As a review of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse continues, Susan Baxter focuses on two of the Seven Awakening Factors, Joy and Tranquility. She describes the characteristics of each factor and the various ways they can be cultivated and brought to the highest potential for Awakening.
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Periodically, Peter provides comments and suggestions to those in the meeting about Buddhist concepts and their meditation practice derived from his more than 40 years studying and practicing mindfulness meditation. This recording begins with feedback about the meditation experience of Brandon during the meditation period prior to this conversation. Brandon left the meeting for a prior commitment after the conversation, and the remainder of the meeting includes several dialogues between Peter and the remaining participants.
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Virtue is a basic component of any spiritual tradition found in the world. As regards Buddhism, virtue, that is Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood are key elements of the Noble Eightfold Path, and are derived from the Wisdom aggregate of the Path, particularly Right Intention. During this talk, Peter reviewed the multiple ways Buddhism cultivates virtue as an essential component during the process of Awakening. He also emphasized the contemporary psychological and social benefits derived from a virtuous lifestyle. This was followed by discussion focused on how virtue has improved the lives of those present during the talk, and how regular meditation practice fosters the shift from a conceptual understanding of virtue towards the experiential realization of virtue.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF VIRTUE
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During this talk, Peter described lovingkindness as an expression of the Wisdom aggregate of the Noble Eightfold Path, that is, Right Intention (which he renames Benevolent Intention). The four Divine Abidings were described: lovingkindness, compassion, empathetic joy/generosity and equanimity. The first three focus on overcoming greed and hatred, and the fourth, equanimity, aligns with insight practice (vipassana) to investigate and bring balance to the first three. Peter also read a translation of the Metta Sutta, then placed emphasis on current psychological research the indicates that the degree of kindness that a mother manifests towards her child brings great benefit to the development of a healthy personality structure. This was accompanied by an explanation of the psychological and neurological impact of sincere silent repetition of a metta mantra.
At the end of his explanations, he read an excerpt from an editorial article by the Dalai Lama published in the New York Times recently advocating the benefits of compassionate action in the midst of current cultural and environmental turmoil. This was followed by general discussion among those attending on the benefits of lovingkindness practice.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk, including the Metta Sutta, the metta mantra, and the NYT excerpt by the Dalai Lama.
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We provide an opportunity for those in the Orlando Insight meditation community who have recently completed a residential meditation retreat a chance to “think out loud” about their experience. Research suggests that much of what happens on retreats impacts the mind’s function outside conscious awareness; talking about the retreat integrates the learned experience into conscious awareness, making it more accessible in an ongoing way. It also provides insights and inspiration for others, perhaps motivating commitments to attend a residential retreat.
Peter spent the last two weeks of 2016 meditating in the cottage in his back yard, which is where the Orlando Insight Meditation Group meets. During this retreat and his preceding retreat at the end of 2015, he used the 10 stage progression of practice described in “The Mind Illuminated”, and this provided the framework for this discussion.
Here are the notes prepared for the talk: Peters-2016-year-end-retreat-1 During the next few weeks, Peter will discuss in more depth the progression described in the book. It is hoped that this will provide support for those attending the upcoming one week Deerhaven retreat February 12-19, as well as for daily meditation practice. Peter is also recommending that those attending the retreat consider purchasing “The Mind Illuminated” as a preparatory reference tool.
Additionally, Peter created a cushioning arrangement for long sitting periods on the chairs provided for the retreat. Here are the notes and photos of the arrangement: CHAIR CUSHION DHARMA
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