Reading/practice:
For 09 Sep 07: Introduction
Practice beforehand: Nothing
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: Introduction and Ch. 1 The Particular Preliminaries
Online guide: Foreword, Introduction
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (07:00): no oral instruction
Teach "Expel the dead air" (from Pointing Out, p35)
Shamatha #2 (07:00): white pea-sized sphere at forehead
Shamatha #3 (07:00): sensation of seat (breath thru sitz bones or central channel)
Shamatha #4 (07:00): Alternate #3 and #4, a few breaths each.
What moves when you do this? What else happens?
#3 is suggested antidote to lethargy, #4 to agitation.
Discussion
Shamatha #5 (07:00): Online Ch. 1 Resting Mind, (1) "Joyful Resting"
Shamatha #6 (07:00): same as #5
Discussion
For 16 Sep 07: Shamatha
Practice beforehand: Nothing
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: Ch 2 Essential Points of the Main Meditation (13-24)
Online guide: Intro to Ch. 1, Resting Mind; also skim practices (1)-(5)
Study question: According to the theory of the eight consciousnesses, what happens during
shamatha meditation?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): Online Ch. 1 Resting Mind, (2) Attending to Visual Appearances
Shamatha #3 (10:00): Online Ch. 1 Resting Mind, (3) Blue Light at the Heart
Shamatha #4 (10:00): Online Ch. 1 Resting Mind, (4) Sounding AH
Discussion of practice: what was the same about these? What was different?
Discussion of text & study question
For 23 Sep 07: Shamatha
Practice beforehand: Various objects of shamatha
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: Ch 3 Settling the Unsettled Mind (25-40)
Discussion and Study questions:
What is the function of the object of meditation in shamatha?
What is the difference between stability and clarity?
Online guide: Ch. 1, Resting Mind, skim the remaining practices
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): Online Ch. 1 Resting Mind, (5) Counting Breath
Shamatha #3 (10:00): Online Ch. 1 Resting Mind, (6) Following Breath
Shamatha #4 (10:00): Online Ch. 1 Resting Mind, (7) Gentle Vase Breath
Discussion of practice: what was the same about these? What was different?
Discussion of text & study questions
For 30 Sep 07: Shamatha
Practice beforehand: Various objects of shamatha
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: Ch 4 Stabilizing the Settled Mind (41-53)
Discussion and Study questions:
How can you use the teachings about 9 stages?
What remedies for dullness and agitation work for you?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Expel Dead Air
Shamatha #2 (15:00): Reggie Ray's "Digging Deep (From p44 Tricycle, Spring 2006)
Shamatha #3 (10:00): Online Ch. 1 Resting Mind, (8) Just Sit
Discussion of practice: what was the same about these? What was different?
Vipashyana #1 (10:00) "Preparation"
Discussion of text & study questions
For 07 Oct 07:
Practice beforehand:
If you have a body-oriented meditation to share, please send me email soon.
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: Ch 5 Enhancing Stability in Meditation (54-62)
Online guide: Exploring Mind (ch 2) : Introduction
Discussion and study questions:
What happens if you stop trying to improve yourself (post-meditation)?
Which of the "twelve instructions" on 60-62 would benefit your current situation?
Which of the "twelve instructions" create an impossible paradox for you?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #3 (10:00): Twelve-fold breathing + Belly Breathing Protocol followed by shamatha
Vipashyana #1 (7:00): Exploring Mind: (1) "Shape of mind"
Vipashyana #2 (7:00): Exploring Mind: (1) "Shape of mind"
Discussion: twelve instructions, shape of mind
For 14 Oct 07:
Practice beforehand: Exploring Mind: (1) "Shape of mind"
Reading beforehand: Finish any outstanding reading from last week,
Ocean: Ch 6 Understanding Emptiness (63-70)
Ocean: Ch 7 Ascertaining the Mind's Nature (73-80)
Online guide: Exploring Mind (ch 2) : Introduction
Discussion and study questions:
What is your understanding of emptiness?
What is so hard about "direct experience"?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): meditation on gratitude
Shamatha #3 (10:00): meditation on last breath and gratitude
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Exploring Mind: (1) "Shape of mind"
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Exploring Mind: (2) "Colors of mind"
For 21 Oct 07:
Practice beforehand: Exploring Mind: (1) "Shape of mind"
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: Ch 7 Ascertaining the Mind's Nature (73-82)
Online guide: introduction to chapter 3 - "Exploring Thoughts and Appearances"
Online guide: #1 - "Shape of Thoughts"
Discussion and study questions:
How are thoughts similar to/different from awareness?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): Twelve-fold breathing + Belly Breathing Protocol followed by shamatha
Shamatha #3 (10:00): Vipashyana stillness practice
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Exploring Mind: (2) "Colors of mind"
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Exploring Thoughts: (2) "Colors of thoughts"
For 28 Oct 07:
Practice beforehand: Exploring Mind: (3) "Location of mind"
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: Ch 8 Cutting Through the Root (83-91)
Discussion and study questions:
How do the 11 activities of vipashyana apply to your current practice?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #3 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (7:00): Exploring Mind: (3) "Location of mind"
Vipashyana #2 (7:00): Exploring Thoughts: (3) "Location of thoughts"
Vipashyana #3 (7:00): Exploring Mind: (4) "Luminosity and Voidness of mind"
Vipashyana #4 (7:00): Exploring Thoughts: (4) "Luminosity and Voidness of thoughts"
For 04 Nov 07:
Practice beforehand: Exploring Mind: (4) "Luminosity and Voidness of mind"
Reading beforehand:
Get caught up on anything you've missed.
Discussion and study questions:
How do the 11 activities of vipashyana apply to your current practice?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): Vipashyana stillness practice
Vipashyana #1 (8:00): Exploring Mind: (5) "Origin, Abode, Destination"
Vipashyana #2 (8:00): Exploring Mind: (5) "Origin, Abode, Destination", focusing on destination
Vipashyana #3 (8:00): Exploring Thoughts: (5) "Origin, Abode, Destination"
Vipashyana #4 (8:00): Exploring Thoughts: (5) "Origin, Abode, Destination", focusing on
destination
For 11 Nov 07:
Practice beforehand:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: Ch 8 Cutting Through the Root (87-91)
Ocean2: Ch 7 Looking Carefully At the Experience of Not Finding Anything
Discussion and study questions:
How do the 11 activities of vipashyana apply to your current practice?
Are these levels, stages, or distinct activities? How can we use this information?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (13:00): Twelve-fold breathing + Belly Breathing Protocol followed by shamatha
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Exploring Mind: (5) "Origin, Abode, Destination", focusing on destination
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Exploring Thoughts: (5) "Origin, Abode, Destination", focusing on
destination
For 18 Nov 07:
Practice beforehand: Exploring Mind: (4) "Luminosity and Voidness of mind"
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: Ch 8 Cutting Through the Root (87-91)
Ocean2: Ch 7 Looking Carefully At the Experience of Not Finding Anything
Discussion and study questions:
How do the 11 activities of vipashyana apply to your current practice?
Are these levels, stages, or distinct activities? How can we use this information?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (13:00): Twelve-fold breathing + Belly Breathing Protocol followed by shamatha
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Exploring Mind: (5) "Origin, Abode, Destination", focusing on destination
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Exploring Thoughts: (5) "Origin, Abode, Destination", focusing on
destination
For 25 Nov 07:
Practice beforehand: Exploring Mind: (4) "Luminosity and Voidness of mind"
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: Ch 8 Cutting Through the Root (87-91)
Ocean2: Ch 7 Looking Carefully At the Experience of Not Finding Anything
Discussion and study questions:
How do the 11 activities of vipashyana apply to your current practice?
Are these levels, stages, or distinct activities? How can we use this information?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (8:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (8:00): no oral instruction
Vipashyana #1-5 (7:00): Vipashyana stillness practices for 5 senses
For 02 Dec 07:
Practice beforehand: Exploring Mind: (6) "Self-Aware Primordial Wisdom"
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: Ch 9 Developing Certainty in the Union of Emptiness and Awareness (92-105)
DogZen9: "Nine Introductions to Awareness" at
Discussion and study questions:
What is your experience of "presence"?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): Twelve-fold breathing + Belly Breathing Protocol followed by shamatha
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): "Preparation"
Vipashyana #2 (5:00 each): From DogZen9: "Space-like nature of awareness", "Empty at the
beginning", and "Ingression of novelty"
For 09 Dec 07: Merry Mahamudra Party!
For 16 Dec 07: Vacation
For 23 Dec 07: Vacation
For 30 Dec 07: Vacation
For 06 Jan 08:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 9 (pp 92-119).
Discussion and study questions:
Notice the final beautiful logic of the core Kagyu teaching:
Appearances Are Mind
Mind Is Empty
Emptiness Is Natural Presence
Natural Presence Is Self-Liberated
Are there particular meditations or investigations that help your mind traverse this chain of
dharma? If so, please share them.
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (12:00): "Preparation"
Vipashyana #2 (4:00 each): DogZen9 "Nine Introductions": "Space-like nature of awareness",
"Empty at the beginning", and "The Base"
For 13 Jan 08:
Reading beforehand: Ocean: chapter 9 (pp 92-119).
Discussion and study questions:
Notice the final beautiful logic of the core Kagyu teaching:
Appearances Are Mind
Mind Is Empty
Emptiness Is Natural Presence
Natural Presence Is Self-Liberated
Are there particular meditations or investigations that help your mind traverse
this chain of dharma? If so, please share them.
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (1) Coemergent Mind
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Exploring Thoughts: (7) "Investigating Appearances"
For 27 Jan 08:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 9 (pp 110-115)
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): pick a visual object of meditation
Shamatha #2 (10:00): pick a visual object of meditation
Vipashyana #1 (6:00): ACI: Rock Meditation (p 2)
Vipashyana #2 (6:00): ACI: Khedrup Je's Four-Part Meditation on Emptiness (pp 3-4)
Vipashyana #3 (6:00): ACI: Dropping the Object (pp 5-7)
For 03 Feb 08:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 10 pp 123-129.
Online: Ch 4 - Spontaneous Coemergence Series - introduction.
Discussion and study questions:
What are the five misconceptions?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (2) Coemergent Thoughts
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (3) Coemergent Appearances
For 10 Feb 08:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 10 pp 129-133.
Online: Ch 4 - Spontaneous Coemergence Series - introduction.
Online: Ch 4 - Text for (1) Coemergent Mind to (5) Meditating on the Ordinary Mind
Discussion and study questions:
Three skills, four deviations
How many of the "seventeen ways of going astray" have you experienced?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (4) Ordinary Mind
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (5) Meditating on the Ordinary Mind
For 17 Feb 08:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 10 pp 133-138.
Online: Ch 4 - Text for (6) Mindfulness, Vigilance, and Caring to (7) Loosening Mind
Discussion and study questions:
Four deviations
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (6) Mindfulness, Vigilance, and Caring
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (7) Loosening Mind
For 24 Feb 08:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 10 pp 138-144.
Online: Ch 4 - Text for (8) Resting in Primal Freshness to (9) Delightful Mind
Discussion and study questions:
Three dangerous pathways
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (8) Resting in Primal Freshness
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (9) Delightful Mind
For 02 Mar 08:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 11 pp 145-148.
Online: Ch 4 - Text for (10) Mind of Relaxation to (11) Non-Meditation and Non-Distraction
Discussion and study questions:
Obstacle of illness
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (10) Mind of Relaxation
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (11) Non-Meditation and Non-Distraction
For 09 Mar 08:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 11 pp 148-151.
Online: Introduction to Ch 6 - Facets of Being Series
Online: Ch 6 - Text for (1) Bodhicitta Aspiration and Application
Where are the real (to us) demons?
How does bodhicitta practice relate to mahamudra practice?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Facets of Being: (1) Bodhicitta Aspiration and Application
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Facets of Being: (1) Bodhicitta Aspiration and Application
For 16 Mar 08:
Reading beforehand:
Online: Introduction to Ch 5 - Dawning of Certainty Series
You may or may not wish to read the descriptions of the various meditations in chapter 5.
Ocean: chapter 12 pp 152-160.
Online: Ch 5 - Text for (12) The Four Yogas of Mahamudra
Discussion and study questions:
How can we apply this text to our practice?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Dawning of Certainty: (12) The Four Yogas of Mahamudra
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Dawning of Certainty: (12) The Four Yogas of Mahamudra
For 23 Mar 08: (same as last week)
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 12 pp 152-160.
Online: Ch 5 - Text for (12) The Four Yogas of Mahamudra
Discussion and study questions:
How can we apply this text to our practice?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Dawning of Certainty: (12) The Four Yogas of Mahamudra
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Dawning of Certainty: (12) The Four Yogas of Mahamudra
For 30 Mar 08:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 13 pp 161-164.
Online: Ch 6 - (6) Ground of Being and Self-Identity, especially part 1
Discussion and study questions:
What happens when we apply this practice in post-meditation?
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Facets of Being Series (6) Ground of Being and Self-Identity,
#1 Ground Experience Through Breath
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): same
For 06 Apr 08: Vacation
For 13 Apr 08:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 14 & Afterword pp 167-181.
Online: Ch 6 - (6) Ground of Being and Self-Identity
Discussion and study questions:
p 179: "In fact it's actually better to meditate in a busy place that isn't solitary."
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Facets of Being Series (6) Ground of Being and Self-Identity,
#1 Ground Experience Through Breath
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): same
For 20 Apr 08:
Reading beforehand:
Ocean: chapter 14 & Afterword pp 167-181.
Aspiration
Discussion and study questions:
Compare different vipassana investigations.
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): Twelve-fold breathing + Belly Breathing Protocol followed by
shamatha
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Exploring Mind: (3) "Location of mind"
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (9) Delightful Mind
Vipashyana #3 (5:00): Exploring Mind: (3) "Location of mind", focussing on location of
awareness
For 04 May 08:
Reading beforehand:
Aspiration: pp 1-12; read two translations alternately for each stanza
Discussion and study questions:
Practice in session:
Shamatha #1 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Shamatha #2 (10:00): no oral instruction, pick a prop if you wish
Vipashyana #1 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (2) Coemergent Thoughts
Vipashyana #2 (10:00): Spontaneous Coemergence: (3) Coemergent Appearances
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Last updated: 07 May 08
Weekly Practice Group Schedule From 2007-2008
Texts:
"Ocean": An Ocean of the Ultimate Meaning; Commentary by Thrangu Rinpoche on
text by Wangchuk Dorje, Shambhala Publications, 2004; Available for purchase
online at namobuddhapub.org and shambhala.com.
"Ocean2": The Ninth Karmapa's Ocean of Definitive Meaning: Commentary by
Thrangu Rinpoche on text by Wangchuk Dorje, Snow Lion Pubs, 2003. Available
online in its entirety.
"Online": "A Meditation Guide For Mahamudra": from Mahamudra Meditation Center
"DogZen": "Cultivating Naked Awareness" by edrid
"DogZen9" = "Nine Introductions to Awareness"
"ACI" = "Emptiness Meditations"
"Preparation" = "Preparation for Contemplation"
"VStillness" = Vipashyana stillness practice:
1. Look at stillness
2. Who's looking at it?
3. Who/what is aware of the watcher?
4. Is that awareness different from the watcher?
5. Let it all go. Rest in it.
Do you run into an awareness that isn't personal?
"5VStillness" = Vipashyana stillness practice for 5 senses
Texts:
"Ocean": An Ocean of the Ultimate Meaning; Commentary by Thrangu Rinpoche on
text by Wangchuk Dorje, Shambhala Publications, 2004; Available for purchase
online at namobuddhapub.org and shambhala.com.
"Ocean2": The Ninth Karmapa's Ocean of Definitive Meaning: Commentary by
Thrangu Rinpoche on text by Wangchuk Dorje, Snow Lion Pubs, 2003. Available
online in its entirety.
"Online": "A Meditation Guide For Mahamudra": from Mahamudra Meditation Center
"DogZen": "Cultivating Naked Awareness" by edrid
"DogZen9" = "Nine Introductions to Awareness"
"ACI" = "Emptiness Meditations"
"Preparation" = "Preparation for Contemplation"
"VStillness" = Vipashyana stillness practice:
1. Look at stillness
2. Who's looking at it?
3. Who/what is aware of the watcher?
4. Is that awareness different from the watcher?
5. Let it all go. Rest in it.
Do you run into an awareness that isn't personal?
"5VStillness" = Vipashyana stillness practice for 5 senses