February 16, 2016

February 16, 2016 Discussion:

This week we discussed Empty Phenomena Rolling On: an Interview with Joseph Goldstein which appeared in Tricycle in 1993.

Goldstein is an expert and teacher in the field of vipassana meditation, and he co-founded the Insight Meditation Society.

 Favorite quotes from the interview:

"It takes practice to wake up, to emerge from our mind-created worlds. This makes being with people and situations in a fresh way each time possible. That's the joy of teaching..."

 &

 "We don't have to let go, we simply have to not hold on."

 Vipassana, in its most basic form, means seeing things as they really are, without judgement or attachment.  It is a technique of self-observation. 

 Goldstein emphasizes the importance of experiencing a retreat type setting for meditation practitioners because it allows for silent, restful, inspiring attention to the present.

The interview also includes a section on "Meditation Instructions" which would be very useful to those new to the practice of mindfulness meditation.

One of Goldstein's most significant points is that

"...there are really only six things we ever experience: sight, sounds, smells, taste, bodily sensations, and objects of mind--thoughts, emotions, internal conditions." 

Meditation practice allow us to learn "discriminating awareness" of these things, and to eventually be "released from the grip of attachment and begin to respond rather than react."  

We concluded our meeting with a guided group meditation titled "Ease mental tension" using the Calm app.  It is also available on the web here. 

 After our meditation we briefly discussed our individual responses and experiences during, which included:

• facial tension
• a desire to open ones eyes
• a sense of excitement 

 Next week reading material:

Next week on Tuesday February 23, 2016 we will be discussing Buddha's Brain: Neuroplasticity and Meditation by Richard Davidson & Antione Lutx from the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

If you have trouble accessing this article, email me and I would be happy to help. 

Further reading:

Empty phenomena rolling on: an interview with Joseph Goldstein. Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, Winter 1993, p.13-18. 

Davidson, R. (2008). Buddha's brain: Neuroplasticity and meditation. IEEE Signal Process Magazine, 25(1), 176-174.