This series of talks and guided meditations explores the development of the practices of both Lovingkindness and Compassion, with particular emphasis on the radical possibilities of Awakening that they bring. Through these practices we come to develop deep and beautiful qualities of heart as a real resource both for ourselves and the world, and also open ourselves to the profound and liberating understandings that can emerge from this path of love.
After sharing a personal story, th talk explores working with some of the challenging states of mind and body, followed by a teaching on the essence of Prajnaparamita, emphasizing the qualities of vast space, bliss and compassion.
This talk discusses the qualities of metta, and the unity of mindfulness and metta -- and how compassion arises as a natural turning of the loving heart.
After sharing a personal story about suffering and the end of suffering, the talk outlines working with "the darkness" and cultivating the light in terms of working with hindrances, physical pain, strong emotions, & cultivating happiness & compassion; the talk concludes with an introduction of Prajnaparamita.
We usually view difficulties in our life as obstacles or inconveniences, but when we turn toward them as our path to awakening, the expression of our understanding is Compassion.
This talk address the experience of wisdom as understanding the noble truths and the law of karma which results in a mind/heart that has replaced greed, hatred, and cruelty with non-attachment, kindness and compassion.
In the second session on practicing with thoughts and emotions, we complement the first session's focus on the more receptive practice of mindfulness. After a review of mindfulness, we explore three more active approaches: (1) deepening mindfulness through inquiry, (2) invoking wisdom through clear comprehension, (3) providing antidotes through invoking lovingkindness, compassion, and other beautiful states.
Suffering becomes a noble truth when it is fully understood. Then it is seen as a universal experience that connects us through compassion with all beings.
