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$53.00
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4 talks on 6 CDs. This seminar was titled "When Things Fall Apart", but is not the same as the book. Recorded live, New York City 2004. This is a straightforward and practical presentation about how to develop a stable, open, and strong mind in the midst of the chaotic, painful, and groundless experiences of our lives. An additional theme is how not to respond to pain by hardening into self-righteous, aggressive, fundamentalist attitudes. This is a good short teaching series on mindfulness meditation, excellent for beginners, as well as for more experienced practitioners. Talks one, two, and four begin with 15-30 minutes of guided, introductory mindfulness meditation by Jane Kolleeny; Pema Chodron guides "compassionate abiding" meditation during talk 3, and a brief meditation using sounds as the object during talk 1.
Talk 1: First principle of meditation: Recognizing what's happening. This presents the basic rationale and approach of mindfulness practice. Talk 2: Second principle of meditation: Interrupting chain reactions. A key emphasis in this talk is adopting an attitude of gentleness and respectfulness in the process of labeling thoughts and returning to the object of meditation. Abiding with groundlessness and boredom. Overcoming self-righteousness. Talk 3: Third principle of meditation: Connecting with the immediacy of experience. Not struggling with what is: discovering relaxation. Knowing one's own fear and suffering, and knowing that of others'. Compassionate abiding meditation. Talk 4: Questions and Answers. Pema Chodron addresses questions about the desire to hold onto thoughts, the experience of loneliness on the spiritual path, working with the tendency to watch and evaluate one's practice, compassionate action, how to practice with the horror of extreme pain, the value and pitfalls of desire, living in the present but planning for the future, and the middle way between eternalism and nihilism. Good questions, much practical wisdom.
Item tags:
meditation, talk, abiding, chodron |
