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Renunciation as Expression of Wisdom

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Teacher: Tim Geil
Date: 2017-03-21
Venue: Seattle Insight Meditation Center

Series

Description

While the last talk established the importance of compassion directing renunciation, this talk explores how wisdom also directs renunciation. We can define wisdom simply as what leads to freedom, instead of what leads to suffering. As we clearly see this distinction, we practice renunciation for those actions leading toward more suffering. The three characteristics of dukkha (unsatisfactoriness), anicca (impermanence), and anatta, (non-self), create a framework to further deepen our understanding of wisdom and renunciation.

The Sutta mentioned in the talk is MN 19: Two Sorts of Thinking:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.019.than.html

Homework

Hold this simple question: “Does this lead to suffering or to freedom?” Try meeting every action, word, and thought with this question. If something leads to suffering, see if the intention of renunciation arises. Look carefully to see renunciation isn’t about what arises in our minds, but our relationship to what arises.

 

Video

Link to view on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/209616896

TalkID=597 SeriesID=77

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