“Seeing Through Conceptual Overlay via Elements Practice” this Sunday with Benjamin Hohl

Dear Community,

“Seeing Through Conceptual Overlay via Elements Practice” this Sunday at 10am with Benjamin Hohl

This Sunday, Benjamin will lead an exploration of the Elements practice found in Early Buddhism. Meditating with the Elements has been a recurring theme at Minneapolis Insight, and this week we will pick it up as the primary topic of exploration. Registration and Zoom information available here.

Here is a 30-minute talk (available as video, audio, and transcript) by Buddhist teacher Gil Fronsdal on this topic, if you’re interested in exploring ahead of time.

The Early Buddhist teachings have meditation instructions for the six elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Space, and Consciousness. These Elements represent the qualities or dimensions of sensations we directly experience (e.g. solidity, cohesion, warmth, movement). Directly experiencing reality, instead of, as Gil says, “the experience that's mediated through a thick layer of concepts and ideas,” is a key aspect of Insight Meditation.

Gil goes on to say, “And to not spend our time lost in concepts, ideas, stories, preoccupation. Not get lost in the computer and the websites that take us down rabbit holes. But to really be able to experience the depth of this life here – to settle in, quiet – and feel the earth element, the consciousness element, the space element. And to feel the beauty of it, and the freedom that's possible, is not a withdrawal from the world. It's actually entering into it more deeply. So that we can care for it more. So that we can live freely in it…

We all share the same elements. In those elements, there's no difference between us. We're all families of sentient life on this earth. And to see each other that way is one of the potentials when we drop all the stories and concepts and can really let our hearts resonate with the world around us.”

Full Moon Gathering Saturday, June 3rd at 7pm

Each month, on the full moon, we gather via Zoom to practice together and offer support for reflection, renewal and re-commitment to the values and practices that give our lives meaning and balance.

Our June Full Moon Gathering is June 3rd at 7pm. We hope that you can join us as we come together for meditation and sharing; offering ourselves a time to attend to the wisdom that dwells within each of us and that arises between us. Registration and Zoom information available here.

With metta (loving-kindness),
Minneapolis Insight

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