"The Four Protective Meditations" with Jean H, Sunday 12.8 at 10AM

Dear Community,

Sunday 10am Community Practice & Discussion with Jean H

This time of year can be challenging.  The seasonal changes, in addition to the changes in our political environment, can feel overwhelming.  Practicing what are called “the four protective meditations” – recollection of the Buddha, lovingkindness, contemplation on the nature of the body, and mindfulness of death – can help put things in perspective.  

In my own experience, contemplating the nature of the body with the elements meditation can be especially helpful.  It encourages disindentification with the body as me, mine, or I and links the constitution of my body with the constitution of the whole material environment.   It “uncrinkles the mind” (to use Ajahn Sucitto’s words as quoted by Benjamin last week) and provides a more spacious view.

Ajahn Sumedho puts it this way:

“Life with a narrow view is suppressed and constricted; it is a struggle.  There is always tension involved in it, because it takes an enormous amount of energy to keep everything in order all the time.  If you have a narrow view of life, the disorder of life has to be ordered for you, so you are always manipulating the mind and rejecting things or holding to them.  The spacious mind has room for everything.  It is like the space in a room, which is never harmed by what goes in and out of it.”

Please join us this Sunday to practice contemplating the body and connecting to a more spacious view.  All are welcome! Registration and Zoom information available here.

With mettā,
Minneapolis Insight