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Retreat Dharma Talks
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Ajahn Sucitto, Firm Centre Open Heart Retreat
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| 12-18 February 2020 | Buddhist Retreat Centre | Ixopo, South Africa
One of the principle aims of meditation is to experience greater warm-heartedness – towards others and oneself. The absence of this is a major source of suffering, linked to anxiety, depression and mistrust. On this retreat, we will be cultivating the inner strength that supports and protects the heart so that its natural kindness and compassion can illuminate our lives. |
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2020-02-12 (7 days)
Buddhist Retreat Centre, Ixopo, South Africa
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2020-02-12
Firm Center Open Heart
42:52
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Ajahn Sucitto
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On this retreat, practices for establishing a firm center and open heart will be presented. Openness can be too vulnerable, we need to know what to filter and what to linger in. Precepts offer a firm center of integrity. The body can be a source of steady and calm. We bring to heart and mind that which is beautiful and aspirational to shift agitated energies. These are our refuges.
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2020-02-12
4 Basic Postures
34:43
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Ajahn Sucitto
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An overview of the 4 basic postures for meditation: sitting, standing [14:00], walking [17:05] and reclining [25:45].
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2020-02-13
Direct Practice: Sound Opens the Silence
31:31
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Ajahn Sucitto
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This is an exercise in direct practice, using sound to train the mind. Making a sound from one’s own voice, we use it to lengthen attention over one particular phenomenon rather than jumping onto the next thing. It opens the silence where the mind is poised, listening.
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2020-02-13
Deep Attention – Referencing Uplifting Tones
54:09
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Ajahn Sucitto
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In any cultivation there is a referencing that occurs. In Dhamma practice we refer back to uplifting tones – integrity, respect, appropriateness. These invite skillful qualities to arise making it possible to unseat demons of violence, greed and efficiency.
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2020-02-13
Making the Mind Fit
21:13
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Ajahn Sucitto
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The nature of mind is what you give attention to will grow. We use recollection to generate uplifting tones in the heart, to increase bright energy. This makes the mind fit to meet afflictive patterns and energies.
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2020-02-13
Develop a Forcefield of Goodwill
7:36
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Ajahn Sucitto
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In recollection we use thought more slowly than usual. Capture the meaning and touch the heart. This is a way to reset the heart, making it strong so it doesn’t go into resentment, grudges and other unpleasant states.
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2020-02-13
Hold the Heart Steady against the Push of Ill-Will
43:56
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Ajahn Sucitto
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The general mode is to change the outside world to please the heart, but this can never satisfy. We practice instead to change the heart, to make it strong enough to withstand the push of ill-will. Refuges include the Triple Gem, brahmavihāras, mindfulness of body and precepts.
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2020-02-14
Rising Energies and Tonalities
36:15
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Citta gets shaped into particular forms based on causes and conditions. Over time it can get locked into distorted forms constricting the natural nature of citta which is flexible, bright and expansive. With a mind of unconditional acceptance, energetic patterns can be cleaned and released through body.
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2020-02-14
Liberation and Structures
58:35
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Our personality patterning can be very intense and driven. We’ve got to build in something that holds it back, slows it down, tames it. We use a combination of structures and tonality to create new patterns, ones that keep us from holding on.
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2020-02-14
Q&A 1
64:12
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Physical pain; draining tension through the body; meeting the agitation of being on retreat; dealing with demons and emotional chaos; are liberation practices and goodwill compatible; is goodwill readily available through study and reflection; what thoughts to let pass, what to examine; definition and experience of full knowing; is noting necessary for Vipassana?
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2020-02-15
5 Indriya
39:11
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Ajahn Sucitto
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The mind gets taken over by defective programs causing imbalance. This imbalance is called dukkha. The Buddha introduced a graduated way to shift this imbalance. This process brings up indriya, spiritual faculties. These help to mediate the tendencies of craving and clinging and result in a greater sense of harmony and balance.
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2020-02-15
Content and Container
64:41
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Ajahn Sucitto
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All content needs a container. Content of heart shapes the container of experience. Supportive tones/perceptions are skilful content. They encourage a generous, spacious and cool container that allows tangled mental content to unravel.
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2020-02-16
The Causal Field and the Escape from It
54:23
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Ajahn Sucitto
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All experience is caused by something – it’s conditioned. We act based on these causes and conditions, reinforcing their hold. But there are particular actions that can bring about release from this causal continuum.
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2020-02-16
Awareness Has No Boundaries
65:30
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Meditation is based on the fact that mind can open and encompass the whole world of experience. Gathering energy and awareness into the here and now, and unhooking from the contents of consciousness establishes a very firm center that is also open. The result is unbound awareness.
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2020-02-17
Addressing the Causal (Energy) Field
65:52
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Commands and pressure compress energy. The result is the cannonball drive through life – unreceptive, driven and numb. Learn to cultivate energy properly. Go to the body – extend, widen, soften. View the causal field as it is, not as self.
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2020-02-17
Q&A 2
46:06
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Environmental crisis; addictive patterning; kamma; firm center; fear and pragmatic security.
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2020-02-18
Endnotes on Meditation
34:32
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Ajahn Sucitto
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Cultivation of heart and mind extends beyond sitting on the cushion. This core practice of being in your body is a touchstone for sanity and for happiness. Through this we can discharge qualities that can’t be dealt with in daily life. It can be practiced in any posture. Know where the stress is arising, and meet it with a spacious body and accepting heart.
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2020-02-18
Meaning and Use of Refuges and Precepts
19:49
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Ajahn Sucitto
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The end of retreat brings the occasion to recollect our good actions and results. This is both in terms of what we do and what we refrain from. We also take the opportunity to align to refuges and precepts as a reminder to stay awake.
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2020-02-18
Staying in Touch with What’s Meaningful
18:42
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Ajahn Sucitto
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We are encouraged to stay in touch with relationships to values, virtues, that which we hold sacred. Regular recollections of the following are recommended: relationship with the sacred, with one’s body, with other people, with the Earth.
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