Short Reflection & Guided Meditation including a prayer for the UN Environmental Sabbath Program | Earthworm Practice for the Anthropocene III | Online Wednesday-Mornings

This dhamma talk, guided meditation, questions and responses was offered on August 16, 2025 for “How do I apply the Dhamma to THIS!?!”

Short Reflection & Guided Meditation including 'The Way Knows', a song by Lyndsey Scott | Earthworm Practice for the Anthropocene III | Online Wednesday-Mornings

Working with the Anapanasati Sutta in some depth. There are 16 steps in four tetrads that the Buddha lays out regarding how to practice this way. It is more than simply keeping one's attention on the experience of breathing. Some of the steps will likely surprise you. I thought it would be interesting to hear how the Buddha himself practiced using the breath and then practice together as he suggested. Anapanasati Sutta Majjhima Nikaya #118 https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html Anåpånasati- Summary of the Four Tetrads (16 steps) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yE2GiJtr3nnMGR_2YYOEA7eZ9W02ti52PD5abYF_Ius/edit?tab=t.0 Thich Nhat Hanh Video TNH explaining the 16 steps (28 minutes) https://youtu.be/inPkOzo_8XQ?si=nKp94lysBPxn4od_ Ven Analayo Audio guided meditations successively building on the tetrads. Last one includes all four. Mindfulness of Breathing with Bhikkhu Anālayo https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/resources/breathing-audio/ Written Overview Analayo - Understanding and Practicing the Ānāpānasati-sutta https://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?t=30301 Bhikkhu Bodhi's videos going through the sutta in detail. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=49266cf56d93934f&sxsrf=AE3TifMAPbSxpASPFg4H_3u7YewNOi0UgA:1753423263992&q=Bhikkhu+Bodhi+mn+118&udm=7&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ1Y6MJ25_tmWITc7uy4KIeiAkWG4OlBE2zyCTMjPbGmP8dNHyekGOBzxjAdPhnrqrkFMVvRmyqhKdJnNaG3AkXT9BEIxM7mvWZQG3bFq0xYNXOHnKszVdt00PEHYlRCcNfQMctmXagH2kmQdDS-r99NNUO7KPPqfaJdzNdnznKA2npV8j&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiV_KnWqteOAxVFIxAIHdP6MTkQtKgLKAJ6BAgVEAE&biw=1309&bih=738&dpr=2.2

Sometimes it is thought that Buddhist practice is exclusively about "inner" transformation. However, the Buddha himself spoke of going out for the benefit of others and understood basic ethical guidelines socially. Later approaches and tradition, such as embodied in the rule of King Ashoka and the Mahayana vision of the bodhisattva, also manifest the connection of inner and outer transformation. In this talk, a contemporary "Eightfold Path" is offered to support connecting inner and outer transformation--bringing our practice into engagement with our contemporary society and world in great need. There are three wisdom guidelines, two meditation guidelines, and three ethical guidelines. The talk is followed by discussion.