Tag: anapanasati
Anapanasati, or mindfulness of breathing, serves as a foundational practice within the Metta Vipassana framework. This method uses the natural breath as a primary object to observe the entire process of the mind. You track the breath while applying the 6Rs to any distracting thoughts or sensations. This active observation allows you to witness how craving arises as tension and how to release it effectively.
The practice emphasizes the “tranquilization” of the bodily formation during both the inhale and exhale. You do not force your focus or use one-pointed concentration. Instead, you maintain a light, open awareness that recognizes the impermanent nature of each breath. This approach aligns perfectly with the Buddha’s original teachings, leading to a deep sense of tranquility and insight during your retreat.
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Overcoming the Fear of Loss through Meditation: A Dhamma Reflection
Read more: Overcoming the Fear of Loss through Meditation: A Dhamma ReflectionWhen a family member falls ill, even a seasoned meditator can feel the sudden sting of fear and the weight of “what ifs.” In this heartfelt reflection, Sindhu Dhondi shares how a moment of deep personal vulnerability during a retreat led to a breakthrough insight. By combining Metta (loving-kindness) with the teachings of the Samyutta…
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Rediscovering the Satipatthana Sutta with Metta Vipassana
Read more: Rediscovering the Satipatthana Sutta with Metta VipassanaMost modern Vipassana traditions focus heavily on concentration, but they often skip a crucial instruction from the Buddha: “Tranquilizing the bodily formation.” In this exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, we dive into the teachings of Bhante Vimalaramsi to uncover how a simple smile and the “Relax” step can break the chain of craving and lead…
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Day 6: Mental Proliferation – Kalimpong ’25
Read more: Day 6: Mental Proliferation – Kalimpong ’25Day 6 of the Kalimpong Retreat explores MN 18, the Honey Ball Sutta, revealing how a single thought can spiral into a mental tornado — and how recognizing this process is the key to freedom.
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Day 5: Dependent Origination – Kalimpong ’25
Read more: Day 5: Dependent Origination – Kalimpong ’25On Day 5 of the Kalimpong Retreat, we explored one of the Buddha’s most profound teachings — dependent origination (paticca samuppada) — through MN 38, the Greater Discourse on the Destruction of Craving. This talk unpacks how consciousness is not a fixed self, how suffering arises through a chain of conditions, and how the 6R…
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Day 4: Gradual Progress In Meditation – Kalimpong ’25
Read more: Day 4: Gradual Progress In Meditation – Kalimpong ’25On Day 4 of the Kalimpong Retreat, the teachers walk through the Ganaka Moggallana Sutta (MN 107), revealing how the Buddha described a clear, step-by-step path of meditation training — from virtue and sense restraint to the jhanas and beyond.
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Day 3: Roadmap To Progress In Meditation – Kalimpong ’25
Read more: Day 3: Roadmap To Progress In Meditation – Kalimpong ’25What does genuine progress in meditation look like? The Buddha’s teaching in MN 111 offers a detailed roadmap through the jhanas and beyond, using Sariputta’s experience as a guide. This Day 3 talk from the Kalimpong Retreat breaks it all down.
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Day 2: How To Work With Hindrances – Kalimpong ’25
Read more: Day 2: How To Work With Hindrances – Kalimpong ’25The Buddha’s own account of how he worked with sensual desire, ill will, and cruelty before his awakening offers a remarkably practical roadmap for every meditator. In this Day 2 talk from the Kalimpong Retreat, we explore MN 19 and the six Rs process for releasing the hindrances.
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Day 1: TWIM Metta Instructions for Beginners – Kalimpong ’25
Read more: Day 1: TWIM Metta Instructions for Beginners – Kalimpong ’25On the first day of the Kalimpong Retreat, practitioners received foundational instructions in TWIM (Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation) — a smiling meditation that cultivates both calm and insight through loving kindness. Here are the key teachings on the 6R technique, working with a spiritual friend, and understanding how attention shapes the mind.
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The Biological Impact of the Relax Step
Read more: The Biological Impact of the Relax StepFrom Monkey Mind to Meta-Awareness: The Biological Impact of the Relax StepThe Biological Impact of the Relax Step Based on my research into the neuroscience of meditation, here is a breakdown of the physical transformation that occurs within the brain during practice. What Exactly is Happening in the Brain? If we were to observe your…
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When the Mind Relaxes, the Heart Begins to Speak
Read more: When the Mind Relaxes, the Heart Begins to SpeakA seasoned meditator trades a decade of striving for the “relax and smile” instructions of Metta Vipassana. This personal account follows a ten-day retreat where effortful concentration gives way to tranquil wisdom. Discover how the 6Rs and the “relax step” from the original Suttas dissolve mental tension and craving.