Spirit Rock Daylong - Ajahn Pasanno: Teachings from the Anapanasati Sutta: from Tranquility to Liberation

Location: Spirit Rock Meditation Center, 5000 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Box 169, Woodacre, CA 94973, USA

Description: Teachings from the Anapanasati Sutta (Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing): from Tranquility to Liberation 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Please go to Spirit Rock's website for more information and registration. The Buddha taught mindfulness of breathing as one of the primary contemplative practices. Although it is taught widely in the West, the full potential of this practice is sometimes missed. The Anapanasati Sutta describes the use of mindfulness of breathing through sixteen steps that comprehensively develop awareness of the body, feelings and mind, and up through development of wisdom and relinquishment of all suffering: the complete liberation of the heart. Ajahn Pasanno will guide us through these sixteen steps with periods of instruction, sitting and walking meditation throughout the day, as well as allowing time for discussion and questions. Lunch: Please bring lunch and, if you wish, food to offer the monks. As in the time of the Buddha, the Abhayagiri monks do not grow or buy food and are completely dependent on donations of food. The monastics eat one main meal a day in late morning and monastic regulations require that they finish by midday. Offering food to the monastics during the daylong provides an opportunity to participate in the tradition. Other donations are also gratefully accepted for Abhayagiri Monastery, though are by no means required. You can request a current list of needed items by contacting the monastery at (707) 485-1630.