Language: Meaning, Interpretation And Impartiality | May 25, 2023 “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #09

In this ninth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we explore language and the variability in interpretation especially in the light of how we use English terms for ideas and may not actually understand them Wendy writes: I was thinking about the historyContinue reading “Language: Meaning, Interpretation And Impartiality | May 25, 2023 “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #09”

Questions And Points Put To Leigh Brasington On “Psychic Powers” In The Suttas

March 23, 2023 Update: See below for Leigh’s responses via email. I may or may not give some future response to Leigh’s responses Honor and respect to Leigh Brasington, not only for his extensive teachings on the jhanas, but for all the thoughts, teachings and practices surrounding the Sāmaññaphala Sutta (DN 2) during the FebruaryContinue reading “Questions And Points Put To Leigh Brasington On “Psychic Powers” In The Suttas”

Travel And Moving To Expand Perception And Awareness

Shortcut: https://tinyurl.com/travelforexpansion The pitch for this minimally edited February 16, 2023 Insight Timer live event: I invite participants and expats to share travel wisdom while I share what I’ve noticed about Denmark so far comparing and contrasting with the United States where I’ve lived my whole life. Then using all this to explore how toContinue reading “Travel And Moving To Expand Perception And Awareness”

Trauma, Teachings And Textual Interpretations: Buddhism And Beyond With Randi Green (Part 1)

At the beginning of February 2023 Randi Green and I did a couple more recordings on somewhat Buddhist related topics in addition to our chat New Inner Domain Races and New Intervention Protocol. Besides the topics listed in the title this first one starts off addressing dukkha, but we really wait until the second chatContinue reading “Trauma, Teachings And Textual Interpretations: Buddhism And Beyond With Randi Green (Part 1)”

Observations And Questions For The Book “The Search For The Buddha”

I heard about The Search For The Buddha by Charles Allen from puredhamma.net and thought I’d give it a go since I haven’t read a paper book in awhile (my excuses being the time investment and poor eyesight maybe from reading too much prior.) I also chose to do so since I currently spend aContinue reading “Observations And Questions For The Book “The Search For The Buddha””

Irregular Inquires — Investigating The Term “Early Buddhist Texts”

Ten questions to investigate the term “Early Buddhist Texts.” The first three:

How helpful and/or how detrimental is the term “Early Buddhist Texts”?

Where/how did it originate?

On one hand maybe it sets up a certain distinguishing category in a distilled type of way, but when does “early” begin and end?

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”?

Types Of Samadhi (From Early Buddhist Texts)

“Monks, these are the four developments of concentration. Which four? There is the development of concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to a pleasant abiding in the here & now. There is the development of concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to the attainment of knowledge & vision. There is the development ofContinue reading “Types Of Samadhi (From Early Buddhist Texts)”

McMindfulness and The Mindfulness Industrial Complex | (12/29/2020 — “Ask Us Anything” With Denny K Miu)

For this month’s open-audience, open-discussion “Ask Us Anything” — continuing discussions about meditation and related topics — Denny and I address the “McMindfulness” phenomena mostly by exploring the translation of the original Pali word “sati” — often translated as “mindfulness” — by offering up “remembering” as a more original translation. We also touch on some classic sati relatedContinue reading “McMindfulness and The Mindfulness Industrial Complex | (12/29/2020 — “Ask Us Anything” With Denny K Miu)”

Historical Trees of Enlightenment

While Christmas trees represent generosity and giving, these days they could also be associated with materialism and consumerism. Perhaps somewhat in contrast, Bodhirukka, or tree of enlightenment, is a certain tree associated with the awakening of each of the 29 Buddhas named in the Buddhavamsa, the Chronicle of Buddhas. The gallery of trees below shows bestContinue reading “Historical Trees of Enlightenment”

Supranormal (or so-called Psychic Powers) in the (Buddhist) Pali Cannon

Monks, spend time with Sāriputta and Moggallāna. They are wise monks who assist their companions in the Holy Life. Monks, Sāriputta is like a parent, Moggallāna is like a babysitter. Monks, Sāriputta leads one to the attainment of stream-entry, Moggallāna leads one to the highest goal. . . Selection from Saccavibhaṅgasutta — Analysis of Truth Linked below areContinue reading “Supranormal (or so-called Psychic Powers) in the (Buddhist) Pali Cannon”