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Rebecca drew from Joseph gold stein’s new book-length examination of the Satipatthana Sutta, titled “Mindfulness,” to present an overview of Dependent Arising, as background for our continuing study

Michael guided our reflections as we continue exploring the Buddhist understanding of cause and effect , focusing this week on the fabricating of habitual patterns (Sankhara), the stress that results, and the possibility of transforming them in practice.  Contemporary neurology as well as ancient scripture were brought to bear on this causal phase of suffering.

The work of neurologist Rick Hanson was of particular use here, not only in explaining humankind’s bias toward negative experience, but also in spotting and cultivating thought patterns which lead to sustained happiness.  Hansen’s books are “The Buddha’s Brain,” “Hardwiring Happiness,” and “Just One Thing.”  A respected teacher of meditation at spirit Rock, he is also recognized for his work in neuroplasticity but the scientific community.

This week Nancy offered the first look into the teaching that the Buddha himself called equal in importance to the Four Noble Truths – the teaching of Dependent Arising (paticca samupadda). This is the Buddhist rich and subtle understanding of causality, which focuses on how particular conditions give rise to our experience.

This systematic view is rich in practice possibilities – transforming neurotic patterns into healthy ones, extricating oneself from stuckness or downward spirals.  In the traditional sequence, the first of 12 links in the chain of Dependent Arising is Ignorance, and with Nancy we explored the ignorance of prana – energy in our own bodies – and ignorance of the Four Noble Truths, and the ways in which actively ignoring those truths increases our suffering.

Even though our sangha meeting today was called off because of snow and ice which trapped several of us (including our presenters) in their homes, four members of the sangha made it to the studio and had a lovely quiet winter sit.

Payton led our discussion on the concept of Dukkha, or unsatisfactoriness, in the context of the Three Characteristics (aka: Three Marks) of Existence. The Three being Impermanence, Dukkha, and Not-self.

The Trilogy of Anicca, Dukkha and Anatta – By Bhikkhu Bodhi

Ignorance functions in two ways, negative and positive. On the negative side it simply obstructs us from seeing things as they are; it throws up clouds of mental darkness. On the positive side, it creates in the mind illusions called perversions. Due to these perversions, we see things in quite the opposite way from the way they really are.

These perversions are:
(a) Perversion of seeing what is unattractive as attractive.
(b) Perversion of seeing what is Dukkha or unsatisfactory as pleasurable.
(c) Perversion of seeing what is impermanent as permanent.
(d) Perversion of seeing what is really not self as self.
These illusions give rise to craving, conceit, wrong view and all other defilements, and in that way we become entangled in dukkha.

These universal characteristics have to be understood in two stages: first intellectually, by reflection; and thereafter by direct insight or realisation [sic] through insight meditation.

The recorded talk was “The Three Characteristics of Existence: Suffering” by Shin Kwan Park: http://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/4611.html

Our Sangha meeting today was canceled due to snow.  We used the time ego meditate at home.

Sam led the discussion, focusing on the three heavenly messengers – old age, sickness, and death.  Excerpts from the following dharma talks were used (all available on dharmaseed.org):
1) Heavenly Messengers by Narayan Liebenson , 3/23/06 – first 13 min.,
2) Natchiketa and the Lord of Death by Jack Kornfield, 9/10/12 – first 9.5 min,
3) Mystery and the Graciousness of Uncertainty by Jack Kornfield, 7/22/13 – first 14 min

In addition, the three poems we reflected on are here:

Poems for Heavenly Messengers

Margaret guided exploration of Perception. This third of the five skandhas relates us clearly – or not sometimes so clearly – to the outside world. To what degree are we subject to the biases of our perceptions, and to what degree can we gain clarity and perspective on our own distortions, thus taking a step toward genuine freedom?

Jessica led our reflections today,focusing on the ways we can meet negative emotions which arise habitually.  Excerpts from a dharma talk by Tara Brach on Self-Compassion provided perspective for the discussion.  For the full talk, click here

http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/175/talk/18874/

This Sunday, Anne B guided our reflections, investigating how our practice ripens as we dedicate ourselves to it over time.  Contributing to the discussion were excerpts from Spirit Rock Teacher Anna Douglas, speaking on “What Changes as We Practice?”  That talk can be found at

http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/23/talk/10372/