True to Your Deepest Desires (Talk and Short Guided Meditation) - (Practising the Jhānas)

Talk titled: "True to Your Deepest Desires (Talk and Short Guided Meditation)", given during the event "Practising the Jhānas". Held at Gaia House, Devon on 2019-12-26.
Topics covered: jhana: if you've had piti, all jhanas are possible for you, hindrances, desire affects how and which experiences unfold, guided meditation on desire, dharma talk listening tips: listening structurally, jhana, views/orientations in practice, judgment/inner critic, desire/eros, desire: inquiring into deeper desires
Teacher's note on suitability: suitable both for those who wish to refine, consolidate, and further their practice of the jhanas, and also for those who are not yet familiar with jhana practice, this retreat provided an opportunity to establish the meditative bases for the practice of the jhanas and to support their development. exploring the place of the jhanas in a wider life of practice and particularly in the deepening of insight into emptiness and dependent origination.
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Original audio: dharmaseed.org...
Transcript link: dl.airtable.co...

[@theinngu5560]

In response to what Rob says about Asian cultures not being bothered when hearing how others are progressing if they are not, I would confirm that this is true. I have practiced with the Burmese for many years and the Burmese always have a feeling of delight ( mudita) when others are doing well, even if they feel they are not. They are genuinely happy when others progress and it is very touching and I have seen ..as Rob mentions a very different flavour with westerners and I include myself in this ….we feel embarrassed/jealous/inferior etc if we feel others are more advanced than we are. The very different cultures have different challenges and it’s wonderful to hear teachers like Rob, both acknowledge this and teach accordingly.

[@boubabuddha]

that’s very interesting! always worth cultivating 😄

[@jsleamer2046]

I would say partly true, this isn’t the case in South Korea. They even have a traditional saying which roughly translates to “You get a stomach ulcer if your cousin buys a land”