Dana (generosity) and Sila (ethical conduct) are seen as the essential foundation for Bhavana (meditation).
This talk explores this relationship, with an emphasis on the practice of generosity as a practice of freedom.
How do we take the wisdom, clarity and insight and the depth of meditative experience into our lives, relationships and all that we do. At the same time, knowing that it is all a seamless continuity of mindful awareness.
Learning to hold our own lives with a gentle compassion is a key element in all emotional healing and spiritual awakening. This two part series explores the suffering of being at war with ourselves and the pathway to freeing our hearts. Music at end is Libby Roderick, "How Could Anyone?"
The mind finds endless reasons to energetically split itself in two. "Shoulds," denials, rationalizations, resentments, and countless other states are energetic divisions, where the mind is trying to have what it wants while hiding from its assumed reality. Doubt is perhaps the most common expression of this pattern. Doubt reaches for what it wants with half a heart because it fears the repercussions of being a failure.
Joy is an essential factor of awakening and every step of the Buddhist path supports an opening to happiness, joy and peace -- all the way to Nibbana -- the greatest happiness.
