Meditation & Dharma Talk

The Buddha emphasized the importance of seeing impermanence in many of his teachings. Reflections on the three wisdoms and how they relate to insight into change.

Bringing awareness to the nature of change with either the breath, sounds or sensations. Transitioning from solely concentration to insight.

Overview of the last 12 months, Conditions that help engagement: 1. contentment and appreciation; Dr Luke Kemp, his study on civilizational collapse and the value of happiness; contentment and burnout; 2. Anger as being pivotal, types of anger; recent world changes related to anger; tempus nullius; risks and care in relation to anger; Aristotle on the value of anger; Mahakala as a helpful image; 3. An inclusive way of looking; Mother Theresa and one’s family circle; Analyo Bhikkhu and the question of what can one do; 4. Equanimity: perspective of John Gray on the myth of progress in the field of ethics and politics - with examples; Philip Blom on a view of homo sapiens and the comedy of homo sapiens seeing itself as the ruler of nature; 5. A sense of duty and the soulful quality that can come with that; 6. Stories and images: Ursula Le Guin and the Ones who Walk Away from Omelas - with an interpretation; James Hillman and Michael Ventura; Kuan Yin as an image and how she is seen by some in a large Buddhist charity.

When met with love and awareness, change opens the path to liberation through letting go

00:11 Q1 I have an urge for an inspirational, imaginational arising. It shows itself as a wish to be inspired. I find it hard to connect with Buddhist mythology, "seeing things as they are” seems not to be beneficial all the time. Some people in places seem to have a special effect on me and I can have so many positive feelings just by thinking about them. It feels like a gift. Is it real? Or constructed idea? 26:11 Q2 What is the relationship between the citta which is intrinsically luminous, nibbana, sensation and the anidassana viññāṇa described as endless and luminous all over. 36:52 Q3 How can we live wisely with past hurts? Related Q: I've noticed a change within the spectrum of love and hate that surprises me. It's not that I feel less for people but the craving and the attachment are missing in a way that allows me to feel more completely as I don't get lost in it.

Reflections on our body as nature and subject to the conditions of nature, including change and death. Reflections on the mind as also part of nature. Wishing well for all can come naturally when we recognize we are all in the same fragile situation.

How Satipatthana directs us to the development of not just being present but presence of Mind. Presence of mind support letting go. Anathapindika faces death directly and is given instructions of not clinging to anything. This Sutta changes the teachings of Buddhism for non-monsastics.

This talk explores two qualities of equanimity - balance, and balance in the midst of change. It also explores the wisdom that builds on these qualities - the wisdom of knowing that it is our response to what is happening, not what is happening, that holds the key to our liberation.