Unfettered Mind

Bringing attention into actions as the eightfold path's core practice (from Eightfold Path 2), questions on concentration and attention, how meditation increases attention, and emotional energy.

Instruction in five-step method of releasing from Thich Naht Hanh based on bare attention and the four foundations of mindfulness

Consequences of ignoring what arises from meditation; what is meant by sentient beings are infinite, I vow to save them all

Questions on alcohol, pornography, and shame.

Origins of Chö from the Diamond Sutra; Machik Labdron and Padampa Sangye; definition of Chö as creating difficult experiences and developing the ability to experience them completely

Which form of meditation is recommended, using sounds or music during meditation, and interacting with people as a type of practice

Questions on whether one tradition is better than another and what are the benefits to doing a three-year retreat.

Questions on the relationship between idealism and pragmatism, vegetarianism, and monastic life.

Three jewels, roots guru, empowerments

Buddhism and creativity, reincarnation, mind having no beginning, and equanimity and manipulation

Five skandhas, twelve sense fields, eighteen elements, twelve links, four truths, time.

Tong len (taking and sending) and compassion

The importance of keeping intention and letting go of practicing perfectly, questions on shamatha, cultivating attention for those who are not able to keep a regular sitting practice, and life out of balance.

Stopping distraction; primary characteristics, genesis and faults of fragmentation of attention and solitude

Karma as instruction vs. karma as belief, meditation as building a capacity of attention, resting in the experience of breathing, Q&A

You know that you are aware and you are going to die. How do you live holding that knowledge?

How to avoid an unhealthy tension between the activities of life and one’s practice, choosing between a monastic life and the life of a lay-person, acting without hesitation.

Questions on feeling tones that aries from practice, how does one find the edge in practice, how to remedy a lack of intention, working with the intention to be present

Discussion of practice issues

There can be a distancing that occurs when trying to observe the breath. Resting doesn’t involve struggle and increases quality of attention.

Questions on dedicating virtue, the purpose of dedication, chanting to accumulate merit

Questions on is there difference between rest and observe during meditation, dealing with distractions during meditation, working with clarity when meditating and working with emotions when meditating.

Questions on who/what wakes up, the experience of being no thing, and if ultimately there is anything to know.

Questions on working with the feelings that accompany an open heart, being true to both your heart and mind

Questions on grief, health, and panic attacks

Emotion, reaction, calm, ease, understanding

Mind-training as a way to clear away self-cherishing

What’s going to happen to you if you don’t accept the concept of reincarnation?

This excerpt from UM’s Heart Sutra Workshop series describes Profound Radiance, has a brief guided meditation which provides an experiential understanding of the absorption, and identifies three of the things you’ll need to make it possible.

Questions about obsession and working with the core of a pattern

Different practice instructions work for different people. Not one-size fits all. Find what works for you.

Questions on being an observer of one’s thoughts, mind training and flattening thoughts