Bodily formation and four postures

• Reviewing four phases of mindfulness of breathing
• Four aspects of mindfulness of body to cultivate insight
• Contemplating body internally, externally and both internally and externally
• Contemplating body its nature of arising and ceasing
• Causes and conditions of the body
• Direct experience of arising and ceasing
• There is a body is simply established in him
• Abides freely not clinging to nothing
• 16 steps of mindfulness of breathing with each group of 4 relating to body, feelings, mind and phenomena
• Mindfulness of the body while walking, sitting, standing and lying down
• Knowing what we are doing
• Lifting, pusing and placing

102 Bodily Formation and Four Postures (download)

Contemplation points

1. Why is it that there is no one way to do the Mindfulness of Breathing meditation? Do you struggle with ambiguity? What are things you can bring to mind as you work with it in your practice?
2. What does it mean to have a body? Are you your body or are you not your body? Is it your possession or not your possession? How did your body come into being; how did it arise? Once the body and mind come together, what happens next? How do they influence each other? Spend some time with this.
3. Consider the breath: Where is the breath before you breathe? When you are inhaling, where is it? What is it? Is it separate from your body? If it depends on the body, what part of the body? Allow this to lead you to a better understanding of dependent arising. Again, spend some time with this.
4. Consider the nature of the breath and body as arising and passing away: Do you think of your body as simply being the result of ignorance, craving, and karma from previous lives? In the same way, consider that all physical and mental phenomena are impermanent, arising and passing away. As you consider these points, what insights arise regarding impermanence, dependent arising, and how things are merely labeled?
5. The brief explanation for mindfulness in the four postures is to “know what you are doing when you are doing it.” How often during the day are you aware of what you are doing when you are doing it? Try the walking meditation as described in the text. Note how the act of being mindful heightens your awareness of your intentions and actions. How might a greater level of mindfulness make a difference in your life and spiritual practice? What would it mean for the people around you? Resolve to be more aware, not allowing the mind to go here and there, following whatever thought enters it, and being more fully present with the body, not thinking about the past or future.