Conclusion
Module 15 of An Introduction to Buddhist Practice
Photo by The Met
- A transcript of a conversation with Ajahn Panyavaddho.
- Beyond being a nice recap of what we’ve covered in the course, I feel something of the wisdom and compassion of enlightenment coming through in the light-hearted sincerity of this exchange
- A rousing collection of essays on Buddhist wisdom and an earnest appeal to put the teachings into practice.
- Bhante Yuttadhammo closes the course by encouraging us to make the most of our precious human life: do good, avoid evil, and purify your mind.
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Further Reading
Books
As for the question of suffering in the future—in this life or the next—don’t overlook your heart that’s suffering right now.
A classic translation of the primary book of poetry from the Pāli Canon.
Zen practice is the direct expression of our true nature. Strictly speaking, for a human being, there is no other practice than this
The classic introduction to Buddhist meditation.
My most highly recommended introduction to Buddhist meditation.
[In Buddhism, morality] is not concerned so much with the result of one’s actions on other people as it concerns the result of one’s actions on one’s own mind.
If we agree that “illusion” is a negative and the prefix “dis-” a kind of minus sign, then logically and by mathematical analogy “disillusion” and “disillusionment” must be positives, no? And yet in common parlance they’re anything but.
Canonical Works
‘Others will be cruel; we shall not be cruel here’
It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! How the Buddha tames those who are wild
I did not delight in the contemplative Gotama’s speech; I condemned it, rose from my seat, and left!
Kālāmas, do not go by oral tradition, by lineage of teaching, by hearsay, by a collection of scriptures, by logic…
So this holy life, bhikkhus, does not have gain, honour, and renown for its benefit, or the attainment of virtue for its benefit, or the attainment of concentration for its benefit, or knowledge and vision for its benefit. But it is this unshakeable deliverance of mind that is the goal of this holy life, its heartwood, and its end.
Those who thus abide, ever remain invincible, in happiness established. These are the greatest blessings.
These five things, when developed and cultivated, have freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom as their fruit and benefit.
Bhikkhus, if one’s clothes or head were ablaze, what should be done about it?
Good, spiritual friendship is the whole of the holy life.
Readings
There is no single “swiss-army knife” technique that works equally well at all times; instead, we must carefully examine our present conditions and determine what practice is most relevant.
Handicapped and at-risk Vietnamese youths share their appreciation of and enthusiasm for a mindfulness meditation course.
It’s interesting to walk through the graveyards of towns, and see that for the first few years after a person dies there may be a head stone, maybe someone remembers, but after twenty, thirty, or forty years, they could bulldoze the graves because the land is so valuable and plant somebody else in there. So even your head stone just crumbles to dust. All record of you living here is gone, because no one remembers who you were or what you did. Isn’t that beautiful? So why not do that right now? Bulldoze this idea of who you are
Audio/Video
A heartfelt and spellbinding talk on meditation practice and expectations.
There’s always something we can do to progress towards Awakening. And it’s something that has benefits all along the way.
We manifest our humanity, we are most fully human, in learning.
I have arrived, I am home
In the here, in the now
I am solid, I am free
In the ultimate, I dwell
Bhikkhu Bodhi shares with the Abhayagiri community his favorite section of the Dhammapada: verses 110–115.
A talk giving a comprehensive overview of Buddhist practice, based on MN 2 (the Sabbāsava Sutta).
A short introduction to the Dhammapada, from Gil Fronsdal’s 2008 translation, read by the author.