Fall 2013 Shamatha And The Bodhisattva Way Of Life

For the practices of awareness of awareness, Alan begins by saying to release your awareness into space with no object, then let awareness of beginning ware be most explicit. Then begin the oscillation. Meditation starts at: 8:30 (silent, front loaded at start of session) Alan discusses the inner and outer mandala - the inner and outer conditions for retreat. Alan quotes and gives commentary from Atisha's lam rim - 'A Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment'. The quotes are: 'Just as a bird without developed wings cannot fly in the sky, those without the power of extrasensory perception cannot work for the good of living beings.' 'Without the achievement of shamatha, extrasensory perception will not arise. Therefore, make repeated effort. If at first you don't succeed, don't give up.' 'When a contemplative has achieved shamatha extra sensory perception will also be realised but if one does not cultivate the perfection of wisdom, ones obscurations will not come to an end.'