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Buddhist Essentials Class Series 2021

Buddhist Essentials Class Series (March - November 2021)

Resources, Reading, and Listening

with Sooz Appel and Steve Wilhelm (March 17, 2021)

The Three Characteristics are the three aspects that pervade all of conditioned phenomena: anicca, dukkha, and anatta. When we begin to see these attributes in all of experience, wisdom arises that enables us to let go of clinging.

Resources

Audio

Gil Fronsdal on the Three Characteristics

Joseph Goldstein on Dukkha and Non-self

Ruth King’s The Three Characteristics

Print

Everything Arises Everything Falls Away
By Ajahn Chah, Shambala Publications 2005
Parts 2, 3 and 4 are on impermanence, dukkha and non-self.

Vipallassa Sutta courtesy of Access to Insight

with Lyndal Johnson and Steve Wilhelm (April 21, 2021)

It is said that the entirety of the Buddha’s teachings can be found in the Four Noble Truths. In this class we will explore these teachings: 1) dukkha, 2) the origin of dukkha, 3) the cessation of dukkha, and 4) the path of practice leading to the cessation of dukkha.

Audio

Reading

  • The Four Noble Truths PDF by Ajahn Sumedho
  • “Dancing with Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering” by Phillip Moffitt
  • “Mindfulness: A Practice Guide to Awakening” by Joseph Goldstein pp 287-323

with Lauren Wilson and Jerry Harter (May 19, 2021)

With the understanding of the truths of dukkha, the cause of dukkha and the end of dukkha, we can embark on the Eightfold Path – the path that leads to awakening and the end of suffering. In this class we will discuss the elements and practice of the Eightfold Path: panna (wisdom), sila (ethical behavior and the precepts), and samadhi (concentration).

Audio

Reading

with Aravind Moorthy and Jerry Harter (June 16, 2021)

The Ten Paramis (generosity, virtue, renunciation, discernment, equanimity, patience, persistence, truth, determination, and goodwill) are beautiful qualities associated with an awakened mind. In this talk we will discuss the paramis and consider some ways in which we can encourage their development in our own practice.

Books, PDFs, Audio

Series on Paramis, 2017, Tim Geil and Tuere Sala

  1. Generosity and Virtue
  2. Renunciation and Wisdom
  3. Energy/Strength and Patience
  4. Truthfulness
  5. Resolve
  6. Lovingkindness, Equanimity and Summary
  7. Living the Paramis

with Lyndal Johnson and Aravind Moorthy (July 21, 2021)

Mindful examination of the body, feeling tones, mental states, and dhammas reveals the true nature of phenomena, leading to clear seeing and liberation.

Resources

with Susan Alotrico and Jerry Harter (August 18, 2021)

Gaining insight into obstacles on the path can turn them into possibilities. During this evening we’ll explore the Five Hindrances (desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness, and doubt), and the Three Poisons (greed, hatred and delusion). We’ll learn how these barriers to freedom arise in our lives, and how through our mindfulness practice we can transform them into doorways.

Audio

Readings

with Sooz Appel and Lyndal Johnson (September 15, 2021)

Through discussion and practical exercises of the Seven Factors of Awakening, we will explore how awareness of these mind states helps us to let go of unwholesome tendencies and to cultivate wholesome ones, in both formal practice and our daily lives.

Audio

Books

Seven Factors of Awakening: Good News
Mindfulness: Here and NowInvestigation: What’s This?Energy: Just Right
Joy: Delight in PracticeCalm: Be StillConcentration: Rock Steady
Equanimity: Big View Small moments many times

with Lauren Wilson and Sooz Appel (October 20, 2021)

The Five Aggregates (form, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness) show how we create an illusory sense of self moment by moment. By examining them we can come to understand how we are not so much a solid self as we may have thought.

Resources

with Lauren Wilson and Susan Alotrico (November 17, 2021)

How do we cultivate energies that encourage our capacity for caring and compassion toward ourselves and others? In this class we will explore developing in our daily lives the brahma viharas, also called the four immeasurables: loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity.

Resources

Ten Percent Happier Podcast series on the Brahma Viharas

Metta (Loving Kindness)

Karuna (Compassion)

Mudita (Sympathetic Joy)

Upekkha (Equanimity)

  • Equanimity by Gil Fronsdal | Article on equanimity from Insight Meditation Center

BRAHMA VIHARA PHRASES (Adapted from Kamala Masters and Adrianne Ross)downloadable PDF

A Brahma Vihara Chartdownloadable PDF

 
MORE RESOURCES

Ten Percent Happier Podcasts:

  • 10/05/2020 # 288 Joanna Hardy on Metta
  • 10/12/2020 # 290 Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams on Compassion
  • 10/19/2020 # 292 Tuere Sala on Sympathetic Joy
  • 10/26/2020 # 294 Roshi Joan Halifax on Equanimity Dharma

Talks by Kamala Masters on each of the Brahma Viharas

Karaniya Metta Sutta The Buddha’s Words on Loving Kindness

The Chant of Metta by Imee Ooi on YouTube

Loving Kindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness Sharon Salzberg

Upcoming Buddhist Essentials Classes

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