Dive deep into the nature of doubt as Joseph Goldstein examines its impact on mindfulness and meditation. He uncovers how indecision can paralyze progress and discusses the Buddha's insights on overcoming doubt. Explore the distinction between wholesome and unwholesome actions while learning to recognize triggers of self-doubt. Gain wisdom through self-inquiry and investigation, transforming doubt into clarity. This engaging discussion reveals how to harness mindfulness for personal development on the path to enlightenment.
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insights INSIGHT
Doubt's Nature
Doubt is uncertainty and indecision, like being at a crossroads unsure of which way to turn.
Unnoticed, it paralyzes practice, hindering learning from mistakes through endless self-checking and vacillation.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Conflicting Teachings
On his first long retreat, Joseph Goldstein struggled with conflicting teachings, causing doubt and hindering his practice.
He resolved this by viewing different teachings as skillful means rather than absolute truths.
insights INSIGHT
Doubt in Practice
In the Satipatthana Sutta, doubt pertains to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, impacting meditation practice.
It can manifest as questioning the Buddha's relevance, rejecting teachings on the body's nature, or karma.
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Highlighting the danger of indecision, Joseph Goldstein examines the nature of doubt as taught by the Buddha.
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The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the nineteenth 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 week on Insight Hour, Joseph explains to listeners:
How elements of mind and body function
What the Buddha said about working with and overcoming doubt
Recognizing whether or not doubt is present within ourselves
The nature and character of the doubting mind
The danger of being paralyzed by indecision
Doubt within our meditation practice / Doubting parts of the dhamma
Contemplating the unattractive elements of the body
Doubting the value of practice in a world of suffering
The deep pattern of self-doubt
How doubt masquerades as wisdom
Paying attention to what triggers doubt
Understanding what is wholesome and unwholesome
Investigation and the wisdom mind as the cure to doubt
Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE
“When doubt is strong, and we’re paralyzed by indecision, this mental force doesn’t even allow us the opportunity to take a wrong turn and to learn from our mistakes; rather, we’re always checking ourselves, we’re vacillating, we’re trying to decide.” – Joseph Goldstein
Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein