This the first of a series of nightly talks given by Peter at Deerhaven, during the yearly one week retreat. This talk describes the Three Refuges of Buddhism: the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Basic instruction for mindfulness of breathing is provided with a guided meditation.
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This is the first of two talks on the primary causes of Dukkha, tanha (craving) and upadana (clinging). Tanha is typically translated as thirst, an unquenchable desire, either for pleasant feeling to persist or for unpleasant feeling to be eliminated. Peter talked about craving in the context of addiction, derived from his training as a Certified Addictions Professional, using neurological research results to describe how craving operates in the brain. This was followed by description of how the regular practice of mindfulness of breathing meditation alters the structure of the brain to reduce the urgency of craving, regardless as to whether it is involved in an addictive process or simply applies to everyday emotional reactivity to environmentally stressful circumstances. This explanation was followed by lively and extensive discussion among the participants regarding this topic.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: WORKING WITH CRAVING
Next week’s topical focus will involve upadana, the tendency of the mind to become attached to a particular thought or belief in maladaptive ways.
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In order to realize the potential of vipassana practice, one must first identify the presence and effects of the Five Hindrances and cultivate ways to set them aside, cultivating Samadhi/Passadhi, Stable Attention/Tranquility. The Hindrances were reviewed with an emphasis on the importance of cultivating mindfulness of breathing persistently through the practice of vitakka/vicara, aiming attention to the beginning of the in-breath/sustaining attention for the duration of the in-breath and then repeating this practice with the out-breath. Peter then described how this fundamental practice matures into Dhamma Vicaya, Investigation of Mental Phenomena, one of the Seven Awakening Factors, the topic of another night’s discussion. Here are the notes prepared for this talk: PRACTICE NOTES FOR OVERCOMING THE FIVE HINDRANCES
The review was followed by a question and answer period for those seeking clarification of the topic. THIS RECORDING IS NOT THE SAME HIGH QUALITY AS USUAL DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE PRIMARY RECORDER. THE NEXT FOUR RECORDINGS ARE OF A HIGHER QUALITY.
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This meditation is intended to provide ways to realize the potential of the satisampajanna (sah-tee-sahm-pah-jah-nyah) concept, translated as mindful clear comprehension. There are four contemplations involved: a worthy goal, suitable means for achieving the goal, monitoring the process of realizing the goal, and keeping the process aligned with Awakening. In the meditation, the worthy goal is to remain mindfully aware of what passes through one’s focus of attention; the suitable means is cultivating mindfulness of breathing, while continuing to investigate what is passing through one’s focus in order to maintain persistent clear comprehension mindfully, with the end goal being furthering the process of Awakening. This capability can be extended with training beyond formal meditation practice in order to integrate mindful clear comprehension into one’s daily life routines.
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This Meditation contemplates the Awakening Factor of passadhi, tranquility of mind and mental conditioners. During the contemplation, you are invited to investigate the “tight, disturbed” quality of attention that occurs when the mind is caught up in any of the five hindrances, contrasting this experience with the openness and clarity of attention that occurs when the mind is investigating mindfulness of breathing. Tranquility is the antidote for restlessness in the mind and can be noticed in close association with samadhi (concentration) and upekkha (equanimity), the sixth and seventh of the Awakening Factors.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:57 — 82.3MB)