Description
The Buddha described his understanding of the health, strength, and balance of a practitioner’s spiritual life in aspecific way. This understanding can be useful to those who are brand new to the practices of meditation, virtue, and wisdom, as well as to the most experienced. We know this teaching as the Five Spiritual Faculties (pali: Indriya), including their development and balance. When we learn how these aspects of practice work together, the insights they provide offer us a clear avenue for balancing and strengthening our inner spiritual life.
The five Spiritual Faculties are:
- Confidence/Faith
- Energy/Vigor
- Mindfulness/Awareness
- Collectedness/Unification
- Wisdom/Discernment.
In one who has cultivated all five and who has brought them into balance, they are even known as the Five Powers. And they do create a feeling of profound power, and at times a sense of effortless deepening as we continue walking the path. What’s more, at any phase of practice they help us identify what kind of technique or practice approach will most skillfully return us to the path.
Join us for a 5-week practice group investigating the features of our spiritual life and practice, and exploring how to best respond to what we find through skillful engagement of the Five Spiritual Faculties.
Attending an online practice group
- Sitting a practice group from home online differs greatly from coming to a meditation center. Tending to your comfort and giving yourself a quiet, private sitting and walking space (if possible, in your environment) will help keep your attention focused and support your practice and learning. Plan to bring as much simplicity and ease to your day as possible. The schedule of the practice group is structured to support your well-being and practice with regular breaks and time for mindful movement.
- We use Zoom for online practice groups. Before your practice group begins, be sure to download Zoom and familiarize yourself with using the program, including the chat feature. Specifics about how we use Zoom during your practice group will be covered initially; however, we cannot provide technical support during the group.
- We ask that you treat our virtual meditation hall as if we were together in person, in the same room. The teachers and other yogis benefit greatly from your full presence and careful attention.
- Join each session of the practice group a few minutes early. This will support the teachers and your fellow attendees.
- Please maintain noble silence as much as possible for the duration of the practice group and take any necessary steps to limit external distractions such as incoming emails, texts, or other interruptions to maintain the integrity of our practice together. Close all programs on your computer other than Zoom and turn off all notifications on your devices.
- Power off your phones and smartwatches for the entire practice group. Please don’t check your devices during breaks. We suggest you put an “away” message on your email and voicemail and leave your devices in another room during the practice group.
- Please keep your video on during our time together as much as possible. This supports a sense of connectedness and sangha.
- You will receive a welcome email from CIMC a day or two before your program, including the Zoom link, practice group schedule, and further information.