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Looking Within For Guidance

This week, our Sangha considered a talk by Jack Kornfield on the Mahaparinibbana Sutta which is a collection of stories about the Buddha’s last year. A theme throughout the talk is looking within for guidance. Sam presented this talk for us all to explore.

You can listen to the full talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/73180/

Jack reads one quote attributed to the Buddha which is related below:

“I consider the positions of kings and rulers as that of dust motes. I observe treasure of gold and gems as so many bricks and pebbles. I look upon the finest silken robes as tattered rags. I see myriad worlds of the universe as small seeds of
fruit, and the greatest lake in India as a drop of oil on my foot. I perceive the teachings of the world to be the illusion of, magicians. I discern the highest conception of emancipation as golden brocade in a dream, and view the holy path of the illuminated one as flowers appearing in one’s eyes. I see meditation as a pillar of a mountain, Nirvana as a nightmare of daytime. I look upon the judgment of right and wrong as the serpentine dance of a dragon, and the rise and fall of beliefs as but traces left by the four seasons.”