In John's classic style, the Talk begins with a funny story and a moving poem, followed by John's reflections and stories from around the world about the theme of working with Wanting and Aversion in the mind. The Talk concludes with thoughts about Views and Opinions, the Sense of Self and Awareness.
All phenomena are fabricated by perception: all things are empty of inherently existing separate from the atmosphere of attention. We explore what happens to phenomena and the sense of self when perception is soaked in kindness and care. Supported by the suttas: Two Sorts of Thinking (MN19), and the Karaniya Metta Sutta (SN1.8).
The last Hebrew talk of this retreat, talking about how to sustain our practice of metta and skilful ways of relating, and the possibilities of fostering more insights as we approach re-engagment with the world.
Our experience includes a foreground of changing experience - sounds, sensations, feelings, thoughts. In the background is an alert inner stillness, the awareness that is our true nature. This meditation guides us in opening to the moment-to-moment flow through our senses, and learning to relax back to inhabit the mystery and vastness of awake awareness.
During this time of pandemic, we need, more than ever, to feel our connectedness—true belonging with our own being, each other and all life. These talks explore the bodhisattva path - practices of an awakening being dedicated to living from love. The invitation is to let this season of close-in and global suffering deepen our collective commitment to creating a more compassionate world. Talk 4 explores how the difficult emotions we all face can become direct portals to an inner refuge of sacred space.
Beginning by steadying and stabilising the body and heart-mind, then noticing our relationship to present-moment experience, opening to the simplicity of here ... now ... this ...
