Monthly Archives: February 2023

Our Lakeland Insight Meditation Group (LIMG) has been studying and practicing the teachings of the Satipatthana Sutta, the four abidings in mindfulness. This week, we are in the fourth foundation, mindfulness of  dhammas (mental processes.) To this point in the dhammas,  we  have studied the five hindrances, the five aggregates, and the six senses. We are now studying the seven factors of awakening. We have studied the first three awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation and energy. We now move to the awakening factor of joy and rapture. The rest of the awakening factors are tranquility, concentration and equanimity. Joy or piti, is [...]

Our Lakeland Insight Meditation Group (LIMG) has been studying and practicing the teachings of the Satipatthana Sutta, the four abidings in mindfulness. This week, we are in the fourth foundation, mindfulness of  dhammas (mental processes.) To this point in the dhammas,  we  have studied the five hindrances, the five aggregates, and the six senses. We are now studying the seven factors of awakening. We have studied the first two awakening factors of mindfulness and investigation. We now move to the awakening factor of energy. The rest of the awakening factors are joy, tranquility, concentration and equanimity. Energy is rather synonomous with [...]

The Seven Awakening Factors, mindfulness, energy, investigation, calm, joy, concentration and equanimity have been called "the 7 treasures of the Tatagatha" (the Buddha: "the Master of  Suchness.") These factors are growing in each practitioner, and the complete development of these factors would be awakening. For every practitioner, these factors are already within to some amount: they just need continual development. Mindfulness includes wise attention and awareness of each moment. Wise attention (yoniso manasikara (you-need-so mah-nah-see-kah-rah) is attention not affected by greed, hatred or ignorance, or a hindrance. Wise attention is the "how" we are paying attention to whatever presents itself in the mind.  For example, when I first [...]