dedicated to a peaceful & just society
grounded in contemplative & spiritual practice
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Midwestern Dhamma dedicated to a peaceful & just society grounded in contemplative & spiritual practice |
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A critique of unwholesome ascetic striving & the theory that backs it. Description of frutiful striving according to Buddhist principles.
Seven ways of dealing with the asava (out-flows, taints, fermentations). Ending the asava means full liberation.
The fundamentals of dependent co-origination as they are reborn repeatedly each day (6.58 MB).
The stages of ego conception, gestation, & birth reviewed; the centrality of contact & the importance of ignorance (6.79 MB).
No talk this week
Various perspectives on quenching the spinning of egoism & dukkha (6.41 MB), plus more on contact & ignorance (594 KB).
Available online at Access to Insight (Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation) and in print within The Long Discourses of the Buddha, tr Maurice Walsh (Wisdom). Also see translation & notes in the updated class handout.
The Dependent Co-Origination that Goes Beyond the usual Concocting of Suffering (tr. from Buddhadasa Bhikkhu). [Alternate translations by Bhikkhu Bodhi and by Thanissaro Bhikkhu].
Our preferred translation is in Ajarn Buddhadasa's Mindfulness with Breathing (Wisdom). Here's an online translation by Ven Thanissaro.
... more Audio files posted here ...
Vatthupama Sutta, The Simile of the Cloth (MN 7): Confidence in the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha leads to understanding of the Dhamma, right practice, and liberation (Access to Insight version).
Culasihanada Sutta, The Shorter Lion's Roar (MN 11): Confidence is well placed only where there is full understanding of clinging (Access to Insight version).
Vimamsaka Sutta, The Inquirer (MN 47): skillful inquiry of the Tathagata leads to invincible faith
Culakammavibhanga Sutta, The Shorter Exposition of Kamma (MN 135): ends with a typical expression of lay discipleship (Access to Insight version | Alternative version).
Tying together our looks at the Anapanasati Sutta w/ our study of paticca-samuppada). Idappaccayata is the broader principle of conditionality of which the paticca-samuppada of dukkha is a specific case. The first page of the original handout has the classic sutta description of Idappaccayata. How does this show up in Anapanasati? Are there particular lessons that are especially relevant? Also, how can our practice of Anapanasati illuminate the paticca-samuppada of clinging & dukkha? And how is Anapanasati relevant to our response to paticca-samuppada?
Ignorance (avijja) is also something with conditions. Here the Buddha explores further nuances of paticca-samuppada; there's more to it than just the standard 12 link formula. Please see #5 in the Handout (long) within this ZIP file.
Let's start w/ the Culamalunkaya Sutta (M 63), p. 533 ff in the Nyanamoli translation. On Access to Insight it's ... The Shorter Instructions to Malunkya {M i 426} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. Ven. Malunkyaputta threatens to disrobe unless the Buddha answers all his speculative metaphysical questions. Using the famous simile of a man shot by a poison arrow, the Buddha reminds him that some questions are simply not worth asking. It ends w/ a reference to the 4 Noble Truths as worth asking about.
Then there are the 4 Acinteyya (Unthinkables) = Acintita Sutta (AN IV.77) Unconjecturable {A ii 80} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. If you spend too much time pondering these four things you will surely drive yourself crazy.
Finally, what things do you consider worth asking about & pondering over?
Loving kindness as meditations and in ordinary life. Suggested readings (sections refer to the Wisdom edition):
<> M 40 (section 9): on Imbuing all directions w/ loving mind
<> M 128 (section 12): in 3-fold actions of body, speech, & mind
<> M 43 (section 31): Immeasurable Liberation of Mind
Sorry, Access to Insight doesn't seem to have any of these, nor some others contained in Middle Length Discourses (tr. Bhikkhus Nyanamoli & Bodhi; Wisdom Publications).
These verses on Precious Jewels are frequently recited in Theravada countries. These define the meaning of Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha in terms of awakening, the four noble truths, and liberation. [Piyadassi Thera trans | Thanissaro Bhikkhu trans].
In "The Noble Search," the Buddha describes his own search for freedom from the birth, aging, illness, death, sorrow, and defilement to which we all are subject. Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, p. 253.
In "The Noble Search," the Buddha describes his own search for freedom from the birth, aging, illness, death, sorrow, and defilement to which we all are subject. Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, p. 246 (not available on Access to Insight).
{M i 145} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans]. Using the simile of a set of relay chariots, Ven. Punna Mantaniputta explains the relationship of the factors of the path to the goal of the holy life. Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, p. 240ff.
{M i 114} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans]. The Buddha recounts the events leading up to his Awakening, and describes his discovery that thoughts connected with sensuality, ill-will, and harmfulness do not lead one to Awakening, while those connected with their opposites (renunciation, non ill-will, and harmlessness) do. Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, p. 207ff. The discussion will be lead by Ven. Santidhammo.
{M i 108} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans]. A man looking to pick a fight asks the Buddha to explain his doctrine. The Buddha's answer mystifies not only the man, but also a number of monks. Ven. Maha Kaccana finally provides an explanation, and in the course of doing so explains what is needed to bring the psychological sources of conflict to an end. Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, p. 201ff. The discussion will be lead by Ven. Santidhammo.
Please join us.
