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The two primary aspects of Buddhist inner cultivation (bhāvanā) are called serenity (samatha) and clarity (vipassanā). Samatha practice is generally about quieting the discursive mind, settling the body and heart, and sustaining that quiet settledness in meditative absorption. Vipassanā practice in any of its varied forms is about investigating sensory experience to understand its effect on the heart and how suffering is either created or avoided.

In non-retreat life, most of our time is spent in activity rather than in stillness. Because of this, we need to bring both of these primary modes of cultivation into more activities than just meditation. Conventional “mindfulness” accomplishes some of this, but generally falls short of truly respecting either serenity or clarity.

Mindfulness leans in the direction of clarity, but for understanding to really unfold, we must bring an attitude of investigation into our life, not just the idea that if we are “present” the fruits of practice will naturally arise. Investigation often means not immediately trusting the stories told by our inner narrator—stories enlisted to justify difficult emotions—but looking for the inner cause of suffering in both pleasant and unpleasant situations.

Mindfulness also includes an element of serenity practice because presence always includes some amount of quieting the discursive mind. One way to bring serenity more strongly into our daily life is to practice quieting the mind whenever intentional thinking is not required. So in any moment that I’m not in conversation with someone, actively composing text, or doing deep work on an intellectual task, I can practice a gentle persistent silencing of the mind. And then I practice doing so even in the midst of those intentionally discursive activities.

We’ll talk tonight about this kind of “active mindfulness” and bringing the inner work of bhāvanā more fully into our work and play.

SEAN OAKES
Sean Feit Oakes, PhD (he/they, queer, Puerto Rican & English, living on Pomo ancestral land in Northern California), teaches Buddhism and somatic practice focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received Insight Meditation teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance. Sean holds certifications in Somatic Experiencing (SEP, assistant), and Yoga (E-RYT 500, YACEP), and teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and elsewhere.

LINKS
Website: seanfeitoakes.com
Community Page: In It To End It
YouTube channel: In It To End It
Spirit Rock: spiritrock.org/teachers/sean-oakes
Insight Timer: insighttimer.com/seanoakes

GIVING
All of Dr. Oakes’ independent teaching is offered on the model of Gift Economy, in the Buddhist tradition of dāna, inspired giving. Support of our teaching and community is gratefully received. Thank you for your generosity.

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seanfeitoakes.com/gift-economy

Blessings on your path.