Description
The Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta – the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness – is a central text from the Pāli canon. Described as a “direct path” of practice leading to the ending of suffering and to liberation, it contains within it many of the core teachings of insight meditation. We can think of the four foundations of mindfulness as the pillars upon which we cultivate a strong and steady awareness practice. They are:
- Mindfulness of the body and breath
- Mindfulness of feeling
- Mindfulness of the mind, the qualities of our awareness, and how it is affected by thoughts, emotions and mental states
- Mindfulness of the contents of mind, including thoughts and emotions. Also, investigating the Four Noble Truths, the Five Hindrances and the Seven Factors of Awakening.
Over the course of our time together, we will focus on each of the four foundations and look at how they build on each other and lead onward to a deeper understanding of our experience. We will begin to explore the different modes of practice described in the sutta. Simple ways of developing our mindfulness practice will be offered, either by integrating specific tools of this sutta or using the sutta to inform our daily practice. A major focus of this course will be to investigate how to apply mindfulness to our everyday lives.
This program is appropriate for both new and experienced meditators of all levels of experience. Each session will include formal meditation instructions, group practice, time for discussion, reflections, and questions. Suggestions for home practice will be offered. All are warmly welcome.
Attending an in-person practice group
- CIMC is a refuge. Out of compassion for those with chemical sensitivities, please avoid using scented products such as lotions, deodorant, after-shave, hair products, perfume, and clothes laundered with scented detergent or dryer sheets—before you come to the Center.
- Please arrive at least 20 minutes early to check in and to find a comfortable place in the meditation hall.
- Please power off your phone, smartwatch, and other electronic devices for the duration of the program.
- Please leave your shoes on the shoe shelves on the first floor and keep your valuables with you.
- Parking at CIMC is limited; we suggest you use public transportation to the Center whenever possible.
- Food and beverages, including water, are not allowed in the meditation halls.
- We strongly recommend you dress in layers since the temperature in the meditation hall varies throughout the day. The hall thermostat is set to a comfortable temperature. Still, please give yourself a range of clothing options, as individual preferences for warmth or coolness differ widely and cannot be accommodated.
- Masks are optional. Some masks are available at the entrance of the Center.
- CIMC provides zafus (round cushions), zabutons (large mats), meditation benches, blankets, and chairs. At the end of each program, we request that you brush off and plump up zabutons and zafus and neatly return them where they belong.
- Practice groups will often have home practices in between sessions.