The Six Paramitas: Meditative Absorption
December 20, 2021 | 4 CommentsAudio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 19:45.
Dear Open Heart Project,
Welcome to this short talk on the fifth of the six paramitas (or transcendent actions). You can jump in right here, but if you’d like to watch or re-watch the prefions videos, they are right here:
Paramita #1: Generosity
Paramita #2: Discipline
Paramita #3: Patience
Paramita #4: Exertion
And now we come to #5, meditation or meditative absorption. Here, meditation does not refer to what we do on the cushion but, as a transcendent action, is more about how we bring the mind of meditation off the cushion and into our lives. Please have a listen to this short talk (followed by a 10-minute meditation) to learn more. And let me know what you think! I always love to hear from you.
Finally, I’m very excited to let you know about a free online program happening between Dec 26-31 about, wait for it, the six paramitas! Each day at 3p ET, a different teacher will lead a forty-five minute session on one of the paramitas, including a short meditation, a talk, and time for discussion. All you have to do is sign up, which you may do here. Hope to see you there!
Love, Susan
2 Scholarships!
PS Two Open Heart Project Sangha members have each generously donated a year-long Open Heart Project Sangha scholarship.
If you are interested in applying for the scholarship, please fill out this short form by December 23rd. We will be in touch the following week.
categorized in: meditation, open heart project
4 Comments
This teaching dovetails beautifully with Robert Chender’s Monthly Dharma Gathering talk on “The Wisdom of Not Knowing.” A phrase that he used, “Right now, it’s like this,” is especially meaningful to me, and I have repeated it to myself daily (sometimes hourly). There is an idea of patience, forbearance, and even discipline in coming back to the “right now.” Those pesky three poisons keep rudely intruding in our Now – we judge (grasp onto, push away or ignore) in a micro second. For me, inserting even the smallest space between noticing and judging is a giant step. Even just watching how the judgment snaps onto the present moment is significant. I love the encouragement of not giving up – on myself, on the dharma, on practice, on the intent to help others. Thank you again for this series.
Hi Susan, Here’s a big ask-would you please write a book on the Six Paramitas? Your talks on them have meant so much to me and I’m sure to many of us in the OHP. I often go back in the video archive for these teachings and many others. Thank you for being a wonderful teacher who makes the Dharma real by encouraging the use of our own experience and these qualities actionable. Studying with you has made a big difference in my practice both on and especially off the cushion. Happy holidays. Looking forward to another year in the OHP.
Amazing that you ask this, Audrey. I was just talking about this possibility with an editor. I’m happy to know you’d like to read it! Glad we can practice it all together. With love, Susan
I heartily agree with Audrey in encouraging you to put together a book on the Six Paramitas. My favorite part of Jenna Hollenstein’s book, “Eat to Love,” is how she skillfully relates the Six Paramitas to the complex relationship with body, food and eating. Your weaving the Four Noble Truths into your book, “The Four Noble Truths of Love,” really helped put flesh on the bones of the Four Noble Truths. You have a talent for relationship exploration; perhaps applying the Six Paramitas in the same way could be a vein to mine. Thank you for all you do (which continually amazes me).