Alan Wallace Fall 2012 Retreat Podcast: Vipashyana, Four Applications Of Mindfulness

Shamatha should serve as a baseline or a base camp. However, people have different affinities for the various shamatha practices. Focus on the space of the mind as backdrop and note the thoughts, images, and feelings which flare up. What are the feelings triggered by? Paul Ekman speaks of emotions, moods, and temperaments. Alan asks us to explore grasping as a possible cause for moods. Meditation: choice of mindfulness of breathing or settling the mind. If your mind wanders, stabilize by counting breaths. Apply mindfulness to feelings that arise. Q1. Introspective silence has led to social anxiety and awkwardness when dealing with others.
Q2. Settling the mind is easy to practice during sessions, but how to embody the practice—e.g., in social interactions with others?
Q3. The Prasangika Madhyamaka rejects the alaya vijnana as posited in the Cittamatra. Is this the alaya vijnana you’ve been talking about?
Q4. In settling the mind, I notice many thoughts driven by grasping. Why can I do about them