Author: Payton Swick

For many Americans, the current political climate generates degrees of fear, ranging from a background level of worried concern to a constant state of dread.  And once they get a purchase on the psyche, these states can be self-perpetuating, like a chronic disease.  

The Buddha often represented himself as a physician—for example, diagnosing the nearly universal symptom of suffering, as caused by the underlying malady of clinging, for which he prescribed letting go as the cure, to be administered by engaging the eight steps of the noble path.  He took the sickness to be quite real, and capable of being addressed by a skillful cure. 

Similarly he developed lists of antidotes for specific types of suffering, including fear.  Utilizing excerpts from a talk by James Baraz, Jackie guided our exploration of how we might most specifically and effectively seek to treat and cure the fear with which so many are struggling these days, and to return to health, with the capacity to act effectively, and  to fight the spread of the disease, by rooting out its cause.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/88422.html

Sitting with our thoughts and emotions is one of the first skills taught to beginners along our path. We learn how to be with difficult feelings without acting on the impulses that have controlled us our whole lives. However, the Buddha never said we should not act, only that we should act skillfully. How can we determine if our impulse to do something in any moment is skillful or unskillful? In this week’s Sangha, Payton investigated the question of discerning the effectiveness and wisdom of our emotions.

He played excerpts from the following two talks by Tara Mulay:

https://dharmaseed.org/talks/87761/

https://dharmaseed.org/talks/82505/

What is the difference between practicing music and practicing meditation?  According to Dharma Teacher Brian Lesage, they can be more similar than we might at first imagine.       

We may become bored with repetition, but also repetition with the smallest variations can become sources of new insights and innovations.

Using Lesage’s talk as a starting point, Don guided our reflections this week on the weave of repetition and innovation that can characterize any often repeated activity, suggesting how to find a path toward renewal rather than the dead end of boredom.

You can listen to Brian’s talk here:

https://dharmaseed.org/talks/66215/

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.”

Even steady and committed spiritual practice can be energized from a slight shift of perspective, and the vipassana practice that most of us follow is no different. Michael guided our reflections this Sunday as we explored a practice adjacent to our own Early Buddhist style that can bring a new dimension to our meditative and life work.

Perhaps the deepest puzzle of Buddhist practice is the apparent contradiction between the concept of no self—no inherent unchanging, independent “me,”  . . .

. . . and at the same time our experience of our own agency, being responsible for our choices, and accumulating good or bad kamma as a result.  

If there is no me, who is deciding to take this action; if there is no me who is the “owner and inheritor of my Kamma” ? 

Darryl guided our investigation of these questions, drawing on a talk by Ajahn Sucitto, who invites us to see that we usually investigate this paradox by starting from a false premise — and then invites us to step into the freedom that arises when such self-deception drops away.  

You can listen to the talk here: Ajahn Sucitto : Doing, not-doing – entering causality

Perhaps it helps us when setting intentions for the new year (or a new day or a new moment) to take a step back and reflect on where we are, where we have been, and where we are going on the path of wisdom and compassion that has been laid out for us by so many traditions. Eric guided our reflections this January Sunday, drawing on a talk by Matthew Brensilver, who finds resonance between the Buddhadharma and the Native American story of Jumping Mouse.

You can listen to Brensilver’s talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/56979/

There’s an additional talk by Steve Armstrong on the same story here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/6807/

Throughout his years of teaching, the Buddha emphasized the benefits that committed practitioners could receive from taking refuge in the Buddha (or Buddha nature), the Dharma (or the teachings) and the Sangha (or the spiritual community of like-minded individuals).  

Of these three jewels, Sangha is said to be the most important.  

So let’s explore:  How might engaging with Sangha not only serve our spiritual practice, but keep us healthier and happier during this modern time of tech-promoted isolation and fractured social structures? 

Paradoxically, met on Zoom only for this discussion.  Yet as we saw even just last week, there can be great depth as we meet online.

Lorilee facilitated, and drew upon recent teachings from James Baraz as we explored deeper meaning and application of relating as a community.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/83729/

She also mentioned the US Surgeon General’s report “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation” which you can read here: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf

We may devote our energy on and off the cushion to cultivating and sharing love and wishing well to those we care for.  And, we may notice that we have a not-so-hidden agenda in mind – perhaps a change in the disposition or the situation of the Other, or ourselves.  What would it mean to love with a truly open heart, regardless of conditions or hopes – for us? for those we love?  Ellen guided our reflections on these matters this Sunday, drawing on a recent talk by Matthew Brensilver. 

You can hear Matthew’s talk here: https://www.audiodharma.org/talks/17856

The Pali term katannuta (“to have a sense of what was done”) is often translated to gratefulness. Buddhism emphasizes the preciousness – both the rarity and opportunity of human life. However, in our daily stresses, especially during the end of the year, it can be hard to feel this gratitude. This week, Sonia guided our Sangha, playing a talk by Pawan Bareja that explores this topic of gratitude and how we can feel gratitude despite (and even because of) these difficulties.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/player/82910.html