Dear Friends,
Gil’s final talk on the faculty of samadhi first reminds us that this is something closer to our natural state when we relax all artifice. “We just settle into a very relaxed, deep, attentive way of being.”
https://www.audiodharma.org/talks/11157
The progression discussed so far has gone from the initial ways we begin, over and over, to center the attention. We connect and sustain the attention. There is some gatheredness, collectedness. From this settled place, there is more clarity and well-being, contentment.
The next unfolding Gil discusses “is for concentration practice to bring us to a state of peace or equanimity – a deep abiding sense of evenness, and openness, and presence, and peace, with whatever is happening.”
Samadhi lays a foundation that allows us to see things clearly as they are. “To really be able to connect and have a deep insight, a deep discernment, a deep recognition in a very deep way, not only of what’s happening, but how it’s happening, how we’re attached, how we’re free.” The settledness of samadhi helps us connect in this way.
Gil likens this process to picking a ripe apple from a tree. Rather than pulling it off, one gently holds the apple in an open hand and lightly moves it up and down to see if it will come off. If it is ready, the apple’s stem will release from the branch.
It’s an interesting analogy that really speaks to the gentleness and patience in this practice of concentration. I know when I try too hard, when the conditions aren’t ripe yet, I don’t end up cultivating any peace or insight. By trusting the unfolding process, from a place of stability and openness, we can experience the fruit of practice.
Meditation:
This meditation from Brian Lesage invites us to nurture samadhi through allowing the mind and body to settle (13 minutes, no ending bell):
https://www.dharmaseed.org/talks/37458/
With good wishes,
Andrea
