Recorded at Insight Meditation Satsang
Online,
March 12, 2024
DESCRIPTION
The stillness and inner silence of meditation is designed to be deeply restful, nourishing, and restorative. The sense throughout the Buddha’s discourses is that meditation is not only meant to be not a chore, but that it is delightful in a way that many other practices are not. Remember that the Buddha came from a background in painful asceticism, and before that practiced disembodied states, and before that was addicted to sensual stimulation like everyone else. He had experience in all the Main ways we try to satisfy, avoid, or conquer the obsessive mind. None of them worked, and the revolutionary thing he figured out was that embodied stillness was both delightful AND insightful.
Most of us are so mentally wounded that meditation feels like a chore, or a difficult discipline to master. I think for most of our minds, both can be true. But I want to keep leaning into the original invitation as we read in the courses: “a pleasant abiding in the here and now.”
How might we go about the training in meditative stillness if we were committed to it being delightful as often as possible? I’ll reflect tonight on the training in concentration and mindfulness, and how we might engage with that training in a way that is productive of ease and nourishment right away, not just as a someday fruition.
(That was the initial direction, but we ended up talking more about the vipassanā & mindfulness side of delight—delighting in all states as they arise. Included discussion of mettā and benevolence toward all states and people at the end.)
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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Blessings on your path.