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.”
Tag Archive for: Walt Opie
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.
One of the attractive aspects of Buddhism to many of us is that it does not require blind faith in a teacher or the teachings. However, in several suttas, the Buddha referred to faith as a type of wealth or treasure. And Bhikkhu Bodhi has said the significance of faith is that it “serves as a spur to practice.” There are at least three different types of faith described in our Buddhist tradition, including bright faith, verified faith, and unshakeable faith. We will take a look at these and other facets of faith.
When the generous lay supporter of the Buddha, Anathapindika, was ill near the end of his life, he was visited by the renowned monk Sariputta who offered him what was then considered an advanced training (for lay people anyway) on not clinging. In this talk, we will explore and discuss this teaching and compare it with some other teachings in a similar vein. You are welcome to read the sutta ahead of time (Majjhima Nikaya 143), although that is certainly not required.
Through stories and personal experience, Walt describes how wisdom is cultivated and how it benefits our lives and the lives of others. He also speaks about the relationship of wisdom and insight.
Here are a few points that were mentioned in this talk:
- Detailed sutta for this talk: Majjhima Nikāya 19: Two Kinds of Thought
- The non-profit Buddhist Pathways Prison Project
- The book Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out
- The documentary The Abolitionists Series
- There are several reading lists if you search the internet, for example 10 Books About Race To Read …
- Shirley Weber’s (D-San Diego) AB3121 will establish a task force to develop reparations for African Americans.
Audio Player
If you would like to download this talk, please right click and select “save as” here.