After a brief overview of the Foundations, we explore both experientially and through teachings four ways of practicing with the aggregates:
1.) Recognizing when they are present
2.) Tracking their arising and passing away
3.) Noting when a thick sense of self is present and opening to experience without such a sense of self
4.) Noting when suffering or dukkha appears and responding skillfully
We review the Four Foundations with continued emphasis on the Fourth, including attention to a number of practical situations. Pt 1 of 2.
*There are a few minutes missed between pt 1 and 2. Part 2 is the wrap up of the talk.
After a review of the first three foundations, we look at the general nature of the Fourth Foundation of the specific frameworks used and some ways to practice.
We continue to explore mindfulness of thoughts and emotions, including the three sets of instructions in the text, and mindfulness of difficult thoughts and emotions (and what to do when mindfulness is very hard or impossible).
After a brief review of the First and Second Foundations, we explore the Third Foundation: 1. as mindfulness of thoughts and emotions, and 2. as mindfulness of the presence or absence of greed, hatred and delusion, offering a number of practices for both.
We explore 1. Why attention to feeling-tone is so crucial for our practice and freedom; 2. the nature of the feeling-tones of pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral; and 3. seven ways to practice with feeling-tone.
A second examination of mindfulness of the body with some review of last time, and a focus on the six core practices of mindfulness of the body --breath, postures, activities, body parts, elements, and decaying body.
