Donald Rothberg: Guided Meditation: Identifying Some of the Ways that We Construct Experience

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center)

(Aloka Earth Room) Short Reflection & Guided Meditation on the Four Brahmavihara & Earth Awarenes | Earthworm Practice for the Anthropocene II | Online Wednesday-Mornings.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) As we begin a new year, it's helpful to remember the deep motivation of our practice--to awaken--and to ask how our intention to awaken manifests in our practice. In this talk, we explore the Buddha's metaphor of "awakening" (from sleep, from dreams) as a metaphor for spiritual practices, and how he also speaks of realizing Nirvana. We unpack how the Buddha understood Nirvana and awakening--both negatively, as the end of ignorance, and dukkha and reactivity--and more positively as going fully beyond the ordinary constructions of experience. We also look at how the Buddha understood the practical path of training to realize awakening and Nirvana, and how this was explicated through different teachings and practices. At the end, we briefly bring up the question of what a contemporary path of awakening looks like. The talk is followed by discussion.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) After some basic instructions in developing concentration and stability, as well as mindfulness, we practice in silence. After about another ten minutes, there are several periodic brief periods of guided practice, in which we are guided to notice our main patterns of thought and perception of objects. In the latter part of the period, we are guided to drop constructions of experience in two ways.

(Flagstaff Insight Meditation Community) The Image that is referred to in this talk is included below.

(Cittaviveka)

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) How do we make ourselves growth and realisation? Tracing the historical, psychological and Two sources of valid forms of knowlege: – Paccakkha "before the eye," i.e. 'perceptible to the senses' 'direct experience'. – Anvaya – 'inference' History of Sudden & Gradual. Aside of the the historical background, these terms have taken on a metaphorical meaning: the talk looks at how these metaphors chart the path of practice, their respective analogies and their images, their framing of the probleme and their respective values and drawbacks. – May these metaphors ultimately have their bases in the differeing mind functions of samādhi (gradual) and sati (sudden)? The speaker, despite little canonical evidence, thinks so.

(Gaia House) An Online Dharma Hall session includes a Guided Meditation, a Dharma Talk, and responses to unrecorded questions. An exploration of the Buddha's encouraging inquiry: “What, when I do it, will lead to my long-term well-being and happiness?”

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Being seen with the loving gaze of another who sees that you are perfectly in tact. Then practicing with a loved one who is suffering and whom you would like to be able to meet and love with more equanimity.

(Karuna Buddhist Vihara) This dhamma talk and Q&A was offered on January 4, 2025 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!” 00:00 - DHAMMA TALK 15:23 - INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE BUDDHA AND Q&A