22 The infirmary

09/08/11 • 38 min

Fall 2011 Shamatha Retreat

What does the preparatory practice of settling the body, speech and mind have to do with rats, fleas and the Black Plague? Why are we in modernity actually still living in the Dark Ages? All is revealed in this edition of Alan’s shamatha expedition.
Meditation starts at 13:58

Previous Episode

21 Equanimity, part 2

Introduction
Discussion of self cherishing and why it arises. Developing new habits – reconfiguring using the four immeasurable culminating in equanimity.
Settling the mind in its natural state – not trying to transform the contents of the mind but the way we relate to the contents. The discovery approach versus the developmental approach of transforming the mind.

Guided meditation (37:17)
Settle the mind in its natural state. Instead of letting images of people go, this time when an appearance of a person comes to mind attend closely. Use tonglen to breath in the person’s sufferings and wish them to be free of suffering and breathe out may you be well and happy. Can also breathe in the blessings of the Buddha and then breathe them out to the person. Then open the door and wait for the next person to appear.

Questions (64:24):
What is the relationship between these terms: introspection, clear comprehension, contemplation and bare attention?
What is the space of non conceptuality? In Awareness of Awareness meditation during the release part, do you release everything or maintain a level of knowing?
What is the best way to begin to develop lucid dreaming?

Next Episode

23 Loving kindness for oneself

Return to loving kindness and the world of possibility. In imagination and in dream, one can create one’s reality completely. Alan adds visualization to the loving kindness practice and explores the potential of accepting possibility and its impacts upon reality. Meditation starts at 26:38
Questions (59:00) about: Alan’s meditation practice, how to make the loving kindness practice more tangible, how to find the subtle breath, whether awareness of awareness extends to the sense fields and how to deal with vivid disturbing dreams. See how Harry Potter, Yangtang Rinpoche, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, The Matrix, Tarthang Tulku, Chairman Mao and pirates can help explain all of this.