This is the first in a series of talks by Jagaro on The Five Hindrances.  Ill-will, anger, annoyance, hatred are common emotions and reactions in our lives.  They are all forms of aversion, a negative response to something we interact with in the world, and a shift away from something we don’t like.  This aversion can be a subtle poison in our lives and have a devastating affect if left unchecked.  Strangely however, in the midst of the effects of ill-will our reality is very compelling and self-justified.  Don’t we all feel so right when we are telling someone else how wrong they are?  It is always ‘them’ that is the problem.

In this talk Jagaro discusses the causes for aversion and how it manifests in our lives and the negatives effects it can have. He also walks through the process of how we can come to see it arising within our meditation and to recognise the process behind it.  He also gives several different tips, practices and meditations for dealing with the different forms of ill-will, anger, cruelty and carelessness.  Lastly he gives some reflections on how a deeper understanding through meditation and insight can allow us to look into others malicious actions and words, and transform our heart to a place of equanimity and forgiveness.  This alchemy of the heart brings forth a deeper compassion for suffering and the grips by which people commit malicious actions unintentionally.

Sample

Length

1 hour 30 minutes

Contains

• 30 minutes teaching
• 30 minutes guided meditation session
• 30 minute group discussion

Related

None

What is insight and how does it occur?  In this audio Jagaro discusses The Four Foundations of Mindfulness and what Insight Meditation is, and uses some wonderfully simple analogies to explain the process of awakening to the truth of reality.  He also discusses the importance and function of insight meditation as a companion to concentration meditation, and how the two work hand-in-hand to deepen understanding and thus wisdom.

This wisdom is not a thought-based understanding but a direct experiencing of reality as it is, often known as right view and right understanding.  Through examining the body, feelings, thoughts and all mental phenomena we come to see the nature of all things and the ground-less ground from which they rise from and return to.  This full view allows us to release attachment to our suffering and live with a unbounded sense of calm and ease.

Sample

Length

1 hour 30 minutes

Contains

• 30 minutes teaching
• 30 minutes guided meditation session
• 30 minute group discussion

Related

Moods, Attitudes, Approaches and Morality

In the previous talk, Jagaro discussed Moods, Attitudes, Approaches and Morality and how through living morally our life gradually shifts from being influenced by our moods and attitudes to living a more peaceful life.

In this audio, Jagaro discusses in more detail how we can often, incorrectly, perceive moral practices as some form of negative self-restraint (that we don’t like) and how this purposeful restraint actually improves our lives and cultivates a deeper sense of calm.  Like a candle that has impurities in the wax, it simply won’t burn well.  We have to take out the impurities for it to burn nice and bright.  Our meditation practice is the same.

Examining the sense consciousness we notice them constantly reacting; grasping and desiring after or averting away from what is perceived.  Through moral practice, and the application of the 5 precepts, we come to see how this practice helps bring us back to a true sense of balance and reduces this unhealthy influence of the sense consciousness in our lives.  This cultivates greater clarity about life and thus wisdom.

Sample

Length

1 hour 10 minutes

Contains

• 25 minutes teaching
• 25 minutes guided meditation session
• 20 minute group discussion

Related

Moods, Attitudes, Approaches and Morality

In this audio Jagaro explores how we approach our life and meditation practice, and how we can refine and develop it through examining our moods, attitudes, approaches and morality. It is not something we often reflect upon, “Is my approach to this right?” Instead we just set out doing meditation in any old manner in hope that it would yield good results. This is much like setting out on a journey without reflecting upon if the direction we are walking is right and if selected mode of transport is the best for our journey or if it is in good condition. This can have far reaching affects on the results that yield from the meditation. Our morality, defines the greater context to our life for wholesome action and thus wholesome results, providing light amongst the darkness.

In this talk Jagaro begins be discussing moods and how we are often at result of our moods, and thus bound by the conditions of moods and that which impacts on our lives. As we develop we realise we can have positive influence over our moods and to a greater extend attitude. Positive attitude however is just an approach, not a cure-all, and so we must evolve to really yield wholesome outcomes. Morality is this evolution, a maturation of our practice through mindfulness which is revealed to us as we travel the path. Morality however can be practiced as a formula, as an approach, from the outset of our meditation practice until we come to understand its benefits through wisdom. This is the function of the 5 precepts in Buddhism, or even the 10 commandments in Christianity. In this way morality not only provides a solid foundation for our life, but upon further inspection is revealed to be an absolute necessity for maturation of mindfulness, the fruits of the practice and ultimately liberation.

Sample

Length

1 hour 30 minutes

Contains

• 30 minutes teaching
• 30 minutes guided meditation session
• 20 minute group discussion

Related

None

Often when we start out meditating we can struggle with the sense of effort that we feel is required in the practice, it all seems like hard work.  As we continue with our practice this gets easier and easier until eventually it becomes effortless.  Understanding what is occurring here will help us properly interpret this sense of effort and know how to properly apply effort for benefit in our lives. Also, what is the right amount of effort in the meditation practice?  Finding that right balance can be challenging.  In this audio, Jagaro discusses some tips and tricks around finding this balance of right effort and the path to effortlessness in the practice.

Sample

Length

1 hour 30 minutes

Contains

• 30 minutes teaching
• 30 minutes guided meditation session
• 30 minute group discussion

Related

The Struggle of Effort and the Effortlessness of Mindful Awareness

Last week we discussed Thoughts, Insight, Wisdom and Contemplation. This week we further that topic by discussing in more detail how to apply and more skillfully use contemplation with mindfulness as the root of the contemplative and insight process. We’ll also discuss a profound view of the way in which we learn in life that allows us to let go and allow ourselves to learn and adapt in life in a much more intuitive way.

Length

1 hour 30 minutes

Contains

• 30 minutes teaching
• 30 minutes guided meditation session
• 30 minute group discussion

Recently I went to Ajahn Brahm’s Dharma talk in Sydney on 12 August 2011 at Carlingford.  This is now available to download from Dhammanet

In this audio Jagaro discusses the difference between thought, insight, wisdom and contemplation, topics that are often misunderstood or easily confused.  Thoughts are one of the things that present us the most challenge in life and also in our meditation.  It also can be confusion to know, “is this thought a wise one or not?” and “what is the difference between thought and wisdom”, “did I just have an insight?” and “what is meant by contemplation?”  In this audio he discusses more about thought and how we can release ourselves from the inner chatter that goes on within our minds but also how we can use it more skilfully in our meditation practice.

Sample

Length

1 hour 30 minutes

Contains

• 30 minutes teaching
• 30 minutes guided meditation session
• 30 minute group discussion

Related

None

In this audio Jagaro discusses our over-reliance on thought in life to solve our problems, and how through resting into just experiencing with mindful awareness we return to a much simpler and happier life.