Dharma Seed - dharmaseed.org: Retreat talks from Concentration Retreat 2012-08-13: Recent Episodes
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Dharma Seed is dedicated to preserving and sharing the spoken teachings of Theravada Buddhism in modern languages. Since the early 1980's, Dharma Seed has collected and distributed dharma talks by teachers offering the vipassana (insight) and metta (lovingkindness) practices of Theravada Buddhism. New recordings are being added continuously from contemporary dharma teachers.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) As we do the practice of samatha (tranquility) meditation, it is important not to strive towards any particular experience but rather to see the practice as a training of the mind that leads to well being and happiness here and now.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) In both the development of Samadhi and the turning toward Insight, wisdom develops to help free the heart and mind.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) The Buddha encouraged us to cultivate concentration for the purpose of seeing into the nature of our experience - as impermanent, unreliable, and not-self.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Collecting and unifying the mind requires both the immediacy of intention and the energy for patience and persistence. Developing clarity of intention and utilizing the three kind of energy may deepen your experience of concentration.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) To deepen in concentration, we need to be willing to recognize whatever disturbances or hindrances might be present, however subtle, and to work with them skillfully, ultimately to release them. This allows the mind to settle to the next level of stillness. This talk is based on practice as described in Majjhima Nikaya (2), the Cula-Sunnata Sutta, The Lesser Discourse on Emptiness.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) Through developing the jhana factors of piti, sukha and ekaggata (delight, contentment and one-pointedness) we can open a deeper ability to absorb with our breath.
(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) There are many aspects and dimensions that are part of what we call concentration. Rather than take a fixed view of what your concentration practice is supposed to be like, why not take a tour of the neighborhood?