Dharma Seed: dharma talks and meditation instruction

(Auckland Insight Meditation)

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center) One of the seven factors of awakening is investigation-of-dhammas (or phenomena), which includes an attitude of patient curiosity or keen interest. This important factor works together with strong mindfulness to help us discriminate between the wholesome and unwholesome mind states present at any given moment. The Buddha described this as one of the key qualities that led to his awakening. This talk will explore how we can better understand this factor and begin implementing it more in our practice.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center) We first hear from a member of the community about how he is experiencing and responding to what's happening in the larger society and world in our times. We then fairly briefly review last week's session, first identifying the three traditional areas of training--in wisdom, meditation, and ethics--and how each can be important resources for responding to what's happening in our own experience and in our society and world. We focus especially on reviewing our exploration of "ethical practice," responding in our everyday lives and in the larger society and world in caring and compassionate ways. We then explore the traditional figure of the bodhisattva as one who brings together deep commitments both to awakening and to helping others--helping others both in awakening and in terms of their life needs. We look at examples of bodhisattva vows from Theravada, Japanese Zen, and Vietnamese traditions, as well as from passages from Shantideva's "Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life." We show images of archetypal bodhisattvas such as Avalokiteshvara, Tara, Kwan Yin, and Manjushri and discuss the ten ways of training of the Mahayana bodhisattva. We suggest a number of contemporary exemplars of the bodhisattva vocation, and invite participants to develop their own personalized bodhisattva vows. The talk is followed by discussion.

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Insight Santa Cruz) Suggested Homework: 1. Daily meditation: 10-20 minutes. 2. As with last week, choose a routine activity and practice mindfulness whenever you do this activity. This week specifically focus on mindfulness of body while doing the activity. 3. Try eating a meal mindfully. Consider doing this once per day or a few times this week.

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Auckland Insight Meditation) How can the dharma help us meet these deeply disturbing times?

(Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley) This talk discusses the Buddha's words on holding to fixed views from The Paramatthaka Sutta (Sn 4.5) followed by an open Q&A. While the Buddha warned against attachment to views, some views are clearly aligned with the Dharma such as: causing harm will lead to suffering for oneself or another. How can we reconcile not holding to fixed views when you're clear that it is appropriate to take a strong stand against harm? After reflections on this topic there is a Q&A session on this theme and other practice questions are explored.

(Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat)

(Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat)