Ep. 206 – Concentration And Contemplation, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 3
Jul 19, 2024
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Buddhist teacher Joseph Goldstein explores the importance of contemplation, awareness, and concentration in this episode. He discusses the healing process of Samadhi, developing concentration through Sila, and the path of happiness. Topics include choiceless awareness, walking meditation, internal and external contemplation, and being aware of others without judgment.
Developing Samadhi through ethical conduct fosters concentration and inner peace.
Practicing mindfulness and concentration leads to composure, joy, and healing in daily life.
Deep dives
Importance of Self-Esteem and Therapy
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The Significance of Mindfulness and Concentration
Cultivating mindfulness and concentration holds the key to inner peace and contentment. By embracing mindful presence, individuals can achieve composure, unification of mind, and a sense of calm. The development of concentration, particularly through natural joy and embodied presence, serves as a healing practice in untying mental knots.
The Role of Ethical Conduct and Skillfulness
Samadhi, rooted in skillfulness, relies on ethical conduct to strengthen concentration. Upholding non-harming principles fosters stability and aids in concentration development. Committing to ethical behavior initiates a foundational stability, nurturing a peaceful and concentrated mind.
Practical Techniques for Strengthening Concentration
Engaging in directed awareness towards a single object or employing choiceless awareness promotes concentration development. Techniques like continuous noting, six-part walking, and mindfulness of intentions aid in enhancing mindfulness and concentration. Alternating between focused and choiceless awareness strategies strengthens concentration and fosters continuous presence of mind.
This time on the Insight Hour Podcast, Joseph Goldstein explores the importance of contemplation, awareness and concentration in Buddhist practice.
This episode is the third part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta, one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. 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!
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In this episode, Joseph Goldstein examines:
Samadhi, or, the composure and unification of the mind
Enjoying embodied presence and allowing all tensions to release
The great healing process that can come from Samadhi
How Samadhi enables us to receive the joy of the present moment
How the development of concentration comes from practicing Sila (ethical conduct)
The path of practice as the path of happiness
Focusing on an object versus choiceless awareness
6-part walking meditation for the development of concentration
Internal and external contemplation
Being aware of other people without judgment
Attuning to how our actions may affect others
Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE
“It’s as if when we create the space of awareness, the space of mindful presence, the mind settles by itself into a place of concentration because we are simply being present for that which arises.” – Joseph Goldstein