The Higher Training

Module 9 of An Introduction to Buddhist Practice Course home 1: Part 1: Buddhist Life2: The Buddha3: Generosity4: Harmlessness5: Purity6: Harmony7: Refuge8: Part 2: Buddhist Path9: The Higher Training10: Foundational Wisdom11: Perfecting Virtue12: Cultivating the Mind13: Disentangling the Mind14: Awakening15: Conclusion

Photo by The Met

Homework

Chapter 7 from Buddhist Life, Buddhist Path – Bhikkhu Cintita (.pdf) (.epub) (.pdf)

Just Think: The challenges of the disengaged mind – Timothy D. Wilson and others (.pdf) (.pdf)

• Scientists discover that people would rather electrocute themselves than be alone with their thoughts.

How Meditation Can Reshape Our Brains – Sara Lazar

• A neuroscientist talks about the subjective benefits of meditation and how they correlate with changes in the brain.

AN 3.66 Sāḷha Sutta: To Salha (.pdf)

• Venerable Nandaka teaches about the true purpose of the spiritual path and how one can navigate between various paths to find the true one.

SN 45.152 Rukkha Sutta: Trees (.pdf)

• The Buddha explains that the Path inclines one towards Nibbāna.

MN 24 Rathavinīta Sutta: Prepared Chariots (.pdf)

Venerable Puṇṇa Mantāṇiputta teaches Venerable Sāriputta about the Buddha’s path of purification, explaining that the purification of ethics and mind are not the goal, but are rather stages of the path to it.

Rathavinīta Sutta – Bhikkhu Anālayo (.pdf)

• Bhikkhu Analayo summarizes and discusses this sutta in this short article.

Lecture

The Four Noble Truths – Bhante Yuttadhammo (.mp3) (.mp3)

Continue to Part 10, Foundational Wisdom

...or go back to part 8