introducing ‘action’...introducing ‘action’ from vision to transformation… background...
TRANSCRIPT
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Introducing ‘Action’
From Vision to Transformation…
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Background
•Our theme for 2020 is ‘Vision &Transformation’
•A way of describing the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path
• One of the Buddha’s first teachings after Enlightenment
• One of Sangharakshita’s first series of talks, back in 1968
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The basic idea:
• We have a glimpse of vision (first stage)
• A way of being free of suffering, eg the ‘fourth sight’ that the Buddha saw
• We might experience it as a call, a sense, a whiff, a taste … of freedom
• Then we follow the path of transformation (next 7 stages)
• Ie over time we real-ise that vision, make it real, allow it to manifest fully
• Fully real-isation of the 8th stage = Awakening or Enlightenment
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Vision & Transformation
Vision is only truly vision as first step of eightfold path if it results in
• us setting out on the path to Enlightenment or
• us practising to unfold our potential (to use the lotus or mandala image)
– it amounts to the same thing, ultimately: transformation!
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How the stages of the Eightfold Path unfold
1. Vision
2. Emotion3. Speech4. Action5. Livelihood6. Effort
7. Awareness8. Samadhi
} our first ‘term’ this year (incl meditation)
} our second ‘term’} focusing on ‘action’} of body, speech and mind} in various ways
} our third ‘term’ exploring} awareness and wisdom
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Exploring ‘action’ in three aspects this term:
•Ethics
•Ritual and Devotion
•Activism
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Ethics: the foundation
•basis for skilful mental states (positive emotion, 2nd stage of Eightfold Path)
•first stage of the threefold path (ethics,meditation, wisdom)
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Ethics 101
•learn to recognise what actions of body, speech and mind lead to harm for us and others
•change how we act so as to make real – to
real-ise our vision
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Ritual and Devotion: powerful action
• We practice ritual with body, speech and mind, engaging allour energies
• In ritual we enact the recognition that we’re not isolated entities, we are interconnected
• We can hear and practice the Dharma because we received it from the lineages (of teaching, practice, inspiration, responsibility)
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Ritual and Devotion: effects
Practising ritual and devotion can:
• enable us to become more receptive to that flow of inspiration
• Help us to real-ise our connection with the Buddha and the ‘Arya Sangha’
• Strengthen our connection with others taking part
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Activism/altruism
• altrustic activity is vital - for our own development and for the benefit of beings
• it needs to be• rooted in effective ethical practice to be truly skilful• accompanied by the development of wisdom
• to the extent that we haven’t real-ized wisdom our actions will be limited
• we may ‘burn out’ if we lack the wisdom to work effectively with both virya (energy in pursuit of the good) and patience (kshanti)
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Conclusion and Question
So we’re moving from vision totransformation, into a term exploring ‘action’ –
Which aspect of action most appeals to you? Which least? Why might that be…
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Some resources on the Eightfold Path
• Sangharakshita’s original 1968 lectures can be found here:https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/series/details?ser=X07
• Sangharakshita’s book The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path can be found in Volume 1 of his Complete Works here: https://www.windhorsepublications.com/the-complete-works-of-sangharakshita-volume-1-a-survey-of-buddhism-the-buddhas-noble-eightfold-path/
• You can download a copy of Yasmin’s Noble Eightfold Path tree imagehere:https://1drv.ms/u/s!AneqoOq3CvhihP5FI8bW382XUnhNYA?e=UkfgK1