Concentration as a unification of mind brings stability of attention and is the foundation for liberating insight. Benefits of Samatha and vipassana. What blocks concentration and how to develop it in the retreat setting.
Many of us have a tendency to be critical and judgmental of ourselves and others. In meditation, this habit can seem quite strong and can create a lot of suffering. But mindfulness is a wonderful tool to enable us to see these thoughts for what they are, so we can begin to bring wisdom and understanding to them. The good news is, like any conditioned habit, we can learn to decondition this pattern.
What is mindfulness, and what was the Buddha talking about when he encouraged us to practice it? Right mindfulness, or Samma Sati, develops wisdom and understanding, decreasing unwholesome states of mind, and increasing wholesomeness.
