- Four Ways Contemplating Mortality Can Be Life Changing: Its Role in Early Buddhist Practice
My father recently passed away, so I'm thinking about mortality. I'll discuss its centrality to early Buddhist meditation practice as well as its relation to impermanence generally. Then I'll turn to four ways that contemplating mortality…
- Paths to Merit Transfer in Early Buddhism?
What is the idea of "the transfer of karmic merit" in Buddhism? We'll look into that and whether it can be found in the early material. We will also see ways we can make use of it in our practice.
- Collective or Group Karma in Early Buddhism?
What is collective or group karma, and is it found in early Buddhism? We'll consider those questions, whether we might be able to make sense of the concept from a Buddhist perspective, and when and how the concept might prove useful in…
- Equanimity Meditation: Last of the Brahmaviharas
In this video we will look at the meditation practice of equanimity in the Brahmavihāras or so-called abodes of the gods. We will begin with a look at what equanimity means in early Buddhism, and its importance. We will turn to a couple…
- The Four Sights of Buddha: Beneath the Legends
Many of us will be familiar with the legend of the four sights that Siddhattha Gotama encountered on leaving his father's palace for the first time at age twenty nine. We'll look at that legend, its sources, and consider what might have…
- The Five Reflections
The Buddha recommended five reflections for regular contemplation by all. We will go through those five and then spend time with some larger considerations on the role of karma.