On Sunday, Adam guided a discussion on Sickness as practice. Here are his notes from the presentation.
Using illness constructively in our practice can be a challenge. I didn’t realize how easy it was to simply try and “get rid of” my own sickness until only a few days ago. I had been struggling (and I do mean “struggling”) with a cold and it occurred to me (for the first time while actually being sick) that being in a state of illness need not entail the suffering that seemed to come along with it. For our Sangha Sunday, I’d like to present some dharma talks for contemplation and discussion as a way to enrich our lives as we move headlong into cold- and flu-season.
Sally Clough Armstrong talk (http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/153/talk/25145/)
2:20-4:01 buddha afraid of old age sickness and death
25:41 -33:23 on sickness
Skye Dawson talk (http://dharmaseed.org/talks/audio_player/199/19411.html)
1:36-3:51 what the Buddha wanted for us....skillfulness
16:17-29:25 aging and loss of health
Talking points:
*using the vedanas (feeling tones) to observe sickness and pain as sensation that comes and goes
* observing the body’s automatic responses and our conditioning to illness (sniffling, throat-clearing, coughing)
* sickness as practice for death
Burlington Buddhist Sangha 