This guided meditation centers on the nine contemplations of death.

The world suffers. But most people have their eyes and ears closed. They do not see the unbroken stream of tears flowing through life; they do not hear the cry of distress continually pervading the world. Bound by selfishness, their hearts turn stiff and narrow... It is compassion that removes the heavy bar, opens the door to freedom and makes the narrow heart as wide as the world. ~Nyanaponika Thera To support San Francisco Insight Meditation Community, please go here: sfinsight.org/donate

Short talk followed by a guided meditation on working with vedana in the mind. How to practice with thoughts and their machinations in the third foundation of mindfulness from the Satipatthana Sutta.

Retreat is an occasion in which to repair, reset. In terms of life and meditation practice. In this process, mindfulness is accompanied by atapi - ardour, keeping things fresh - and various forms of clear comprehension (sampajano): to sense what is appropriate and fitting. Through referring to what arises in terms of objects one cultivates comprehension of purpose: to know objects as they are, and not self. This is comprehension in terms of non-delusion. There is also comprehension in terms of context (gocara), both internal and. external. This cultivation brings stillness in the midst of conditions, and if we keep this going results build up. Through sustaining clear comprehension one realizes an openness that is stable, alert and all-encompassing

This dhamma talk, guided meditation, and Q&A was offered on February 8, 2025 for East Bay Dhamma 00:00 - MEDITATION 14:08 - DHAMMA TALK & Q&A