrast, remembering our deeper intentions call us home to the freedom of our true nature.
"In this world no one escapes from blame," said the Buddha. How can we deal with blame from others skillfully without getting crushed by criticism or react to it in a way that causes more suffering for ourselves and other? The key to not being lost in Praise or Blame is non-identification, not taking ownership of your experience. This includes not identifying with your body or mind. We can appreciate the gifts we've been given as well as our shortcomings without taking them personally. This is the natural by-product of understanding anatta, the selfless nature of existence.
