“The Seven Factors of Awakening: Medicine for the Mind” with Jean Haley this Sunday; Alex Haley upcoming teaching events

Dear Community,

Sunday 10am Community Practice & Discussion

Those of us who have spent much time reading or listening to dharma talks will have probably encountered what are called the Seven Factors of Awakening.  Along with the Four Noble Truths, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, and the Eightfold Path, they are one of the core teachings of the Buddha. (Buddhism has a lot of lists!)  

We can notice and cultivate the Seven Factors both in our meditation practice and in our daily life.  The Buddha called them “antihindrances” because they counteract the states of mind (the hindrances) that keep us stuck in delusion. I think of them as medicine for the mind.  They include mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration, and equanimity.    

Recently, I’ve been appreciating, again, the power of the second factor, investigation, to counteract my reactivity and habit patterns.  Joseph Goldstein, in his book Mindfulness, says that one of his teacher’s defined investigation as “knowing what’s what.”  He goes on to say:

“One function of mindfulness [is] remembering and calling to mind what is skillful and what is not.  Mindfulness brings us face-to-face with these arising states; the wisdom factor of investigation then illuminates the states themselves and discerns the difference between the two.  This is not an academic exercise.  The wisdom factor in our minds is like an investigative reporter who digs deep to get to the bottom of things – in this case, understanding the very causes of our suffering and their end.”

As the Buddha said, EhiPassiko! (Come and see for yourself!)  Please join us on Sunday to explore the power of investigation and see “what’s what.”   All are welcome! Registration and Zoom information available here.

Upcoming Teaching Events with Alex Haley

Founding teacher of Minneapolis Insight, Alex Haley, has a number of upcoming teaching events (information and registration for all can be found here):

• Online Nine Bodies Insight Daylong Retreat March 23
• Online Nine Bodies Insight Weeklong Retreat April 18 - 24
• On-land at Spirit Rock Insight, Awareness, and the Nine Bodies of Consciousness Retreat June 7 - 14
• On-land at Spirit Rock Naturally Arising Samadhi (Concentration) Retreat October 1 - 10

With metta (loving-kindness),
Minneapolis Insight