The three characteristics of existence -- impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and not-self -- summarize the state of this world as in constant dissolution. Yet, a refuge can be found in an ever-available awareness.
How being with and understanding suffering and it's causes leads to deep insights into the nature of Anicca and Anatta. Ways of working with impermanence and "non-self" in our lives and practice.
The Buddha taught that suffering arises when we want life to be different than it is. Radical acceptance cuts through grasping and aversion and reveals the freedom of our true nature.
Wholesome path factors and the obstacle to realizing them—the “inner tyrant” of critical mindset. The dwelling on suffering, rather than upon the cessation, and means of unseating this from the mind.
Practicing choosing to "show up" for our experience because we are aware that we are here to learn as much as we can spiritually. This leads to trusting our practice.
Distilling the salient forms that are settling. Handling material. The ground of relative emptiness—”it’s just this.” Kamma formations, self, the making much of “do, do, do” and emptying that. Pleasure and protection, taking what you need. Subjectivity as opposed to self. Panic—do we have the spaciousness to learn?
Embodied time - a sense of timeliness - is a useful reference; by relaxing into it, we move out of hyper and hypo states and return to grounded awareness.
How to be in the moment in the face of life difficulties. How to live “into life” in the presence of loss and death. The power of gratitude and trust, and ways to cultivate them as mindfulness practice.
This ground is empty of hindrances, the underlying ground of the enlightenment factors. It is accessible through samatha practice, vipassana practice, or just in being present.
Presence, being totally here, is a shared and sharing experience. Before committing to the “doingness” of meditation, check in with the “here-ness.” It is the underlying home of awakening.
Our experience of identity can be classified on terms of bodily, emotive, cognitive processes/structures. The cognitive layer especially gets distorted with compulsions and judgements.
Overview of the process of awakening of which meditation forms a part - not the whole. All awakening processes are accompanied by a wholesome tonality.
This talk looks at the intimate connection between wisdom and compassion. Insight into the three characteristics leads to compassion. Compassion needs to be tempered by wisdom so it does not become misguided or superior.
The Buddha described emptiness as the abode of the great person. It is an understanding, seen so clearly in nature, that is possible for us to see in our own nature.
Working skillfully with the thinking mind. Understanding how perceptual distortion and mental proliferation obscures the truth and takes us away from the present.
