How do we know our meditation practice is balanced? When wholesome mind states increase and unwholesome mind states decrease. Ajahn Pasanno discusses the four protective meditations which help to create balance in practice. The first two: contemplation of the Buddha’s qualities and metta uplift and brighten the mind. The second two: contemplation of the body and contemplation of death are sobering and help us to deal with desire and to stay on task with the practice. This talk was offered on June 25, 2017 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.