Buddha's Awakening: The Nature of Mental States | Mindfulness Born of Wisdom | Natural Samādhi

A profound exploration of the Buddha's awakening on the two kinds of thoughts—wholesome and unwholesome mental states—and how understanding this distinction transforms meditation practice. Through an engaging interactive exercise and the Buddha's own words, this Dhamma talk reveals how the Buddha himself practiced recognizing unwholesome states (anger, sensory distraction, harm) that create tension and lead away from peace, while cultivating wholesome states (loving kindness, compassion, joy) that naturally bring clarity, collectedness, and liberation.

This teaching illuminates how every distraction carries somatic tension, why the mind becomes naturally concentrated when dwelling in wholesome states, and how we continuously condition our minds through what we choose to focus on—introducing the Buddhist understanding of neuroplasticity and dependent origination. This teaching culminates in the Buddha's beautiful analogy of the deer herd and the safe path to be traveled with joy, offering both deep wisdom and practical guidance for developing natural samadhi through understanding rather than force.

Day 1 - April 2024 Australia Retreat - Dhamma talk by Bhante Ānanda.
Karuna Centre, Katoomba, Blue Mountains, NSW. @MettaCentre

-------------------
00:00:00 - Preview
00:00:34 - Intro
00:08:36 - Sutta Begins: Two Kinds of Thoughts
00:11:38 - 1. Unwholesome States - Akusala Dhammā
00:13:48 - Relax Step
00:15:29 - Inclination of the Mind
00:22:16 - Analogy of the Cowherd
00:23:24 - Serving Experience
00:28:37 - Exercise
00:43:57 - The Self
00:53:13 - Loving Kindness VS Objects
00:54:23 - Natural Samādhi
00:55:58 - 2. Wholesome States - Kusala Dhammā
00:57:05 - Going Beyond Thinking (Vitakka Vicāra)
01:00:24 - Inclinations and Cultivation
01:00:36 - Analogy of the Cowherd
01:01:58 - Natural Samādhi
01:02:25 - Jhāna
01:05:02 - Vipassanā - Āsavākkhāya
01:06:32 - Path to Be Travelled with Joy! The Deer Herd Story
01:10:48 - Summary
01:12:20 - Sharing Merits
--------------------------

Upcoming 2025 Australia Retreat Page:
https://heartdhamma.love/2025-austral...

Upcoming Retreats
https://heartdhamma.love/retreats/

----------------------

For more information about our friends @mettacentre :
https://www.mettacentre.com/
   / @mettacentre  
  / mettacentresydney  
  / mettacentre  

-----------------------

HeartDhamma Social:
https://www.heartdhamma.love/
  / heartdhamma  
  / heartdhamma  
  / 3tfvx  

----------------------

“The Dhamma is priceless, it cannot be purchased. Bhante Ānanda offers his teachings, sutta translations and books for free, at all times, for everybody. Kindness and generosity are the lifeblood of all of our activities. Generosity of people like you makes all of this possible.

Please visit the donation page to support us:
https://heartdhamma.love/dana/

-------------------

Soundtrack Assistance:
Naveen K.

----------------------
#vipassana #neuroplasticity #psychology #meditationtechniques #lovingkindnessmeditation #buddhistmeditation #metta #meditation #buddhism #dhammatalk #meditationretreat #australia #bluemountainsaustralia #sydney #buddhateachings #BhanteAnanda #HeartDhamma