A second examination of mindfulness of the body with some review of last time, and a focus on the six core practices of mindfulness of the body --breath, postures, activities, body parts, elements, and decaying body.
We explore 1. Why attention to feeling-tone is so crucial for our practice and freedom; 2. the nature of the feeling-tones of pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral; and 3. seven ways to practice with feeling-tone.
After a brief review of the First and Second Foundations, we explore the Third Foundation: 1. as mindfulness of thoughts and emotions, and 2. as mindfulness of the presence or absence of greed, hatred and delusion, offering a number of practices for both.
We continue to explore mindfulness of thoughts and emotions, including the three sets of instructions in the text, and mindfulness of difficult thoughts and emotions (and what to do when mindfulness is very hard or impossible).
The Buddha spoke highly of generosity.
- how does generosity open the heart and bring connection, openness and many wholesome qualities?
- what supports and hinders this beautiful quality?
- how to practice this in simple gradual and life changing ways?
After a review of the first three foundations, we look at the general nature of the Fourth Foundation of the specific frameworks used and some ways to practice.