The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
In October 2024 the Meditation Mid Wales community expressed a wish to receive systematic review of meditation skills. From November 2024 onward Ella will be offering a review of meditation practices listed in the teachings on the four foundations of mindfulness.
These instructions are offered to a community that has been meeting for a self-practice day-retreats for many years. The individuals that make the community follow a diverse range of teachings. Therefore, Ella is focusing on practical ‘how to’ information that is intended to support a wide range of inquiries.
Each day-retreat starts with meditation instructions followed by practice guidance. The rest of the day is self-guided. At the end of the day, after silence ends, we have time to share questions, responses and reflections. Recordings of the first session are available below. The Q&R,R conversation is not recorded.
Resources
Analayo: Satipatthana Meditation: A Practice Guide; satipatthana guided meditation recordings
Meditation bell app: i-Qi meditation bell lovely minimalist meditation timer and alarm clock (iOs only); Insight Timer meditation timer and an infinite number of guided meditations.
Pali Cannon teachings on the four foundations of mindfulness: MN 10 Satipatthana: The Foundations of Mindfulness; DG 22 Maha-satipatthana Sutta: The Great Frames of Reference; SN Satipatthana Samyutta
Recordings
Nov 2024: A few words about samatha-vipassana practice, practice intention and noting/labeling
- meditation instructions
- practice instructions
- The reading at the beginning of the meditation instruction recordings was from Everything Arises, Everything Falls Away by Ajahn Chan, p. 114-115
- Additional teachings on noting practice: Marcia Rose morning instructions on noting, Deborah Ratner Helzer Introduction to the Mahasi method – history and key features of Mahasi style practice: working with primary objects, noting, momentary concentration, and balanced effort.
Dec 2024 : cancelled due to adverse weather conditions
Jan 2025: Cancelled due to adverse weather conditions
Feb 2025
- meditation instructions: labeling, signposting, intention, knowing
- practice instructions: arriving, knowing experience
March 2025
- 4 foundations of mindfulness: setting out on our way (talk)
- guided-meditation
- MN 10 The teaching on the four foundations of mindfulness. Translation by: Bhikkhu Sujato, Nyanamoli Thera, Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
April 2025: self-practice day