Date: 01/04/2025 01/05/2025
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Sara
Sitting Meditation
Seeing Through the Illusion of Afflictions and Reality
Afflictions appear solid and convincing, yet they arise from misperception and grasping. Without investigation, the mind treats transient experiences as permanent truths. Seeing through their illusory nature does not deny experience, but reveals its conditioned, changing process.
1. Using Affliction as the Entry Point
When affliction arises, do not suppress or escape.
Treat it as an object of observation.
Direct attention marks the beginning of insight.
2. Conditionality as the Thread
Every affliction depends on causes and conditions.
When conditions shift, it changes.
Thus, it lacks independent existence.
3. Impermanence as Evidence
Afflictions do not remain fixed.
They arise and dissolve within awareness.
This arising and passing exposes illusion.
4. Distinguishing Sensation from Interpretation
Discomfort is sensation; suffering is often added meaning.
Seeing the layers reduces grasping.
Illusion hides within misinterpretation.
5. Non-Self as the Breakthrough
What is observed cannot be the observer.
Afflictions are depersonalized.
The burden of “I” loosens.
6. Repeated Verification
Do not rely on a single insight.
Observe similar afflictions repeatedly.
Wisdom stabilizes through confirmation.
7. Equanimity in Observation
Neither reject nor indulge afflictions.
Balanced attention preserves clarity.
Preference obscures reality.
8. Release as the Outcome
As insight matures, afflictions lose force.
They no longer dominate the mind.
Reality becomes evident.
Summary
Afflictions seem real only when unseen. Through sustained observation of their conditioned, impermanent, and non-self nature, illusion dissolves and reality reveals itself
