I am of the nature to age, I have not gone beyond aging.
I am of the nature to sicken, I have not gone beyond sickness.
I am of the nature to die, I have not gone beyond dying.
All that is mine, beloved and pleasing, will become otherwise, will be separated from me.
I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related to my actions, abide supported by my actions.
Whatever action I do, for good or for ill, of that I will be the heir.
(“5 Recollections for Daily Practice,” AN 5.57)
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We’ve finished for now our conversation on Right Livelihood, the 5th limb of the Eightfold Path, and are moving on to the 6th, Right Effort. This is the beginning of the Samādhi part of the path, and the turn from outward action in the ethical limbs to inward cultivation in the meditative process.
We’ll begin on Tue April 7 with an overview of Right Effort, and dig into the practice in detail over the next several weeks. We’ll look at the centrality of mind (or mind-body-heart) states in the contemplative process, and how cultivating states supports the deepening of insight and clarity.
Satsang is now online for the immediate future, on the Zoom platform so that we can interact. The most up-to-date info on events, and all links, can be found in the Facebook Group: In It To End It. Join us in this “virtual saṅgha” for study, discussion, and spiritual community.
We begin with chanting a short Refuge & Precepts pūjā from the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, followed by 30 minutes of meditation, part guided and part silent.The meditation ends with a short mantra chant.
Starting April 7, responding to the difference in community process in the online format, instead of taking a break, we’ll just stretch legs and continue right into an expanded introduction circle so we can continue to deepen connections with each other through the virtual format.
After introductions, I give a talk and lead discussion on an aspect of Buddhist practice. Beginners are welcome anytime, and the group is offered fully on donation, in the beautiful and ancient practice of Gift Economy.
Meditation with instructions based in the Insight Meditation tradition and its sources in Thai and Burmese Theravāda Buddhism, as well as chanting, text study, and discussion. The focus of the group is on deepening in both traditional Buddhist practice as understood in the Theravāda traditions, and exploring the links between individual & systemic liberation in the form of social justice and collective healing practice.
Our FB Group, called “In It To End It,” is a “place” for communal study and discussion of Buddhist ideas, focusing at least as we begin on my areas: the Pāli Canon of the Theravāda lineage, the Prajñāpāramitā vision that is the heartwood of the Mahāyāna, and the profound and liberating social inquiry of deconstruction.
I’m starting with a series of free videos for advanced beginners who want to dive into the beauty and richness of the Buddha’s discourses. This will be a space for inquiry and study together; ideally a virtual saṅgha.
May the forces of delusion
not take hold, nor
weaken my resolve.
(Sharing of Merit)