Metta Forest Monastery: Thanissaro Bhikkhu's most recent Dharma talks

(Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley) There’s a common understanding that the purpose of meditation is to fully arrive in the present moment. However, the Buddha taught people to focus on the present moment not as a goal, but as a place where work is to be done to go beyond the present. This talk, based on the essay, “The Karma of Now” will explore the Buddha’s understanding of the present moment, and the implications of that understanding, not only for the practice of meditation, but also for Buddhist practice as a whole.

(Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley) Thanissaro Bhikkhu reviews the Four Noble Truths as the categorical teaching of the Buddha - true and always beneficial. He describes the duties that enable us to fully understand and comprehend them and how the three characteristics - Dukkha, Annica, Anatta - are used in support of these duties and this understanding.

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center)

(Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley) Thanissaro Bhikkhu speaks about the meaning of refuge in practice. As we strive for wisdom, purity and compassion; develop mindfulness in order to have a solid state of concentration; and strive to fit into the dharma rather than the other way around, we create a foundation that is conducive to attaining nibbana.

(Bellingham Insight Meditation Society)

(Bellingham Insight Meditation Society)

(Bellingham Insight Meditation Society)

(Bellingham Insight Meditation Society)

(Bellingham Insight Meditation Society)

(Bellingham Insight Meditation Society)

(Bellingham Insight Meditation Society) This recording provides an introduction to the maps.

(Bellingham Insight Meditation Society) Thanissaro gives some introductory points for the weekend.

(Bellingham Insight Meditation Society)

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center)

(Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley) Shaila Catherine concluded our lecture series on the Great Disciples, with a talk about the Venerable Mahakaccana. He was a monk famous for explaining difficult and perplexing teachings. The Buddha sometimes gave brief teachings that left the listeners confused. Sometimes the disciples did not ask the Buddha questions to clarify their doubt. Instead they sought out another monk to elucidate the matter and explain the detailed meaning. The Pali Canon preserves several insightful discourses in which initial enigmatic teachings by the Buddha are systematically explained by Venerable Mahakaccana. He addresses profound topics including the construction of I-making and mine-making, craving, conceit, views, mindfulness of sense perceptions, obsession with thoughts of past and future, and overcoming desire and lust. His methods of exposition became the basis of early commentary, and Mahakaccana became known as the first Buddhist commentator.

(Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley) In this fourth talk in a lecture series on the Great Disciples, the speaker, Ayya Santussika, tells the life story of two enlightened, fully ordained nuns. In fact, there were quite a few of enlightened, fully ordained nuns at the Buddha's time. The speaker also discusses how we can find the key to our own happiness in these nuns' stories, such as letting go, calming the mind, and realizing complete freedom from suffering. Finally, Ayya Santussika describes the Buddha's tremendous compassion for women. In his teachings, the Buddha acknowledged sufferings that were specific to women that are still relevant today.

(Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley) In this second talk in a lecture series on the Great Disciples, the speaker, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, talks about the contributions by Ananda to the Dharma. Because of his incredible memory, what we know in the Pali Canon today came mostly from Ananda's recollection of the Buddha's teachings. He described in detail who came to the Buddha, what were their question/problem, and how the Buddha addressed that particular question/problem. This is an important contribution to our understanding of how the Dharma was taught, because so much of it depended on who was asking what, and what kind of teaching was the best for them. Another debt that we owe Ananda is that he asked the Buddha questions that no one had asked. And Ananda's questions in turn sparked the Buddha to explain things or do things that he otherwise might not have explained or done.

(Insight Meditation South Bay - Silicon Valley) In this first talk in a lecture series on the Great Disciples, the speaker, Shaila Catherine, tells the life story of Angulimala and his transformation from notorious robber and murdered to a peaceful, compassionate, truthful, and awakened monk. It is an inspiring example of the power of restraint, and the potential for redemption. Habits and dispositions do not need to control our lives. We can stop unwholesome, unhealthy, and harmful courses of conduct. We can purify our minds.

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center)

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center)

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center) The Kalama Sutta is most famous for its encouragement not to place total trust in traditions and texts, but it also encourages you not to place total trust in your sense of reason and preferences. So where can you place your trust? This talk focuses on the dilemma posed by the sutta's recommendations, and the way in proposes out of the dilemma.

(New York Insight Meditation Center) One in a series of 3 talks: The Buddha viewed perceptions of self and not-self as a form of karma, or action. Thus the question is not, “Do I have a self?” or “What is my true self?” Instead, it is “When is it skillful to perceive a self, and when is it more skillful to perceive not-self?” This series of three talks will explore this last question. Part III explores the function of the perception of not-self as a means to true happiness.

(New York Insight Meditation Center) One in a series of 3 Talks: The Buddha viewed perceptions of self and not-self as a form of karma, or action. Thus the question is not, “Do I have a self?” or “What is my true self?” Instead, it is “When is it skillful to perceive a self, and when is it more skillful to perceive not-self?” This series of three talks will explore this last question. Part II explores ways in which a healthy, mature sense of self is essential to the practice.

(New York Insight Meditation Center) One in a series of 3 talks: The Buddha viewed perceptions of self and not-self as a form of karma, or action. Thus the question is not, “Do I have a self?” or “What is my true self?” Instead, it is “When is it skillful to perceive a self, and when is it more skillful to series of three talks will explore this last question. Part I explores the issue of why the Buddha refused to take a position on the question of whether or not there is a self.

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center) The inner quialities that provide wealth for the mind - a sense of freedom and security - regardless of outside conditions.

(Cambridge Insight Meditation Center)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(Metta Forest Monastery)

(New York Insight Meditation Center) The Buddha's teachings on Karma provide a necessary foundation for understanding how meditation works to develop tranquility and insight.

(New York Insight Meditation Center) The Buddha's teachings on Karma provide a necessary foundation for understanding how meditation works to develop tranquility and insight.

(New York Insight Meditation Center) The Buddha's teachings on Karma provide a necessary foundation for understanding how meditation works to develop tranquility and insight.

(New York Insight Meditation Center) The Buddha's teachings on Karma provide a necessary foundation for understanding how meditation works to develop tranquility and insight.