Category: Updated Resources

Gil Fronsdal has a discussion on his website of greed and sensual desire as one of the most common of the hindrances we can experience in meditation. He looks at some of the causes of greed and discusses several ways of working with it. You can find his article here: Sensual Desire as a Hindrance

Gil Fronsdal provides an introduction to the hindrances, which are several difficult states of mind that can obstruct our ability to see clearly in meditation and daily life. He gives several ways to relate to them that are helpful, and makes clear the importance of learning from them. You can find his article here:  Hindrances… Continue reading

Sean Oakes describes the spiritual qualities known as the five faculties or five powers that are especially helpful in meditation. In describing them, he lays out the way in which practicing each of the faculties in meditation encourages the development of the next faculty. He also provides a helpful description of the way in which… Continue reading

Gil Fronsdal gives a brief introduction to the role of wisdom as one of the five faculties suggested by the Buddha for the practice of meditation. As Gil explains, the faculties are helpful in developing any skill in life, including the practice of meditation. Wisdom provides us with the ability to know what is helpful… Continue reading

Shaila Catherine, the principal teacher of Insight Meditation South Bay, is one of the foremost teachers of samadhi, or concentration meditation in the West. She translates samadhi as concentration, the most common translation. Her website includes a good introduction to the meaning of concentration and ways in which to practice it and develop it. You… Continue reading

The “Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation” from Gil Fronsdal and the Insight Meditation Center provides a great introduction to mindfulness and the various ways we can apply mindfulness in meditation. Mindfulness is not just watching the breath, but a clear awareness of whatever arises, including bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions. You can find the introduction here:… Continue reading

Sarah Doering was a practitioner, teacher, and supporter of Insight Meditation who had a significant impact on the Insight Meditation Society and several related meditation centers. She wrote an article on the five faculties that describes the way that the five faculties support one another. Her description of energy and effort give a good feeling… Continue reading

Gil Fronsdal provides a good introduction to the five faculties recommended by the Buddha. He describes each of the faculties and identifies them as skills that we can enhance through practice. You can find his article here: The Five Faculties A more in-depth examination of confidence and faith can be found in an article that… Continue reading

The Buddha’s teaching identified several characteristics associated with everything we experience. Those characteristics include impermanence and our sense of self. When we don’t see those clearly, we often experience stress and dissatisfaction. Sean Oakes, a teacher at Spirit Rock, describes the three characteristics of conditioned experience. He also offers some suggestions for practicing with them,… Continue reading

One area of the Buddha’s teaching describes the set of processes that we often identify with as the self. Known as the aggregates or skandhas, these five processes include the physical processes of the body as well as several mental processes. Gaylon Ferguson unpacks each of these processes and attempts to show why identifying with… Continue reading