This five-day program will introduce experienced meditators to the rich depth of the Buddha’s meditation instructions and teachings. We will utilize ānāpānasati (mindfulness of breathing) as the basis for delving into the often-hidden beauty and subtlety of the mental processes related to meditation that are described in the early Pali discourses of the Buddha. We will study the concepts of mind and body, shallow and deep attention, meditative abundance, unification of the mind, the impact of liberating insight, and the role of the imagination. The program is designed as a journey through the 16 steps outlined in the Ānāpānasati Sutta through teachings, reading of sutta passages, discussions, and guided meditations.
This program is presented with the intention to familiarize participants with aspects of the Buddha’s teachings on meditation that are often overlooked in contemporary Buddhism. Participants will learn some of the key practices and mental functions that come alive as meditation deepens. They will also gain an understanding of the role that liberating insights have on the path to liberation. The hope is that this will inspire a deeper appreciation of the mind’s capacity for nourishing, unifying, and liberating itself as layers of reactivity (saṅkhāras) fall away.
