Burlington Buddhist Sangha

The Buddha’s instructions on Satipatthana meditation begin with a deep look into our own bodies.  This can be a problematic beginning for many, especially in our culture with its emphasis on appearance, ethnicity, and race – not to mention the ways that “the body keeps the score” of traumas endured.  Drawing on a talk by Chas DiCapua this week, Jackie guided our discussion of our experience of the roles of embodiment in a life of mindful awakeness.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/86739/

“Taking refuge” in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha is sometimes thought of as “becoming a Buddhist,” a once and for all public affirmation of one’s commitment.  For others it is a quiet inner dedication, whispered almost silently each morning while bowing at one’s cushion, before beginning the day’s practice.  Steve, also drawing on a talk by Tara Brach, guided our conversation this week about the diverse presences and meanings of these oft-repeated vows. 
   
Here are the passages from the Dhammapada:

https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=188

Here is the long talk by Tara Brach:

Here is the talk by Ines Freeman:

Taking Refuge

Here is the Bob Dylan song, “Shelter from the Storm”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzaXlq1Pdmk

Last week, the description of the Buddha’s middle way — between asceticism and sensual indulgence — came up. This Sunday, with Sam’s guidance, we delved further into the Buddhist middle way as a path between ignorance and knowledge, and between existence and non-existence of the “self”. 

Sam played excerpts from the following four talks.

Sharon Salzberg, 6-19-87

https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/43178.html

Ayya Medhanandi,  8-21-20

https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/62510.html

Kirsten Kratz, 4-10-22

https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/70646.html

Ajahn Sucitto, 10-7-23

https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/80606.html

Living in light of the Dharma is often pictured as a journey, from here to there, with disruptions, detours, and difficulties along the way to be avoided as much as possible.  But interruptions to the journey and pauses in our progress can of themselves be of real value.  Michael guided our reflections as we explore what interruptions and pauses have to offer us in our practice.

The Eight worldly winds of pleasure/pain, gain/loss, fame/disrepute, and joy/sorrow seem to present us with the never ending problem of attachment to some of them and aversion to the others.  Can we see this problem as beautiful?

Drawing on a talk by Michele McDonald, Eric guided our reflections this week. One of the beautiful aspects of problems is that there are so many skillful teachers in the world, past and present, that are there to help guide us.  The best teachers don’t just show us how to solve a problem, but how to relate to them more skillfully and thus live more skillfully.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/33308/

Eric also recommended a book / movie combo:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_of_Your_Life

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_(film)

There is a melody, often with a repeating lyric that we encounter in the first level of mindfulness.  But there’s a second melody available too — much richer, easy to overlook, but always present.

Drawing on a talk by Brian LeSage, Don guided our reflections this week, focusing on this second melody, which we feel and touch as much as hear. This second melody is not confined to the meditation cushion, and is perhaps easier to hear sitting quietly in the woods or stroking the cat on your lap. It is there with you, riding your bike or paddling your kayak. You were born with this awareness. Chuck out all of those clunky old concepts. You don’t need them. Let go of your breath and just be.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/85479/

During the discussion, the painting The Song of the Lark was brought up, which you can look at and learn about here: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/94841/the-song-of-the-lark

Peace begins with our own hearts and minds.  As we treat ourselves, so we treat the world.

Continuing our study of the Brahma viharas, we’ll turn our attention to compassion, and specifically self compassion. Lorilee guided our reflections this week drawing on a dharma talk by Beth Sternlieb at Spirit Rock.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/60751/

An awakening and opening of the heart is central to how many of us experience the contemplative path. Loving-kindness and compassion are often spoken about in Buddhism, but what about the other ways that love and even heartbreak are present and necessary on our path of awakening? This week, Tucker guided our reflections, drawing talks and writings by dharma teacher and Zen master Henry Shukman.

You can listen to the interview that Henry gave here: https://soundcloud.com/guruviking/ep261-original-love-henry-shukman

Humility may seem like a subdued virtue, but exploring it in depth reveals the humor, the insight and the surprise that can come in discovering the subversive forces that alternately undermine and promote humility.  Eric guided our reflections this week, drawing on a talk by Cara Lai, offering fresh insights into this quality we are often so shy to discuss.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/59613/

Equanimity may appear at the summit of the Seven Factors of Awakening, the Ten Paramis, and the Four Brahma Viharas, but it can prove essential, and attainable, right in the midst of everyday life.  

 Jackie, guided our investigation of Equanimity this week, drawing on her own experience and a talk by Jill Shepherd.

A link to the talk is here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/79313.html