Mindfulness, Insight & Liberation
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Teacher Transition in the Insight Meditation Movement
Teacher Transition in the Insight Meditation Movement Introduction In the next ten years, nearly all of the founding and senior teachers in the Insight movement will reduce or stop their teaching, and possibly some will die. We have just begun an important time of transition, worthy of reflection and considered action. Buddhism in the West is very young. We are still learning what it is by our very acts of practicing and teaching it. We still have much to learn from the particular sufferings and challenges of our modern life, from the ancient texts, and from each other. The seed has sprouted, and it needs nourishment. In some ways, there is nothing new happening here. Spiritual movements have been evolving beyond their founders for millennia, with a wide range of results. Buddhism itself has moved into new regions many times, as well as adapted to sweeping changes in a given region over time. We are fortunate to live in a time when there is access to such historical knowledge, as well as frameworks and tools from more modern disciplines. Nonetheless, this is the present place and time. We must act within our particular circumstances, with the people who are present, and with the resources at hand. Although our case is not special, it is, like all cases, unique. The Insight Meditation Movement in the West does not have a sharp definition, but neither is it vague or undefined. It was started by Westerners who trained at Theravada monasteries in Southeast Asia – these founding teachers include Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, Christina Feldman, Christopher Titmuss, and Ruth Denison. -
The Groups Pali Terms
the groups Pali Terms from Dharma discourses Note to readers. Dhamma is the Pali spelling. Dharma is the Sanskrit spelling The Buddha often formulated his teachings into groups for ease to remember. The groups also show the depth and expanse addressed of human issues. The major groups are: Two kinds of meditation Three Jewels Three Characteristics of Existence Four Noble Truths (Four Truths for the Noble Ones) Four Applications of Mindfulness, Four Divine Abidings Five Aggregates Five Hindrances Noble Eightfold Path 12 Links of dependent arising (of issues involving suffering) 1. Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammàsambuddhassa (Full Respect to the Blessed One, Accomplished And Fully Awakened) 2 . Two Kinds of Meditation Dhammapada – note to verse 384 – page 660 1. samatha meditative concentration 2. vipassanā insight 3 Characteristics of Existence (ti-lakkhaṇa) 1. anicca impermanence, impermanent, transiency, unstable 2. dukkha unsatisfactoriness, problems, suffering 3. anattā not-self, non-ego, egolessness, impersonality, not I, not mine, soullessness 3 Non attachments (viveka) 1. kāya-viveka bodily non attachment 2. citta-viveka mental non-attachment 3. upadhi-viveka non-attachment to a substrata of existence 3 fold Training 1. sīla ethics 2. samādhi concentration 3. paññā wisdom 1 3 Kinds of clear Knowledge (or: The Three True Knowledges) (tevijjā) (MN 6.17, MN 4.27-33, MN 12.17-19, MN 39.19-21, MN 51.24-26, MN 73.22, MN 77.34, MN 101.42-44, MN 108.21) 1. knowledge of recollecting past lives 2. knowledge of the passing away and reappearing of beings (the divine eye) 3. knowledge of the destruction of the taints (also: cankers or corruptions) 3 Kinds of Craving (taṇhā) (The Dhammapada - page 416, notes to verse 334, page 584) 1. -
Virtues Without Rules: Ethics in the Insight Meditation Movement Gil Fronsdal
Virtues without Rules: Ethics in the Insight Meditation Movement Gil Fronsdal INTRODUCTION Observers have commented that for Buddhism to take firm hold in the West it needs to develop a well- articulated ethic. This chapter is a study of how Buddhist ethics is taught within one rapidly growing movement of Western Buddhism: what I will be calling the Insight Meditation movement. While the movement has so far published no overview of its ethics, enough material is now available for us to discern some general points. Among Buddhist movements in the West, the Insight Meditation movement is unique in that it is not simply a transplant of an Asian Buddhist tradition. Rather, it can be seen as a new tradition taking shape in the West around particular meditative practices of vipassanā, often translated as “insight meditation” or colloquially as “mindfulness practice.” Vipassanā practice is clearly derived from the Theravāda Buddhism of South and Southeast Asia, where it has a central soteriological role. However, in bringing this meditation practice to the West, the founders of the Insight Meditation movement have consciously downplayed (or even jettisoned) many important elements of the Theravāda tradition, including monasticism, rituals, merit-making, and Buddhist cosmology. Without these and other elements, the Insight Meditation movement has been relatively unencumbered in developing itself into a form of Western Buddhism. In doing so, it has retained only a minimal identification with its Theravāda origins. Ethics, morality, and virtue have central roles in the Asian Theravāda tradition. All three of these English terms can be used to translate the Pāli word sīla that appears in the important three-fold division of the Therāvadin Buddhist spiritual path: sīla, samādhi, and paññā (ethics, meditative absorption, and wisdom). -
Mind Moon Circle Winter 2011 / Jukai and the Precepts
Mind Moon Circle Winter 2011 / Jukai and The Precepts Table of Contents Authentic expression......................................................................................................................... 3! What Jukai means to me................................................................................................................... 5! Jukai and the path back to our Essential Nature .......................................................................... 7! Living by Vow.................................................................................................................................. 14 ! Thoughts on Jukai, March 3, 1986................................................................................................ 16 ! Establishing the precepts so all will inherit the wisdom of the Buddha ................................. 18 ! Jukai Vows, Allan Marett................................................................................................................ 22 ! Jukai Vows, Sarah Kanowski ......................................................................................................... 26 ! Jukai Vows, Nigel Pearn................................................................................................................. 27 ! Eulogy for Sexton Bourke, Insight teacher & Zen Roshi......................................................... 29 ! Planting Garlic, Grieving Sexton................................................................................................... 34 ! More on that -
Western Travellers in the Land of the Buddha Legitimising Travel Through the Religionification of Ourismt
International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Volume 6 Issue 1 Religion, Pilgrimage and Tourism in Article 9 India and China 2018 Western Travellers in the Land of the Buddha Legitimising Travel through the Religionification of ourismT François Thibeault Independent scholar, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijrtp Part of the Tourism and Travel Commons Recommended Citation Thibeault, François (2018) "Western Travellers in the Land of the Buddha Legitimising Travel through the Religionification of ourism,T " International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage: Vol. 6: Iss. 1, Article 9. doi:https://doi.org/10.21427/D79M6G Available at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijrtp/vol6/iss1/9 Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. © International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage ISSN : 2009-7379 Available at: http://arrow.dit.ie/ijrtp/ Volume 6(i) 2018 Western Travellers in the Land of the Buddha Legitimising Travel through the Religionification of Tourism François Thibeault Independent scholar [email protected] On the one hand, tourism has developed to such a point that it now shapes other social realities in global society. On the other hand, pilgrimage phenomena are thriving in the twenty-first century, as they become both more globalised and more particularised. This paper shows that drawing oppositions between pilgrimage and tourism assumes an exclusive, dichotomous view that is misleading. Instead, I insist on an understanding of the reciprocal influence between religion and tourism in which neither of the two spheres subjects itself to the other. -
Great Patient
BUDDHISM W HERE A RE Y OU G OIN G “This is the crystallization of a unique journey to the Buddhist holy places of India, a trek of a thousand miles made on foot, by two religious seekers. A Pilgrimage on Foot to the Buddhist Holy Places As the reader accompanies them along the dusty trail of their juxtaposed accounts—of the glories and horrors of teeming pungent cities, somno- lent villages, ancient sanctuaries and tiger-haunted forests—the reading Part 2 too becomes something of a pilgrimage. And just as this pair of travelers Great Patient One were challenged, inspired, and transformed by their journey, we find our- selves similarly changed.” Great Patient One —Ajahn Amaro, abbot of Abhayagiri Monastery “Armchair pilgrims take note! This book will provide blisters, backaches, frights, absurd laughter, and all-night meditations. Result? Exhaustion tinged with grace. In the age of the pop-epiphany this is a throwback to what began it all: the slow road to enlightenment. It’s also a badminton in play between the Odd Couple of Spirituality and one lovely read.” —Tad Wise, co-author of Circling the Sacred Mountain h AJAHN SUCITTO, a Theravadan Buddhist monk in the Thai forest tradition for over thirty years, is Abbot of Chithurst Monastery in England. He is a popular teacher of meditation who teaches and Zahorsky Ingmar : conducts retreats around the PHOTO world. COVER Sucitto and Scott DR. NICK SCOTT is a botanist and ecologist who has worked most of his life in conservation. He lives in Ireland, where he now teaches meditation. -
Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhist Meditation Provides a Window Into the Depth and Beauty of the Buddha’S Liberating Teachings
‘This book is the result of rigorous textual scholarship that can be valued not only by the academic community, but also by Buddhist practitioners. This book serves as an important bridge between those who wish to learn about Buddhist thought and practice and those who wish to learn from it.... As a monk engaging himself in Buddhist meditation as well as a professor applying a historical-critical methodology, Bhikkhu Anālayo is well positioned to bridge these two com munities who both seek to deepen their understanding of these texts.’ – from the Foreword, 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje ‘In this study, Venerable Anālayo Bhikkhu brings a meticulous textual analysis of Pali texts, the Chinese Agamas and related material from Sanskrit and Tibetan to the foundational topics of compassion and emptiness. While his analysis is grounded in a scholarly approach, he has written this study as a helpful guide for meditation practice. The topics of compassion and emptiness are often associated with Tibetan Buddhism but here Venerable Anālayo makes clear their importance in the early Pali texts and the original schools.’ – Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo ‘This is an intriguing and delightful book that presents these topics from the viewpoint of the early suttas as well as from other perspectives, and grounds them in both theory and meditative practice.’ – Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron ‘A gift of visionary scholarship and practice. Anālayo holds a lamp to illuminate how the earliest teachings wed the great heart of compassion and the liberating heart of emptiness and invites us to join in this profound training.’ – Jack Kornfield ‘Arising from the author’s long-term, dedicated practice and study, Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhist Meditation provides a window into the depth and beauty of the Buddha’s liberating teachings. -
M Introduction Pp 7-15 2016
!7 ! ! Introduction! ! _________________________________________________________! ! ! Meditation is a simple skill. Having a teacher can help, but meditators often figure it out for themselves. I had taught myself to meditate while still a teenager, but in 1975 I stumbled on a remarkable 2500-year-old text. This was the Satipatthana Sutta, usually translated as The Foundations of Mindfulness. The word sati means ‘mindfulness’ and the word sutta means ‘text’ or ‘discourse’. From now on I’ll refer to this text simply as the Sutta. " This text is the Buddha’s original DIY, ‘How to Meditate and be Mindful’ manual. If a Buddhist knows any original text it is likely to be the Sutta. It consists of 21 exercises and provides the authority for the popular 10-day Burmese-style ‘Vipassana’ retreats. These retreats in turn were the direct inspiration for the use of mindfulness in psychology. ! The Sutta is only a few pages long. Its great virtue is that it is more about meditation practice than Buddhist dogma. Back in 1975 I was so impressed that I memorised it. It gave a clear shape to my existing practice and mapped out possibilities I’d never imagined. The Sutta has been my touchstone ever since.! Soon afterwards I attended my first 10-day retreat, led by a young and enthusiastic ex-monk, Christopher Titmuss. At 10.30 am on the third day I had an epiphany. I knew with absolute certainty that my life would revolve around meditation, and so it turned out. Over the next decade I spent a total of 18 months doing Vipassana, Tibetan, Zen and Yoga retreats. -
Dhamma and Society
PROCEEDING Dhamma and Society Dhamma and Society Mind & Spirituality Economics & Sustainable Development Social & Political Perspectives Works & Legacy of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu In honour of the 111th Anniversary of Buddhadas a th The 8 International Buddhist Research Seminar by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University The 2nd International Conference on Buddhadas a Studies by Suratthani Rajabhat University and The Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives 2017 PROCEEDING 24 - 25 May 2017 Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives, Bangkok PROCEEDING Dhamma and Society Mind & Spirituality Economics & Sustainable Development Social & Political Perspectives Works & Legacy of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu In honour of the 111th Anniversary of Buddhadas a th The 8 International Buddhist Research Seminar by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University The 2nd International Conference on Buddhadas a Studies by Suratthani Rajabhat University and The Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives 24 - 25 May 2017 Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives, Bangkok 2 CONTENTS Venerable Prof. Dr. Phra Brahmabundit .......................................................................................1 KeyNote Speaker by Venerable Paisal Visalo.................................................................................8 KeyNote Speaker by Santikaro Upasaka.......................................................................................14 KeyNote Speaker by Santikaro Upasaka......................................................................................18 KeyNote Speaker by Roderick S. Bucknell...................................................................................27 -
Beyond Mindfulness 2015 07 13 Final
Beyond Mindfulness: Four-fi fths of this book is about how to live a Westernised Zen Buddhism, and is accessible from diff erent directions, depending on the Beyond Mindfulness: reader’s interest. The remainder of the book comprises ‘haiku stories’ – haibun – Zen as a Living Life literary Dō or Way. Nine of these are about retreats; the other ten are about the author’s slow dying into death. through Ken Jones is qualifi ed both as a Zen practitioner, writer and teacher of some forty year years standing, and also as a widely Living Life through Everyday Zen Everyday Zen published haiku and haibun poet. “Beyond Mindfulness is a wonderful fi nd for any practitioner within the Buddhist tradition. A beautifully written, penetrating and forensic analysis of the human condition suff used with compassion and kindness and off ering an accessible experiential path to our improved well being and clarity of vision. The book Talks & Writings is further enriched by Ken Jones’ ‘haiku stories’ (haibun) in which his prose and poetry gift us with the very experience of Ken Jones Thusness. I unreservedly recommend this book.” Dr.Rev. Keizan Scott Sensei, StoneWater Zen Sangha – Talks & Writings “Ken’s haiku poetry gives us aff ectionate snapshots of the ridiculous Self in the context of life and death.” George Marsh, Editor, New Chan Forum “In his ‘straight to the heart of the matter’ style, Ken invites us to fully bear witness to our own lives. What else!” Eddy Street, Fellow of the British Psychological Society Ken Jones Alba Publishing UK £10 / US$15 / €14 A Beyond Mindfulness: Living Life through Everyday Zen Talks & Writings Ken Jones Alba Publishing Published by Alba Publishing P O Box 266, Uxbridge UB9 5NX, United Kingdom www.albapublishing.com © 2015 Ken Jones All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright owners. -
Ebook Handbook Dhamma and Society Ebook.Indd
Dhamma and Society Dhamma and Society Mind & Spirituality Economics & Sustainable Development Social & Political Perspectives Works & Legacy of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu In honour of the 111th Anniversary of Buddhadas a th The 8 International Buddhist Research Seminar by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University The 2nd International Conference on Buddhadas a Studies by Suratthani Rajabhat University and The Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives 24 - 25 May 2017 Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives, Bangkok Program * 24th May 2017 : Schedule for the 8th International Buddhist Research Seminar at the Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives 09:00 Opening remarks by Ven. Dr. Phra Suthiratnabanpundit (Suthit Abhakaro), director of the Buddhist Research Institute 09:05 Welcoming address by Dr. Bunchar Pongpanich, director and secretary of the Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives Foundation 09:10 Opening address by Most Ven. Dr. Phra Brahmapundit (Prayoon Dhammacitto), rector of Mahachulalongkorn rajavidyalaya University 09:50 Ven. Dr. Phra Shakyavongsvisuddhi (Anil Sakya) on “Economics and Sustainable Development” 10:20 Ven. Phra Paisal Visalo on “Economics and Sustainable Development” 10:50 Ajahn Santikaro on “Mind & Spirituality” 11:20 Lunch break 12:30 Dr. Roderick Bucknell on “Mind & Spirituality” 13:00 Outstanding Scholar Award Ceremony 13:30 Break 15 minutes 13:45 Panel sessions (presentations, discussion, and Q&A) 1st Panel: Mind & Spirituality (Room A) 2nd Panel: Economics & Sustainable Development (Room B) 16:45 Summary of 1st and 2nd panels by the chairpersons (Plenary Session) 17:00 Blessings 25th May 2017 : Schedule for the 8th International Buddhist Research Seminar at the Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives 09:00 Ven. Zizhuo Shi on “Social & Political Perspectives” 09:30 Ajahn Christopher Titmuss on “Social & Political Perspectives” 10:00 Dr. -
An Interview with Sri H.W.L. Poonjaji by Christopher Titmuss Interview with Sri H.W.L
An Interview with Sri H.W.L. Poonjaji by Christopher Titmuss Interview with Sri H.W.L. Poonjaji oonjaji, I would like to ask a question from a fairly traditional position and hear your comment and then we will explore it from there. There has been, as you very, very well know a long-standing discussion or debate in this area This is a transcript of an interview with Shri H.W.L. Poonjaji of exploration about the value, if any, of a relative approach: on January the 30th, 1991. P- the notion of practice, development, becoming, with a view to a long-term end. Some point hopefully in the near future. There are The interviewer, Christopher Titmuss, other teachers who regard this as a possible distraction and missing the is a Vipassana meditation teacher essence immediately. who lived in India for a number of years What are you comments on this relative approach of practice in the before returning to the West. theme of the development and becoming of a human being. He has interviewed many of today's spiritual leaders, What comments come to you? including the Dalai Lama. First you started with a traditional way, and then you asked if through a traditional way by relative traditions are all related, relatively connected - u and by any tradition I don’t think the essence can be arrived at. Uh huh. So this means that with the traditional forms, they actually serve to obscure or hide the essence. Yes. I don’t think anybody moving in the traditional way has benefitted himself and has been freed from samsara.