This talk explores the Buddha's teaching on the 5 Spiritual Faculties -- the qualities of mindfulness, faith, concentration, wisdom and effort, and how to develop them on the Path.
I encourage you to read this edition of the Inquiring Mind, especially articles by Bhikkhu Bodhi, Ann Wright, (a peace activist who spent many years in military and State Dept.) and many other thought-provoking pieces including the merits of bringing mindfulness to the military.
As we cultivate mindfulness we become increasingly aware of how we move through huge swaths of our life in trance. This talk reflects on three key domains of trance, and undoing the habitual reactivity that keeps us from the loving, open awareness that is our essence.
Our core practice of mindfulness is based on Mahasi Sayadaw's technique of noting, starting with the breath and moving to all aspects of experiences. How did we receive this practice? We explore the fascinating history from the Buddha through the 19th and 20th Burma, to the West, where these techniques of mindfulness are influential in many settings.
