AIBMC Practice Day December 06, 2025

Quick recap

The workshop featured a meditation instructor sharing their personal experiences and teachings about Buddhism, including discussions on non-self, awareness, and the stages of Jhana and mindfulness. The instructor explained concepts such as noble silence, equanimity, and the transformation of inner essence, emphasizing that experiencing the non-self nature can lead to a peaceful and blissful life regardless of external circumstances. The session concluded with a guided meditation focusing on body relaxation and breath awareness, encouraging participants to experience silence and spaciousness within themselves.

Meditation and Non-Self Realization

The meditation instructor, who was born in Sri Lanka and has been meditating since age 14, shared his personal experience of a profound realization during a silent retreat in 1996, which led to a deep experience of non-self. He explained that while meditation can provide temporary silence and peace, his experience was different, as it became a lasting foundation for responding to life's challenges rather than reacting emotionally. The instructor noted that this retreat session would be more interactive than usual due to the small group size and mentioned the availability of a separate room for Noble Silence.

Buddhist Teachings on Peaceful Awareness

He discussed the core teachings of Buddhism, emphasizing a peaceful, blissful life. He explained that this involves recognizing the self-image or ego, which is composed of thoughts, emotions, concepts, and speculation. He introduced the concept of awareness, distinguishing it from attention and describing it as a faculty that can be internally focused to experience peace. He also touched on the idea of non-self nature, suggesting that individuals are constantly changing and that understanding this can lead to a profound experience beyond time, space, and matter, akin to observing a rainbow.

Understanding Noble Silence and Jhana

He discussed the concept of noble silence, explaining that it refers to the experience of non-self and deep listening, which helps in avoiding unnecessary debates and arguments. He emphasized the importance of being open-minded and understanding concepts at a deeper level. He also described the stages of jhana, which involve different levels of attention and absorption, starting from simple focus to a broader awareness of everything.

Mindfulness Stages and Enlightenment Path

He discussed the stages of mindfulness and meditation, explaining how practitioners can progress from basic attention to deeper states of awareness, blissfulness, and serenity. He described how some people experience these states temporarily during meditation retreats, while others achieve a more permanent transformation of their inner essence. He emphasized that true enlightenment involves a profound understanding of non-self and equanimity, which can be cultivated regardless of one's external circumstances or whether they choose to become ordained.

Buddhist Insights on Equanimity and Aging

He discussed Buddhist teachings on mundane and super-mundane experiences, explaining how equanimity leads to stream entry. He shared insights on the nature of aging and how clinging to physical appearance creates friction, suggesting that understanding this process allows one to detach from the mind and live peacefully. He emphasized the importance of identifying one's inner essence and stepping aside from mind-created concepts to experience the profound and lasting pleasure of synchronization with existence.

Guided Meditation for Body Relaxation

The speaker led a meditation session, guiding participants through techniques to relax their bodies and focus their attention on the sensation of expansion and relaxation with each breath. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a straight back and encouraged participants to let go of physical tension. The session included instructions to pay attention to the silence and spaciousness within and around oneself, using external noises as a tool to deepen the meditation.