In this Dharma talk, Tommy and the Sangha explore the Buddha’s teachings on abiding in contemplation of the body, feelings, mind, and dhammas—diligent, clearly knowing, and mindful, free from desires and discontent in regard to this world. These are considered essential mental qualities.
This meditation focuses on practicing satisampajjana (sah-tee-sahm-puh-jahn-yah), mindful clear comprehension, alternatively termed knowing, which is part of the First Foundation of Mindfulness. It is reflected as “Breathing in long, he knows ‘I breath in long'”, and again “…”when walking, he knows ‘I am walking’; when standing, he knows ‘I am standing'”; this quality of knowing attention is found repeatedly throughout the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse. During the guided meditation Peter made several suggestions regarding cultivating a knowing awareness, that is, being mindful of the three characteristics essential to Buddhist concepts about subjective reality: anicca (ah-nee-chah), the transient nature of experiences, dukkha (doo-kah), the distress and confusion that comes from being ignorant about anicca, and anatta (ah-nah-tah), the absence of an enduring, autonomous self. Clearly knowing functions to deconstruct craving and clinging and allows the mind to be free from the five hindrances and, alternatively, able to bring the seven awakening factors to maturity.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:56 — 82.3MB)
This discussion continues to explore the qualities of mental functioning called Paramis (or Paramitas in Sanskrit), and the focus is on Wisdom (Panna, pronounced pahn-yah). This quality represents the product of the application of the Noble Eightfold Path, that is, the realization of anicca (impermanence), anatta (nonself), and dukkha (the distress and confusion that is the result of craving and clinging). Peter suggests a different rendering of Wisdom in practice: substituting Clear Awareness for Right Understanding, and Benevolent Intention rather than Right Intention. Clear Awareness is the flow of experience free from the five hindrances, and Benevolent Intention is the orientation towards kindness, compassion, generosity and patient tolerance in one’s thoughts and actions. This explanation was followed by discussion of how Wisdom is cultivated.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: The Wisdom Parami
Next week, the focus will be on another Parami, Energy/Persistence.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:19 — 108.6MB)
This talk reviews the last of the Unwholesome Cetasikas, those mind conditioners that are associated with dukkha, distress and confusion. The three reviewed here are sloth, torpor and doubt. Sloth and Torpor, among the five hindrances, conditions the mind towards dullness, drowsiness and inattention. Peter reviews the characteristics of these conditioners and how they can be investigated and set aside. Doubt is another of the five hindrances, typically rendered as skeptical doubt. This manifests as indecisiveness, mental immobility, and is the opposite of the first of the Universal Wholesome Conditioners, which will be one of the cetasikas reviewed during the next talk, along with mindfulness. The talk is followed by extensive discussion among those participating in the Zoom meeting regarding these cetasikas. A part of the conversation includes a overview about the potential for the upcoming retreat with Shaila Catherine, scheduled for December 5-12 at the Franciscan Center in Tampa; there is discussion regarding how the retreat might be conducted in a safe manner, provided that the pandemic conditions are not strongly impacting regional social conditions.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Overcoming Dullness And Doubt
Next week will begin reviews of the Universal Wholesome Cetasikas, those factors that participate in the conditioning of each moment of self-experience that is free from Dukkha, distress and confusion.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:15:36 — 138.4MB)
This talk reviews alobha (non-attachment) and adosa (non-aversion), two of the Universal Wholesome Cetasikas, categories of mind conditioning functions that participate in the shaping of each moment of self-experience that is free from dukkha–distress and confusion. During the talk Peter reviews each of these conditioning elements individually and then describes how they coordinate in their functioning. Non-Attachment is essential in the process of understanding anatta, the absence of an enduring, autonomous self, a concept that is a core element of Buddhist liberation philosophy. Non-Aversion is also recognizable as metta, lovingkindness, another key practice of Buddhist liberation philosophy. This description is followed by questions and comments by those participating in the Zoom meeting.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Reviewing NonAttachment and NonAversion
Next week’s talk will focus on reviewing Equanimity
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:53 — 120.6MB)