Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center: dharma talks and meditation instruction

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Inviting this warmth in meeting all that we are and cultivating kindness

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Finding a home base to steady our heart.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Learning to live life graceful poise.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Bodhicitta—the mind of awakening—is the aspiration to attain awakening for the benefit of all. Seeing our practice in this light can be a source of inspiration and counteract the tendency to self-centeredness. The talk discusses the historical development of the concept and explains what it means.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Upādāna in different Buddhist Teachings: – Clinging as fuel for renewed becoming (punabbhava) – Clinging in the 5 aggregates (khandha) – Clinging in Dependent Arising (paṭiccasamuppadā) – Clinging as four specific forms: (i) kāmūpādāna – clinging to and identification with sensuality (“Seeking” experiences) (ii) diṭṭhūpādāna – clinging to and identification with views (“Being right, being competent“) (iii) sīlavaṭūpādāna – clinging to and identification with virtue, practices and ritual (“Having the right technique“) (iv) attavādūpādāna – clinging to and identification with doctrines of a self / Self (“Being someone”)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Introduction and guided meditation

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Training and understanding the mind happens with the mind already affected by the very states it wishes to understand and transform

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Thimo, Yuka and Akincano respond to practitioner's questions.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) How wonderful you are in your being! I delight that you are here! I take joy in your good fortune! May your happiness continue and increase! (From a Sinhalese Ms of the 19th century. Monks' and nuns‘ practice upon receiving alms).

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Saddhā - trust or confidence - is a fundamental quality that we need on our path. Why can it be difficult to trust? What is actually trustworthy? How does it manifest in our mind and in our actions?

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Relationship of different instructions to each other. Many spices, but we don't cook with all of them at once. Orientation: how to find out and recognize what's going in your mind. (Using the satipaṭṭhāna map) Relationship: a) getting reliably in touch with and b) learning to relate skillfully to the states. Shifting attention away from habits. Mindfulness does not mean 'no discernment' – it is quite capable on discerning what is wholesome and unwholesome.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) The interplay of three functions of the mind in helping the contemplative practice. Appamada – an attitude of care Sati - a relationship: mindfulness as creating presence Sampajañña – a value context

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) To bring attention to the right things in the right way is crucial for our path. Through the mindful contemplation of our experience we can gain insight and develop liberating wisdom.