Payton led the discussion this past Sunday on the topic of Freedom: Relief vs. Release. The discussion was centered around a talk by Gil Fronsdal, available here:
http://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/6816.html
Gil brought up the social/philosophical tensions that exist in all our lives and how perhaps the “middle way” isn’t just choosing a place on that spectrum. Just a few:
- individualism vs. conformity
- discipline vs. allowing
- conservative vs. liberal
He also listed the “four prisons” that trap us in these tensions:
- Religious observances
- Opinions
- Self
- Sensual desire
Gil’s suggestion, near the end of the talk, was just to be “thus”, rather than identifying with any one side or the other.
Burlington Buddhist Sangha 