79 Settling the Mind in its Natural State (3)

Spring 2012 Shamatha Retreat

In settling the mind in its natural state we seek to emulate viewing the substrate from the perspective of the substrate consciousness as a cognizant, luminous and unmediated experience of mental phenomenon. On this path we'll notice thoughts and images carry our attention away less often when they do not have an emotional counterpart; feelings and emotions have a strong draw to cognitive fusion. If we keep a spaciousness in our awareness larger than the emotions and feelings that arise, entanglement can be avoided. Whether the emotion is hostility, anger, anxiety, craving or bliss and pleasure, they can be allowed to arise and experienced without grasping or reification. This practice trains us to recognize emotions in our daily interactions, and allows us the space to respond wisely.

After the meditation Alan recontextualizes his comments about dzogchen's open presence meditation from a previous podcast, lest it be mistaken that it is only for the advanced practitioner; we learn how to begin planting the seeds of dzogchen practice even as beginners.

Silent meditation starts at 32:49 - 57:50

Q&A
* Comparing the substrate with Jung's subconscious.
* Rumination cockroaches come out after the lights go out.