[10/3/22 UPDATE: This post was originally published on 8/4/2022. Since then I decided to ask Beth Upton back to address some of these questions and had to change the blog post publishing date in order for WordPress to push this out as a new podcast. I told Beth beforehand I’d do an extra audio introContinue reading “Dharma Questions: Abhidhamma (With Beth Upton)”
Tag Archives: abhidhamma
Podcast | Lawyering Down, Kundalini-ing Up With Kara Bitar
On July 21st, Optimization Coach and Kundalini Yoga Teacher Kara Bitar and I spoke about Kara’s journey from high powered lawyer to ill health to healing to teaching and coaching: I hold a J.D. from Duke University School of Law and practiced high-stakes corporate litigation at one of the largest law firms in the Southeast.Continue reading “Podcast | Lawyering Down, Kundalini-ing Up With Kara Bitar”
Podcast | Being And Living As Better Beautiful Humans: In Conversation With David Hults
Despite an ambulance, trash truck and airplanes this still very listenable podcast recorded July 14th joins an in real life caffeinated conversation already underway between David Hults and I about a wide variety of topics including: nature environment fear destruction separation unity negativity bias stewardship self-responsibility power trauma pain four great elements (in the body)Continue reading “Podcast | Being And Living As Better Beautiful Humans: In Conversation With David Hults”
Materiality And Mentality | (7/27/2021 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu And Guest Beth Upton)
For this month’s regular open-audience, open-discussion “Ask Us Anything LIVE” — continuing discussions about meditation and related topics — Denny and I chat with meditation teacher Beth Upton most significantly about the Dependent Origination link Nāmarūpa, or Materiality and Mentality, which, according to Wikipedia, is “used in Buddhism to refer to the constituents of aContinue reading “Materiality And Mentality | (7/27/2021 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu And Guest Beth Upton)”
Dharma Questions: Miscellany — Part 5
This irregular “Dharma Questions” series deals with “dharma” meaning both the truth of the nature of reality and some Buddhist teachings. Amongst other things these questions can be:
• thought experiments
• borderline musings not meant to be answered
• from laziness of not contemplating or researching them yet
There’s 16 questions. Here’s two:
What is the root condition of annica — impermanence, inconstancy?
What are any and all similarities and differences between “Para Brahman” and “Nirvana”?
Towards Everyday Implementation Of The Universal Beautiful Mental Factors
Dhamma and meditation teacher Beth Upton — who’s other chats I’ve posted — recently held a three part event with Dharma Gates called “Truth, Suffering and Liberation”. I’ve edited out most everything except my responses to Beth’s questions and her responses to me so please watch the full video at the end of this post especially if requiring more context.
Beth read an excerpt of the Aggañña Sutta about the origin of human kind on planet earth then linked our suffering, caused by the defilements (dramatic depicted in the sutta) to the Buddha’s antidote: the The Universal Beautiful Mental Factors (sobhanasādhāraṇa). Beth then offered a short teaching followed by a guided meditation and discussion on her condensed and more practical version of these Mental Factors from the Abhidhamma which are:
• Faith
• Mindfulness
• Non-greed
• Non-hatred
• Morality
• Balance
• Tranquility
• Lightness
• Softness
• Flexibility
• Uprightness/Authenticity/Truthfulness
• Proficiency
This post includes my responses (in an edited video) to Beth’s group-guiding questions along with a few new written responses.
Resources for Abhidhamma — Advanced Buddhist Thought, Inquiry, Analysis and Psychology
Recently finished auditing the now public Abdhidhamma and Development of Buddhist Thought, part of Mid-America Buddhist Association’s Diploma in Pali and Buddhist Studies (DPBS). If interested in checking out ongoing classes at MABA, please email to request free auditing. Here’s some Abhidhamma resources, some of which were mentioned in class:
Integrating Presence 