The Universal Unwholesome Cetasikas August 19, 2020

Of the 52 Cetasikas, categories of mind conditioning factors, there are 14 that create the experience of distress and confusion that we call dukkha.  This talk reviews the first four of these categories: Delusion/Ignorance, Shamelessness (The absence of shame or remorse about identifying a self that is not virtuous), Recklessness (Disregard for the negative karmic results of shameful thoughts and behaviors) and Restlessness (Persistent agitation and instability of attention).  These cetasikas are present at every moment in the experience of dukkha, shaping a self-organization process that is distressed and confused.  During the talk Peter reviews each of these cetasikas and suggests how mindfulness of breathing meditation is a primary antidote for them.

Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  Universal Unwholesome Cetasikas

Here is the chart that lists all of the cetasikas, for reference:  CETASIKAS POSTER

Next week’s talk will review the next four unwholesome cetasikas: Greed/Desire, Wrong View, Conceit and Aversion/Ill-Will.

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Guided Identifying Dukkha Meditation

This training meditation is intended to support the posted talk entitled “The Universal Unwholesome Cetasikas”, and is meant to enhance the ability to investigate conditions in the mind that represent the presence and operation of the first four of the Unwholesome Cetasikas: Delusion/Ignorance, Shamelessness (The absence of Right Speech in one’s internal narrative), Recklessness (Because of Ignorance one is likely to repeatedly think and act in ways that are distressful and shaped by Delusion) and Restlessness (Agitation and instability in the mind).  During the meditation you are invited to identify the presence of these unwholesome mind conditioning factors, contrasting them with the stability and tranquility that is experienced while maintaining mindfulness of breathing meditation.

 

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