This talk has a focus on Right Effort and presents a model for understanding and working with this core practice that may be a little different than you have heard before. Drawing on a number of talks of the Historical Buddha and other teachers, Dennis explores a practical approach to jump starting your practice.
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To listen to Part 2 of the series, click here.
“What is the benefit of living the contemplative life?”
This is the question put to the historical Buddha by King Ajatasattu. The dialogue that continues is one of the most comprehensive and eloquent presentations of the Buddha regarding his teachings; a comparison of his teachings to the other major spiritual and philosophical theories of the time; the original Sangha’s code of ethics; the Buddha’s own lifestyle, and more.
This talk is part of a continuing discussion of this fascinating Sutta that began during Dennis’ talk on June 9th. You might listen to that talk as a way of preparing for this evening.
The evening will explore the specifics of this sutta and how they have direct application to our practice and daily life today in an urban setting.
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WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF LIVING THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE?
This is the question put to the historical Buddha by King Ajatasattu. The dialogue that continues is one of the most comprehensive and eloquent presentation of the Buddha regarding his teachings; a comparison of his teaching to the other major spiritual and philosophical theories of the time; the original Sangha’s code of ethics; the Buddha’s own lifestyle, and more.
The Samannaphala Sutta is consider one of the most useful and helpful discourses of the Buddha. The question “What is the benefit of living the contemplative life?” is as relevant to all of us today as it was in the time of King Ajatasattu. Ajatasattu was a layman who become a devoted follower of the Buddha after this encounter and sponsored the First Buddhist Council.
The evening will explore the specifics of this sutta and how they have direct application to our practice and daily life today in an urban setting. This will be the first in a series of two or three talks Dennis will give based on this sutta.
If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here
This second of two evening discussions is about what we all find difficult – strong experiences in daily life that threaten, or do, throw us spinning out of balance. To review Part 1 of this topic, click here. For Part 2 on this topic, we look at what the historical Buddha had to say about the roots of such strong experiences. We explore a number of important and practical questions including:
Dennis’ discussion references three teachings of the Buddha:
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Dennis also suggested to read the two Suttas he spoke of in his talk. Here are the two links: Malunkyaputta Sutta and Kumma Sutta
This first of two evening discussions about what we all find difficult – strong experiences in daily life that threaten, or do, throw us spinning out of balance. We look at what the historical Buddha had to say about the roots of such strong experiences. We explore a number of important and practical questions including:
Dennis’ two discussions use three teachings of the Buddha as the initial basis for discussion: The Discourse Concerning Malunkyaputta; The Kumma Sutta: The Tortoise; and the Sutta on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness.
If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.
Dennis also suggested to read the two Suttas he spoke of in his talk. Here are the two links: Malunkyaputta Sutta and Kumma Sutta
To listen to Part 2 in the series, click here.
Building Flyer
Sacramento Dharma Center Flyer
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The Five Daily Recollections .pdf
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Here is the “Discomfort Scale.”
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