Abiding in Mindfulness, Volume 2: On Feeling, the Mind & Dhamma

by Joseph Goldstein

In the words of the Buddha, the four foundations of mindfulness (the four satipat­t­hana ) are "the direct path for the purification of beings, for the surmounting of sorrow and lamentation, for the disappearance of dukkha (suffering) and discontent, for acquiring the true method, for the realization of Nibbana." Within the quintessential discourse called the Satipat­t­hana Sutta, we find the Buddha's seminal teachings about the practice of meditation.

On Abiding in Mindfulness, Volume 2: On Feeling, the Mind & Dhamma, esteemed teacher and author Joseph Goldstein presents a nine-CD audio curriculum to reveal the deeper insights of this vital sutta―and how it serves to inform and guide your own daily practice.

The Second Foundation of Mindfulness of Feelings

The Buddha begins this pivotal section of the sutta with a rhetorical how does one abide contemplating feelings? Before you can answer this question, explains Goldstein, you must understand what the Buddha means by "feeling." Returning to the Pali word vedana, he points out the qualities of "pleasantness, unpleasantness, or neutrality" that arise in every moment of experience. For it is close attention to each of these qualities that unlocks our deepest patterns of conditioning―and removes our greatest obstacles to liberation.

From the crucial distinction between "worldly" and "unworldly" feelings to practical methods for "de-conditioning" habitual responses, Goldstein elucidates the Buddha's instructions for achieving a deeper happiness and ease of being through moment-by-moment mindfulness of feelings.

The Third and Fourth Foundations of Mindfulness of Mind, Mindfulness of Dhammas

As you continue your exploration of the Satipat­t­hana Sutta, Goldstein brings you to the third and fourth foundations of Mindfulness of Mind and Mindfulness of Dhammas (or "categories of phenomena"). Here, you will learn what it means to "take responsibility for your own heart and mind"―the central art of the third foundation―through the pragmatic discernment of skillful and wholesome mind states and their counterparts, and direct investigation of the higher states of mind, including "concentrated" and "liberated" mind, and more. Next, you progress through the beginning sections of the fourth foundation, with Goldstein's step-by-step guidance about working with the hindrances and the aggregates. Includes 35-page study guide.

Abiding in Mindfulness, Volume 3, will contain remaining talks about the fourth foundation.

The author's proceeds from this program will benefit the Insight Meditation Society's Forest Refuge retreat center.

Course

Discuss the second foundation of mindfulness of the feelings, including worldly and unworldly feelings
• Discuss the third foundation of mindfulness of the mind, including a discussion of self-judgment, as well as the contracted and distracted mind
• Explore the refrain of the including the mindfulness of reactivity, the mindfulness of arising and passing away, as well as the mindfulness of internal and external experience
• Discuss the fourth foundation of mindfulness of the Dhammas, including mindfulness of the five hindrances (desire, aversion, sloth and torpor, restlessness, and doubt)
• Explore the five aggregates, including material elements, feeling, perception and formations, formations and consciousness, as well as non-self

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Audiobook, Self Help, Meditation

9 pages, Audio CD

Published October 1, 2007

About the author

Joseph Goldstein (born 1944) is one of the first American vipassana teachers (Fronsdal, 1998), co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) with Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg, contemporary author of numerous popular books on Buddhism (see publications below), resident guiding teacher at IMS, and leader of retreats worldwide on insight (vipassana) and lovingkindness (metta) meditation.

While the majority of Goldstein's publications introduce Westerners to primarily Theravada concepts, practices and values, his 2002 work, "One Dharma", explored the creation of an integrated framework for the Theravada, Tibetan and Zen traditions.

Reviews

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are Buddhist insights only for spiritual people and meditators? I am not of that opinion. There were an embarrassment of riches to be found here, at least for me, even though I am not a Buddhist and not a meditator. There's really a lot to take in that can also be applied in everyday life. These volumes are a series of talks that Goldstein delivered over the course of two to three years at a retreat. In this volume, Goldstein starts to really dig into the Buddha's guidance on becoming less reactive, more mindful, aware of the transience of feelings and perceptions, the sources and types of clinging that lead to suffering, as well as how to identify and overcome the major hinderances. It seems simple but there is wisdom here if you are open to it. In philosophical terminology, it's kind of like a lived ethics for a version of the good life. Keep in mind there are two and a half millennia of wisdom passed down in the tradition. This is the second of three volumes, and I found more to like in this volume than the first. So much contained here runs so counter to the dominant currents in American life. You probably have to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right mindset for this for it to have the right effect.

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph Goldstein is such a gifted communicator. Listening to this brought a lot of ideas about Buddhism into far clearer view for me than anything else has before. The material on the sankaras specifically were really interesting. I feel like I should be pacing myself more while listening to this series because there's really a ton of insight in each lecture about the nature of reality, self, etc. I can see myself returning to these talks regularly.

[Linda Vituma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vārdu kļūst mazāk, domas kļūst lēnākas, iekšējā pasaule klusāka. Daudz kas ir kā līdz šim - dusmas, straujums, nemiers, fantāzijas, pārguruma snauda. Tomēr kaut kas ir citādāk. Kā stāsta grāmatas autors - ir atšķirība pieredzē, kad domas pārņem prātu un apzinātības nav un kad domas pārņem prātu, apzinātībai klātesot. Esmu sev daudz vairāk klāt dusmās, nemierā, izmisumā. Un varu piedzīvot, kā tās sākas un beidzas. Brīžiem pat šķiet, ka spēju aptvert, ka visas mainīgās parādības (1) neesmu es; (2) nav manas; (3) neesmu pati. Vai tomēr nespēju aptvert?
Nespēju gan ;)
Daudz vārdos nosauktu parādību, daudz ideju praksei. Mazliet iedrošinājuma. Grāmata lasīšanai un pārlasīšanai.

[Stuti Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute treasure. Was a significant help to my meditation. Lectures are not heavy or dry.

[David Mcnaughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rather than “I am angry”, or “I am sad”, we can say “The angry mind is like this”, or “The sad mind is like this”.”

― Joseph Goldstein, Abiding in mindfulness: volume 2

“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light,
But by making the darkness conscious.
The later procedure is disagreeable, however, and not popular.”
Carl Jung

― Joseph Goldstein, Abiding in mindfulness: volume 2

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goldstein continues to masterfully explain and expound upon the original Buddhist teachings in this second installment. While nothing here is overly difficult to understand technically, the implementation into daily life is the real challenge.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good anthology of dharma talks by Joseph Goldstein

[Charles Sisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and direct.

[Dominic Gadoury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph Goldsteinhas such a way of providing solid Buddhist foundations in a easy to understand and practical view.

[Adi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful way of Dharma talk on the Satipatthana Sutta.

[Chetan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my new favorite dhamma series on the Satipatthana Sutta. If you practice the meditation, this will deepen your understanding of the pariyatti.

[Amy Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kornfield is always great. This is consistent with his other talks. Time well spent.