Fall 2011 Shamatha Retreat

In this session we continue with the practice of settling the mind in its natural state, now starting by focusing on the space of the body and whatever tactile sensations arise within it, to then proceed to the actual practice.

The meditation starts at 9:44

In this session Alan introduces the practice of the cultivation of compassion, focused on alleviating pain, especially the one caused by behavior.

The meditation starts at 32:52

QA starts at 57:50:

1. Center of attention for settling the mind during stages 5 and 6

2. How to make best use of the personal interview time

3. How to know the right amount of effort

In this session Alan introduces the practice of settling the mind in its natural state, this time first starting by focusing on the visual, auditory and tactile senses, and then switching to the mental. The practice entails attending to the space of the mind and whatever arises within that space, without distraction and without grasping.

The meditation starts at 5:23

In this session Alan introduces the practice of loving-kindness extended in all directions.

The meditation starts at 9:34

QA starts at 34:40:

1. Why is the question "what would make us happy" instead of "what would make us happier"?

2. Meditating with eyes open vs eyes closed

3. How to overcome the "fuzzy" quality of attention

4. Can the meditator know the difference between the different degrees of laxity?

5. Perceiving one's heartbeat while meditating

6. If the large flame of effort depicted in the image of the stages of shamatha does not mean trying so hard, what does it actually represent?

7. Where do the pictures in my mind come from?

8. How do you spell "alaya"?

9. Images coming up just before falling asleep

10. If you dissolve your mind into the substrate, is there some similarity to schizophrenia or psychosis?

In this session Alan introduces a subtler practice of mindfulness of breathing, focusing on the sensations at the tip of the nostrils in order to enhance vividness. This is a method that can be used to achieve shamatha.

The meditation starts at 3:12

In this session we continue with the practice of loving-kindness, beginning with ourselves and then gradually extending outwards where it's easiest

The meditation starts at 4:39

QA starts at 29:24:

1. When doing the loving-kindness practice and it becomes strenuous, can one switch to shamatha for a bit instead?

2. When we invite images, are we supposed to do it like open a room and invite everyone and extend the wish, but at the same time just rest with it?

3. Can you explain the objects of attention while settling the body, speech and mind in their natural state?

4. Using a mental image as the object of attention instead of the sensations of the breath

In this session Alan introduces the practice of mindfulness of breathing, focused on the abdomen sensations of the breath in order to cultivate stability.

The meditation starts at 4:16