In June & July the usual Friday Sutta study group explored the Buddha's teaching of Dependent Co-origination (paticca-samuppada), which describes the details of how ignorant reactivity to the natural experiences of life conjures up egoism and suffering. We looked at material from the original Suttas of Early Buddhism and emphasized the "this life" interpretation of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. We will continue to explore its relevance to meditation and our everyday practice.
Click here to download the handout being used in the classes (pdf).
Wheel of Life from Suan Mokkh's Theater of Spiritual Entertainments
The fundamentals of dependent co-origination as they are reborn repeatedly each day (6.58 MB).
The stages of ego conception, gestation, & birth reviewed; the centrality of contact & the importance of ignorance (6.79 MB).
There wasn't a talk this week.
Various perspectives on quenching the spinning of egoism & dukkha (6.41 MB), plus more on contact & ignorance (594 KB).
Available online at Access to Insight (Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation) and in print within The Long Discourses of the Buddha, tr Maurice Walsh (Wisdom). Also see translation & notes in the updated class handout.
Many sources: our MP3 audio and The Dependent Co-Origination that Goes Beyond the usual Concocting of Suffering (tr. from Buddhadasa Bhikkhu). [Alternate translations by Bhikkhu Bodhi and by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, and an excellent essay by Bhikkhu Bodhi.]
Ignorance (avijja) is also something with conditions. Here the Buddha explores further nuances of paticca-samuppada; there's more to it than just the standard 12 link formula. Please see #5 in the Handout (pdf).
All dependently co-arisen stuff is not-self, not worth clinging to as "me" or "mine." Click here for details.
We will continue studying paticca-samuppada regularly, as it informs all aspects of Buddha-Dhamma.
