Poll Result and Content News

Given the overwhelming result of the recent poll you may be interested to know the results even if you will never attend a AICS retreats. Overall there was about 10% of you who voted; with the total number of votes recorded being twenty-one.

Here are the results to the question: what is your preferred retreat length?

7 days = 11 vote or 52% of the vote
10 days = 4 vote or 19% of the vote
14 days = 4 vote or 19% of the vote
21 days = 1 vote or 5% of the vote
30 days = 1 vote or 5% of the vote

With 52% of the vote, seven day retreats is the clear winner. Not unexpected I might add. Although, I did expect the result to be closer.

Then, continuing on the theme of meditation and retreats,  you may be interested to know that I have been speaking to a retreat centre regarding AICS retreats with the first to be scheduled for later in the year—probably October/November—should everything go to plan.

In other news: I have been working hard on the essay for this years Australian Meditation Conference http://www.australianmeditationconference.com.au. Tickets are still available, as they are for the one-day seminar on Mental Dysfunction and Meditation to be presented the following day.

I will be extending the material from the conference and seminar into course content for week-long AICS retreats moving forward. Thus far, I have written over 3,000 words of guided meditations; more than 5,000 words on the various cognitive, conative and affective imbalances that engender an unhealthy personal narrative—that is, the stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves. Here is an unedited sample randomly copied from one of the sections of the conference paper:

The tendency towards an ongoing narrative—arising out of the mental imbalances of craving, conceit and views, to which the phrase proliferating tendencies (papañca) is traditionally used to describe the entire process—has been aptly characterized as “the tendency of the worldling’s, that is, an ordinary person’s imagination to break loose and run riot”. However, the tendency of conceptual proliferation is more than simply letting the imagination or discursive thought run free. It is perhaps better understood as a narrative, albeit one in which we are unaware that we are both the central character and its author. This dispositional narrative is, therefore, the tendency to misconstrue the nature of the narrative, following from an initial refracted cognition of the central character of that narrative. However, it is important to notice that underpinning this process of narration is the reified bifurcation of a subject of experience and the experienced object. For even if what is being experienced is merely a thought or mental image broken loosed from reality, it has only done so in the mistaken belief that the narration and its characters are really real, as aposed to merely conventionally real. This, in the Buddhist tradition, is what is known as reification (samāropa, sgro btags). Reification or superimposition is a cognitive process of imposing onto reality a mode of existence that is not really there viz. intrinsic existence. One may ask: what is the cause of this narrative? And the answer would be: the phenomenal structure of consciousness is embedded with an appearance of intrinsic nature, such that we believe in the givenness of these appearances. It is the givenness of these appearances, which in turn, color an ongoing narrative and thereby lead us to grasp at the central character of that narrative so tightly that it is in a sense dispositional. By strongly adhering to these appearances—and the subsequent narrative—we are bound to this obsessive-compulsive delusional disorder we call Saṃsāra. However, there is good news, and that is, this narrative is not inherently innate. We therefore have the potential of overcoming this simple cognitive mistake, and thereby—as the Buddha stated 2600 years ago—obtaining freedom from it.

While this is all quite technical, most of the course material is not. I am, however, trying to balance traditional ideas and ways of expression with those of contemplative science; deep philosophical ideas with simple meditations. Not to mention catering for new comers and old-hands (from all traditions) alike. I do think however that learning to think outside of your comfort zone is part of the process of expanding your mind. Therefore I see no harm in having some technical information in the course content.

Poll: How Long Would You Prefer Your Retreats?

It looks as though we have found the ideal facility for AICS retreats; but then what is the ideal duration? Given that most people are busy with work, family and so on, and while I do have my own opinion, as a method of gauging the right balance I thought I would put it to a vote.

While we would all like to do longer retreats, this is not always possible. So, please give a realistic answer taking into consideration your own personal circumstances.

Thank you,
Clarke Scott

** NOTE: if you are having trouble voting, or cannot see the results of the poll you may need to go to the website to view it. Click here.

n

Workshop on Dysfunction, Dispositional Narrative and Meditation

This workshop covers material from the paper Dysfunction, Dispositional Narrative and Meditation, I will present at this years Australian Meditation Conference.

Here is the abstract:

The stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves, often lead to dysfunctional cognitive states that may lead to misunderstanding our place in the world. Because this dispositional narrative is rooted in a misconception, the question may be raised: can meditation effect dispositional narrative in such a way as to lead to a flourishing life? Clarke’s talk will present current research that suggests this is indeed the case, and details the efficacy of meditation as both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool used to extirpate dysfunctional cognitive states that obstruct genuine happiness.

Places for the workshop are limited.

Workshop Details:

Sunday August 1st, 10:00am — 5:00pm
Cost: $90.00
Tickets: http://www.meditationevents.com.au/
Venue: Yoga Concepts, Level 1, 458 Bridge Road, Richmond
(Blue door next to Kanzaman Lebanese Restaurant)

Workshop Schedule:
Session One: 10.00 am—12.00: Lecture, 1 meditation session and Q &A.
Session Two: 1.00 pm—2.30: Lecture, 2 meditation sessions and Q&A.
Session Three: 3.00pm —5.00 Lecture, 2 meditation sessions and Q & A.

notes: each meditation session is 24 minutes in length.

How to Integrate Dharma into Daily Life

In a recent meditation class here in Hobart I was asked about taking dharma into daily life; how can we integrate that learnt in these sessions into our daily activities. That is, how can we take the insight found whilst our minds are still, and use this in our day to day activities. Good question, I thought. And shows that the inquirer is indeed interested in dharma, over and above the positive affect meditation may have for the hour or so he or she spend meditating. Such questions suggest that this person is likely to be a long-term practitioner simply because he or she sees the connection between what happens on the cushion, and normal walking around. Such people see meditation—or classes thereof—not simply as social events or a time in the week in which they get to chill out with nice people. No. They see the link between meditation and life.

I think the best way to answer the question, “how can I integrate my meditation practice into daily life,” is to reply: you tell me. Seriously, if you are interested in understanding the causal relation between meditation and daily life, you need to see the link for yourself. Such insights arise from critical reflection, not by someone telling you how to think.

Of course, questions, are ways of gaining fresh insights; new perspectives that may lead to new realizations and methods for engaging our practice. Questions are important. There is no doubt about that. But, if they are left at that, then we are simply adopting another persons perspective. This approach, to my mind at least, is a kind of anti-dharma, for the Buddha told his students, “do not adopt what I have taught merely out of respect.”

As I have said before, it is not as if we need to re-invent the dharma-wheel but, it is something we need to experience for ourselves. Critical reflection, therefore, is a genuine type of practice, and moreover, of fundamental importance along the path to enlightenment.

Take this to heart but, do not believe it to be true. Check it out for yourself, by way of critical reflection. As it is this process along that will yield profound insight.

AICS to Offer Weekend Seminars and Meditation Retreats

Well, it has been a week since I got back from the Alan Wallace Shamatha retreat in Sydney. The retreat was great, of course, we were all well looked after and the teachings were wonderful.

Below is a photo of the meditation hall taken between sessions. The retreat was held at a Catholic conference/convent in Sydney hence the crucifix. But what was extraordinary so my Catholic friends tell me is to see statues of Buddha and other Buddhist images along side those of Jesus. There we were, Buddhist, Christian and scientist types all together, all investigating the nature of the mind by employing the contemplative investigatory method we call meditation. Now, that is extraordinary!

Since getting back to Hobart, I have been in contact with Alan to discuss both my future and the future of the Australian Institute for Consciousness Studies (hereafter AICS). I suggested to Alan that AICS offer regular weekend seminars and meditation retreats based on his style of presentation. For I believe his style is ideally suited to a Western audience which mainly consists of people from a secular background, and because these teachings on mental balance and training can be listened to without the need to believe in anything metaphysical. Moreover, this style brings together all schools of Buddhism from the Theravada and Zen, through to the Indo-Tibetan forms into one developmental approach. He agreed saying:”excellent idea!” as well as providing me with some of his own material for AICS to use.

And so, I will be leading retreats on meditation here in Tasmania four times a year—three weekend retreats and one week long retreat—into the future or until the time I go into long-term retreat myself. When this will happen is dependent on many factors which I will not go into right now. Suffice it to say, the Ph.D is only one of many impediments, and so I can say with certainty, it will not be for several years at least.

However , in order to start offering retreats I still need to find a good retreat centre which is not too expensive, and can accommodate up to several dozen people—this is actually not so easy. If you know of such a place could you please let me know. And so by offering regular retreats—with the week-long retreat in the warmer months to allow people from the main land to attend—I hope we can begin to build and promote the good work of AICS and the Phuket International Academy.

Above is a photo of the newly build Phuket International Academy Mind Center and here is a little snippet about the center taken from the website:

Phuket Mind Centre at PIA, offers training in the cultivation of cognitive and emotional balance. Phuket International Academy Mind Centre (PIAMC) provides a blend of contemporary psychology and neuroscience alongside ancient Asian contemplative practices. Delivered through residential retreats and weekend seminars PIAMC is open to all. Working in close interaction with the PIA Day School and the PIA Sports and Leisure Club, the programmes offered through PIAMC will contribute to everyone’s enhanced mental balance and wellbeing.

Although the full details are not yet available, I am hoping to post something about the dates for the first retreat soon…so keep an eye out. Until then you may also want to sign up for the AICS newsletter which you can do over at the AICS website.