Joseph Goldstein, a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society and a prominent meditation teacher, shares insights on the Satipatthana Sutta. He emphasizes mindfulness of the body as a powerful tool for overcoming distractions and achieving spiritual goals. Goldstein discusses the significance of breath awareness in refining the mind and managing bodily sensations. He also highlights the importance of finding the right posture for meditation and the value of establishing mindfulness in daily life, underscoring how these practices can lead to profound personal transformation.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Suitable Practice Location
Practice in a secluded place, like a forest, the root of a tree, or an empty hut.
This promotes settling and quiet for effective practice.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Noisy Burmese Vihara
Joseph Goldstein initially practiced in a noisy Burmese Vihara in Bodh Gaya.
Despite the unsuitable location, he persevered, highlighting gratitude for any practice space.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Posture
Find a suitable posture, whether cross-legged, on a bench, or in a chair.
Maintain an erect back without stiffness or tension for optimal practice.
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Enriching our understanding of the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein explains the body as the simplest and most portable object of contemplation.
The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the seventh part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self.
This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein dives into:
Mindfulness of the body as the simplest way to overcome mara
How mindfulness of the body is the basis for all achievements
Conquering all bodily sensations through mindfulness of the body
Finding a suitable posture for our practice and how effort creates energy
Establishing mindfulness in front of ourselves
The invaluable power of our own breathing
Refining the breath as the vehicle for refining the mind
What it means to experience the whole physical body
Calming the bodily formation
Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE
“The Buddha is pointing to the invaluable but often overlooked power of our own breathing. This humble breath which we mostly in our ordinary lives ignore is such a good and powerful object of meditation because it is always present.” – Joseph Goldstein
Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein 