Tag Archive for: Dennis Warren

05/24/2018 “Meaning and Practice of ‘Investigation’” with Dennis Warren

The Meaning and Practice of “Investigation” in Insight Practice – The principal purpose of Insight Practice is the creation of conditions that lead to spontaneous, intuitive Insight that liberates the mind and heart from suffering. This occurs through “Investigation.”
An exploration of the meaning of Investigation involves an examination and understanding of the most fundamental and radical viewpoints expressed in the teachings of the historical Buddha. Likewise, it involves how those viewpoints are operationalized into the Buddha’s instruction for practicing meditation and paying attention to our experience in everyday life.
Dennis’ talk explores these topics and the challenges they represent to evaluating our own individual meditation and daily life practices. The talk uses the Buddha’s teachings on the “Seven Factors of Awakening” as a jumping off point for discussion and exploration of this fascinating topic. It would be helpful to review the first 12 pages of the article by the same name by Piyadassi Thera which can be found at https://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/piyadassi/wheel001.pdf.
This talk references the following handout:  Seven Factors Chart (.pdf)

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

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04/05/2018 “Another Piece of the Map: The Meaning of ‘Causes and Conditions'” with Dennis Warren

Another Piece of the Map: The Meaning and Practical Importance of “Causes and Conditions”.
This will be the third in a series of talks on the basic map of Buddhist practice.
The principle of “conditionality” is central to Buddhist practice = “Everything that happens has causes and conditions, proceeds according to causes and conditions, and leads to results in line with causes and conditions.” If you were to remove this principle from practice, the remaining teachers would no longer make sense.
Understanding causes and conditions provides us with the wisdom to see into the true nature of our suffering and the way out of suffering. They are the dynamic elements that hold the comprehensive, inter-related Buddhist teachings together in a single, living presence. Causes and conditions replace the casual agency occupied by a deity or god figure in traditional religions.
But what are causes and conditions from a Buddhist perspective? What is the difference between a cause and a condition? As a completely practice matter, why are they important to the issues of daily life and suffering? He can we use these as a central element of our practice?
Dennis’ talk will use a number of specific, familiar situations as practical illustrations in answering these questions and in responding to questions at the end of the talk.

On this evening, we will explore reconciliation, truth, and forgiveness, in our own hearts and the wider world.

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

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02/15/2018 “Resolving Conflicting Teachings – Part II” with Dennis Warren

Resolving Conflicting, Contradictory or Paradoxical Teachings –Part II
This is the second in a series of talks on the process of working through and unwinding confusion over what appear to be conflicting, contradictory or paradoxical teachings. What do we do? How do we do it? What are the conditions that need to be in place to help us do this exploration skillfully?
Dennis’ talk will use a number of specific, familiar situations as practical illustrations of the fundamental issues involved in working with issues from a Buddhist, rather than a conventional perspective.

Talk handouts:

To listen to Part I of this talk, click here.

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

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01/18/2018 “Resolving Conflicting, Contradictory or Paradoxical Teachings” with Dennis Warren

It is easy to view our perception that one teaching conflicts with, contradicts or is paradoxical to another teaching as an obstacle to our understanding, insight and progress on the path of practice. This perception is frequently a mis-perception based on uncertainty, confusion and doubt. When properly understood, the skillful resolution of such misunderstandings act as a doorway, rather than an obstacles, to the next level, stage or dimension of practice.

This will be the first in a series of talks and discussions about fundamental issues that shape our understanding of the dharma and practice, and have practical, profound implications for our awakening. This evening will focus on the process, the how, of resolving uncertainty, confusion & doubt regarding teachings that seem to be in conflict, contradictory or paradoxical.

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

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08/10/17 “The Arising of Wisdom: Experiencing ‘The Characteristic of Nonself'” with Dennis Warren

The Arising of Wisdom – Experiencing “The Characteristic of Nonself”

Wisdom (Insight), from a Buddhist perspective, arises from “hearing” (listening to the Dharma), study and reflection capped by non-conceptual direct experience. This formula involves intentionally focusing the mind and attention on a number of different and particular experiences, supported by the underlying psychology outlined by the historical Buddha.
This will be the first in a series of interlocking talks about the arising of Wisdom (Insight) by focusing on the experience of “nonself” or “notself.” Dennis’ two most recent talks on the process of suffering thru clinging (becoming attached) to, then identifying with five separate, but tightly related features of human experience commonly referred to as the “Five Aggregates” will service as a foundation for these new talks.

  • Audio from talk 20170619: The Arising Of Wisdom Through Engaging “The Five Aggregates”
  • Audio from talk 20170720: The Arising Of Wisdom Through Engaging “The Five Aggregates” – Part 2
  • Talk Handout (PDF):
    • Dalai Lama & Chodron: Short & Long Term Practice Perspectives on Emotions
    • Guy Armstrong: Foundations of Wordly Happiness vs Liberation & Piers Moore Ede: Whenever Possible, Basic Procedures Are Complicated

Please reflect on the comments of the Dalai Lama and Thubten Chodron about Short & Long Term Practice Perspectives On Emotions. What might this have to do with the nature of suffering associated with being and becoming, on the one hand, and the experience of nonself or notself, on the other???
For those who are using In The Buddha’s Words – An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Cannon, edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi as a reference, please read the following: VII. The Path To Liberation – Introduction, pages 301-309, and suttas at pages 326 – 345.

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

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07/20/17 “Engaging the Five Aggregates – Part 2” with Dennis Warren

The Arising Of Wisdom Through Engaging “The Five Aggregates” – Part 2

Wisdom (Insight), from a Buddhist perspective, arises from “hearing” (listening to the Dharma), study and reflection capped by non-conceptual direct experience. This formula involves intentionally focusing the mind and attention on a number of different experiences, supported by the underlying psychology outlined by the historical Buddha.
This is the second in a series of interlocking talks about the arising of Wisdom (Insight). The first talk focused on the dilemma of suffering thru clinging (becoming attached) to, then identifying with five separate, but tightly related features of human experience – form, feeling, perception, volitional or mental formations (deeply embedded habits of mind) and consciousness. It’s helpful to review the first talk in this series.

For those who are using the book In The Buddha’s Words – An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Cannon, edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi as a reference, you can read the following: VII. The Path To Liberation – Introduction, pages 301-309, and the sutta at pages 335 to 337. In the alternative, follow these links to see Samyutta Nikaya 22, The Connected Discourses on the Aggregates, 56 (on https://suttacentral.net/):

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

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06/29/2017 “Engaging the Five Aggregates” with Dennis Warren

THE ARISING OF WISDOM THROUGH ENGAGING “THE FIVE AGGREGATES”

Wisdom (Insight), from a Buddhist perspective, arises from “hearing” (listening to the Dharma), study and reflection capped by non-conceptual direct experience. This formula involves intentionally focusing the mind and attention on a number of different experiences, supported by the underlying psychology outlined by the historical Buddha.

This will be the first in a series of interlocking talks about the arising of Wisdom (Insight). The first talk will focus on the dilemma of suffering thru clinging (becoming attached) to, then identifying with five separate, but tightly related features of human experience – form, feeling, perception, volitional or mental formations (deeply embedded habits of mind) and consciousness.

The notion of “The Five Aggregates” is a fundamental aspect of Buddhist practice which can easily seem like theory or philosophy – but it is anything but conceptual thinking. During this evening, we’ll explore how this aspect of practice can become a real and tangible gateway into understanding attachment, identification and suffering.

For those who are using the book In The Buddha’s Words – An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Cannon, edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi as a reference, please read the following: VII. The Path To Liberation – Introduction, pages 301-309, and the sutta at pages 335 to 337.

In the alternative, follow these links to see Samyutta Nikaya 22, The Connected Discourses on the Aggregates, 56 (on https://suttacentral.net/):

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

To listen to Part 2 of this talk series, click here.

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06/01/2017 “Exploring Attachment and Its’ Consequences – Part 2” with Dennis Warren

Exploring Attachment and Its’ Consequences – Part II

This evening with be the second in an exploration of the Buddhist element of Attachment and its consequences. In particular, we will look at the nature of “positive” attachment which is an important part of practice development; and how positive attachment, which begins as a healthy aspiration, can become problematic and counter-productive. It would be helpful if you could revisit the first evening’s on-line audio exploration on this topic (click here) presented April 27.

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

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05/20/2017 “Attention & Mindful – An Exploration” Retreat with Dennis Warren

Day-long Retreat on the theme: Attention & Mindful – An Exploration

Mindfulness is sometimes described as non-judgmental “bare” attention. As helpful as this general description may be, it tends to cloud the fact that there is a significant difference between attention and mindfulness. They play separate and distinct roles in practice. And, most importantly, it gives no hint of the reality that attention and mindfulness are both purposeful in Buddhist practice. In a period of time when both of these terms are been uncoupled from their historical Buddhist meanings, what do they mean for each of us as 21st century, urban practitioners?

This will be a day of practice, reflection, experimentation and investigation:

  • What is the functional difference between attention and mindfulness?
  • What are we supposed to be paying attention to and being mindful of?
  • What does it mean that attention and mindfulness are purposeful in Buddhist practice?

What is the relationship between the answers to these questions and the underlying psychology of the historical Buddha?

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

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04/27/2017 “Exploring Attachment and Its Consequences” with Dennis Warren

Exploring Attachment and Its Consequences

All of us have some understanding of the Buddhist element of Attachment. This evening with SIM Founding Teacher Dennis Warren will involve a practical and in-depth exploration of Attachment; its role in Buddhist psychology; its place in the Buddhist description of causation; the phenomenon of “positive” attachment; and Attachment’s consequences, both intentional and unanticipated.

Talk handout: Foundational Qualities of Mind (PDF)

If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.

To listen to Part 2 of the series, click here.

 

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