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INSIGHT NEWSLETTER FALL WINTER Developing Samadhi : 2009/2010 Practicing Concentration An Interview with Marcia Rose & Pat Coffey IMS Schedules: The Retreat Center 2010 Teachers Marcia Rose and Pat Coffey have over 60 years’ meditation experience The Forest Refuge 2010 between them. Marcia has led retreats at IMS for 18 years; she is also the founder and Interviews with Teachers guiding teacher of The Mountain Hermitage in Taos, New Mexico. Pat began teaching in 1997; he is the founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville, IMS News & Developments Virginia and the Blue Ridge Prison Project. More recently, both have been drawn to the BCBS Schedule: concentration and insight practices offered by Burmese meditation master Pa Auk 2010 Listing Sayadaw and, in 2008, he authorized them to teach according to his method. Here they explore the topic of samadhi – meditative concentration – and its benefits. Marcia & Pat, what is the Buddhist increasingly focused, clear, relaxed, understanding of concentration? serene and peaceful. Marcia: In Buddhist practice, Pat: The word ‘concentration,’ although concentration is defined as a gathering a frequent translation of the Pali term together of the energy of the mind. samadhi , is a bit limited. When the mind is Usually, our minds wander randomly well established in samadhi, a rich range from one thing to another and this of mental factors simultaneously arise, potentially powerful energy is dispersed. including tranquility, equanimity, light - In order to harness and stabilize it, we ness, flexibility, faith and mindfulness. need to focus our attention on an object. The breath is often used as such an There’s also an ethical element, the sense object since it’s always with us and is of right and wrong, as well as honesty. readily available. For example, successful thieves have great concentration – they can really focus As we repeatedly attend to an object on the task at hand, but they certainly of concentration, the mind becomes don’t have samadhi. (continued on page 2) THE NEWSLETTER OF THE INSIGHT MEDITATION SOCIETY T K T I A V N A Z E L O L Y R N I R B E K O R directly to the movement of the legs and feet, and the sensations taking place there. Does attitude play a role in cultivating samadhi? Marcia: Definitely! Relaxation, humor and interest are very helpful and in fact necessary in concentration practice. I would start with relaxation – it’s at the Marcia Rose Pat Coffey crux. This is because it prevents difficulties (continued from page 1) from arising as concentration deepens. Can you give some examples Or, we can develop samadhi by placing Trying too hard and striving to achieve of concentration practices? our attention on one specific aspect of the certain pleasant mind states can result in breath, such as a small spot under the tightness and suffering. We can lose a Pat: The collection of techniques that nostrils. In this case, we’re not paying flexibility of mind and a lightness of being. cultivate concentration can be sorted into attention to all the breath’s various two baskets. You’re either developing sensations, but instead simply resting the Pat: I love the paradox that the very samadhi through continuous mindfulness mind on that particular point as each in- deepest levels of samadhi described by of changing phenomena , or through breath and out-breath crosses back and the Buddha require a light, relaxed maintaining awareness on a single point forth. Imagine sawing a log. As the saw countenance toward the whole process. or object. moves back and forth, there are many We need to bring to it both a robust elements involved with that movement. energy yet also profound relaxedness. With the breath, we can pay attention to But in this case, we’re resting our attention If students approach concentration its many features, such as movement, solely on where the cut is happening. practice with curiosity and ease of vibration and pressure, and remain mindful heart, they will fare much better. What’s with the entire moment-to-moment flow Marcia: Practicing lovingkindness, helpful is an attitude of, “Hey, this is of experience as each breath unfolds. When compassion and other qualities known as interesting, let’s see what this practice we do that, we’re deepening concentration the Brahma Viharas , or ‘divine abodes,’ can is all about!” It’s simply unproductive through continuous mindfulness. also develop and deepen concentration. to attempt to force the mind into one If we’re repeating phrases, we can pay concentrated state or another. The Gift of Meditation attention to their meaning and visualize the beings that are receiving the good How does concentration OFFER A RETREAT TO SOMEONE YOU LOVE wishes we’re sending. We can also notice help insight to unfold? IMS GIFT CERTIFICATES the felt sense of each quality in itself. Support friends or family members to We can choose any one of these objects, or Marcia: In beginning a mindfulness- participate in any IMS retreat for which use all three of them at times. As we practice , based meditation practice our mind they qualify. We will send a certificate the mind becomes filled with samadhi. needs to learn to be at least somewhat for the value of the gift; it is valid for concentrated. To connect with our seven years from the date of issue Walking meditation can also contribute experience, to truly know what is and can be applied as full or partial to the deepening of concentration. It is coming in through the sense doors of payment for a selected course. often one of the first and easiest ways for the eyes, the ears, the nose, the tongue, For more information, people to develop samadhi. During a the touch, and the mind itself requires email [email protected] period of somewhat slowed-down walking , focus and stability. A tranquil and steady or call (978) 355-4378 ext. 170 we simply bring a focused attention mind allows this kind of intimacy with Page 2 www.dharma.org Fall • Winter 2009/2010 INSIGHT our experience and is absolutely Marcia: Within less than a week after past, or fantasizing, the whole mind- necessary for insight to arise. returning home from a three-month body system gets a rest. Research has concentration retreat, also with Pa Auk verified the healing benefits of basic The ability to stay focused develops over Sayadaw, my income taxes were due. mindfulness practice, which includes time. What happens is that we’re con - I have to admit that I dread tax the development of concentration, of necting with and concentrating on our preparation every year. Sure enough, samadhi. Studies show an increase in object one moment, but in the next, the old habits of mind went into full gear with the immune function as well as the mind has suddenly veered off somewhere . thoughts coming up such as, “There’s just ability to recover more quickly from We’ve lost touch with the immediacy of no way I can do this. I can’t think like this the emotional wear and tear of our direct experience and have become now, especially after my retreat.” suffering and loss. absorbed in fantasy or memory or planning . At that point we need to gather the attention But to my great surprise and delight, Marcia : Concentration practice, leading back again to the object. Every time we do when I eventually sat down at my desk to a mind more steeped in the qualities this, concentration gets stronger and the and began the work, I found the task of samadhi, helps infuse our everyday mind becomes a little bit brighter and clearer. amazingly easy. Completing my return activities with wisdom and lends an went more quickly than ever before. openheartedness and spaciousness to This cycle happens again and again, I was well focused, and simply did what our interactions. Contentment, joy throughout all the years of our practice. It’s needed to be done without resistance. and ease are more often and more like a graceful dance – concentration and It was actually almost fun! readily available. These beautiful and mindfulness continually interweaving back wholesome qualities profoundly reduce and forth with each other. Pat: When the mind is more relaxed, restlessness and agitation – destructive rested and unified through concentration emotions such as worry and regret How does samadhi benefit practice, we have a wonderful tool to help have nowhere to abide. our everyday lives? us live our lives. We can aim this integrated energy toward all kinds of exploration. Pat: Concentration is a very practical tool We can contemplate the big spiritual Marcia and Pat will lead a 5-day course, for living. Last year, while I was sitting a questions like the nature of suffering, Wise Concentration: Steadying the Mind long retreat of samadhi practice at the impermanence or the self, or the quality at IMS’s Retreat Center, December 18-23, Forest Refuge with Pa Auk Sayadaw, of love. Or, we can direct this clearer, 2009. Visit www.dharma.org for more the economy went through a meltdown. cohesive, malleable mind toward more information. When I got home, I had to deal with everyday questions like how to work with significant financial changes as well as a a troubled relationship, how to solve a difficult set of relational and emotional gnawing problem, or how to hit a ball! issues going on around me. But what I Whatever we’re dealing with, the gathered , INSIGHT noticed in myself was a pronounced tranquil mind is more likely to offer NEWSLETTER increase in equanimity. As I endeavored skillful insights into the challenges at A publication of to sort through everything and help where hand than a scattered, reactive mind.
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