Skillful Means Podcast

#31 The Only Way Out is Through Guided Practice

December 03, 2020 Jennifer O'Sullivan & Sarah Jane Shangraw
Skillful Means Podcast
#31 The Only Way Out is Through Guided Practice
Show Notes Chapter Markers

In this talk and guided practice, Sarah Jane describes the benefit of thinking of Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths as Four Ennobling Tasks. As tasks, the teachings become invitations to action. In the case of the first, the invitation is to comprehend dukkha (suffering). How? We practice. Why? Clear comprehension gives rise to liberating insight.

But more than orienting our minds toward helpful concepts that support practice, this episode is meant as a gift during a holiday season in which people may feel tender and weary from struggling through the public health, social, political, and environmental crises that accelerated in 2020. 

There is much suffering happening. It is our hope we may manage, together, to hold the inarguable suffering--the aging, sickness, and death that are inevitable--and diminish the secondary suffering present in our bodies, hearts, and minds. 

The goal is not to avoid emotional difficulty. It’s not to acknowledge it and leave it at that, either. Instead, we are meant to use it for the sake of inner freedom, or at least more ease. May there be more ease within us and between us as we make our way into 2021.

In her talk, Sarah Jane draws from teachings from Stephen Batchelor, Christina Feldman, John Peacock, and Akincino Weber. In the meditation, she quotes Stephen Schettini:

"We’re all faced with the same fundamental choice of calming the mind or letting it go its own scattered way. Leaving it to the caprice of unplumbed emotions leads to a life that’s mysterious in all the wrong ways."

The meditation starts at 8:40. If your podcast app supports chapter markings, you can jump straight there  - useful for repeated listens.

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Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey.

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You can also get in touch with Sarah Jane directly where she offers weekly classes, monthly workshops, meditation groups, and mentoring.





Meditation Starts