Ep. 223 – Buddhism's Five Aggregates, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 20

In this profound investigation of subjective experience and direct reality, Joseph Goldstein looks at the first three of the five aggregates in Buddhism.The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!In this episode, Joseph analyzes:The five aggregates of clinging and deconstructing subjective experienceOpening the stainless dharma vision eyeHow the Buddha shows the way to those who are lostThe direct realities underlying the surface appearance of beingAll of the elements which give rise to the experience of self / the aggregate of RūpaThe nature of material elements and the four great essentialsOur experiences as a flow of changing vibrationsThe second aggregate, Vedanā, aka the feeling qualities of experiencesFeelings as the conditioning factor of our reactionsCollapsing into the identification with pleasant vs. unpleasantSaññā, the aggregate of perceptionRecognizing, naming, and remembering each arising objectThe function of mental noting and focusing on mindfulnessGrab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HEREThis talk was originally published on Dharmaseed“The Buddha uses this contemplation of the aggregates to analyze our subjective experience and, through this analysis, to deconstruct the very deeply held construct and belief in self.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Highlighting the danger of indecision, Joseph Goldstein examines the nature of doubt as taught by the Buddha.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self.The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!This week on Insight Hour, Joseph explains to listeners:How elements of mind and body functionWhat the Buddha said about working with and overcoming doubtRecognizing whether or not doubt is present within ourselvesThe nature and character of the doubting mindThe danger of being paralyzed by indecisionDoubt within our meditation practice / Doubting parts of the dhammaContemplating the unattractive elements of the bodyDoubting the value of practice in a world of sufferingThe deep pattern of self-doubtHow doubt masquerades as wisdomPaying attention to what triggers doubtUnderstanding what is wholesome and unwholesomeInvestigation and the wisdom mind as the cure to doubtGrab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HEREThis talk was originally published on Dharmaseed“When doubt is strong, and we’re paralyzed by indecision, this mental force doesn’t even allow us the opportunity to take a wrong turn and to learn from our mistakes; rather, we’re always checking ourselves, we’re vacillating, we’re trying to decide.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Diving into restlessness and worry, Joseph Goldstein outlines how to use the eye of wisdom to examine mental agitation.The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!This time on Insight Hour, Joseph lectures on:The obvious and subtle expressions of restlessness and worryHow we can easily become over-concerned with our practiceFalling into spiritual self-absorptionThe conditions which cause the arising of restlessness and worryExamining all situations with the eye of wisdomThe physical energies of restlessness and worryMaking the mind wind and open or focusing the mind more microscopicallyReflecting on the purpose of our practiceExcessive striving and our tendency to self-judgeLetting go of the past, future, and presentThis talk was originally published on Dharmaseed“When you feel that the mind is not settled, when it’s not at rest, become mindful of what’s going on. Let the unease that you’re feeling be the mindfulness bell.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Employing the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein shows us how to overcome the mental states of sloth and torpor.The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!In this episode, Joseph instructs listeners on:The mind states of sloth and torporDefining sloth as a sluggishness of mind which dispels energyNoticing when sloth and torpor are present in usHow sloth and torpor can spread via unwise attention to boredom and depressionWatching the thinking patterns we have around slothful mind-statesHow sloth and torpor can signal us to other hidden emotionsOver-consumption and being attentive to what we put into our bodiesThe benefit and value of the eight preceptsHaving a balance of both concentration and energyDeepening our insight into the impermanence of the hindrancesMindfulness as the most basic strategy for overcoming lazinessAdding in more objects to our meditation as an antidote to the sinking mindBeing alert even in times of low energy as practice for conscious dyingFinding inspiration in reading the dhamma, listening to a recording, or chantingThis talk was originally published on Dharmaseed“Mindfulness, here, is deepening our insight into the impermanence of the hindrances. If we can stay with it, we see that they come and go by themselves. We don’t have to fulfill the desire, we don’t have to act on the anger, we don’t have to indulge the sleepiness, in order for them to go, we just need to stay with it and we’ll see their changing nature simply through the awareness of them.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Illuminating the shadows of our minds, Joseph Goldstein explains how to notice and investigate the emotions hiding underneath aversions.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self.The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!In this episode, Joseph offers a discussion on:What aversion is and how to recognize when it’s presentThe powerful underground force of hatredLooking clearly and deeply into our own minds through mindfulnessWeakening and uprooting the very deepest tendencies of mindHow even words themselves contain both desire and aversionThe rising of aversion with respect to physical and emotional painThe nine thoughts that can stir up malice according to the BuddhaWhy we personalize situations which are impersonalOpening up to aversion as simply a noted mind-stateArousing the investigative aspect of the mindReflecting on what purpose (or lack their of) our emotions serveTaking responsibility for our aversionsThe development of loving-kindness and wishing-well to all beingsThis talk was originally published on Dharmaseed“Really what we’re doing here is illuminating the shadow side of our mind, the aspects that we don’t usually see, the underground, the latent tendencies in which the milder forms of aversion are rooted.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Joseph Goldstein describes the causes of sensual desire and how to be aware of the wanting-mind rather than suppressing it.The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!This time on Insight Hour, Joseph reveals to listeners:Dhamma as categories of phenomenaThe mental turbulence of anger and aversionStagnation of mind, restlessness of mindHow hindrances alter and condition our perceptionsPaying particular attention to times of transitionAbandoning hindrances without aversion, self-judgment, and suppressionRecognizing when sensual desire is presentObsessive passion, expectations, addictive cravings, and other manifestations of the wanting-mindHow what we frequently ponder upon becomes our inclination of mindThe misconception that our desires will bring us happinessSeeing the insubstantial nature of desire through mindfulnessReflecting on the Buddha’s teachings in the very moment that they are applicableThe prevention of craving through awareness of the cause of desire and non-clinging“The question is: how can we practice working to abandon the hindrances without suppression, without aversion, and without self-judgment? In the sutta, the Buddha outlines five basic steps in working with the hindrances and finding the middle way between indulging in them and suppressing them. He charts the course for us.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Simplifying our daily practice into bare knowing, Joseph Goldstein instructs us on external mindfulness and noticing our reactions.The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!In this episode, Joseph Goldstein mindfully explains:The comprehensive nature of mindfulness practice Going beyond the division of self and other Insight from inference and inductive reasoning Contemplating the feelings and mind-states of others Being mindful of our reactions to other people's positive and negative feelings Keeping our lives in balance by not being overly self-absorbed Contemplating both internal and external mindfulness so that we can see phenomena objectively The impermanent nature of all feelings Thoughts as the trigger for emotions to arise Staying free in the flow of changing experience The storytelling the mind does versus the Buddha's instruction on bare knowledge The mantra 'it's already here' for awareness of bare knowingDon’t forget to grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HEREThis talk was originally published on Dharmaseed“Contemplating externally not only keeps us in balance so we don’t have this total self-absorption, but we’re paying attention in some way, we’re enlarging the context of our practice. It also helps keep us attuned to how our actions are affecting others so we aren’t just lost in what we’re doing. We’re mindful of the feelings and mind states externally so we see, we’re attuned, we’re aware, in a mindful, non-reactive, non-judgmental way of these states as they arise in other people. We’re paying attention.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rather than trying to overcome unwholesome mind states, Joseph Goldstein guides us to simply be mindful of the mind as it is being influenced.The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode, Joseph Goldstein mindfully explains:The three unwholesome roots (lustful mind, angry mind, diluted mind)Being aware of the absence of unwholesome mind-statesHow positive attributes are present within the absence of the defilementsNot judging ourselves or being reactive to negative mind-statesFocusing on which states should be cultivated and which should be let go ofMeasuring the moral worth of an action by the intention behind itDifficult mind-states as part of the path rather than an innate problemThe distracted and contracted mindHow mindfulness of our mind is the path to freedomSimply knowing each state for what it is (not-self, insubstantial, impermanent)Asking ourselves what is happening and taking the time to acknowledge itHow sense pleasures and moods deceive the mindThe process of liberation as short moments many timesDon’t forget to grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HEREThis talk was originally published on Dharmaseed“It’s not as if somehow we need to have our mind completely freed of all of these unwholesome states in order to proceed. The Buddha is saying that mindfulness of them when they arise is the path to freedom.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Describing the hidden danger in seeking happiness through sense pleasure, Joseph Goldstein outlines worldy versus unworldly feelings.The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!Don’t forget to grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HEREThis episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode of Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein mindfully explains:The feelings that arise during renunciationNon-addictedness versus deprivationThe hidden dangers in happiness from worldly feelingsThe unreliability of pleasant emotionsBeneficial pleasures versus un-beneficial pleasuresWorldy and unworldly neutral feelingsGenorosity as easy access to an unworldly pleasant feelingNon-sensual joy when we practice compassion and mettaExploring feelings as they become predominantNoticing our conditioned responses to our emotionsUtilizing mindfulness to rest in simple awarenessThis talk was originally published on Dharmaseed“There’s a hidden danger in this addiction to sense pleasure, of relying for pleasant worldly feelings for our happiness to the degree that we become very attached to them and then suffer when they change, as we know they do. The impermanence of them becomes a source of unreliability.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Becoming mindful of feelings, Joseph Goldstein explains how the habits of our mind shape our actions and karma.The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!Don’t forget to grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HEREThis week, Joseph Goldstein outlines:The mindfulness of feeling and discovering the nature of our feelingsHow the tone of our feelings condition the reactions of our mindThe actions and karmic consequences that begin with a feelingHow pleasant feelings can condition desire and attachmentThe way that neutrality can lead to ignoranceMaintaining a non-reactive mind to all emotionsThe tendencies of desire and aversionLabeling and noticing our feelings without attaching meaningClearly seeing the impermanent and ephemeral nature of all feelingsThis talk was originally published on Dharmaseed“Mindfulness of feeling is one of the master keys that both reveals and unlocks the deepest patterns of our conditioning.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.