A
acceptance 8
adept’s pose (Siddhasana) 132
Ananda 157
and body scanning see body scanning
on the breath see breath
concentration see concentration
and distractions see distractions
and posture 27
auditory consciousness 121
awareness 2, 6, 8, 44, 58, 74–7
extracting us from seventh consciousness 126–7
pure awareness and the first six consciousnesses 123
returning to pure awareness 77, 127
self-empowerment through 116–19
seventh consciousness and the defilement of pure awareness 124–5
see also consciousnesses, eight; mindfulness
B
Baddhakonasan (Cobbler’s pose) 133
connecting body and mind through 18–23
spontaneous/informal 98
breath
breathing meditation 63–6, 98, 146
guided meditations
the breath as our companion 54–6
relaxed and alert with the breath 63–6
as a meditation support 34–6, 54–6
Buddha 5, 7, 52, 63, 79–80, 145, 157
Half of the Holy Life Discourse 157
Root Sequence Discourse 81
C
Cobbler’s pose (Baddhakonasan) 133
see also awareness
becoming too comfortable in meditation practice 93–4
and distraction see distractions
first to fifth, and the physical world 120–21
sixth, and the mental world 121–3
seventh, and the defilement of pure awareness 124–5, 127
eighth, and the storing of habits 125–7
D
defiling consciousness 124–5, 127
discerning reality with awareness 51–66
dealing with strong emotions and ‘experiences’ during meditation 85–7, 94
Eight Consciousnesses map of 120–27
mindfulness as antidote to 40–41, 61–2 see also mindfulness
releasing, relaxing, and returning from 41–3
transforming distraction into meditation 78–80
guided meditation on drinking tea 108–9
E
Eight Consciousnesses see consciousnesses, eight
Eliot, T.S. 9
emotional experiences during meditation 85–7, 94
ethical framework for meditation 12–15, 62–3, 155
F
Francis of Assisi 144
G
Goenka, S.N xvii
guided meditation
on the breath
the breath as our companion 54–6
relaxed and alert with the breath 63–6
resting in the space between thoughts 150–53
on the senses
gustatory consciousness 121
H
habit
habitual responses of seventh consciousness 124–5, 127
thinking 70
Han Shan 144
Hanh, Thich Nhat 78–9, 99, 100, 109
I
ignorance 115
inquiry 8
J
K
L
lotus position (Padmasana) 132
M
Malasana (squat pose) 134
meditation
awakening to present moment with 52–3 see also present moment
becoming too comfortable in 93–4
being kind to ourselves in 43–5
bliss, clarity and no-thought during 87–9
developing an interest in 95–7
discernment through see discernment
emotional experiences during 85–7, 94
integration into everyday life 95–111
moral/ethical framework for 12–15, 62–3, 155
outdoor 144–7 see also walking meditation
posture see posture
practices and techniques
body scanning see body scanning
with the breath see breath
cultivating the mind through 4–5
cultivating stillness through 17–49, 56–7
dealing with distractions see distractions
guided meditation see guided meditation
keeping practice close to the heart 46
letting go before sleeping 105–6
and mindfulness see mindfulness
motivation and dedication 14–15
opening completely to our world through 67–94
rejoicing at end of sessions 49
ripple effect of practice 165
using our senses see senses and sensations
tips for establishing a daily practice 45–9
triggering strong emotions and ‘experiences’ 85–7
walking see walking meditation
working within our mind 113–31
as a process and vehicle 2–3, 53
and sleep see sleep
space/location 11, 92–3, 144–8
tools 6, 8 see also awareness; concentration; mindfulness; spaciousness
mental narratives 20
abiding 62
as antidote to distraction 40–41, 61–2
guided meditation, ‘mind’ 117–19
leading to compassion 62–3, 79–80, 155
pain management through 91
and the present moment see present moment
prospective 62
see also awareness
moral framework for meditation 12–15, 62–3, 155
N
O
olfactory consciousness 121
see also walking meditation
P
Padmasana (lotus position) 132
Adept’s 132
alertness in 23
Cobbler’s 133
flexibility, mobility and 131–4
and gaze 24
Hero’s 133
lotus 132
seven-point 26
squat 134
expanding into ever-changing present 139–43
purifying the mind 126
R
Ramana Maharshi 144
reality
rejoicing 49
resting in the space between thoughts 118–19, 148–53
rope/snake illusion 115
S
scent 81
olfactory consciousness 121
senses and sensations
body scanning for sensations see body scanning
guided meditations
just feeling the sensation 80, 91–2, 118
meditating on objects of our five senses 68–73, 82–5
opening to all five senses 80–85
Siddhasana (adept’s pose) 132
visual consciousness 121
sleep
letting go before sleeping 105–6
auditory consciousness 121
squat pose (Malasana) 134
stillness
resting in 118
storehouse consciousness 125–7
T
tactile consciousness 121
gustatory consciousness 121
tea drinking, guided meditation 108–9
Tertön Sogyal 128
thinking
attachment and aversion to thoughts 70
and being kind to ourselves 43–5
blocking sight of reality 67–8
distracting thoughts see distractions
habit 70
and recalling ourselves see mindfulness
resting in the space between thoughts 118–19, 148–53
seventh consciousness and the defilement of pure awareness 124–5
Thoreau, Henry David 145
V
Vipassana meditation xvii, 21–3, 86–7
Virasana (Hero’s pose) 133
visual consciousness 121
W
Wallace, B. Alan 124