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The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
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Dharma Talks
in English
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2012-07-10
Fundamentals of the Dharma: Mindfulness
62:01
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Rodney Smith
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Mindfulness is the ability to generate attention toward oneself or an outside object. It is a step toward more conscious living. But mindfulness is coming from our exertion of will; that is, we are making ourselves mindful. When we relax our efforts, mindfulness goes away. As long as we are in control we will continue to believe in the truth of separation and will not see the end of the assumption of self. This is the spiritual fix we are in: either we let go of mindfulness into effortless awareness, or we stay bound to the person who is making herself conscious and thereby limit freedom.
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Seattle Insight Meditation Society
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In
collection:
Fundamentals of the Dharma
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2012-06-26
Fundamentals of the Dharma: Renunciation
59:37
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Rodney Smith
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Our culture has made renunciation into an austerity rather than a virtue, a contraction rather than openness. The word has the negative connotation of self-deprivation when it really means releasing ourselves from what binds us. We are usually willing to release any constraints that do not serve our greater intentions. Simplicity is the natural result of renunciation, but simplicity is not an austerity. It is not forced, but rather is the natural clearing away when everything in excess has been eliminated. Ultimately we simply renounce our separation and live life from that view and intention.
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Seattle Insight Meditation Society
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In
collection:
Fundamentals of the Dharma
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