- Buddhist Rebirth as Symbol and Metaphor
How do you approach the concept of Buddhist rebirth? Traditionally it's understood literally, which is how the Buddha saw it. But there is another option open to us, which is to take it as a resonant metaphor for the changeable nature of…
- Three Ways Desire Makes the World
We'll look at three ways that desire "makes the world" for us, from the traditional Buddhist understanding of cosmology to a more down-to-earth way, and finally to a deeper, more fundamental understanding of the role desire and attachment…
- Buddhism and Race: Caste in Early Buddhism
Today we're dealing with crimes perpetrated through centuries of racial injustice in the United States and indeed around the world. Was there anything the Buddha said that might be helpful or interesting to us? We will look at issues of…
- 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.