We explore the nature of fear and how to practice with fear. Syra speaks first; Donald speaks second, starting at 17:00. Discussion, including questions, starts at 34:43.
A third in a series of talks on holding a positive vision. We explore some of the principles on mindful engagement presented in Sharon Salzberg's book Real Change: Mindfulness for Ourselves and the World
Practice is a whole life path. The conditions that arise and our reactions to them can all act as reference points for purification and practice. Careful cultivation of the conditioned is an aspect of the unconditioned and leads to the unconditioned.
We review eight important capacities that help us to be skillful in difficult and challenging situations involving speech and communication. We then continue to explore how we might combine more "inner" and more "outer" responses, here focusing especially on "inner work" with difficult emotions (we look at working with anger and fear), thoughts and narratives (we look particularly at those connected with the judgmental mind), and body states. A discussion follows the talk.
Citta needs something to settle on, to feel comfortable in. Use mindfulness to form a frame around what’s helpful and skillful and absorb into that. Citta begins to understand the agitation that both pleasure and displeasure cause, and can see something more fulfilling in the bareness of mind.
