Difficult, Problematic and Obsessive Thinking – Part II

Sit & Dharma Talk with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren

This will be the second talk, in a series of two, on working with difficult, problematic and obsessive thinking. A four page handout accompanied Dennis’ first talk on this topic on March 7th. It would be helpful to review that handout. It would also be helpful to try the strategy for working with thought as well as the exercise on Thought and Listening, contained in the handout, in preparation for this evening.
The discussion this evening will look at the differences between working with thought during meditation and working with thought during daily lives. These are two different approaches.
For example, the traditional instruction is to “not go into the content of thought” during meditation. Is that the whole instruction? Doesn’t the Insight Meditation process involve some form of evaluation of thought while one is meditating? How does this basic meditation instruction apply to thought in daily life?
Among other thing, the evening will explore the five strategies the historical Buddha recommended for dealing with difficult, problematic and/or obsessive thoughts that distract us for seeing into their implications or true nature of being either harmful or unhealthy nature.
(Note: This talk will not cover the same materials present in the talk on the “Two Types of Thinking” presented earlier this month on April 18 by Community Teacher Diane Wilde.)

Sacramento Insight Meditation events are sustained by the generosity of instructors in offering teachings freely and on the generosity of students and members of the meditative community in the form of financial support, service and participation in events. With our practice of dana, we support our Sangha.

Thursday Night Talk Dana
“Generosity is the virtue that leads to peace.” – The Historical Buddha
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