Fall 2011 Shamatha Retreat

Uplifted and inspired. If you want to start the week in this way, I recommend this podcast. This afternoon Alan explained one feature in common between the 3 practices of settling the mind in its natural state, awareness of awareness and empathetic joy. In the first one we withdraw the tentacles of identification that say "this is mine, I am such and such...". In the second one we go into the heart of the matter, to the actual experience of being the agent through our "cognoscopy" of withdrawing and releasing the awareness. In the third one we take the innate identification, usually limited to I and mine to make it unlimitedly benevolent by taking delight in all good fortune and virtue, wherever it is. Empathetic joy counteracts depression and low self-esteem, and balances the mind. The meditation (21:22) consisted of taking delight, step by step, from transient good fortune of others to the enlightenment of the awakened ones. Beautiful! Then there were interesting questions (47:00) about the relationship be

Practice comes in phases. There is a withdrawal from appearances, and inversion into the very nature of awareness, and a release (like a flower opening in all directions into a space of no object, no thought, no concept). What is the experience of being the agent of the inverting and releasing of awareness? Is there a sense of someone who is in control? Investigate the immediate experience. Meditation starts at 8:07

Teaching: Alan introduces the 3rd immeasurable: empathetic joy, defined as taking delight in virtues of oneself and others. While an antidote to grief and general negativity in life, beware of pride which elevates oneself above others. Meditation (31:09): From your early childhood through the present, bring to mind those who have treated you well and enriched your life. Invoke a feeling of gratitude and gladness as you recall others’ virtue. From your early childhood through the present, bring to mind what you have brought to others. Take delight in your own virtue, without slipping into pride. Q&A (55:47): Q1) Are bursts of creativity during meditation nyams? And if so, should we not follow through on them? Q2) During awareness of awareness, can I remind myself with „knowing“ and „aware“? Q3) Can we be in one stage in one method and another stage in another method? Q4) Should we release inner guidance when it comes up? Q5) Is it possible to be at different stages at different times? Q6) In

In this session Alan introduces the practice of awareness of awareness, or shamatha without a sign. Alan first reviews mindfulness of breathing and settling the mind in its natural state. In the practice of awareness of awareness there is no object, awareness is inverted into itself and one just rests in the knowing of knowing. Alan adds: "But don't expect too much" Meditation starts at 20:12

Teaching: Alan introduces the 3rd type of suffering—ubiquitous or all-pervasive suffering—and the last two of the eightfold noble path—authentic intention and authentic view—which belong to wisdom. 

Meditation (25:40): Based on your own experience, do you see link between grasping at I/mine and suffering? Generate aspiration for yourself to be free from all-pervasive suffering Generate aspiration for others to be free from all-pervasive suffering Generate aspiration for all sentient beings to be free from all 3 types of suffering Rest awareness in awareness Teaching: Alan reveals sources for the practice of resting awareness in awareness and discusses the complementarity of the developmental approach (e.g., cultivating compassion) and the discovery approach (e.g., dzogchen). Q&A (60:05): 1) Do you need shamatha and vipashyana to get rid of all mental afflictions? If so, will only those who take the path of meditation and achieve shamatha and vipashyana have genuine happiness? 2) Within the conte

In this session we continue with the practice of settling the mind in its natural state. In shamatha, one must maintain constant flow of knowing at all times. When there is no mental object in the foreground to ascertain, know 1) the absence of thought or 2) presence of space in the background. The meditation starts at 8:10

In this session we continue with the cultivation of compassion, now focusing on the suffering of change, which we typically see as a source of happiness. The meditation starts at 39:55 QA starts at 65:10: 1. The acquired sign 2. Eyes open when one is used to having them closed

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

In this session Alan introduces the practice of loving-kindness for oneself, a vision quest answering 4 questions: 1. What would bring you a true sense of well being and happiness? 2. What would you love to receive from the world around you? 3. From what you qualities would you love to be free, and with what qualities would you love to be imbued? 4. What would you love to offer to the world around you? The meditation starts at 8:31 Alan then talks a little more about shamatha before the QA starts at around 51:00 with these questions: 1. Physical discomfort during meditation and meditation postures 2. What does a buddha do? 3. Different physical manifestations of buddhas and how does a buddha benefit sentient beings

In this session Alan introduces the practice of full body awareness (aka the infirmary), starting by settling the body, speech and mind in their natural state. The meditation starts at 4:51

In this session Alan welcomes the participants and gives an overview of what the retreat will entail. He also talks a little about the Thanyapura Mind Centre and its vision. Note: Several sections concerning logistical issues have been removed from the recording