A meditation, reflection, and (just the) responses to questions on the theme of interdependence, it's relationship to interconnection, the fundamental importance of intentions and reflection in awakening, and what really brings happiness.

Short Reflection on the 3rd Vipallasa & Guided Meditation

We explore the nature of doing and not-doing, both in meditation and more generally. We begin with emphasizing the importance for the Buddha of diligence, skillful effort (one of the factors of the Eightfold Path), and doing. Yet there also is a clear place for what we can call “not-doing,” for example, in cultivating mindful receptivity to experience. We examine as well how being a “doer” is so central to many of our identities, whether in our roles or work or even in our meditation. We also look to how we often experience a kind of not-doing in everyday life in “flow” experiences in different aspects of life. Finally, we show how accessing the depths of human experience commonly requires a profound not-doing, as we find brought out, for example, in Taoism, some of the Buddha’s teachings, and Tibetan Mahamudra and Dzogchen. The talk is followed by discussion.

In the context of the basic instructions on developing first concentration (samadhi) and then mindfulness, we interweave guidance on emphasizing doing, or more active effort, and not-doing, including through opening more receptively, and some other short practices.

Pleasant, unpleasant, neither; exploring the second foundation of mindfulness; satipatthana

Further into the Brahma Viharas, talk about equanimity or Upekha, the two types of equanimity , how to cultivate the second one, given that the first one can only be achieved by cultivating all the Paramis. Then a short guided meditation based on the Tibetan Tonglem of bringing other's pain/suffering into our hearts to tranform them into light.

Short Reflection on the 2nd Vipallasa & Guided Meditation including parts of a poem by Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī | Earthworm Practice for the Anthropocene IV | Online Wednesday-Morning

Guided meditation starting with settling the body, then the breath as air element,then identifying the the rest of the four elements in our bodies,the solidity of air, the fluidity and cohesion of water and the temperature of fire. At last a guided with instructions sky gazing meditation to do outside.