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Ven. Khandro Rinpoche 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07
H.E.
Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche
Teachings on The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
Copenhagen, Denmark 20-21/4 2010
This recording is available in a set of 2 mp3 CD:s
First Teaching Session
01
Oral transmission (lung) of opening recitation.
02
General explanation on prayer recitations and specifically this “Recalling the Qualities of the Three Jewels” also
called: “Praise to the omniscient one”.
03
Recitation of prayer.
04
Introduction:
Tibetan to English translation dilemmas.
Appreciation of coming to KBH
Use present world catastrophes as inspiration for practice and to offer
prayers
05
The Four Noble Truths as a solid ground to overcome resistance of ego to fully
commit to practice.
2
06
Need to really understand and practice The Four Noble Truths for a good foundation:
The Four Mindfulness Practices - one of the most effective practices.
Calling oneself a Buddhist: means one is practicing The Four Noble Truths
- working with cessation of
ignorance.
Anitya, Dukkha and An-atman (Impermanence, suffering and no-self).
07
Second Noble Truth, Cause of Suffering - Ignorance:
What is ignorance Ignorance related to Anitya, Dukkha and An-atman.
Impermanence.
08
Suffering.
09
No-self:
Summary of these 3 (Anitya, Dukkha and An-atman).
10
The 3-Fold Activities of Sheela (or Conduct), Samadhi (or meditation) and
Wisdom (Prajna):
Ethical or meritorious conduct in meditation and post-meditation. Should
be put into practice, not just
kept as a view. View and conduct should go together.
11
Meditation (Samadhi).
What should I practice
Shamatha and vipassana.
Meditation as developing and gaining familiarity with no-self.
12
Tripitika:
Differences in Hinayana and Mahayana practice of shamatha
Satipathana sutra approach of The Four Mindfulnesses.
13
Dedication.
Second Teaching Session
14
Satipathana sutras about The Four Mindfulnesses:
Advice on beginner meditative “feel good” experiences.
Use of breath to stabilize meditative experiences, distractions and projections.
15
The view of meditation:
Progression through hearing, contemplating and practicing leads to ability
of resting in the experience of
the ultimate view: Knowing the view is conventional view. Having tasted the
view is the ultimate view.
The deeper the confidence the lesser the need for practitioners to rely
on outer supports, e.g. counting
breath, shrines, reciting mantras and sadhanas.
3
16
Reading from Satipathana sutra - Mindfulness of Breathing.
Through repeated practice of The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, come The
Seven Enlightened Factors:
First is Enlightened Factor of authentic practice, then authentic dharma,
authentic perseverance, authentic
joy, authentic suppleness, authentic samadhi, and 7th is authentic equanimity.
Danger of one’s meditation being distorted and manipulated through “harmless” weaknesses.
17
Second Enlightened Factor - Authentic Dharma - combine meditation with the
true view - not building a “comfort zone” (with
a true view):
Danger of meditating without a view
18
Third Enlightened Factor - Authentic Perseverance - Effort is required. Recognize
the value of meditation.
19
Fourth Enlightened Factor - Authentic Joy - Recognize the happiness of being
able to work with oneself in meditation.
20
Fifth Enlightened Factor - Authentic Suppleness or Pliancy - A simple mind
without too many ups and downs.
21
Sixth Enlightened Factor - Authentic Meditation or Samadhi - cultivation of
awareness.
22
Seventh Enlightened Factor - Authentic Equanimity - perfection of meditation.
23
Training in Breathing Meditation - Binding together body and mind:
Finding a quiet place to meditate.
Method for counting the breath.
24
Actual Meditation session.
25
Building up one-pointed concentration.
Reading from sutra and explanation of mindfulness of breathing meditation.
26
Simple watching of breath to establish stability of resting meditation:
Example of riding a bicycle.
Ten days vipassana retreat.
Judgmental or discriminating mind.
Difference in Hinayana and Mahayana analysis of mind.
Dropping of counting breath.
27
Mindful observation of body:
Problem of following thoughts.
Applying clear comprehension in all actions of body.
Importance of learning simple observation.
Giving and taking (tong len) practice.
Non-attachment to body.
4
28
Development of detachment of the body:
Focusing on the parts of the body.
Mind cannot be found.
29
Reflection on the Repulsiveness of the body:
Reading from sutra.
Value of comparing this sutra in parallel with Shantideva’s Bodhisattvacaryavatara.
Reading of chapter 9, verses 77 & 78.
Reflection on the material elements of the body.
One’s attitude of ‘my’ body.
30
The Nine Cemetery Contemplations:
Imagine one’s own body as a corpse.
Value of fear.
31
Results of this contemplation:
Non-exaggeration of the body.
Natural ease with one’s body.
32
Dedication prayer.
Third Teaching Session
33
Recitation of prayer.
34
All different sorts of formless and form meditations are beneficial.
Habitual tendencies:
Look out for animosity towards emotions and thoughts.
Rigidity in meditation.
Generation of compassion.
Animosity to the raisings - everything is against me and my meditation.
Gain and loss.
35
True compassion arising from understanding emptiness:
Misusing of emptiness.
36
Understanding the view of dharma through meditation:
Knowing things to be fundamentally your minds projections.
Using the methods of all different practices to generate the same view of
knowing the true nature of
things.
Leading to the fearless attitude of a practitioner.
Impartial compassion to other beings and to one’s thoughts.
5
37
What is a bodhisattva
What does a bodhisattva do
Peace arises through letting things be.
38
Meditation without the foundation of The Four Mindfulnesses can lead to further
grasping:
Dangers of ego manipulation.
Danger of grasping to spiritual experience.
Importance of living with the teacher or the Sangha.
Independent lifestyle - a rhino.
The Four Mindfulnesses as a support to all other practices.
Need to synchronies body and mind.
39
Importance of breathing meditation:
Importance of this within busyness of today.
Lunch time meditation.
40
Allow mind and body to find a balance of union:
Developing the ground of mindfulness to counteract distraction.
41
Methods of working with breath to build strong foundation:
Focus at centre of eyebrows or at nostrils and upper lip.
Creating a dot in space.
Alertness without tightness.
42
Mindfulness of body and feeling:
Preventing meditation slipping into habitual mundaneness.
Relax while simply observing body.
At ease and sitting still.
43
Using analytical approach of Mahayana to reduce attachment to the body:
Using posture to counteract ego’s manipulation.
Postures bind the physical body.
44
Practice of stillness of the body:
Mahamudra of stillness, silence and non-thought.
45
Mindfulness of feeling - extending stillness of the body.
Reverse habits - learn to let go.
46
Satipathana sutra, about mindfulness of feelings.
47
Problem is our constant elaboration.
6
48
Mahayanist view:
Advice to read madhyamaka texts on emptiness of mind.
Complexity of subject matter subdues ego - inspiration to just let feelings
be feelings.
49
Inseparability of wisdom and ignorance:
constant adornment of feelings and thoughts.
time invested in adorning creates expectations.
50
Pleasurable feelings are connected to the suffering of change.
51
Unpleasant feelings are connected with the suffering of pain.
52
Neutral feelings are connected to all-pervasive feelings:
Pervasive suffering and suspicion.
Cause of anxiousness and restlessness.
53
Pursuit to control feelings:
(Futile) strategies for happiness.
Pursuing feelings often harms others.
54
Feelings are one’s own creation:
Suffering arising through interfering with feelings.
Choosing between elaborate or simple.
55
Dedication prayer.
Fourth Teaching Session
56
Conversation with older students.
57
Organization of Dharma schedules reflected in our lives:
Bring mundane play of hope and fear into meditation.
Lack of fearlessness and simplicity.
Strategies - cleverness - control.
Learning to let be.
Recognition without elaboration.
7
58
Striking the pig on the snout:
Three phases of the feeling or thought:
1) As it arises - being able to look at it.
2) As it manifests - looking at it.
3) Once the thought has passed - thinking about it.
Power of immediate recognition of thought.
Taking the help of the breath.
59
Mindfulness of mind:
Reading sutra.
60
Where is mind
Names, labeling, designations and hopes.
61
Example of the guard:
The tension of guarding something that never was!
The tension of guarding an empty room!
62
Going beyond restlessness.
Finding basic sanity:
Let mind be without elaborations.
Creativity of mind.
63
Taking a vacation from mind’s unceasing creativity:
Sutra text (on mindfulness of mind).
64
Mindfulness of Phenomena:
Forms, sounds, smells, tastes, textures - let it be.
Releasing elaborations.
Attachment to sounds.
65
Unbiased compassion and equanimity:
Free from The Eight Worldly Dharmas that contaminate naturalness of mind.
Letting go of forms and sounds, etc.
Allow recognition of the Six Senses and revert back to stillness - without
elaborations.
66
Retaining The Four Mindfulnesses allows dissolution of habitual tendencies:
Abide in simplicity, the fundamental nature, beyond acceptance or rejection.
67
How elaboration begins:
False concepts driven by hope and fear.
Duality - separation of self from others.
68
Samsara:
Hopes become fearful.
Recognize there is a basic nature.
69
Soap opera of our repeated habitual story line.
70
Fearlessness of recognizing one’s fundamental nature:
Fear of losing control.
Nothing happens.
71
Spaciousness of moments of experience free from hope and fear.
72
Harmony and friendship of enlightened beings.
73
The Four Mindfulnesses an integral part of both Hinayana and Mahayana:
Study verses from around 15 - 100 of 9th chapter of Bodhisattvacaryavatara.
Homework is mindfulness.
74
Closing thank you, advice, wishes and dedication.