TALKS

Discourse on the Four Kinds of Nutriments: Consciousness 

December 2, 2018

In this talk, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner continues his discussion of the Buddha's teachings on the four kinds of nutriments that affect the well-being of both our bodies and our minds with an introduction to the nutriment of consciousness. He explained that the suffering or the well-being we find in our minds has a direct relation to what we are doing with our minds throughout the day. Until we begin to become aware of what is going on within our own minds, we will continue to unconsciously sow the seeds of many afflictive emotions by what we think about, ruminate on, and the mind-states we give play to. Once we turn the light of mindfulness on toward our thoughts and our mind-states, it becomes clear which are producing well-being, and which are producing suffering. Once we are aware, then we have a choice whether to continue or to tread a new path. In addition to stopping the cultivation of negative mind-states in this way, Fred explains that it is key to also consciously bring-up and cultivate the positive. In this way, overtime, we can transform the landscape of our minds.

Buddhist Wisdom for Unstable Times Audio | Video