Eugene Cash, who is the founding teacher of San Francisco Insight Meditation Community has been teaching five week workshop on the technique of "Whole Body Breathing." This technique comes down to us from Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo, one of the great 20th Century masters of the Thai Forest lineage. Thanissaro Bhikkhu, the abbot of Metta Forest Monastery in San Diego, is perhaps the foremost contemporary master in this tradition.
Eugene will be teaching a silent "day long" at the Unitarian Church tomorrow (July 19th) at 9am. If you haven't heard him teach, well - what can I say - you're missing out, big-time.
My favorite quote from last night's talk: Someone asked about how to develop and sustain a daily meditation practice. Eugene replied very gently that you have to be "ruthless", cutting out whatever you have to make the time even if it means nixing the "Colbert Report". What heresy, I know.
The following list of the written materials discussed during the course is an excellent primer on this particular approach to meditation as well as a good practical introduction to Buddhism.
- The Path of Mindfulness and Concentration (Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
- Keeping the Breath in Mind: Method 2 (Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo)
- The Joy of Effort (Thanissaro Bhikkhu) Audio Version:
- Tuning Into the Breath (Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
- Bathed in the Breath (Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
- The Steps of Breath Meditation (Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
- Anapanasati Sutta (from the Pali Canon)
