GM at Insight Meditation Community of Western Mass

A talk given at the Insight Meditation Center of Western Mass with QnA. Questions are précised: Q1 33:26 You were talking about the inner and outer skin. It seems this inner skin creates suffering. How do we start to be able to deal with this?Q2 37:34 Those words: Open, allow, let go are such a release. But something can happen that scares me, fear of annihilation. How do you practice with the insecurity of monastic life without being scared? Q3 42:03 In moving from control, do you go through indifference? Q4 43:50 Would you mind speaking about qualities of willfulness, striving, urgency, rigidity around meditation and holding attention in the body and that urgency. Q5 52:10 I feel very uplifted being so close to a monastic. Could you say something about the challenges and the fruits of being in robes for so long?

This talk explores Bhava, one of the 12 links on the Wheel of Dependent Origination also called the "Wheel of Samsara." Bhava comes right after Craving and Grasping and is usually translated as "Becoming." Bhava or Becoming is something that that most of us find ourselves caught in. However, bringing kind awareness to this tendency can be a major support for living our lives fully in the present moment.

Buddhaṃ me jīvitaṃ yāva nibbānaṃ saranaṃ gacchāmi Dhammaṃ me jīvitaṃ yāva nibbānaṃ saranaṃ gacchāmi Sanghaṃ me jīvitaṃ yāva nibbānaṃ saranaṃ gacchāami {To the Buddha I go for refuge living my life to realize nibbana To the Dhamma I go for refuge living my life to realize nibbana To the Sangha I go for refuge living my life to realize nibbana}

01 06 Q1 I don't have any particular devotional practice. Is this like a Brahmavihara practice? 01:41 Q2 Regarding the relationship between citta and yoni as in yoniso manasikara, I relate to citta on a moment to moment basis. Yoni seems to be a seat of integrated wisdom. 20:15 Q3 Can you explain about metta practice. 27:31 Q4 Someone said resentment and aversion are natural conditions of the mind. They're not self and when seen as not self, they disappear. Can you comment please? 34:17 Q5 I would like to know if the inner tyrant is considered wrong view.

This talk offers several practices and reflections on how to rest in your infinite essence/true nature. It also includes reflections on how to unblend from the constant commercials of your mind and the worries of your life.