So in this meditation,
We're going to be contemplating the core teachings from the Buddha.
And try to bring to mind experiences,
Remembrances.
Or contemplations of how each teaching shows up in our lives.
Even if we sit an hour or two a day.
And if we get seven or eight hours of sleep,
That still leaves.
Many hours in the day.
When we're awake.
And we have the opportunity to embody these teachings.
So we begin by just settling into the body.
Noticing whatever sensations are present as we're sitting on the cushion or chair.
Awareness of the hands in the lap or on our knees.
Attention of The eyes closed and how that feels.
And then turning towards the breath.
And just breathing naturally.
Just a simple awareness that the body breathes.
That any help.
From us,
We don't need to make it.
Do anything.
The first teaching we'll pay attention to.
Was the Buddha's first teaching,
The Four Noble Truths.
I'm gonna go through them one by one.
And like kind of.
.
.
Imagine.
Trussing each one from hand to hand,
Turning it over.
Being curious and investigating.
And noticing what arises.
Through that investigation.
Does it show up in the body?
Is there a heartfelt sense?
Or is there a thought that has arisen?
Or a story?
In relation to.
This particular teaching.
And then to just to be with that,
Just to notice it.
Of the First Noble Truth.
The Buddha told us that As sentient beings,
We experience dissatisfaction.
Difficulty.
Duke-uh.
As the poly.
It's just a fact of life.
That we experience pain and unpleasantness.
Longing,
Frustration.
It's okay.
How does it feel to.
.
.
Just know that this is a truth.
The Second Noble Truth as described as craving.
Or thirst.
Could be desire.
Or a hunger that can't be met.
It's this wish for things to be different than they are.
The opposite of acceptance.
And even getting what we want.
Doesn't free us from the hunger.
I guess once the.
.
.
The ice cream or the pizza or.
.
.
Whatever may be is finished.
Maybe that right away.
But we'll want it again.
And that previous one will not.
Fulfill the new desire.
Obviously the first two noble truths aren't the most pleasant.
They are.
Diagnosing and explaining the condition.
With the third noble truth.
That's suffering,
Dissatisfaction,
Craving.
That can all cease.
At a place of peace,
Freedom,
Liberation.
It exists.
And at least some of it you can have now.
It's not some far-off idea.
As you accept the situation and you put down the craving.
That you can be free.
At least.
With regards to that particular situation,
Or desire,
Or wish.
But we have to remember.
Which is why we are practicing this.
To know the right tools to use in the right situation.
To remember to use them.
When you find yourself in such a situation.
And muster the effort and the energy.
To put them into action.
Okay.
The more often we are aware,
That freedom is a possibility.
That we have the opportunity to be free.
Only make the right choices when we use the right tools.
And the more often we make those choices and use those tools.
His moments of freedom.
String together.
We find that maybe there's more freedom.
Than there was before.
That we have.
Relative peace.
The word I like to use is okayness.
Not bliss.
But okayness,
That's good.
That's okay.
And the fourth noble truth.
Is the prescription.
There's a path.
That leads us.
To freedom.
It's the noble 8-fold path.
Buddha laid out these eight factors.
That work together.
To guide us to freedom.
They're all skills.
They don't require belief.
Just willingness.
And as you hear these offerings.
.
.
Notice what the heart does.
Is there a version?
Does this sound too good to be true?
Or something that might work for others but not for me.
Are Have you already experienced it?
And you know it works,
And you have confidence.
And trust in the path that the Buddha laid out two and a half thousand years ago.
Thank you.
The Noble Eightfold Path.
The wheel of Dharma or Dhamma.
Are eight factors.
Guide us.
To any situation that arises.
And our lives.
As we hear these words,
Again.
Pay attention to where they land.
And what sensations you notice,
Thoughts,
Feelings.
Do you feel a friendliness towards them?
Or do they sound difficult?
Wise view.
But always warms my heart is.
It's not for me or someone else to tell us what wise means.
It's for us to figure out.
It's our journey.
But ultimately from our perspective.
Wise.
Or pure or right.
Means it would lead to less suffering for myself or others.
And unwise or unskillful will create suffering.
For myself and others.
Or after view or understanding.
The second noble truth,
The second.
The fold path.
Is resolve.
Or intention.
Then he suggests that we speak.
From a place of wisdom.
And react.
With that same wise resolve.
And as you look inside the body,
The heart,
And the mind,
What do you notice?
About these first four factors.
Of the Noble Eightfold Path.
How does it feel?
When you consider them.
As tools to use throughout your day.
Next is livelihood.
What does it mean?
To live wisely.
You know,
If we consider someone that we know.
And we would describe them as someone who lives wisely.
How does the heart feel about them?
Is it warm?
Number six is effort.
Which this practice itself takes.
Just sitting here.
Turning towards.
.
.
These teachings.
Noticing what arises.
Takes effort.
Or we could just daydream.
Think about something else.
Ignore the instructions.
We can do that too,
More allowed.
No one that you will know.
Of the last two.
Mindfulness.
And collectedness.
These two parts of the meditative process.
The Remembering to pay attention.
And to recall the instructions.
And putting our efforts into paying attention to one thing at a time.
And now if we can just gather these last moments.
What these core teachings have taught us.
Cause to arise within our heart,
Our minds,
And our bodies.
If there's some sense.
That shows up a feeling or a word.
Something that you can recall later.
So these tools become more accessible.
More available to you.
And we're out in the world living our lives.
Facing all the things that show up.
And challenge us on our daily basis.
And the tools are.
Within reach.
We have a better opportunity.
To respond wisely.
Creating less suffering for ourselves and others.
You
