Practice 10 – Mindfulness of the Body: Mindfulness with Clear Comprehension

The skilful navigation of our raft

Clear comprehension means you know what you are doing, why you are doing it, and whether it is worth doing.

Ajahn Sucitto

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Practice 11 – Mindfulness of the body: its reality and composition

Understanding the true nature of our physicality

When we look at the body clearly, we see it’s neither beautiful nor ugly — it’s just a bag of elements doing their job.

Ajahn Chah

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Practice 12 – Mindfulness of the Body: Mindfulness of the Elements

Recognising the fundamental materials of our raft

Deconstructing the body into qualities

I see that this body—made of the four elements—is not really me, and I am not limited by this body.

Thich Nhat Hanh

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Practice 13 – Mindfulness of the Body: Contemplating change, ageing, and death

Recognising the impermanent nature of our raft

All conditioned things are impermanent. When one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.

Gotama – The Buddha

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Practice 14 – “Māra, I See You”: Navigating the ongoing journey

Temptation and relapse: Guardrails against falling overboard

Māra – I can see you,
Māra – I can hear you,
Māra – I can smell you,
Māra – I can taste you,
Māra – I can feel you,
Māra – I know you!

RAFT to Freedom

“Māra never vanishes; he is always there, lurking. But for those who have opened their eyes, his power is broken. They see him and know him, and he cannot deceive them.”

Adapted from a Buddhist Commentary

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