We can experience these truths, which lie at the heart of the Buddha's 
teachings, through direct experience. They can be viewed as: 
Diagnosis of an illness 
Prognosis 
Recovery 
Medicine to cure the disease 

The first 2 truths deal with the way things are; the last 2 point the way to 
freedom from suffering. 

The Noble Truth of Suffering 
Besides "suffering," other translations of the Pali word dukkha include 
unsatisfactoriness, dis-ease, and instability. All these words point to the 
fact that no conditioned phenomenon can provide true (lasting) happiness 
in our lives. The first step in a spiritual life is to look very closely and 
honestly at our experience of life and see that there is suffering. We tend 
to overlook or ignore or just blindly react to the unpleasant, so it 
continually haunts us. Yet although physical suffering is a natural aspect of 
our lives, we can learn to transcend mental suffering. 

The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering 
Through a lack of understanding of how things truely exist, we create and 
recreate an independent self entity called "me." The whole of our 
experience in life can be viewed through this sense of self. In 
consequence, various cravings govern our actions. Cravings arise for sense 
experiences, for "being" or "becoming" (e.g. rich, famous, loved, respected, 
immortal), and to avoid the unpleasant. These cravings are the root cause 
of suffering. 

The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering 
The mind can be purified of all the mental defilements that cause suffering. 
Nibbana, the ultimate peace, has been compared to the extinction of a 
three-fold fire of lust, ill-will, and delusion. One who has realised cessation 
has great purity of heart, ocean-like compassion, and penetrating wisdom. 

The Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering 
The Way leading to cessation contains a thorough and profound training of 
body, speech, and mind. Traditionally it's outlined as the Noble Eightfold 
Path: 
Right Understanding 
Right Intention 
Right Speech 
Right Action 
Right Livelihood 
Right Effort 
Right Mindfulness 
Right Concentration 

This is the culmination of the Satipatthana Sutra that we have been 
practicing and studying. Your attendance in this retreat is welcomed and 
there are no prerequisites. We look forward to your presence and sharing 
this weekend experience together. The retreat will be approximately 1/3 
sitting, 2/3 teaching.

For more information or to sign up, please visit:
http://summitdharmacenter.org/retreats/08222008.html

Live links:

In the Buddha's teaching there are two component parts of the mind 
consciousness and mental factors. Consciousness is that which is aware of 
its object. It is the bare awareness of its object. "Mental factors," are what 
colors consciousness. They arise together with consciousness and modify 
consciousness. 

Greed, hatred, and delusion are mental factors. Faith, wisdom, and love 
are also mental factors. When these mental factors arise, they arise 
together with certain kinds of consciousness. Though meditation on 
consciousness will be emphasized in this retreat, consciousness and 
mental factors cannot be separated. When you observe consciousness you 
also observe mental factors. When you have anger in your mind you will 
learn how to dispassionately observe and note it, "angry, angry, angry," in 
so doing you are contemplating an aspect of consciousness. Other types of 
consciousness will be noted as well: lust, delusion, love and many others. 

Consciousness itself will also be observed: constricted consciousness, 
scattered consciouness, absorption or jhana consciousness, 
unsurpassable consciousness. 

When you observe consciousness in this way, you will come to see that 
there is consciousness only and no person or being that is its agent. You 
will also recognize that since it arises and fades away every moment it is 
impermanent. When you see its impermanence, you won't cling to it 
through craving or attachment. When there is no clinging that remains 
there can be no formation of karma and you will be able to achieve 
freedom from suffering. Within the Indo-Tibetan traditions these practices 
are known as Mahamudra and Dzogchen.

Step-by-step methodical instruction will be given each week and any 
questions you have may be addressed live in each of the classes or 
through email.   
 
We look forward to seeing you and coming together again in these most 
accessible classes and teachings!

YOGAROCKS! MOUNTAIN FEST,
 AUGUST 22 - 24
PLANET BLUEGRASS, LYONS, CO.

YOGAROCKS! MOUNTAIN FEST kicks off its inaugural, weekend long Yoga and 
Live Music Festival, Aug. 22 - 24 2008. The festival include meditation,
riverside camping under the stars, 20 live musical acts and 25 of the
nation's most sought after yoga instructors all on the pristine 17-acre
festival grounds of Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, Co. Featured musical acts are
the Motet presents Juno What!?, Shanti Groove, Ondita and Madonna back-
up singer Donna DeLory. Yoga instructors include Jivamukti instructor Seane
Corn, Anusara teacher Darren Rhodes and Baptiste Power Vinyasa 
instructor Dave Farmar.

SDC's Lisa Dion is organizing Camp YogaRocks! an interactive
mindfulness-based camp for children ages 3 - 10. So bring the whole family!

Tickets are availble at a 30 percent discount by emailing Sangha member 
Erik Vienneau at erik@yogaworldreach.org. 

For more information, please visit the website at:

http://yogarocks.info/

Live links: