Class listings

Weekly topics

February 1 Compassion for others and ourselves

February 8 Compassion stabilizes Mindfulness

February 15 Loving Kindness as a restorative power

February 22 Loving Kindness as a restorative power

Readings for Class

Mipham, S. Turning the Mind into an Ally. Riverhead Books,NY, NY, 2003.

We will spend 15-20 minutes before sitting meditation-discussing sections of this book. These are some questions to ponder as you read and a structure for discussion. It is listed by months.

Class Discussion
February 2006
Pg.3-57, 215-228

As you pay more attention to posture how does that affect your meditation?

Have you experienced paying attention to the “whole breath” as an object of meditation?

There are two basic aspects of meditation; spacious awareness and precision. We work with the ability to merge with space. To drop the object of meditation and to be…be space…to merge…to be spacious awareness without duality. Then there is a clarity aspect of meditation. To clearly and with precision to focus and let the mind rest on an object of meditation. We need to develop each skill. Which one seems easier for you and which one needs more attention?

Impermanence. Often when we bring up impermanence we begin to become fearful of all the things, people, places we will no longer have. Yet, Mipham Rinpoche states, "Once we relax into this simple truth, we can go beyond bewilderment and suffering." Pg.17. What are some ways you relax into impermanence? What experience do you have in meditation that supports relaxing into impermanence?

• What is the advantage to knowing this personality self is not an eternal self? How is that helpful?
• How do you experience the difference between mindfulness and awareness? Is making this distinction helpful?
• How has being more precise with the mindfulness of your whole breath helpful?
• Do you embrace your basic goodness? Goodness without reason?