We often understand our habits and patterns as having many complex layers, and think we need to dive into the midst of the layers in order to "really" understand the pattern. This talk explores a gentle investigation of what is obvious in our experience, which allows a natural, organic understanding to emerge.
Everyone knows that "things change". Yet as the Mahabarata points out "only the surface-mind understands, the actual sense never goes into our heads".
Exploring our experience deeply, we can move past the surface understanding to deeply recognize this truth.
One of the patterns we meet in meditation, over and over again, is the wandering mind. Exploring this pattern without judgment, we can come to deep understanding about the nature of our minds.
The spiritual power of energy is the fuel that supports awakening. We cultivate energy through wise effort. The art of meditation lies in learning skillful ways to balance energy and effort.
Often we experience ourselves as a complex interweaving of layers of habits, beliefs and emotions. Investigating the obvious aspects of the outer layer, and being aware of our attitude about that layer, the layers gradually dissolve. The pairing of the wisdom of acceptance with the clarity of mindfulness guides us through our moment to moment experience towards freedome.
Bring mindfulness into daily life is a challenging aspect of our practice. Using specific practices for daily life helps to bring the thread of mindfulness throughout our days.
Exploring the pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral feeling tone of our experience, we have the opportunity to witness the birth of reactivity to that feeling tone, which allows us to deeply understand the nature of our suffering. In this understanding of suffering are the seeds of freedom.
As human beings, we often try to understand our experience by asking the question “why”. But instead exploring “what” is happening, we can come to know the “why” of the present moment which opens to an understanding of the cause and effect nature of experience, and points towards to freedom.
