With the start of a new decade, there is real value in looking at what we can reasonably expect from our individual practices as community level practitioners? What tests or standards did the historical Buddha recommend for assessing how we have done in the last decade, and what we may achieve in the new decade?
This evening will involve an examination of the historical context the lead to the Buddha’s approaches to psychological, emotional and spiritual development. It will also involve an investigation of guidelines for creating a sound practice and assessing it impact in our lives.
The discussion this evening will build on a number of themes explored in Dennis’ presentation on December 19 “Craving and Clinging – Stepping Stones on The Path of Both Suffering & Awakening.” You can listen to the December 19th talk that’s posted to our audio dharma library (click here).

Craving and Clinging (Attachment) – Stepping Stones on The Path of Both Suffering and Awakening

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The historical Buddha taught that the primary cause of suffering is “Craving.” But a careful examination of his nuanced and interconnected teachings reveals that this basic, and apparently simple, teaching is really about a chain of reactions that lead to suffering. Why did the Buddha designate craving as the second Noble Truth, the origin of suffering? This seems like a surprising simple question, but isn’t?
This evening will involve an examination of the historical parameters defining “craving” and its role in the chain-reaction of suffering. We’ll explore the differences between craving and “clinging”? Should these two experiences be understood as separate and independent experiences? Are they related experiences on a continuum of experience that leads to suffering? Or does craving morph into clinging?
Why being able to feel the difference between craving and clinging – the moment of discernment that sets the conditions for everything that follows and what may be possible – is the key to both managing and being liberated from suffering.
Dennis discusses a new 2020 SIM course entitled “Living and Practicing on the Other Side of Suffering” that is directly related to these questions and their answers.

The Essential Role of Context or Framing in Buddhist Practice

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Context – the set of ideas, beliefs and principles which guide our understanding of ourselves, others, our relationships and how the world works – shapes our experience, our assessment of our experience and the choices we make. Context, in very real and tangible ways, determines how we relate to our experience.
In most cases, we don’t give context a second thought. It is the unseen foundation or groundwork of experience that lies just below our normal perception of events.
Buddhist practice involves a conscious and determined re-framing of the context we use to experience and relate to events. The elements of this re-framing – the ideas and principles – are significantly different than the psychological and emotional viewpoints that dominate conventional thinking. Some elements are radically different. In Buddhist practice we refer to this re—framing process as the “Cultivation of Right View.”
During this evening we’ll look at several areas of difference in fundamental context or View between conventional and Buddhist viewpoints; and how those differences translate into significant differences in how we relate to and understand experience – particularly suffering and satisfaction.