The Talk explores ways of re-languaging and accessing the spirit of Devotion when it doesn’t come naturally, the ‘near misses’ of Devotion and how to untangle ourselves from them, and ways to cultivate the richness Devotion in our daily lives.
Would you recognize an enlightened person? This is a question that was asked frequently by people in the Buddha’s time as well as in today’s world. You might have been inspired by a teacher or a Dharma acquaintance, and wondered if that person might be “awake”. But how would you know? What are the criteria? Are the criteria the Buddha spoke about relevant today? What about those who claim to have transcendent knowledge?
Conversely, If we are not inspired by a particular Dharma acquaintance or a teacher, does that mean we ignore what they have to say because we don’t see them on the road to enlightenment?
In tonight’s talk we’ll investigate what the Buddha had to say regarding “encountering an awakened being”, beginning with a conversation he had with King Pasenadi. King Pasenadi was also puzzled on who was on the road to enlightenment and who wasn’t and how could he tell?
SIM Community Teacher Rich Howard will offer two connected events at the end of January with the theme “Cling to Nothing.” The Thursday January 26 presentation, “Cling to Nothing: The Aggregates and Other Forms of I, Me, and Mine” will look at the various ways in which clinging happens and creates an unhealthy sense of self. We will discuss the forms of clinging recognized by the Buddha, and how they lead to dissatisfaction. The Saturday January 26 daylong will expand on these themes, but both events are standalone; you may attend one or both. The text inspiring this theme is “Untangling Self: A Buddhist Investigation of Who We Really Are” by Andrew Olendzki (Wisdom Publications, 2016).
Powerful cultural and technological forces are reshaping the landscape of American Buddhist practice: several years of COVID isolation; the ability to attend events by Zoom in the comfort of your own home; an explosion of on-line Buddhist practice opportunities; and a new generation of practitioners introduced to meditation thru on-line apps.
These forces present each of us individually, and Sacramento Insight Meditation, with far-reaching issues:
Are our traditional understandings of the 3 foundational elements of Community, Spiritual Friendship and Service still relevant?
Do these forces threaten the stability and future of SIM as both an organization and as a community?
Do we need to be flexible and creative in adapting and adjusting these 3 elements of practice to the rapidly changing landscape of Western Buddhist practice? If so, what would that look like.
Dennis will present an overview of issues which will be explored by Margaret Buss, SIM’s long-time coordinator of volunteer services, Karen Tercho, Board of Directors member, and community volunteer extraordinaire David Guerrieri.
What does the dharma tell us about the nature of self? Who are we as spiritual seekers in this precious life?
One of the main characteristics of delusion is being totally identified as a Special Me. Starting with our name, our history, and our self-image, all of these enable us to solidify the sense that we are living a separate, subtly significant and special life. Interestingly, our feeling of specialness is not just from having positive qualities; our suffering too can also make us feel unique. “I am the most victimized”, “I never lived up to my potential” “No one understands me” and so many other self-narratives create a Special Me. Not needing to be special, not needing to be any particular way, is what it means to be free—free to experience our most authentic self. Tonight, we will discuss the traditional methods for breaking thru this delusion, as well as some practical everyday exercises.
As the days wane and the nights get longer, Rich will bring reflections on the “greatest blessings” from the Maha-Mangala Sutta (Sutta Nipata 2.4). This beloved sutta reminds us that, even in the midst of loss and grief, our ordinary lives contain so many sources of happiness. In balancing our awareness of suffering with the uplifting conditions in life, we come closer to seeing things as they are. This awareness provides a balance to our daily life practice and a motivation for skillful action in the world.
While not usually repeating topics, Rich finds this sutta to be a favorite at this season, connecting the gratitude of Thanksgiving and the reflection of New Year’s, not to mention the gift-giving spirit of Christmas and Hannukah. Rich last offered reflections on this sutta six years ago, as we moved into the Sacramento Dharma Center, and two years ago, when we returned to the SDC after the COVID-19 lockdown. As we celebrate 20 years of SIM, let’s bring these blessings to mind again.
It seems obvious that one of the foundations of practice is paying careful attention to our experience. What paying attention means from a Buddhist perspective, however, may not be so obvious.
The answers to the What? and How? of paying attention are closely linked with the purposefulness of practice; our intention in practicing; and the short and long-term consequences (karma) of how and to what we pay attention.
This evening will be a practical, working exploration of these issues from the standpoint of Buddhist psychology, teachings and methods.
The subject matter of this evening is appropriate for all stages of practice.
We will discuss Right Thought, often called Right Intention, which is the second factor of the Noble Eightfold Path (after Right View). In one sutta, usually translated as “Two Kinds of Thought” (MN 19), the Buddha said that before his enlightenment he realized he could divide his thoughts into “two classes” as either: thoughts of sensual desire, ill and cruelty OR thoughts of renunciation, non-ill will and non-cruelty. He then saw that the first class of thought led to affliction for himself and others, while the other class did not. Pondering this helped lead him on to his eventual liberation. He concluded this discourse by telling his audience that “the safe and good path to be traveled joyfully has been reopened by me.”
Sacramento Insight Meditation is celebrating 20 years as a sangha! We have come a long way since the start in 2002 and will be commemorating the anniversary at a special event on December 1, 2022. Our esteemed teachers, Dennis Warren, Diane Wilde, Rich Howard, and special guest, John Travis, will be there in person to share memories of their involvement in SIM. Kamala Masters and Steve Armstrong will also be joining us via Zoom. The meditation portion of the evening will be shortened a bit to have time for cake and tea afterwards. This will also be an opportunity to socialize with one another.