Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness Overview

Considering the Third Foundation of Mindfulness as if it were a sheet of paper, and the First as a pen, then the Second as ink; the Fourth Foundation, mindfulness of mental phenomena, is what is written on the paper, creating our experience of being an enduring/autonomous self.  During this talk, Peter reviews the categories of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness and the role they play in the development in the process of Awakening, dissolving one’s belief in an enduring/autonomous self.  During subsequent talks, each of the categories within the Fourth Foundation will be reviewed individually as to their functions and how to work with them skillfully.

Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  Creating A Self

The focus of next week’s talk will be a review of the Five Hindrances and how to effectively set them aside to further the process of Awakening.

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Reviewing the Five Hindrances

During this talk, Lezlie Laws initially provides an overview of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Mindfulness of Mental Phenomena.  She then describes how the Five Hindrances are recognized and effectively set aside.  This talk also includes a period of time for questions to be discussed.

The focus for the next talk will be the next category of the Fourth Foundation, the Five Aggregates.

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The Fourth Foundation–Reviewing the Five Hindrances

This talk begins an extensive review of Dhammanupassana, the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, first with an analysis of Mindfulness of Mental Phenomena, followed by a review of the Five Hindrances.  Cultivating insight into the way these factors condition the mind is a core practice that fosters the process of Awakening.  Future talks will review the other factors in the Fourth Foundation: The Five Aggregates of Clinging, the Six Sense Bases, the Seven Awakening Factors and the Four Noble Truths.  This recording is longer than usual in order to adequately review the topics involved.  The accompanying notes provide even more information regarding the hindrances.

Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Reviewing What Conditions The Mind-Five Hindrances

Next week’s focus will be a review of the Five Aggregates of Clinging, Buddhism’s form of what contemporary psychology would term a Theory of Personality.

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Investigating Mental Phenomena August 8 2018

Continuing the exploration of the Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, tonight’s topic is the Awakening Factor Dhamma Vicaya, Investigating Mental Phenomena.  During the talk, Peter suggested the development of this Awakening Factor begins with the practice of vitakka/vicara, aiming attention at the breath sensations/sustaining attention for the duration of the breath sensations.  As the topic was developed, the cooperation of the other Awakening Factors was described in developing mature awareness of how the process of “selfing” occurs and to realize anicca (impermanence), anatta, (non-self) and the distress and confusion that constitutes dukkha.  This was followed by general group discussion of the benefits that result from cultivating Dhamma Vicaya.

Here are the notes prepared for this discussion:  INVESTIGATING MENTAL PHENOMENA

Next week’s topic will be the Awakening Factor Viriya, translated as Energy/Effort and Determination.

 

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