Spring 2011 Shamatha Retreat

This morning's session is an unguided open practice, followed by brief Q&A. The meditation period is not included. Alan answers these questions: 1. In awareness of awareness, how can I most effectively release medium excitation other than relaxing more? 2. In settling the mind in its natural state, during the period of "in the seen, let there be just the seen," I'm still aware of my breath as well as thoughts arising. What to do? 3. In settling the mind in its natural state, there are now longer and longer intervals between thoughts. What should I be doing in these gaps? Think? Let it be?