The central theme of this talk is the Body is the Teacher. Based on the Satipatthana Sutta with First Foundation emphasis, the talk outlines Mindfulness of Breathing, of the four postures, and of full awareness in the continuity of all activities. Offers practical instructions, personal stories, and stories from the time of the Buddha.
We explore the nature and roots of suffering, using in part the teaching of the Two Arrows to help distinguish "pain" and "suffering" linking the latter with reactivity.
Being mindful of suffering and reactivity, and learning to experience pain without suffering opens us to greater freedom.
We also explore further the nature of freedom and other ways that freedom may be experienced.
This talk focuses on mindfulness being about 1) clear seeing - i.e. What do you really want to see? What insight leads to liberation? and 2) progressively cultivating the capacity for unconditional kindness. Metta and mindfulness as inherent in each other.
The Buddha called contentment "the greatest wealth." Contentment, "santutthi" in Pali, supports many other wholesome states including, renunciation, equanimity, peace, gratitude and generosity. We can cultivate contentment on and off the cushion while not being complacent or lazy in our dharma practice.
The fifth and last in a series of talks discusses the troublesome patterns of mind and volitional action that we identify as self, and how we can step out of them with the tools of dharma practice. The Buddha said that one who is fully awake has found an end to karma, and end to compulsive formations.
