In the Maha-parinibbana Sutta, we learn what occurred during the last few months of the Buddha’s life. We will explore a few episodes from this sutta and examine some of the Buddha’s compassionate teachings during this poignant time leading up to his death.
EQUANIMITY PHRASES from SIM Senior Teacher John Travis:
May I accept things as they are.
May I remain in peace, and let go of expectations.
May I find the inner resources to remain present and be kind to myself and others.
May I see my limits compassionately, just as I see the limitations of others.
No matter how I might wish things could be otherwise, things are the way they are.
Whether I understand it or not, things are unfolding according to karma.
I wish you happiness and peace, but cannot make your choices for you.
I will care for you, but cannot keep you from suffering.
All beings are the owners of their own karma. Their happiness and unhappiness depend upon their actions, not my wishes for them.
Although I wish only the best for you, I know that your actions, not my wishes for you, will determine your happiness or unhappiness.
I care about your pain, but cannot control or eliminate it.
May I offer love, knowing I cannot control the course of your life, suffering or death.
May I offer my care and presence without conditions, knowing they may be met by anger, gratitude or indifference.
Awakening, or Enlightenment, is considered the point of liberation when a practitioner exits the Wheel of Suffering associated with daily life. The biographies of those who practiced directly with the Historical Buddha are filled with stories of Awakening and Enlightenment…while meditating, listening to a dharma talk, during the course of daily monastic life.
It’s reasonable to ask if this profound notion of liberation – where the mind is purified of all obstacles, limitations and suffering – is relevant and realistic today for the community practitioner?
This evening will explore the meaning and different models of Awakening or Enlightenment. It will examine a working model that may help us reframe our understanding and experience of this important potential in our lives, and provide for a more satisfying practice and life.
Humans love stories. Part of the path of practice is to not only help us see the unspoken stories in our lives but also to help us discern whether they support greater freedom or not.
Humans long for peace in our lives and in our world. In our practice of boundless kindness (Metta in Pali), we say, “May you be peaceful.” So, what are the conditions that lead to peace in the outer and inner worlds? The Buddha counseled rulers about outer peace, and gave many instructions to practitioners about inner peace. We will examine these instructions and see how we might apply them to bring peace for ourselves, those around us, and our world.
I will go through the five aggregates — they are the essential explanation of the human condition: Body, feeling, perception, and mental formations…in the elusive consciousness. I’d look at these as the description of our human condition.
The Historical Buddha’s teaching, psychology and practice methods are frequently referred to as a Path or The Path. Sometimes, they are presented as a vast inter-connected net that provides us with safety and stability. For many, however, the elements of practice sometimes feel more like a confusing puzzle or a basket of seemingly contradictory principles and recommendations.
How do the elements of practice fit together in a cohesive system of meditation and life practices that are relevant, useful, helpful?
This evening will explore some of the fundamental principles that help us to shift from uncertainty and confusion about practice, to an understanding of how the elements fit together and support each other. It will examine a model of doing this where core principles help us move from a sense of separation to one of connectedness and inter-relationship.
In this talk, we’ll explore the metaphor of the ancient city as described in the City Sutta, reflecting on how our journey toward liberation unfolds step by step. By integrating teachings from the Dhammapada and the principles of Ehipassiko and Opaniyiko, we’ll examine how the path invites us to look within, dismantle delusion, and cultivate insight, ultimately revealing the freedom already present within us.