Ajahn Sucitto's most recent Dharma talks (Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley)

(Cittaviveka) The citta/heart is affected or confronted by external and internal conditions. Apply wise attention to draw the energies of wholesome conditions into the heart – this is the foundation for samadhi. With a collected heart one can review and release from the constructs of time and space.

(Cittaviveka) Ingrained habits and obsessive emotions can be met and released through mindfulness established in the body. The practice of mindfulness of breathing purifies perception and volition to undo the sense of self based in time,

(Cittaviveka) The indriya work together – if one's faith is placed with wisdom and mindfulness sustains the focus on the wholesome, concentration occurs and one's energy is replenished. Effort should be wisely applied to break the pull of negative obsessions, The sense of time is to be uprooted, for example in walking meditation.

(Cittaviveka) The five indriya are factors that are accessible and take one's attention from the sensory world of circumstance to the citta -heart or mind. The initial indriya is faith, a quality that serves as a wellspring off support through the ups and downs of life.

(Amaravati Monastery)

(Amaravati Monastery) Q1 Could you speak further on how we can preserve our energies? 04:46 Q2 I've a volatile and troubled sibling and have tried to act with compassion. But the cost is over dependency and the constant drama. What can you advise? 17:33 Q3 Is there a way in meditation to deal with blind spots? 24:09 Q4 How would you suggest that we work with traumatic life events that have occurred in the past and of which one has hardly any recollection of? 27:28 Q5 How to deal with persistent feelings in different parts of the body? 33:24 Q6 I had a lot of difficulty with my hand. Sometimes the pain would throw me to the floor. QiGong has been helpful. Can you suggest any other techniques? 37:17 Q7 I've had problems in my throat with difficulty to swallow and also feeling difficult to balance and an inner shakiness. Do you have any suggestions? 38:48 Q8 Some meditation instructions I've tried suggest progressing in stages and only moving on to the next set of challenges once mastery has been achieved in the current level. I often feel contracted with a sense of me, doing this type of practice. What would you advise? 43:07 Q9 Can you please give further clarifications on cetana. 48:35 Q10 The mind can be silent for a long period of time with a few thoughts coming and going. I'm not sure what I should do. Just observe? I can be bored sometimes.

(Amaravati Monastery)

(Amaravati Monastery)

(Amaravati Monastery) Q1 Do you emphasize one form sitting, standing, walking, reclining over the others when meditating? Q2 08:30 the mind feels cooked during longer sitting meditations. Some heavy energy in my head develops into a headache. What do you suggest? 10:17 Q3 This person says they feel like something disgusting and worthless. 17:17 Q4 You talked about ghosts and how we can create them. Even if we stay sensitive and open whom can we meet other or connect to than our perceptions? 23:11 Q5 How is it possible to face the resistances to this practice and to participating in retreats? 33:56 Q6 I have imaginary conversations and dialogues with people and about imagined situations going in my head all the time. Especially when I sit down to meditate. a) What are they? b) What causes this habit? c) How do I set these aside?

(Amaravati Monastery)