Rick Hanson's Blog, page 102

Right Livelihood Through the Lens of the Hindrances

Here is the latest talk from the San Rafael Meditation group with Rick Hanson. It’s titled Right Livelihood Through the Lens of the Hindrances. More information on the San Rafael Mediation group can be found at http://www.rickhanson.net/teaching/me....

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Understanding Neuroplasticity

In this video, I explain how we can use our minds to change our brains to change our minds for the better. This video was taken at the Greater Good Science Center in UC Berkeley as part of the Science of a Meaningful Life Series.

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The Fourth Noble Truth – The Noble Truth of the Eightfold Path

These are the elements of the Eightfold Path:

Right View
Right Resolve
Right Action
Right Speech
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration

Please see the article on “The Noble Eightfold Path” here – http://www.rickhanson.net/writings/articles/buddhist-wisdom/.

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Read the previous posts on the First, Second and Third Noble truths.

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Helping Yourself Speak Your Truth

Normal as they are, these inhibitions limit your autonomy, and consequently, your intimacy. Their regulation is excessive and thus unskillful. And they harm others by denying them important information about how you are feeling and what you really care about. Here are some ways to deal with them:

1. Draw on the slow but powerful prefrontal cortex to keep reminding yourself that you are entitled to the pursuit of your own happiness, to your own experience, and your own view – and that you will...

Craving and Enoughness

Here is the latest talk from the San Rafael Meditation group with Rick Hanson. It’s titled Craving and Enoughness. More information on the San Rafael Mediation group can be found athttp://www.rickhanson.net/teaching/meditation-group.

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The Third Noble Truth – The Noble Truth of the End of Suffering

The Third Noble Truth comes directly from the Second one: The end of suffering comes with the end of clinging.

As Achaan Chah said, “If you let go a little, you’ll have a little happiness. If you let go a lot, you’ll have a lot of happiness. If you let go completely . . . you’ll be completely happy.”

You can do this at the macro level, in letting go regarding lights turning green, or payments arriving, or your teenage children giving you a hug. Sure, you’d like things to turn out well, and that...

Appreciating Your Good Intentions

Here is the latest talk from the San Rafael Meditation group with Rick Hanson. It’s titled Appreciating Your Good Intentions. More information on the San Rafael Mediation group can be found athttp://www.rickhanson.net/teaching/meditation-group.

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The Second Noble Truth – The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering

The Second Noble Truth describes the principal cause of suffering. It is clinging. . . to anything at all.

The bad news is that we suffer. The good news is that there is a prime cause – clinging – that we can address.

There are lots of words that get at different aspects of clinging. For example, the original Pali word is “tanha,” the root meaning of which is thirst. Here are some related words, and you might like to pause briefly after each one to get a sense of the experience of it: Desire. A...

Friday Favorite

Artist: Breier

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A Peaceful Heart

Here is the latest talk from the San Rafael Meditation group with Rick Hanson. It’s titled A Peaceful Heart. More information on the San Rafael Mediation group can be found at http://www.rickhanson.net/teaching/meditation-group.

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