Instructions Before Class 1
Photo for the Week
General Class Information
Meditation 2 Instructions
Synonyms for Buddha Nature
Photo for the Week
General Class Information
Class Details:
Sundays, November 3-25
2:00-3:30 pm
In-person and on Zoom
How to Join the Class In-Person:
If you are taking the class in person, the location is:
The Meaningful Life Center
116 Carr St.
Knoxville 37919
How to Join the Class on Zoom:
All four classes use the same Zoom link. Please bookmark this link so that you can find it. The direct link (no passcode required) is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/880091786?pwd=SmhGeE1UdE1Ta1NmeWV3bEZXSmZKUT09
To join from another Zoom account, you will need:
Meeting ID: 880 091 786
Passcode: 459818
Meditation 2 Instructions
Meditation 2: Becoming More Deeply Receptive to Love & Compassion
Preparing for Meditation 2
This meditation uses the field of care to help us become increasingly receptive to the
powers of love and compassion that are available in our underlying awareness. You
will bring your field of care to mind, but this time, after you start to experience the
loving qualities that come with that, notice when a part of you comes up that is
reacting to the meditation as in the examples above (in “Identify a difficulty or
problem”.
“Part of you” refers to the sense of self that is operative in you at that moment, with its
patterns of thought and feeling.
When you notice that happening, let that part of you and its feelings be gently
included within the spacious love, acceptance and compassion available within your
field of care.
Those are the three principles of receptive mode practice: accessing awakening
qualities of awareness with the help of your field of care, noticing when a part of you
comes up that wants to think of other things, and gently including that part of you,
that sense of self and its reactions, in the loving qualities of the field of care.
Meditation 2: Becoming More Deeply Receptive to Love and Compassion
1) Abdominal Breathing
2) Reconnecting with love:
• Now bring to mind your field of care: your caring moment, or benefactor, or
spiritual field. Bring this to mind not just as a memory or an abstraction, but as
happening right now, present here with you now. You are being seen as deeply
worthy of love and care, beyond judgments.
• Relax into the felt sense of this experience, steeping in its loving energy, feeling its
tender qualities, and letting them infuse your whole being. Accept this loving energy
and its qualities into your whole body and mind—into every part of your body, into
every layer of feeling and emotion. Every part of you loved in its very being
• Feel the unconditional quality of this care.
• If part of you is having difficulty with this practice, or starts to draw your attention
away, just settle back into your field of care and become compassionately aware of
that part and its feelings in a fully allowing, spacious way. Let that part of you, and
what its feeling, have all the space it needs within this field of care to find its own
place and settle in its own time.
• If you lose the feeling of the loving qualities, freshly recall your field of care as
present here with you now, and let its loving power draw you back into the feeling of
it.
3) Releasing:
• After a little while, just settle deeply into this felt sense of love, warmth, and
acceptance.
• Let this help your heart and mind to trust, relax, release all of its frameworks, and
become completely open like space, beyond reference points.
• Let this total openness of awareness draw you into unity with it.
• Let any patterns of thought or feeling that arise just unwind and release within this
utter openness, this space of deep allowing, by letting all be.
Processing Meditation 2—Five key learnings:
(1) This meditation purifies qualities of love and compassion toward greater
unconditionality. We may start with an experience of relatively unconditional love,
e.g., by reinhabiting a caring moment from our life, but its qualities become purified,
stronger and more unconditional through the instruction (“Every part of you loved in
its very being.”). This process brings out the unconditional capacity of love and
compassion from our basic awareness, our buddha nature. From that secure base, we
can bring greater unconditionality to others.
(2) The mind is learning that it does not have to be totally identified with any
one part of ourselves,by letting each part (each sense of self) be embraced in the
compassion of our fuller awareness, which is larger than any part. Our basic
awareness is freed from being caught up in any one part, not by rejecting it, but by
holding each part in compassion. This is called “unblending.”
(3) In this way, we begin to reunite with our fuller, basic awareness (buddha
nature, the depth of our being), the larger awareness that can embrace all parts of us
—all senses of self and feelings—in compassion without being completely identified
with, or caught up in, any one part.
(4) As all parts of us feel the deep safety and healing power of such unconditional
acceptance and care, they can learn to trust the source of those loving qualities,
which is our basic awareness. As this trust deepens with repetition of practice, at the
releasing phase of the meditation, the mind is willing to release more fully into the
total openness, clarity, and warmth of our basic awareness, our true nature. This
process of deepening trust and fuller release, reunifying with the openness and clarity
of our deep nature, begins to draw us into the deepening mode of practice.
(5) Just as our basic awareness, when not identified with any one part, can
embrace all of our parts and feelings in unconditional care and compassion, the
same awareness can hold others and their feelings in the same compassion,
without contributing to emotional exhaustion or “compassion fatigue.” The utter
openness, clarity and compassion of our basic awareness is our ultimate secure base,
from which to extend love and compassion to others sustainably and inclusively.
In Daily Life:
Do Meditation 2 first thing in the morning, however briefly, then reconnect with it
briefly many times throughout the day, every day, over coming months. Each time you
reconnect with this practice, make it a point to reaffirm that the loving energies and
qualities you are experiencing are qualities of your own awareness. This helps you
become increasingly conscious of how available these qualities are to you, whenever
you remember to evoke them. To reconnect many times a day in little moments
strengthens the neural pathways that support these experiential qualities,
strengthening the secure base of love and compassion
Synonyms for Buddha Nature
Buddhist Terminology
One challenge in reading Buddhist texts and listening to a variety of
Buddhist teachers is that there are many different names for the same
thing.
For example, the term Buddha Nature refers to the fundamental,
underlying reality of who and what we really are. To awaken is to
realize the presence of that reality.
Thich Nhat Hanh uses Buddha Nature along with Our True Nature,
Our True Home, Our Original Nature.
In the work of John Makransky we find these synonyms: ground of
experience, ground of our being, undivided ground of openness, our
undivided nature, undivided ground of emptiness, undivided ground
of pervasive openness and lucidity, depth of our being, basic
awareness, nature of mind, utter openness and clarity with qualities of
love and compassion.
In the work of other Buddhist teachers we find primordial goodness,
ultimate reality, primordial wisdom, primordial awareness, the
unconditioned, the deathless, the absolute, the host (as in the host
and guest analogy), the source of our being, or simply, the Source.
And from our study of Lojong, you may recall these terms: absolute
bodhicitta, unborn awareness.
The English translations of the Tibetan Dzogchen—Natural Great
Perfection, Natural Great Completion— are also pointing to the same
thing, which, of course, is not a thing.
Non-Buddhist traditions naturally have their own terminology.
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each have numerous names for God.
Class 1: November 3, 2024
Photo for the Week
Class Audio Recordings
Practices for Week 1
Photo for the Week
Class Audio Recordings
00:00
- UCL- p4 Class 1 nov 3- 2024.MP300:00
- UCL- p4- class 1- meditation.MP300:00
Practices for Week 1
Homeworkafter Class 1Class 1
Each day read again the prayers in the last few paragraphs of the Epilogue in Awakening Through Love .Notice the effect on you, if any. What if you joined him in these prayers? paragraphs of theEpilogue in Awakening Through Love. Notice the effect on you, if any. What if you joined him in these prayers?
Read the instructions for Med #2, which can be found on this page in Instructions Before Class 1.
(1) Write down at least one thing you don’t understand.
(2) As you read, check how closely you are following the instructions in your home practice. Write down at least one thing in the instructions that you are not fully complying with.
In Awakening Through Love, read part of Chapter 2, Letting Be, pp.33-50. If there is something you don’t understand, write down a question.
Meditation Instructions
In your formal meditation practice, take some time to settle into the body. Then find the movement in the body as it breathes.Let the breath find it’s own natural rhythm, and settle into feeling that rhythmic movement for a bit. Then begin to notice that at the end of each exhale there is a gap before the next inhale. Rest attention in the gap and allow the feeling of the movement to fade into the background. Relax into the gap.Let the openness of the gap draw you into it more and more. Relax into the gap.Let the openness of the gap draw you into it more and more.
Naturally, the mind will wander.When you notice that, simply “cut the kite string” of thought and remain in the openness.
Trusting that the breath is taking care of itself, allow the gap to widen.Let your awareness flow through the gap and out into the openness of space. Relax and rest in spacious awareness for a few minutes.
In brief moments throughout the day, practice reconnecting to this spaciousness and/or to one of the loving/awakening qualities that you are familiar with (such as warmth, acceptance, calm, etc., from the field of care practice). Ask, Is spaciousness here now?Is warmth here now?
Then relaxinto that experience fora few moments. experience fora few moments.
Class 2: November 10, 2024
Photo for the Week
Class Audio Recordings
Practices for Week 2
Photo for the Week
Class Audio Recordings
00:00
- ucl p4 class 2 11-10.MP300:00
- ucl- p4 class 2 meditation.MP300:00
Practices for Week 2
Dear Friends,
Please bring to class the Instructions for Meditation 2 and Awakening Through Love.
Make Meditation 2 part of this week’s practice. Dig into the instructions and note—as you read and then as you meditate—any parts that are unclear or difficult for you. Become more and more aware of the parts (senses of self) that pull you out of spaciousness. As you notice these, let them be included in the field of care.
Please read in Awakening Through Love pp. 33-50 (from the beginning of Chapter 2 up to the Meditation “Letting Be in Natural Awareness.”
Note any parts that are unclear to you, and bring your questions to class for the benefit of your fellow students.
If you like, you can experiment with this alternative way of practicing noticing the gap:
Try lying on your back for a couple of minutes, keeping your eyes open. Notice the space above you—not the ceiling, but the space. Let the breath settle into its natural rhythm. On the exhale, open your mouth and exhale. Hear the sound of the exhale. When the sound stops, notice the gap before the next inhale. Let attn rest in that gap. For a moment, nothing is happening. Rest in that. Don’t try to prolong that gap. Let the next inhale naturally occur.
Breathe that way for a minute or two, letting your awareness flow into the gap and out into the space.
If you choose to cut the kite string, do it in the spirit of releasing with love, not with irritation or annoyance, or worse. Releasing them to find their own place and settle in their own way.
Finally, consider the instruction, “Every part of you loved in its very being.” Memorize it and be sure to include it in your meditations. This is an opportunity to explore the deeper meaning of these words. You can also use these words in your brief moments of practice during the day. Ask yourself, “Is it possible for me to experience that right here, right now.” Can I relax enough to feel that unconditional love in whatever way is meaningful to me?
Class 3: November 17, 2024
Please note: The entire class recording was too large to upload on this platform. The meditation was deleted from the class recording, but it is in a separate file, as usual.
Photo for the Week
Class Recordings
Practice for Week 3
Photo for the Week
Class Recordings
00:00
- UCL- p4 class 3 Meditation.MP300:00
- UCL- p4 class 3 recording.MP300:00
Practice for Week 3
Homework after Class 3, Part 4, 11-17-2024
Brief Moments Practice: Throughout the day, practice reconnecting to the spaciousness and/or to one of the loving/awakening Qs that you are familiar with (such as warmth, acceptance, calm, etc., from the Field of Care practice). Ask yourself, Is spaciousness here now? Or, Is warmth here now? Then relax into that experience for a few moments.
Prayer: Some of you, I imagine, start your meditations with prayer. If you don’t, you might experiment with this practice. You can use the prayers in the Epilogue, if you find them meaningful to you. Read them out loud. It’s important to hear yourself say these words out loud because that activates many areas of the brain simultaneously.
You’ll notice Makransky doesn’t specify a being that he is praying to. You are free to pray to any being you like. Or to none. That’s fine, too. Just let it be an expression from your heart for what you would like to see happen.
So don’t think a lot about this. Just do it. You are introducing a vibration into your body-mind. Let your vocal cords vibrate; the head, the brain, the chest, and the heart itself can feel that vibration. Speak out loud, hear your own voice, and then notice how you feel afterwards.
“Every part of you loved in its very being.”
“You are being seen as deeply worthy of love and care.”
Work with these two in meditation this week. Rest in openness, recall these, teachings, speak them aloud. Be creative. Use your imagination. What would help you come to a deeper acceptance of one or both of these teachings?
What is it that resists this acceptance?
Can you allow that part or that feeling of resistance to be held in compassionate presence, even for 30 seconds?
You might ask, What is the felt sense of each of these teachings.
Class 4: November 24, 2024
Photo for the Week
Class Audio Recordings
Practices for Week 4
Photo for the Week
Class Audio Recordings
00:00
- Meditation- UCL- p4- class 4.MP300:00
- UCL- p4 class 4 11-24-24.MP300:00
Practices for Week 4
Homework after Class 4, Part 4
Dear Friends,
Thank you for supporting me and each other as we journey together on the path of Dzogchen, the Natural Great Perfection.
In the coming days, focus on these key teachings from Meditations 1, 2, & 3, Field of Care: You are being seen as deeply worthy of love and care, beyond judgements. and Every part of you loved in its very being.
As I suggested last week, you might spend a few moments in meditating on the gap following the exhale, allowing it to draw you into the openness. Rest there a bit, and then recall these teachings. Speak them aloud. Use your imagination. What would help me come to a deeper acceptance of one or both of these teachings? What is it in me that resists this acceptance?Can I allow that part or that feeling of resistance to be held in compassionate presence, even for 30 seconds?
You might also ask, What is the felt sense of each of these teachings? You don’t need to come up with an answer in words. Just be curious. You’ll know it when you feel it.
From time to time refresh your understanding of the Instructions and Key Learnings for Meditation 2, Becoming More Receptive to Love and Compassion. This will help you keep in mind how these two key teachings (which are powers) fit within the unfolding of your practice. They can empower you to go deeper.
Understand and take to heart that this love is freely offered, without conditions. Always.
Here is another practice suggestion: Have a piece of paper beside you as you meditate. On it, copy the following:
“My own buddha nature, my own awakened mind, accepts all the senses of self, all the parts of myself that arise. In the past, I have identified with these patterns of thought and feeling. Now I see that they are not me, but merely guests coming and going. The Host is my basic awareness, the ground of experience. The Host is the Compassionate Presence that accepts them all, unconditionally. The quality of Acceptance is a power I possess. I know this is in me because I have felt this quality in my field of care practice along with other awakening qualities such as warmth, safety, peace, relaxation, and so on.”
Read this paragraph before you start your meditation to orient you to the reality we are trying to realize. You might even read it aloud.
Below that paragraph, write the two key instructions:
You are being seen as deeply worthy of love and care, beyond judgements.Every part of you loved in its very being.
Read them aloud and set your intention that you want to learn this.Then proceed with the practice you have chosen for the day.
Please reflect on acceptance in the following way:
Physical space is analogous to buddha nature because each has the quality of acceptance. Physical space accepts everything that appears without reactivity: beautiful sunset, destructive hurricane, barren desert.
Similarly, buddha nature accepts all our senses of self and all their feelings without reactivity: good self, bad self, lazy self, confused self, angry self, frightened self, courageous self, etc. Please reflect on that. Your own buddha nature accepts all your senses of self, unconditionally.
Your own deepest nature, already and always, has this quality of acceptance. You know it is in you because you have felt the quality of acceptance, many times, in the field of care practice. Reflecting in this way can deepen the awakening quality of acceptance in you.
As always, if you are struggling with the practice or struggling in general, please let me know.
With love and encouragement,John
Homework after Class 4, Part 4
Dear Friends,
Thank you for supporting me and each other as we journey together on the path of Dzogchen, the Natural Great Perfection.
In the coming days, focus on these key teachings from Meditations 1, 2, & 3, Field of Care: You are being seen as deeply worthy of love and care, beyond judgements. and Every part of you loved in its very being.
As I suggested last week, you might spend a few moments in meditating on the gap following the exhale, allowing it to draw you into the openness. Rest there a bit, and then recall these teachings. Speak them aloud. Use your imagination. What would help me come to a deeper acceptance of one or both of these teachings?
What is it in me that resists this acceptance?
Can I allow that part or that feeling of resistance to be held in compassionate presence, even for 30 seconds?
You might also ask, What is the felt sense of each of these teachings? You don’t need to come up with an answer in words. Just be curious. You’ll know it when you feel it.
From time to time refresh your understanding of the Instructions and Key Learnings for Meditation 2, Becoming More Receptive to Love and Compassion. This will help you keep in mind how these two key teachings (which are powers) fit within the unfolding of your practice. They can empower you to go deeper.
Understand and take to heart that this love is freely offered, without conditions. Always.
Here is another practice suggestion: Have a piece of paper beside you as you meditate. On it, copy the following:
“My own buddha nature, my own awakened mind, accepts all the senses of self, all the parts of myself that arise. In the past, I have identified with these patterns of thought and feeling. Now I see that they are not me, but merely guests coming and going. The Host is my basic awareness, the ground of experience. The Host is the Compassionate Presence that accepts them all, unconditionally. The quality of Acceptance is a power I possess. I know this is in me because I have felt this quality in my field of care practice along with other awakening qualities such as warmth, safety, peace, relaxation, and so on.”
Read this paragraph before you start your meditation to orient you to the reality we are trying to realize. You might even read it aloud.
Below that paragraph, write the two key instructions:
You are being seen as deeply worthy of love and care, beyond judgements.
Every part of you loved in its very being.
Read them aloud and set your intention that you want to learn this.
Then proceed with the practice you have chosen for the day.
Please reflect on acceptance in the following way:
Physical space is analogous to buddha nature because each has the quality of acceptance. Physical space accepts everything that appears without reactivity: beautiful sunset, destructive hurricane, barren desert.
Similarly, buddha nature accepts all our senses of self and all their feelings without reactivity: good self, bad self, lazy self, confused self, angry self, frightened self, courageous self, etc. Please reflect on that. Your own buddha nature accepts all your senses of self, unconditionally.
Your own deepest nature, already and always, has this quality of acceptance. You know it is in you because you have felt the quality of acceptance, many times, in the field of care practice. Reflecting in this way can deepen the awakening quality of acceptance in you.
As always, if you are struggling with the practice or struggling in general, please let me know.
With love and encouragement,
John