On Merit and Other Feel Good Things

On this episode, Brian and Matt have a conversation about Merit. Merit has a bit of a stigma to it, especially in Western societies; we can easily turn this into an "I-making" process. But this shouldn't be thought of as a means towards some achievement or recognition or validation. It is meant as a means of deepening practice, integrating the precepts, and cultivating mindfulness. There are three types of merit: giving (dāna), virtue (sīla), and meditation (bhāvanā). These three acts are essential for cultivating a wise sense of self while developing a strong foundation for deeply integrating our practices.   Starting on March 14th, we'll begin a series on Ajahn Sumedho's book on the Four Noble Truths, information for that can be found on the Classes page of the website.   Should you have any questions, or wish to join us via Zoom, please Contact us via our website.    If you are subscribed to our Podcast on Podbean, iTunes, or Spotify you will receive notifications when new episodes are posted.