Short Reflection & Guided Meditation | Earthworm Practice for the Anthropocene IV | Online Wednesday-Morning

This guided meditation, dhamma talk, comments, questions and responses was offered on August 22, 2026 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” 00:00 - 10:30 GUIDED MEDITATION 10:30 - 37:12 DHAMMA TALK 37:12 - 1:28:23 COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

Short Reflection & Guided Meditation | Earthworm Practice for the Anthropocene IV | Online Wednesday-Morning

In this second part of a two-part set of talks, we first review briefly last week's talk, including the three traditional areas of training--in wisdom, meditation (including the development of concentration, mindfulness and insight, and the heart practices), and ethical practice. We then identify two further contemporary areas of practice: Psychological work of different kinds (including psychotherapy, various forms of "shadow" work, examination of one's social conditioning) and social engagement that extends ethical practice. We also identify some of the deeper dimensions of traditional practice, including the deepening of concentration practice in the jhanas, the three modes of liberating insight--seeing impermanence, reactivity (or dukkha), and not-self, the opening to non-dual awakened awareness, practices transforming the body (as in tummo practice), and the resting in non-doing. The talk is followed by discussion.

Connected with the later talk giving a contemporary map of our practices, we review four foundational practices: (1) developing concentration (samadhi); (2) cultivating general mindfulness, (3) cultivating mindfulness of impermanence; and (4) a heart practice developing kindness, compassion, or other heart qualities. This is followed by two brief reflections on one's practice.

Explore mindfulness of breathing as a foundation for vipassana, as well as a practical tool we can bring into daily life.

Ajahn Viradhammo reflects on the use of the "Who is thinking" Koan/question. Used during meditation. When one's whole psychological makeup is all about thinking/problem solving only, then doubt will come up. As thinking begets doubt. The depth of spiritual life is about "silence". And one cannot arrive there through thinking. Then one tries to get rid of thinking, and we fall into the trap, of aversion. One has to be able to see thought as an object, in awareness.

This dhamma talk, guided meditation, comments, questions and responses was offered on August 15, 2026 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” 00:33 - GUIDED MEDITATION 15:56 - DHAMMA TALK 48:50 - COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & RESPONSES