Fred's Foundations Studies Course

Current assignments, activities, and other announcements for the Center for Sacred Sciences Foundations Studies Group from the course's current teacher.

• — Foundation Class Assignment

     (Thursday, February 02 2012 13:37)

  Howdy,
  
  Feb. 8-- This week we'll be focusing on the Mental Field in the Choiceless Awareness Meditation.  Reread Chapter 12 for some hints and ideas about observing thought.  It is easy to get caught up in a chain of thought that links together. It is important to have some stability of attention when trying to observe thoughts. One method to help with this is to keep around 25% of attention on the breath while 75% is being attentive to thoughts as they arise and dissipate. The breath acts as an anchor to help you from becoming lost in stories. When you do become lost in a chain of thought, then you can use a short word like "cut" to help break the chain.
  
  Also work with observing tastes and smells during at least one meal time each day.  You could try a three breath meditation to help settle the mind before the meal. With the first breath you focus the mind, Second breath-relax the body, and Third breath set intention to observe tastes and smells directly.  Then observe tastes/smells as they arise and dissipate, without getting involved in stories about them. Notice how long different tastes last in the mouth.
  
  Continue with practicing Precept #4-Stewardship.
  
  take care,
  Fred
  

  

• — Foundation Study Class Assignment

     (Thursday, January 19 2012 16:03)

  Greetings,

  Meditation--Continue with the Choiceless Awareness Meditation--For the
  next week we'll be focusing on the Sound Field, and then from Jan
  25-Feb. 1 we'll work with the Sight Field. Remember to begin with
  Breath Concentration before moving into the different fields of
  Awareness. Continue to label the phenomena according to it field, as
  long as that helps you to interrupt the conditioned thoughts that
  arise with phenomena.

  Jan. 25--This will be a Community Night at GPI (7pm) with all three
  groups meeting together. Joel will be there to lead the discussion and
  this is a good opportunity to ask him any question you have about his
  book, spiritual practices or the spiritual path in general.

  Feb. 1--Begin now with practicing Precept #4-Stewardship, and we'll
  discuss how your practice is going when we meet on Feb. 1. Read
  p.174-75 in Joel's book to get an overview of working with this
  precept.

  peace,
  Fred

  

• — Foundation Study Class-Assignment

     (Thursday, January 12 2012 16:39)

  Greetings and Salutations,
   
  Jan. 18--Read Chapter 12-Choiceless Awareness Meditation, and begin doing this meditation each day. We'll discuss the chapter and check in about how your meditation practice is going as we start this new meditation.
   
  There are good instructions in the book beginning on page 117. Remember to start your meditation by doing Concentration on the Breath for the first 1/3 to 1/2 of your session. Then expand attention out to include the Bodily Sensation Field, and label any phenomena that arises in this field as "Bodily Sensation". If any thoughts or labels arise,  then label them "Thought", and return attention to the simple sensations.  We will spend this week observing phenomena in the Bodily Sensation Field, so we are basically only going through step three in the instructions.
   
  Continue with practicing the Precept of Harmlessness.
   
  Have a fruitful week,
  Fred
  

• — Foundation Study Class-Assignment

     (Thursday, January 05 2012 13:53)

  Howdy,
  
  Thanks to all for sharing your dreams. Dreams can be a valuable source of spiritual guidance, so I would encourage you to keep recording your dreams. In a few more months, we'll try to find one more evening to discuss dreams.
  
  Jan. 11--We'll discuss Precept #3--Harmlessness-Not to injure or kill any being heedlessly or needlessly. (bottom page 172-top page 174) The precept doesn't rule out all killing, but rather to be mindful if we kill something and contemplate whether it is needed or not.
  Saying a mealtime prayer is a good way to remember that everything we eat has sacrificed its life so that we may live.
  
  Harmlessness can range from whether we should kill a small bug or not; as well as noticing the harm and suffering we create for ourselves and others by the conditioned ways we interact in the world.
  
  Continue with the Concentration Meditation. We'll be starting a new meditation next week, so try to fine tune the Concentration Meditation during this week.
  
  A reminder that the Spring Retreat will be held April 20-25. Foundation Study class students are highly encouraged to attend. I have always found retreats to be an invaluable asset in deepening my spiritual practice, so I recommend them highly.
  
  To get a taste of the retreat experience it would be helpful to attend one of the Saturday meditations that are held at GPI. 10 am- 4pm.
  The dates and teachers for next three months are:
  Jan. 14--Todd
  Feb. 18--Matt
  Mar. 17--Fred
  
  peace and blessings,
  Fred
  

  

• — FS class assignment

     (Thursday, December 15 2011 15:22)

  Greetings,
  
  Next meeting is January 4, 2012-- Read Chapter 8, Tracking Dreams. The chapter contains good advice about starting a dream practice. In the three weeks until we meet again, begin recording your dreams in a dream journal. Even if you only remember a person's name or being in a certain building, if you write that down then often your recall of dreams will begin to increase. Pick one dream to talk about when we meet again.
  
  Start focusing on Precept #3--Harmlessness-Not to injure or kill any being heedlessly or needlessly. (bottom page 172-top page 174) Saying a mealtime prayer is a good way to remember that everything we eat has sacrificed its life so that we may live.
  The precept doesn't rule out all killing, but rather to be mindful if we kill something and contemplate whether it is needed or not.
  Harmlessness can range from whether we should kill a small bug or not; as well as noticing the harm and suffering we create by the conditioned ways we interact in the world.
  
  Continue with the Concentration Meditation.
  
  Have a happy and peaceful holiday season,
  Fred
  

  

• — Foundation Study Class-Assignment

     (Thursday, December 08 2011 17:06)

  Greetings,
  
  December 14--We'll discuss the Second Fundamental next week:  IGNORANCE OF THE REAL IS THE ROOT OF SUFFERING--From ignorance is born the delusion of self; from the delusion of self, desire for the world; from desire for the world, attachment to worldly forms; from attachment to worldly forms, all forms of suffering.
  
  So, find some time to listen to and contemplate Joel's talk which can be found on our website at this link:
  http://www.centerforsacredsciences.org/podcast/talks.htm
  
  Chapter 4-Understanding Delusion covers some of this same material, so you can reread that this week if you would like.
  
  Continue wtih your Concentration Meditation practice and continue with Precept #2-Self-Discipline.
  
  Stay warm,
  Fred
  
  
  

  

• — Foundation Study Class-Assignment

     (Thursday, December 01 2011 14:22)

  Greetings,
  
  December 7--We'll focus on the Concentration Meditation this week and discuss in class how the meditation practice is going.  Re-read or skim through Chapter 11. Concentration Meditation helps overcome chronic restlessness by interrupting our habit of constantly following the "story of I".  This leads to stabilization on our object of meditation and then to a state of calm-abiding. To help this process along, let's pay close attention to, and experiment with finding the place of putting in too much effort to focus on the meditation object or else not enough effort. If you see that you are often lost in thought, then keep relaxing the effort until the mind becomes dull. Then increase the effort slightly and place attention on the sensation of breathing in the nostril, heart or abdomen.
        If you find that your mind is usually dull or sleepy, then you need to increase the effort by opening the eyes wider, counting breaths, etc. until you notice the mind "waking up". Then decrease the effort slightly and place attention on the sensation of breathing in the nostril, heart or abdomen.
       When you find this point it becomes effortless to rest attention on the breath. Even if you become distracted again, you have found the path to this place and just need to retrace your steps.
  
  Continue with Precept #2-Self-Discipline.        
  
  peace,
  Fred
  

  

• — Foundation Study Class--Assignment

     (Thursday, November 17 2011 17:05)

  Hi,
  
  Nov. 23--No Class ----Have a great Thanksgiving!
  
  Nov. 30--We're now focusing on Precept #2-Self -Discipline. To regard each moment as a precious opportunity for spiritual practice. Not to waste time in frivolous pursuits, nor overindulge in drugs, alcohol or escapist entertainments.   
  
  The first part of the precept is an instruction to bring more attention into our daily lives-every moment is an chance to look and gain insight into the True Nature of things, whether the moment is filled with joy or pain.
  
  The second part of the precept is merely advising that to see things clearly it would be beneficial not to waste too much time, nor over indulge in pursuits that continue to perpetuate the sense of self.
  
  Probably our most frivolous pursuit is to be involved in the "story of I" which is constantly playing in the mind. When attention is involved in all these thoughts, we are missing the chance to see the essence of things as they arise.
  
  So, practice the precept through the holiday and we'll discuss it Nov. 30.
  
  Continue with the Concentration Meditation.
  
  Meditation this Saturday, Nov.19 at GPI. A good opportunity to deepen your practice. Morning session 10am to noon. Lunch break 12-1. Afternoon session 1-4pm.
  
  Cheers,
  Fred
  

  

• — Foundation Studies Assignment

     (Thursday, November 10 2011 14:05)

  Greetings everyone,
  
  Nov. 16--Read Chapter 17, A Mystics' View of Morality(p. 163-168). We'll discuss this chapter on Wednesday as well as talk again about our experiences practicing the Precept of Responsibility (p.170), before moving on to another precept.
  
  Continue with the Concentration Meditation-we now want to be narrowing our focus to a single point of sensation in breathing.
  
  I'll be leading the Saturday Meditation at GPI on Nov. 19. The hours will be 10am - 4pm, with a lunch break from 12-1. If you have some time that day, this would be a good opportunity to deepen your meditation practice. If you are fairly new to meditation I would suggest sitting for half a day-either morning or afternoon. If you have more experience, then sitting for the whole day would be great. {We ask for donations to help defray the cost of renting the space for the day.}
  
  peace,
  Fred
  

  

• — Class Assignment-Foundation Study Class

     (Thursday, November 03 2011 14:21)

  Greetings,
  
  Nov. 9-- We'll put our intellects to work this week and ponder the First Fundamental--CONSCIOUSNESS ALONE IS ABSOLUTELY REAL;The appearance of an objective world distinguishable from a subjective self is but the imaginary form in which Consciousness Perfectly Realizes Itself.
  
  Joel has an hour talk on this fundamental that you can find on the Center Website at this link:
  http://www.centerforsacredsciences.org/podcast/talks.htm
  
  Find some time to listen to the talk and then contemplate the implication that if Consciousness alone is Real(always present), then what are all these other things that we take to be real?
  
  We can never think our way to Enlightenment, but thoughts and words can be good pointers toward direct insight.
  
  We'll discuss all of this in class next week.
  
  Continue with the Concentration Meditation and with working with Precepts.
  
  Also at that link to the website there are four talks on the Precepts, if you would like to listen to those.
  
  blessings,
  Fred
  

  

• — Assignment-Foundation Study Class

     (Thursday, October 27 2011 14:24)

  Hi everyone,
  
  Thanks for all the sharing in class, either verbally or attentive listening.
  
  Nov. 2--Re-read chapter 11, Concentration Meditation, p.101-114.  Continue to establish a discipline of doing formal meditation at least one/day. Use introspection to occasionally check in to see how the meditation is going-if attention is often distracted into a chain of thoughts then you need to relax the effort you are applying. This involves relaxing with a long, deep breath, a very quick body scan, etc.
  
  If the mind/attention is dull or lax, then you need to increase the effort by by watching the breath sensations in more detail, counting of a few breaths to bring the attention back to the breath, etc. 
  
  We are also narrowing our focus of attention down to a single spot of the breath-either the sensation in the nostrils, heart area or abdomen. Test out these different points and see which one works well for you.
  
  We'll check-in with everyone next week to see how your meditation practice is going.
  
  Continue with Practicing the Precepts with the focus still on the Precept of Responsibility.
  
  Here is Joel's Mealtime Prayer that I mentioned in class:
  
  Remembering that sacrifice is the law of this world. Let us give thanks to these plants and animals who have sacrificed their lives so that we may live. In return we vow to sacrifice ourselves, surrendering our hearts to love, our minds to truth and our bodies to service, so that all may know the Real world and the eternal life of Consciousness Itself.
  
  peace,
  Fred
  

  

• — Class Assignment

     (Thursday, October 20 2011 14:42)

  Greetings,
  
  Oct. 26--We are still being aware of all the precepts, but we are now putting our focus on the Precept of Responsibility. To learn more about it, read the section on 'How Precepts Function' (bottom p. 167-168); in chapter 18 (p. 170-top of 171).  We'll discuss how your practice of this is going when we meet next week. We are trying to bring attention to how we respond in any situation we face, and if we experience any suffering, then look closely to see what is causing the suffering, and see if there is a skillful way to alleviate the suffering.
  
  Continue with the Concentration Meditation on the sensations of breathing. We are now dropping the counting and placing attention on the full breath as it goes in and out.
  
  all the best,
  Fred
  

  

• — Foundation Study Class-Assignment

     (Thursday, October 06 2011 14:22)

  Howdy,
  
  No class on Oct. 12th--Fall Retreat.
  
  Oct. 19th--Continue Concentration Meditation with counting breaths. Work at establishing a meditation practice of at least once per day.
  
  Continue with 10th Precept of Remembrance by saying the Precepts each day.
  
  Read or review Chapter 10-Chain of Conditioning.  We are trying to shine the light of awareness on what the mind is doing, so we'll do some formal and informal practice of this following Joel's instructions on page 100.  Find about 10 minutes/day to sit quietly and observe how you respond mentally and emotionally to whatever arises in awareness.
  Practice informally by checking in occasionally to during the day to see what you are thinking about-see if you are judging things, whether desire or aversion has arisen or whether you have an impulse to grasp or avoid something, etc.
  
  In class, we'll discuss what you have seen and how it relates to the chain of conditioning.
  
  Have a good two weeks.
  
  peace,
  Fred
  

  

• — Foundation Study Class-Assignment

     (Thursday, September 29 2011 13:57)

  Greetings,
  
  We'll have the Pledge cards next week, so think about the monthly dues you would like to pledge as a member of CSS.
  
  Oct. 5--Continue with the Concentration Meditation that we talked about in class. Counting of breaths-1-10 then start over, when you are distracted by thoughts, sounds, etc.-notice that and return to the breath. We are not trying to get rid of thoughts, they will continue to arise, but we are learning to free attention from habitually following them all day long.
  
  Remember to recite the Precepts every day. (bottom half of p. 183 in Joel's book talks about precept of Remembrance)
  
  Read Chapter 10, Chain of Conditioning, in Way of Selflessness(WOS). Also review chapter 6, Four Principles of the Path-Attention, Comittment, Detachment and Surrender are important and useful in any and all spiritual endeavors.
  
  There are several audios on the website that you can listen to or download, such as Concentration Meditation and Four Principles of the Path.    
  
  Have a good week,
  Fred
  

  

• — Course Summary for 2011-2012

     (Saturday, September 10 2011 19:26)

  The 2011-2012 Foundation Studies Course will be taught by Fred Chambers and will meet on most Wednesday evenings at the Green Phoenix Institute.
  
  The Foundations Studies Course is offered once every year and is a prerequisite for attending the regular practitioners group and Center retreats. This course meets most weeks from October to early August. The course will introduce you to fundamental teachings and practices of all the major mystical traditions. The course includes spiritual practices such as meditation and precepts, reading Joel's book The Way of Selflessness, and group discussions. Optionally, you may also wish to supplement your experience with books from our list of recommended reading or the reading list for our distance studies course.
  
  When you sign up for the Foundation Studies Course we ask that you become a supporting member of the Center. To learn more about becoming a member, please first read the Prospective member letter and the Outline of supporting membership. You may then complete and mail in the member Pledge form.