Burlington Buddhist Sangha

Michael offered a presentation on the Buddhist theory of causality, known variously as Dependent Co-Arising, Inter-Dependent Co-Origination, Dependent Origination, etc.  Using the famous depiction of the Wheel of Life, in which the Dependent Co-Arising is depicted in 12 phases (the 12 nidanans) on the outer circle of the wheel, we discussed the inter-relation of cause and effect from various perspectives.  If interested in following up on Buddhist Causality, see Ajahn Thanissaro’s “The Shape of Suffering” for a complete treatment.  Wikipedia gives an adequate summary of the schematics of the Wheel of Life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhavacakra

Beginning a month of presentations on different aspects of Karma, Joey shared her own reflections on Karma and Intention, and also brought excerpts from several buddhist teachers, anchored in a talk by dharma teacher Greg Scharf

http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/229/talk/17659/

Anne B hosted this session which featured a talk from Tara Brach about meditation in times of stress, that we might explore together how we get through tough times as meditators.

http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/175/talk/13010/

Sam offered a presentation on The Present – an all important, sometimes elusive, and often provocative dimension of the dharma.  In addition to excerpts from Rodney Smith’s talk titled “Perpendicular Universe,”

http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/148/talk/1865/

Sam shared a poem by Rumi (The Present and The Presence) and quotations from Tony Parsons and Christina Feldman, provided in the attachment below

Sangha3-3

Joey guided our reflections during our second session on Equanimity, the Seventh Factor of Awakening, asking that in advance we notice those moments when we LOSE equanimity – the circumstances, the triggers, the possible causes – to help us to find ways in which a genuine equanimity can be cultivated in our lives.

Joey’s own reflections were complemented by excerpts from a talk by Winnie Nazarko

http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/315/talk/17681/

Payton guided our reflections on Equanimity, which is both the Seventh Factor of Awakening, and the Fourth Brahma Vihara.  Special attention was given to distinguishing Equanimity as it functions in Buddhist practice from other factors which seem to resemble it but undercut its deepest functioning.  Supporting this investigation was a portion of a dharma talk by Winnie Nazarko

http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/315/talk/17681/

Michael guided the second session on Concentration as a Factor of Awakening, offering two guided meditations (one as taught him by Ajahn Thanissaro, the other in the tradition of Ajanh Sumdeo) which might help one easily sink into samadhi.  These bracketed a recorded talk on concentration by Gil Fronsdal.

http://zencast.org/zencast-404-right-concentration

Nancy led our first session on Concentration as a Factor of Awakening today, using an easy yoga asana, a guided meditation from Ayya Khema, and suggestions to practice drawn from her own experience at a jhana retreat with Leigh Brasington.

Here’s a 15 minute loving-kindness meditation by Ayya Khema similar to the one used

http://media.dharmaseed.org/recordings/1996/06/19960629-Ayya_Khema–lotus.mp3

And you can find over 300 talks by Ayya Khema on DharmaSeed.org

http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/334/

Wendy led our exploration of Calm / Tranquility as a Factor of Enlightenment today, weaving together excerpts of talks by three different dharma teachers.

Marcia Rose “Connecting with the Factors of Enlightenment” http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/112/talk/2540/

Gina Sharpe “Tranquility and Concentration” http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/75/talk/3808/

& Gil Fronsdal “Cultivating Tranquility”

http://www.zencast.org/zencast-286-cultivating-tranquility-

Anne guided our reflections on Calm / Tranquility as a Factor of Awakening today, anchoring her presentation with excerpts of a dharma talk by Joseph Goldstein:

http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/96/talk/3305/