Author: Payton Swick

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

Today we spoke about Buddhism, Science, Philosophy, Myth, Epistemic Traps and what all these have to do with one another and more importantly, what they have to do with our response to the world as it we find it.

If you’d like to pull on one of the many threads Eric tried to weave together today, here are some resources.  

Matthew Brensilver’s post-election talk

A Mindscape Interview with C Thi Nguyen

C Thi Nguyen’s paper on Epistemic Traps and Playfulness

Thomas Hertog’s RI talk about Stephen Hawking’s change of heart

Books Mentioned

• There’s Treasure Everywhere by Bill Watterson
• The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt
• The Courage to Be by Paul Tillich
• On the Origin of Time by Thomas Hertog
• Games : Agency as Art by C Thi Nguyen

Movies / Shows Mentioned

• The Lord of the Rings / Rings of Power
• Barbie 
• Black Holes : The Edge of All We Know 

   The feeling that somehow we are not enough pervades the modern psyche – not wise enough or compassionate enough, not good looking or financially secure enough, not having enough friends, just for starts.  And this is not only a contemporary problem.  The feeling of Lack has been an element of being human at least as far back as the Buddha’s time, and the Dharmic teachings address this directly, offering fresh perspectives and pathways to meet this root of the sense of unsatisfactoriness in life.

Darryl guided our reflections, drawing on a talk on “Enoughness” by Narayan, as well as on other sources.

You can listen to the talk here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/70880/

Most of us are aware that Samadhi reaches far beyond the western idea of concentration, and the explorations of Samadhi by Christina Feldman and Yahel Avigur confirm that understanding and show some unexpected vistas to which this practice can lead us.  

The deep connection of Samadhi to insight reminds of why the Buddha himself first explored that practice and then took a turn. And the close relation between Samadhi and well being, deeply experienced, can also provide us with fresh perspectives. Darryl was our guide this Sunday and shared excerpts from Christina and Yahel that can serve as guided meditations in themselves.

Christina’s talk is here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/77668/

Yahel’s talk is here: https://dharmaseed.org/talks/73558/