Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation (Shambhala Classics)

are, it is possible to arouse this quality of awareness. In the Satipatthana Sutta, which is the discourse the Buddha gave on the four foundations of mindfulness, four fields or areas of mindfulness are described.

To understand karma, it is essential to see how the motivation or intention preceding an action determines the future karmic result of that action. Thus, if an act is motivated by true kindness, it will necessarily bring a positive result, and if an act is motivated by aggression or greed, it will eventually bring an unpleasant result. Because karm

experience. Most fundamentally, our life is composed of six experiences: sights, sounds, tastes, smells, physical sensations, and mental events. From this perspective, our life is very simple. Our whole complex world is only this: changing sights, sounds, tastes, smells, touch, and thoughts and feelings. In practice we make the effort to be aware o

Meditation has to do with opening what is closed in us, balancing what is reactive, and exploring and investigating what is hidden. That is the why of practice. We practice to open, to balance, and to explore.

the Kalama Sutta.

“Om Mani Padme Hum.”

Ryokan,

The five spiritual faculties—faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom—are our greatest friends and allies on this journey of understanding. These qualities are most powerful when they are in balance.

Zen Doctrine of No Mind,