Spring 2011 Shamatha Retreat

This afternoon Alan continues with a second method of vipashyana, "Engaging in the Search for the Mind," again from Padmasambhava's "Natural Liberation," with reference as well to Tsongapa's teachings on the same subject. The dharma talk lasts most of the session, and we conclude with a final seven-minute silent meditation (included), followed by final remarks.

We will continue to go right into unguided meditation sessions in the morning (not included in the recording), followed by brief Q&A. This morning Alan answers one question:

1. In awareness of awareness, I find it difficult to relax, although I am quite concentrated. I notice tension keeps creeping in. Is this common?

This afternoon, Alan ventures into the realm of vipashyana with an introductory teaching. He draws from Padmasambhava's "Natural Liberation" and instructs us on a basic vipashyana technique. The opening talk lasts 55 minutes, and the following unguided vipashyana meditation is included.

After the unguided meditation [1:23:05], Alan continues to elaborate on the value of contemplative introspection and observation. He concludes with a special message for podcast listeners, which begins at 1:42:00.

This morning's session is an unguided open practice, followed by brief Q&A. The meditation period is not included.

Alan answers these questions:

1. In awareness of awareness, how can I most effectively release medium excitation other than relaxing more?

2. In settling the mind in its natural state, during the period of "in the seen, let there be just the seen," I'm still aware of my breath as well as thoughts arising. What to do?

3. In settling the mind in its natural state, there are now longer and longer intervals between thoughts. What should I be doing in these gaps? Think? Let it be?

Alan begins this afternoon session with a profoundly wise and skillful dharma talk on the deepest kind of equanimity: that which is viewed from the perspective of rigpa. This 55 minute talk is followed by the unguided meditation (not included) and one question from the group:

Sometimes I rephrase your guided meditation questions to suit myself. Is this okay?

This morning we return to the final phase of the awareness of awareness practice: exploring this awareness spatially. Alan first reviews the technique for the practice. The unguided meditation is not included.

This afternoon, Alan Wallace sets up a meditation on equanimity, or uppekha, in two parts. First, bringing to mind situations in our lives that arouse aversion and craving, then imagining maintaining equanimity, and reflecting upon right action in those situations. Second, attending to a wide array of beings with equanimity, allowing the awareness to settle and seeing who comes to mind.

During the opening talk, Alan also reviews the four types of enlightened activity.

The unguided meditation is not included in the recording.

Question and answer begins at 38:14 in the recording.

1. I'm confused about your statement that we go to the substrate consciousness without baggage. Did you mean our baggage is dormant?

2. Can you offer any tips for a distracted mind during meditations on the four immeasurables?

3. I've been spending a lot of time practicing on my back, and I think I may need to do this on an ongoing basis. Are there any practices you've taught that can't be done on the back?

4. Can you talk briefly about one's root guru?

This morning we continue with the practice of awareness of awareness. Alan first gives an introduction, then brief final remarks after the unguided meditation. The unguided meditation is not included in the recording. All meditation sessions are 24 minutes long.

This afternoon Alan Wallace again sets up an unguided meditation on mudita, or empathetic joy. He first gives a 40 minute dharma talk about skillfully attending to one's own virtues without reifying oneself in the process.

The unguided meditation is not included in the recording.

Alan then answers this question from the group (begins at 42:38 in the recording).

1. Can you speak more about emptiness?

This morning Alan Wallace again introduces the practice of shamatha without a sign, or awareness of awareness, as taught by Padmasambhava. We are instructed to look right into our actual sense of being an agent.

The following unguided meditation is not included in the recording.