The talk begins with the stories and teachings of the Thai Forest meditation masters, and continues with personal stories and the teaching of 'taking the one seat'.
How to work with hindrances, pleasant and unpleasant, and allow the knowing quality to shine forth; 'sitting in the center' of all things.
A description of what makes concentration Wise concentration. How it fits into and supports vipassana practice. A description of the the two major methods of cultivating shamatha.
Using stories from the time of the Buddha to modern day, the talk takes us on a tour of the 7 factors: mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, calm, concentration and equanimity; in their ordinary and extraordinary aspects.
The tour includes "side trips" to explore the 4 Noble Truths, the 4 Wise Efforts and many practical techniques.
The hindrances are not enemies to be pushed aside. Their deepest intention is to protect us...albeit in misguided ways. Attending and befriending these energies is the pathway to stronger concentration and internal healing.
This two part series explores the evolutionary conditioning of fear and judgment that contracts us away from love and acceptance, and the quality of mindful presence - in relating inwardly and in communicating with others - that awakens and frees our hearts.
At end of talk - La Sarmiento shares "Holiday Dharma" as part of Solstice celebration.
At the Winter Solstice, we can learn better to embrace the dark-in multiple ways, and to invite the light. Using poetry, stories and teachings, we explore how practicing with darkness and light can deepen and illuminate what Mary Oliver calls our one "wild, precious life."
Exploring the purifying and beautiful current of concentration/Samatha...the teachings current of concentration/Samatha...the teachings and the practice. ...the basis, the process and the fruits of concentration.
