This talk was given as a part of the series "Where Rubber Meets the Road: A Series on Mindful Living." A real place for us to check our practice is in our relationships. After all, we are deeply relational beings. Sometimes, our deepest grooves in our minds are only stimulated in relationships. Defilements and habits of mind, such as greed, anger, and delusion, arise in ways that they don't in other situations. In other words, forces of suffering that are latent in other situations can arise in the context of close relationships. Fortunately, this is actually not bad news. Rather, it offers us opportunity to practice, to see ourselves more clearly, to become more free, and to see how we can untangle the love from clinging.

Description: We don’t approach our meditation practice neutrally. Understanding need, bias, inclination in our approach to practice. About labeling as a sampajañña practice; Practical suggestions on questioning the breath and a glimpse on commentarial suggestions on how to go about mindfulness of breathing (Vism)

On the path to freedom, every moment in every life situation is an opportunity for training the mind. We plant seeds of virtue, watering them with renunciation, respect, contentment, generosity and valiant effort. We clear the cobwebs of lifetimes from the mind with wisdom and mindfulness guarding us from the eight worldly winds, while forgiveness, love and compassion hasten the heart's awakening to Nibbana.

Our greatest life journey takes us inward through the Dhamma MRI of mindful, radical investigation. At last, we learn to see clearly - with true discernment. We see the root causes of our suffering, disentangling the web of delusion and despair to take up our spiritual compass. As the heart opens, we teach ourselves to forgive, sure-footed and courageous, ascending to realize the heart’s true deliverance.

Descriptions: Temporal continuity and spatial stability as the two ways of practicing attentional focus across Buddhist Traditions. Four commentarial similes for mindfulness of breathing.

Loving kindness is an important support for the work of wisdom and mindfulness

What is mindfulness? What is concentration? How do they work together with wise effort.

Mindfulness is not only for ones own benefit, but is also practiced externally, to cultivate compassion for others.