(approx. 8 minutes) Q: Could you say something about how to handle loss?
Sudden loss, difficult feelings, light switch, perception of absence, how we relate to the sense of loss, structures, no judgement, angry, ‘be with’, fear, conceptual curiosity, no judgement.
(approx. 6 minutes) Q: Is widening attention the only way to cope with the compulsive judging mind?
Habits, we were trained this way, identifying AS the discriminative intelligence, struggling, criticism, Ajahn Chah, virtuous struggle, a beautiful struggle, aspiration.
(approx 11 minutes) Q: I have everything in terms of material concerns, however I am still fundamentally unhappy. What can I do about it? Materialists, stories, gratification, desire, wanting, dissatisfied, fire, burnt, theory, approximation, discipline attention, slow down, meditation, counting breathing, craft, wood lath, pottery, crochet, smartphone, interest, begin again.
(approx 12 minutes) Q: There are many lists in Buddhism and I am sure they are all important. However, I find the number overwhelming and wish to more formally incorporate one/some into my practice as daily guides are there any you could recommend? Five spiritual faculties, saddha, viriya, sati, samadhi, pannya, trust in true principles, physical faculties, laws, consciousness, kamma, generosity, self-referencing, motivation, energy, embodied mindfulness, aliveness, literacy, disciplined attention, discernment, curiosity, upadana, desire and craving, fear and terror, sila, sati, indriya samvara, karuna, pannya, integrity,self confidence, intentional composure, compassion, happiness, discernment.
(approx 12 minutes) I have noticed on many occasions that I believe that my current mood, whatever it is, will be a permanent feature of my existence. I can see that this is not helpful, for example it makes it easy to build up wildly inaccurate versions of the future. It is disconcerting to see how much a mood can condition/distort the thought process and also effect decisions and relationships. Which skills and practices would be the most effective in counteracting this? Trying to observe a mood without being drawn into it even further can sometimes be tricky. I am not expecting a quick fix! Variety of approaches, agility, a repertoire of skills, techniques, 3 categories, cutting through, seeing through, burning through, sapling, resignation,spectrum, lemon, tomato,red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, apparent reality, actuality,meditation retreat, coarse and refined mind states, resentment, compassion, contentment.