This class uses the Buddha’s teachings on mindfulness of the body as a strategy for calming the mind and developing liberating insight. A direct, moment-to-moment knowing of sensations is often obscured by the mind’s habitual conceptualizing. We will explore several of the Buddha’s instructions designed to transform the mind’s understanding of embodiment, and release the mind from the pain of unnecessary grasping. Participants will be expected to use the teachings as a focus of their meditation and daily practice.
Study Resources
- First Foundation: Mindfulness of Body, translated by Ajahn Thanissaro (I have modified the pronouns)
- Our Substitute Life, by Joko Beck
- Kayagatasati Sutta
- The Only Way I Know to Alleviate Suffering, by Darlene Cohen
- Pain Without Suffering: How to use Buddhist practice to manage physical pain, by Ezra Bayda, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Darlene Cohen, and Gavin Harrison, Tricycle Winter 2002
- The Body at the Center: Mindfulness of the Body in the Practice Instructions of the Buddha, by Gil Fronsdal
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu’s notes on the Satpatthana Sutta regarding the three stages of mindfulness
- Notes and Commentary for the Buddha’s Instruction on Mindfulness of Breathing
- Mindful Postures, by Gil Fronsdal
- Rohitassa Sutta
- Body Contemplation A Study Guide, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- 32 Body Parts Meditation (This information is taken from a very useful website with information and guided meditations for the 32 Body Parts Contemplation: http://32parts.com/index.html)
- Amma Thanasanti’s guided meditation on the 32 Body Parts
- Instructions on the Four Elements meditation from Pa Auk Sayadaw (Here is a good study guide for the Four Elements Meditation practice.)
- A Comparative Analysis of Theragatha and Therigatha on the basis of approaches to the body, by Rini (An interesting analysis of gender perspectives from these ancient verses of the monks and nuns from the time of the Buddha)
- Here is the the discourse that I read from last night with the very graphic Leper simile
- Talk on Corpse Reflection, by Temple Smith
- The Way of Mindfulness The Satipatthana Sutta and Its Commentary (Venerable Soma Thera’s section on the nine cemetery contemplations taken from his book)
- Satipatthana Meditation: A Practice Guide eBook, by Bhikkhu Analayo
Resources from 2010 Course
- The Four Foundations of Mindfulness from the Satipatthana Sutta: D.22
- Inner Body
- Body Deconstruction Meditation – Ajahn Chandako, from the Heart of the Forest retreat, 2009
- Four Foundations – A slightly modified opening section of the Buddha’s discourse on the four foundations of mindfulness for use in the class
- Talks on the Four Foundations by Joseph Goldstein
- Mindfulness of the Body From Wings to Awakening, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- The Way of Mindfulness The Satipatthana Sutta and Its Commentary by Soma Thera
- The Body at the Center: Mindfulness of the Body in the Practice Instructions of the Buddha by Gil Fronsdal
- Urban Elements article from Inquiring Mind
- Visible Human Project
