Dhammarato Dhamma

Marcus and Dhammarato talk about wats in Chiang Mai, retreats, and different teaching styles. #retreats #chiangmai #buddhadasa Biography of Ajaan Tong Sirimangalo https://www.sirimangalo.org/bio/ Wat Ram Poeng https://www.watrampoeng.com/vipassana-course Wat Umong https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Umong Wat Chom Tong https://www.watchomtong.com/meditationcoures Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu https://www.sirimangalo.org/biography-of-ven-yuttadhammo-bhikkhu/ Wat Suan Mokkh https://www.suanmokkh-idh.org Dipabhāvan, Koh Samui https://dipabhavan.weebly.com/retreat-guidelines.html Dhammavidu http://dhammavidu.com/DV/Tan_Dhammavidu.html Achan Poh http://www.suanmokkh.info/52-friends.html See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0_m8dYZoWk Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Wat Ram Poeng, Wat Umong, teaching styles 00:03:23 Wat Chom Tong; Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu, Achan Tong; the Burmese method in Thailand 00:08:06 Ignoring the feelings; lacking joy; dry vipassanā 00:09:45 The Buddha’s smile; right noble effort; Buddhadāsa’s method skips the dukkha 00:13:15 The joy mellows out; the Mahasi method doesn’t develop the feelings; first jhāna 00:20:01 Retreats without the Dhamma; informal teaching; uncomfortable sits 00:31:42 Skillful use of laughter; not caring 00:35:37 Checking out the wats in the Chiang Mai area; Phansa (Vassa); the trail system 00:43:52 Visiting the north of Chiang Mai; Achan Poh; retreats at Wat Suan Mokkh; Dipabhāvan 00:57:07 Recommending Dipabhāvan, Koh Samui; Dhammavidu; laundry issues

Daniel, Yasen, and Dhammarato talk about waking up to the rhythm of samsāra through ānāpānasati. #mindfulnessofbreathing #anapanasati #nobleeightfoldpath See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_e7dT0SMqk Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Dependent origination (paticcasamuppāda); all dukkha has a cause 04:04 Life is not dukkha; liking and caring 07:04 Be satisfied with the way life is: ānāpānasati is the practice 09:34 How can you live without working in the West? 12:37 The cause of suffering: wanting things you don’t have; disliking things you do have — lobha, dosa, moha 14:21 Rhythm and meter: samsāra — with ānāpānasati we wake up to the rhythm 21:30 Meditation habits; bodily sankhāra; speeding up reaction time; abandon rules and orders 24:50 Wake up, take a look, make a change — you have a choice 32:48 Injunctions and rules to be active and interventionist; anxiety, fear, and anger 37:28 Dressed for battle with nowhere to go; anxiety and hell; punishment and rehabilitation 44:05 The new job: stop doing jobs; safety, security, comfort, and satisfaction 47:07 This is ānāpānasati 50:38 Repeated satisfaction: saddhā (confidence) 52:45 Stop making rules

Scott and Dhammarato talk about why the translations of the Pali Buddhist texts are so poor, how to study the suttas, what the most valuable suttas are, and why. #sutta #lostintranslation #sutra Who was Buddhaghosa? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhaghosa Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn24 https://suttacentral.net/mn139 https://suttacentral.net/mn118 https://suttacentral.net/mn117 https://suttacentral.net/mn10 https://suttacentral.net/mn48 https://suttacentral.net/an3.65 https://suttacentral.net/an3.66 https://suttacentral.net/mn20 https://suttacentral.net/mn2 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBHYgj75vpk Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Poor translations, Christian terminology, misery and despair; Hindu influence 00:15:03 Buddhaghosa’s motivation (MN 24) 00:23:16 The suttas are problematic as translated (MN 139); hot potato analogy 00:29:48 Understand Bhikkhu Buddhadāsa first 00:31:57 Valuable suttas: MN 118; MN 117 need to be read together; MN 10 is a list of failed practices 00:36:10 From practice to suttas; inspiring students 00:40:37 Getting the mind fit for work; doing the work (MN 48; AN 3.65; AN 3.66; MN 20) 00:51:39 Caring about the future and failing to practice properly 00:53:28 Put down superstitions so you can see what’s there 00:55:23 Karma; seeing immediate results 00:57:12 All of the taints: āsava and kilesa (MN 2); knowledge and deliverance 01:02:06 Stability is the first jhāna; easy satisfaction 01:03:36 Verse number of 11 of MN 2 is key: wise attention; removal of the first three fetters (MN 48; MN 24) 01:11:43 The six most valuable suttas: MN 118; MN 117; MN 10, MN 24; MN 48; MN 2 01:13:29 MN 2, MN, 24, MN 48 (wisdom), MN 117, MN 118 (stability)

Marcus and Dhammarato talk about the first steps of the noble eightfold method. #nobleeightfoldpath #satisfaction #beinginthemoment See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGnBh1YOUI Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Everything comes back to dukkha, dukkha-nirodha 02:45 The end of dukkha is immediately available 04:48 The noble eightfold path is two paths: ordinary and supermundane 07:20 Just put the key in the door; be in the holy place 11:40 The causes and the results of the unified mind; nailing things down with ānāpānasati 21:20 Getting the body relaxed by knowing it well; see selfishness; stove, wood, fire, smoke/heat (satipatthāna) 28:27 Set everything aside to learn the practice 30:23 The five hindrances: one package 37:39 It’s a skill to figure out your hindrances; make it a game 45:45 Live in society in the other 55 minutes; see it and throw it out 54:24 Don’t worry about it; be satisfied right now

Laurent and Dhammarato talk about being satisfied with dissatisfaction. #satisfaction #dissatisfaction #samsara See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSRY6yh0LoU Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Being ok with dissatisfaction; cycles of samsara; caring is clinging 09:50 Caring for and caring about; breaking the cycles; so what? Victimhood and mercy 21:03 Feelings, wanting, caring — dependent origination 38:06 Old information; adding new sankhāras 40:08 Keep looking without trying to make sense of anything: enjoy the show

The Sangha talk about replacing doubt with confidence through friendship and community. #confidence #friendship #community Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn48 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIrXoCaHFbw Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Doubt; needing help; being a failure; being a lion (MN 48) 12:50 This attitude is not held by ordinary people; sammā sankappa; saddhā 18:53 The first knowledge; building confidence; Erik in Thailand 33:28 Attainments; culture; trusting — practice; performance; play 46:55 Look for the one who is laughing; crazy house

The Sangha talk about how we develop and assemble the skills of first jhāna. #jhana #samadhi #goenka Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn118 https://suttacentral.net/mn117 https://suttacentral.net/mn36 https://suttacentral.net/mn111 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK8_g0kVOBU Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 The Goenka method was never intended to take the student into jhāna 00:05:13 Wallowing in dukkha: Goenka and Mahasi miss step one: throwing out the hindrances 00:07:41 Wholesome versus unwholesome thoughts 00:10:25 The three characteristics can be seen when the mind is clear; enjoy the show 00:14:27 First jhāna is a set of skills that need to be developed and put together 00:22:02 English and Pali side-by-side on Sutta Central (MN 118; MN 117) 00:24:50 The noble eightfold method; confusion about vipassanā jhāna 00:28:31 Confusion from the commentaries; piti: you know you’ve got it; sammā sankappa 00:39:00 Daniel Ingram; applied and sustained wholesome thought; relaxation and sukha 00:47:14 The first object of meditation: applied and sustained; slow down your reading 00:51:54 Right noble effort is the least amount of effort to get the job done 00:59:08 What does upacara samādhi mean? Applied and sustained thought; two samādhis 01:03:19 Choiceless awareness is not enough effort; first jhāna (MN 36; MN 111)

Daniel and Dhammarato explore the conflation of Buddhism and the Dhamma. #buddhadhamma #ignorance #clinging Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/an3.65 https://suttacentral.net/an3.66 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGYEWZijK40 Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 The rebirth of the self in dukkha; wanting magic 00:03:48 Six answers to yes and no questions; caring for and caring about 00:13:34 The four assurances (AN 3.65; AN 3.66); the Visuddhimagga is a bad source 00:26:15 Karma and vipaka; cause and effect; random and pseudorandom 00:36:03 Caring and confirmation bias; the Christianity of Jesus and Paul 00:42:11 Dependent origination; immediate past, present, and future; uncomfortable truths 00:53:10 Don’t know, don’t care; the first fetter 01:08:12 The noble truths; samsara

Zach and Dhammarato talk about the different environments that support understanding of the Dhamma. #sangha #seclusion #community See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKUrjFB98AY Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 The Sangha; associating with people who are worthy of our association 06:09 Wholesome and valuable environments: seclusion and Sangha 14:53 Wats and cultural issues; Dhamma difficult to find for Westerners 21:26 Online Sanghas; nobles in Thailand; associating with nobles as a training 25:09 You are a product of the five people you spend the most time with 29:41 Looking for role models; imprinting; Bhikkhu Buddhadāsa; meeting nobles in Thailand 47:31 Goenka as guru; developing teachers; tempering 54:40 Five ways to learn

Martin and Dhammarato talk about the implications of the five aggregates for the sense of self and the capactiy for change and also as an introduction to dependent origination. #fiveaggregates #dependentorigination #self Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn117 https://suttacentral.net/mn22 Confirmation bias Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias False Memory Syndrome In psychology, false memory syndrome (FMS) describes a condition in which a person's identity and relationships are affected by false memories, recollections that are factually incorrect yet strongly believed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_memory_syndrome See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee1ZWVrl0H4 Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 The five aggregates; rebirth and reincarnation; Rig Veda 00:05:26 Wrong view and ordinary right view (MN 117) 00:11:41 Rebirth is a ridiculous idea; false memories 00:16:57 Practice; what we can experience; consciousness 00:26:52 Back to the five aggregates; chariot simile; change 00:44:18 Memories are dependently arising; right noble effort 00:46:54 Perception 00:50:48 No self in the five aggregates 00:54:00 Unwholesome thoughts and the self; not bound by memories 00:56:58 The five aggregates are an introduction to dependent origination (MN 22)

Daniel and Dhammarato explore the questioning mind. #questions #seekingthetruth #delusion Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn22 https://suttacentral.net/mn121 https://suttacentral.net/mn122 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u041MrUkKpw Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Rebirth, reincarnation, and dependent origination (MN 20) 00:04:57 Mental rebirth; mistranslations 00:10:41 Avoiding future disappointment; permanent enlightenment (MN 22) 00:24:13 Anicca, anatta 00:26:20 You have a choice; the parent and the child ego state; easy to manipulate 00:31:33 Silabbataparamasa; autopilot; being reborn in an unhappy state 00:36:10 The Buddha did not teach perfection; lack of factual information 00:39:38 “Enlightenment” does not exist in the suttas; disappointment in the lack of magic 00:43:42 Stop working so hard; drop unwholesome thought 00:49:19 What is the right question? 00:51:34 Guru Viking; Daniel Ingram; throwing out unwholesome thoughts; doubt 00:57:48 Dukkha, dukkha-nirodha (MN 121, MN 122) 01:02:12 The first two noble truths; the eightfold noble path; ānāpānasati

The Sangha discuss the four foundations of mindfulness or alertness as presented in the Mahāsatipaṭṭhānasutta of the Majjhima Nikāya 10. #mindfulness #awakening #mindfulnessofbreathing Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn10 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M04P1_9tj4 Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Mahāsatipaṭṭhānasutta (MN 10) 02:44 The body as body; wholesome thoughts 05:28 Mindfulness of breathing; understanding not concentrating; relaxing not tranquillising 11:00 Internal and external; arising of sensations; body as body 19:50 Giving up craving for the body 30:32 Contemplation of feelings 33:35 Contemplation of mind; the four blemishes (āsavas); meta-awareness 38:38 The five aggregates; dependent origination 41:55 Contemplation of mind objects; six sense bases; wisdom at the point of contact 45:00 The seven enlightenment (awakening) factors 51:39 The four noble truths

Tessa and Dhammarato talk about feeling safe, secure, happy, and satisfied as a practical activity. #change #develop #grow See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS_vljzC8Go Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Practicing for five minutes once an hour 06:24 Is it hard to change? 09:51 Don’t complain! Congratulate yourself for everything you see 12:22 Feeling safe and secure 17:06 Thoughts triggered by sensations in the body 21:14 Investigate the environment; take a deep breath 29:46 Never mind, start again 31:18 Take another breath; let the body relax 35:28 Everything is OK; everything is fine; see the reality of the situation 44:16 Being sick is different from thinking sick; smile

The Sangha talk about being in the moment in seclusion and in the world. #beinginthemoment #seclusion #buddhadhamma See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp-EBwT5AAk Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Looking at thoughts and feelings 00:05:26 Practice; right attitude; ānāpānasati 00:12:33 Reading the suttas; seclusion and being in the world 00:18:22 Finding the present moment 00:19:52 Reddit stream entry; magical Buddhism; letting go 00:25:38 Magical thinking and failing to investigate; rebirth; causes and conditions 00:34:14 Craving; wanting to feel special 00:37:47 Attachment and dukkha; nurturing 00:41:48 Openness in the Sangha; suppressed emotions; confidence in the Dhamma 00:48:00 Seclusion and balance; slow everything down; tune into the breath 00:53:39 Building a rhythm of wholesome thoughts; when Spring comes the grass grows; TMI 01:01:36 Equanimity; a mind fit for work

The Sangha look at the nature of the four jhānas and what they tell us about practice. #jhana #sotapan #beinginthemoment Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn111 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfPQ7p4xE7k Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Monks don’t like to talk about jhāna or any kind of attainment 00:07:40 “Vipassana” not used often in the suttas; no distinction from samatha (stability) 00:18:27 Practicing skills in seclusion; cleaning the mind is samatha; recognising hindrances 00:26:35 The Buddha’s practice; first jhāna is the path; the beginner’s job is to remove the hindrances (MN 111) 00:35:48 Talking ourselves into feeling good; feeling successful 00:46:25 Fourth jhāna and seeing how the mind works; first jhāna as a basis for life 00:56:56 There are four jhānas; states of the fourth jhāna; paticcasamuppāda 01:03:03 Perceiving things in a wholesome way 01:06:52 Always a dead loss: we don’t attain anything; a sotāpan is someone who is eager; everything is in flux

Jonas and Dhammarato discuss the two Buddhisms, magical and supermundane, and how the latter is founded on just three skills. #buddhism #mindfulness #supermundane See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04rWZP6RwwA Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 There are two Buddhisms: ordinary (magical with no relief of dukkha) and noble/supermundane 03:56 Rebirth and reincarnation: no one knows whether they exist or not; Visuddhimagga untrustworthy 06:09 Magical translators; rebirth of mood; identity 08:06 Wise attention: right here, right now; the four noble truths 09:48 The Buddha doesn’t ask you to attain anything - stopping, dropping 11:31 The eightfold noble method; right effort; applied and sustained wholesome thought 14:54 Obstructions and hindrances are unwholesome; living in the future 17:59 Skills to be developed: three groups; gladdening the mind; sati, ditthi, effort 23:46 The state of sukha: safe, secure, comfortable, and satisfied — an attitude of success 27:50 Right noble unification of mind; morality 31:44 Nothing’s left; Zen Buddhism; enjoy the vacant lot; subtle and profound, but not difficult

The Sangha discuss the meaning of the Bhayabheravasutta (Fear and Dread) of the Majjhima Nikāya 4. #seclusion #fear #insight Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn4 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDZhKnzGhYM Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Fear and dread; the hero’s journey (MN 4) 05:34 Purification of bodily conduct; unwholesome fear and dread 15:44 First jhāna: applied and sustained thought (thinking and considering) 23:32 Second jhāna 29:42 Third jhāna; equanimity 30:43 Fourth jhāna; neither pain nor pleasure; the fundamental building blocks of experience 34:36 Darkness was banished and light arose; seeing with the eye of the Dhamma (divine eye) 40:05 Understanding other people; cause and effect for yourself and others 43:05 Direct insight into the four noble truths; a lamp in the darkness 50:23 An endless cycle; enjoyment of practice; good in the beginning, middle, and end

The Sangha discuss the impact on practice of dropping personality view and speeding up the mind through basic training. #mindfulness #anatta #dukkha Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn2 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8n4TvxUJ88 Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Welcome to Ajahn Prateep 05:54 Five ways to learn the Dhamma 08:36 Introductions and questions; dropping personality view; selfishness; separation from others 22:33 The expectations of others; using mind moments for investigation 27:54 Anatta and dukkha; the crowd inside; unifying them by stopping critical thoughts (MN 2) 39:26 Losing perspective on sukha; basic training of the mind to be fast; yawning as an anchor

Amit and Dhammarato talk about how the noble eightfold path develops into the seven factors of awakening when we use ānāpānasati to fulfil the four foundations of mindfulness to bring knowledge and deliverance. #sambojjhanga #nibbana #atammayata See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz9fAvL3NyI Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Sambojjhanga: the seven factors of awakening; skills already developed (unremitting) 03:38 Sambojjhanga and the noble eightfold path; sati: coming back to the present moment; effort to energy 11:05 Differences with Goenka: make a change; Ayya Khema 16:08 Bringing the body to a state of comfort; how to be satisfied 19:51 The first three steps are the first three factors; right intention (sammā sankappa) 24:34 Keep getting the mind into a state of sukha; piti is the experience of success (first jhāna) 27:26 Unremitting relaxation (passaddhi) 27:51 Samādhi: bringing the factors together, unification of mind 29:18 Maintaining unification is upekkhā (equanimity) 32:14 Four factors are part of the noble eightfold path; the rest are results 41:14 We practice ānāpānasati to fulfil the four foundations of mindfulness, which develops the noble eightfold path into the seven factors of awakening and brings knowledge and deliverance 43:38 Now figure out how the mind works (paticcasamuppāda); atammayatā; relinquishment 50:06 Practice for short periods numerous times per day

Laurens, Laurent, and Dhammarato talk about having less time in the day to worry. #worry #anxiety #insecurity See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KJYRWwy8HU Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Is this cup heavy? Things get heavier when we keep thinking about them 05:19 No inherent satisfaction; advantages in worry; the ok corral 18:40 Training the mind; right effort 20:54 Practice being satisfied 27:25 Time to not worry; bright; shiny; satisfied; secure 30:33 Livelihood and ethics? Get a mind fit for work first 33:50 Let life be easy; feel good for five minutes out of every hour 37:54 Let go of things that aren’t important; clinging to things (paticcasamuppāda) 41:45 Living simply; ethics as an obstacle; noble attitude 48:26 Are you willing to put in the effort?

The Sangha discuss the Anaṅgaṇasutta (Unblemished) in which the concept of being aware or unaware of a blemish or lack of a blemish illustrates the great benefit of being aware of the here and now so that unwholseome thoughts can be changed or wholesome thoughts maintained as the foundation for nobility. #wholesome #unwholesome #awareness Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn5 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He0B_HrlaeI Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Looking at MN 5: four kinds of people; awareness, right effort, and zeal 38:40 Ignorant faith vs. confidence; recognising nobles 42:25 Having a blemish and being aware; not having a blemish and being aware 46:34 Interpretation of the four path model 50:47 Sadness: delusion or not? Dealing with the inner child 56:39 Enjoying the Sangha; creating dialogue

David and Dhammarato talk about questions derived from magical stories, Westerners searching for magic, and finding satisfaction in daily practice. #magic #beinginthemoment #mindfulnessofbreathing Suttas mentioned in this discussion: https://suttacentral.net/mn26 https://suttacentral.net/mn36 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcRxTe0RXBY Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Questions derived from magical books 00:06:08 Buddhism is a multiplicity; words and concepts; mistranslation 00:11:20 One-line teachings: never mind, start again; dukkha, dukkha nirodha; friendship 00:14:25 Buddhas and bodhisattvas (MN 26; MN 36); morality; Jains; killing 00:21:44 Hunting: philosophy and practice 00:23:57 Adam and Eve as a magical story 00:27:20 Dependent origination; ignorance and awareness; Westerners searching for magic 00:38:41 Reality and victimhood; wanting something outside to fix you on the inside 00:45:52 Start practicing correctly; wholesome thoughts 00:49:57 Two types of breathing; zazen; just sit and experience the body 00:54:40 Taking control of your mind, breath, life; success, celebration, satisfaction 01:01:23 Start practicing

The Sangha discuss the Anaṅgaṇasutta (Unblemished) in which the concept of being aware or unaware of a blemish or lack of a blemish illustrates the great benefit of being aware of the here and now so that unwholseome thoughts can be changed or wholesome thoughts maintained as the foundation for nobility. #wholesome #unwholesome #awareness Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn5 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyZK4XK7J4s Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Looking at MN 5: four kinds of people; awareness, right effort, and zeal 38:40 Ignorant faith vs. confidence; recognising nobles 42:25 Having a blemish and being aware; not having a blemish and being aware 46:34 Interpretation of the four path model 50:47 Sadness: delusion or not? Dealing with the inner child 56:39 Enjoying the Sangha; creating dialogue

Eric and Dhammarato look at the concepts of “importance” and “progress” as a way of understanding that there’s no place to go after first jhāna. #jhana #progress #enlightenment See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkGGzJ6N9Mo Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 What’s important? Being alive and knowing right now 06:05 First jhāna is enough 09:07 Defining progress; ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’; a mentality of dissatisfaction 18:43 The factors of first jhāna; secluded from unwholesome states of mind 21:47 Breathe, think, enjoy wholesome thoughts; do things happily with all your mind 28:19 The path to the higher jhānas: applied and sustained wholesome thoughts; relaxed satisfaction (MN 111) 41:46 What is perception? How does it work? Plastering things with the past 43:38 No place to go after first jhāna; no more progress to be made 48:18 The waveform of first jhāna; controlling our feelings 55:04 Stop wanting what you don’t have 56:58 Comparisons with yoga

Michael and Dhammarato talk about finding space to nurture ourselves so we can become friends with ourselves and others. #nurturing #skilldevelopment #satisfaction See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKANC1LE180 Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 How big is your world? Adam and Eve leave paradise; judgment creates good and evil 12:11 The end of nurturing; a sense of abandonment; longing for home 16:05 The first thing is to look and see what is going on without being critical 19:35 Nurturing to transition from being a victim 23:24 Making friends with ourselves; becoming unified and whole 30:30 Keep your paradise and joy and throw a lifeline to others 37:25 Space to maneuver

Gregory and Dhammarato talk about waking up (sammā sati), looking at what you’re doing (sammā ditthi), making a change (sammā vayama), and building right attitude (sammā sankappa) as the foundations for right noble unification of mind (sammā samādhi). #samadhi #thusness #gladdeningthemind Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn48 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gO70ZMMS2Q Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Appreciating Dhammarato’s dedication and joy; Western Buddhism and Buddhist symbols 00:09:03 Gladdening the mind; four skills and their outcome: sati, investigation, improvement, success, samādhi 00:15:15 Hindrances are things preventing you feeling the way you want to feel 00:25:06 Wake up, look at what you’re doing, and make a course correction - attitude (MN 48) 00:37:28 Instant understanding of the Buddha’s words; being able to handle anything 00:44:32 Gathering together the factors; unification of mind; sila 00:52:14 Dukkha, dukkha nirodha; friendship; nurturing; gladdening other minds 00:54:43 Upekkha: equanimity or dynamic balance; the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune; rules & bad speech 01:07:52 Practicing paticcasamuppāda in reverse order; waking up to the truth of the situation 01:12:37 Feelings precipitate thoughts; inter-relatedness of body, feelings, mind 01:21:47 Being sure about unwholesome thoughts and gladdening the mind - attitudes and feelings 01:27:23 Analogy of training a wild horse: pasture (wholesome), corral (chant - ‘Bolero’ example), stall (mantra), no words 01:36:09 Discursive thoughts and sensory awareness - observational thoughts (diamond cutter example) 01:43:38 Reality is thusness; salāyatana: internal representation of the external (the nun) 01:53:54 Monkey see, monkey do: being taught to be unhappy

Daniel and Dhammarato talk about skill development and gaining confidence in practice. #beinginthemoment #anapanasati #skilldevelopment Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn117 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5n3M0Rvwsg Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Sati is a skill to be developed 00:03:29 Paticcasamuppāda; recognising anger; once returner 00:08:31 Never mind, start again; every moment is a new opportunity 00:18:14 Waking up in the morning; coming into sensory awareness 00:26:21 Winner’s mentality vs. victim’s mentality; enthusiasm and confidence 00:30:43 Boot camp mentality; Goenka retreat (MN 117) 00:40:06 The breath as an anchor for the present moment and doorway into the body 00:45:21 Distinguishing wholesome from unwholesome; reflecting on attitude; rehabilitation vs. punishment 00:51:54 Goenka and Dhamma; coming out of the hindrances; Mahasi is repeated first grade 01:03:36 Can we suppress thoughts? Taking the stallion to the pasture, corral, stall; TM 01:09:58 Gaps between wholesome thoughts; Fritz Perls

Alex and Dhammarato discuss the depths of relationships and intimacy. #relationships #intimacy #buddhadhamma Elisabeth Kübler-Ross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Kübler-Ross Sadie Hawkins Day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadie_Hawkins_Day See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irj7u9umfQY Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Getting on top of the world in seclusion; Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and bargaining 00:09:28 Eric Berne’s alcohol games: drunk and proud; lush; battles and drinking 00:16:29 What does it look like to let a relationship die? Changes in the age of adulthood 00:32:00 Seeing dukkha instead of satisfaction; meditation, Sangha, and loneliness 00:38:22 Love the one you’re with; grounding a pathway into the mind; Sadie Hawkins Day/Dance 00:52:15 Seeing the cycle helps you get out of it; sex drive and intimacy

The Sangha discuss what it means to see with the eye of the Dhamma. #buddhadhamma #gratification #identification See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWNhqBOcI-o Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 ‘Seeing With the Eye of the Dhamma’; headless chickens; beheaded in childhood 00:09:09 The majority want magic; being blinded by lies 00:16:01 What is the Dhamma eye? Lower the banner; tribalism comes from the nesting instinct 00:35:25 Seeing what’s not there; keep looking, keep investigating 00:53:07 All the world’s a stage; gratification, danger, and escape 01:02:26 Self-destructive behaviour; Ayn Rand and selfishness 01:11:18 Seeing further ahead 01:13:58 Back to the Dhamma eye 01:16:39 Spiritual materialism 01:19:50 Saddhā

Keyshawn and Dhammarato talk about seeing the dangers of arguing with people as a counterbalance to perceived benefits. #arguments #relationships #wisdom See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl1LHXWnY-g Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Perceived benefits from arguing with people: dangers, ramifications 02:17 Gratification, danger, and escape; wise responses 10:00 Smiling again; don’t be sorry, party

The Sangha discuss common misunderstandings of the Dhamma and how a more realistic understanding informs the basics of daily practice. #knowledge #understanding #freedom Yathā-bhūta-ñāna-dassana in context - the Upanisasutta (vital conditions for freedom) https://suttacentral.net/sn12.23 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tON5iMQrRk Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Informal structure around the noble Dhamma 02:14 Yathā-bhūta-ñāna-dassana: knowledge and vision of things as they are; lawfulness 07:12 Mistaking the Dhamma for an ontology; limitations to what we can know 13:01 Figure things out: what causes dukkha? How do the four noble truths work? 14:37 Analogy of athlete who practices without skill; active investigation and effort to understand and make a change 17:07 Cost-benefit analysis - when we remember 19:27 Advice for someone joining religious Buddhism; visit to Lao wat; the third fetter 24:58 Laypeople and the noble Dhamma; becoming a monk; the worldly winds; friendship 33:10 Flaws in practice; root misunderstandings; never mind, start again 38:44 Investigation vs. narrative; from dukkha to sukha 44:00 What are the foundations of practice? Waking up, the effort of letting go 45:31 Obvious unwholesome thoughts vs. under the radar thoughts; concepts and fabrications

Michael and Dhammarato talk about aspects of the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha) in Eastern and Western socio-historical contexts as a foundation for understanding the process of becoming friends with ourselves so we can become friends with others. #buddhadhamma #friendship #wisdom Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/sn45.2 https://suttacentral.net/mn139 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UaO1kbxI7w Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Thai wat in Tulsa; wats in the US; Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha 08:58 The influence of Ashoka; nobles: it takes one to know one 13:51 How Buddhism reached the West; dukkha is dissatisfaction; following our instincts 17:28 Being taught to be a victim; doing things we don’t want to do; set it down 22:08 Wisdom: how to aim our ambitions; the noble eightfold path; the half sutta (SN 45.2) 28:11 Disunity of mind; lying to ourselves; ānāpānasati; relaxing; gladdening the mind 32:53 Becoming friends with ourselves; development of US wats 39:26 Buddhadāsa’s ‘No Religion’; seeing things as they really are 41:43 Conversations with Bhikkhu Buddhadāsa about Jesus; teaching the Dhamma (MN 139) 49:49 Cleaning one’s mind and dealing with others in a friendly way

Gregory and Dhammarato talk about the foundations of good practice with reference to the martial arts. #anapanasati #beinginthemoment #martialarts See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrp8QwDkT34 Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Wing Chun, acupuncture, Bodhidharma, Shaolin, Shogunate; ānāpānasati; form and outcome 04:05 Analogy with martial arts; meditation and Christianity 06:15 Becoming aware of tension and anxiety so we can relax; a body-mind training 12:22 Dukkha, dukkha-nirodha; wanting things that are not immediately available 16:18 We are driven by our feelings; the habit of dukkha 19:38 Coming straight out of dissatisfaction into satisfaction; waking up and making a change 28:04 Samma sankappa; stability of the mind: samādhi 32:02 This is a moment to practice

Laurent and Dhammarato talk about how the relationship with the sankhāras develops during practice. #dependentorigination #beinginthemoment #anapanasati Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mil See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIBkf62tPI0 Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 The breathing becomes an anchor to the here now; mala beads; bracelets 07:10 Society teaches us to be on guard in case of danger 11:30 Coming to our senses 12:58 Reframing sankhāras - from disliking to liking; hello darkness my old friend; friendship organises the mind 19:05 Never mind, start again; Milinda’s questions to Nāgasena (Mil 3.1.1) 23:28 Recognising the role of the breath; seeing the factors; looking at the five aggregates 26:19 Dependent origination (paticcasamuppāda); comparisons with past images and feelings 32:14 Not reacting to sankhāras: inner and outer; nobles and Sangha 36:15 Building up enjoyment of the situation: being fully aware and enjoying the show; taking a hike

Laurens and Dhammarato talking about living in the here and now. #beinginthemoment #buddhadhamma #satisfaction See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWesoEwRHkc Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Confusion and loneliness; nobles and others; waking up to the lies you’ve been told 14:55 Looking for something you don’t have; putting down the shiny objects 16:52 The four requisites 19:23 A two-step process; seclusion and practice; associating with nobles 23:21 Just completed a six-week retreat; throwing unwholesome thoughts out 27:36 Options for the future; don’t think too far in advance 30:06 Fear: recognising the thoughts that bring it on 33:12 Changing attitude: look at what you are doing and make a change 36:00 Suññata; nobody knows they’ve made it all up 37:56 Dialogue between parent and child; terrifying ourselves with rules and standards 42:46 Feeling nourished and taken care of; thinking of the future; get used to being in the here now 46:05 Sense contact with the world you live in

The Sangha talk about abandoning Western goal-orientation and concentrating on safety, security, comfort, and satisfaction right here, right now. #mindfulnessofbreathing #ānāpānasati #meditation Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn19 The 16 stages of ānāpānasati https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/article/mindfulness-of-breathing-anapanasati-sutta-mn-118/ See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD4H0ZteR_o Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Right effort and goal orientation; not getting what we want 04:33 The Butterfly Effect 07:40 Relaxing instead of thinking about stages; wisdom is knowing where you are 12:30 “Gladdening the mind” is a thread to unravel what is going on in the mind (MN 19) 17:45 The difference between mind and mind objects 21:29 Correct metta practice is a form of gladdening the mind; work on the inner first 28:37 Dukkha, dukkha-nirodha; ānāpānasati is the method 42:36 Steps 9, 10, 11 & 12 of ānāpānasati; samādhi; drop the standards and nurture yourself 53:40 The benefits of laziness

The Sangha discuss how to take control of thoughts, feelings, the body, and the breath. #mindfulnessofbreathing #control #freedom Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn48 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho9M0vaYd7U Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Taking control; we are taught to be out of control of our feelings 00:17:58 The satipatthāna; controlling the breathing; sati; look at what we’re doing and make an improvement 00:21:24 Being taught that things are important; what are you going to do with your last moment? 00:24:36 No security through things; wanting power; delayed gratification; victimhood 00:30:25 The practice of feeling safe, secure, comfortable, and satisfied (MN 48) 00:38:00 Control unwholesome thoughts; feeling bad by habit; keep practicing 00:41:44 Doing what society expects us to do; paticcasamuppāda and woeful states 00:49:13 Controlling how we think, how we feel; controlling the body, controlling the breath - in this present moment 00:52:53 Effort in the beginning 01:00:11 Continue to practice!

Scott and Dhammarato talk about the structure of good practice, which does not involve going on retreat or becoming a statue. #sitting #repetition #sukha Buddhist Symbolism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_symbolism Sayagyi U Ba Khin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayagyi_U_Ba_Khin S. N. Goenka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._N._Goenka See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEHczILJwgw Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 The actual teachings of the Buddha 00:01:45 Three symbols of early Buddhism; U Ba Khin, sitting meditation, and retreats 00:08:07 The word “meditation” does not appear in any sutta; the Buddha taught ānāpānasati; brahmaviharas 00:11:30 The body should be comfortable; listen to your body; sit upright 00:33:52 Knowingly doing something wholesome over and over again, not endurance 00:38:50 Practice often: six ten minute sittings; two types of sati 00:49:40 Ānāpānasati outside a formal sit; wakey, wakey; intentionally breathing in long… 00:56:00 The breath and the thing you’re doing; wake up and make a change: samma sankappa 01:00:39 More frequently rather than longer; developing continuity: congratulate, nourish, nurture 01:02:56 Significant change in ten minutes

The Sangha discuss how practice perfects one skill: seeing dukkha, dukkha-nirodha and how the jhāna fit into this training. #training #naruto #jhana Suttas mentioned in this discussion (Bahiya of the Bark-Cloth) https://suttacentral.net/ud1.10 Scott and Dhammarato talk about the four jhānas https://youtu.be/P3mxq8h8o4I Naruto https://youtu.be/74C_v098Gls Dragon Ball Z - Fight Against Gravity https://youtu.be/8nVk4NSy9Rw See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylcg3pPeN04 Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Anxiety and state of mind 00:04:24 Mind is the forerunner; victimhood is comfortable 00:07:15 Knowledge and vision of things as they are; applied and sustained wholesome thoughts 00:15:54 Heaven and hell between your ears; dependent origination; sati 00:20:30 Angry, dissatisfied, not liking, not wanting; choosing the wise road 00:25:16 Resting naturally without seeking or describing; good enough; abundance of freedom 00:29:05 Gazing versus hunting 00:30:01 Bahiya of the Bark-Cloth (Ud 1.10); “resting” is not a precise word; processes are skillful or unskillful 00:41:19 Skill development; trash arises; insight; dependent origination is a multi-faceted jewel; expert in dukkha, dukkha-nirodha; first jhāna as a training 00:56:35 Mastery of the first jhāna; don’t worry about the other jhānas 01:00:43 Naruto; Dragon Ball Z training analogies to teaching first jhāna; letting go 01:18:43 Scott and Dhammarato talking about the four jhānas

Dean and Dhammarato talk about guarding the senses, virtue, avoiding transmitting dukkha, misconceptions about the jhāna, attainments, mindfulness, and Dhammarato’s hobbies and activities. #virtue #craving #satisfaction See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwlpqs9QmAI Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Guarding the senses 03:45 What is virtue? Dukkha, dukkha-nirodha: good behaviour is to avoid transmitting dukkha 06:49 Ignorantly wanting something you don’t have; endurance 16:25 Uprooting rather than managing suffering 19:35 Misconceptions about fourth jhāna; advertising and bragging about attainments 24:34 Discernment; what are you thinking about right now? how are you feeling right now? 27:48 Having a wholesome conversation 29:40 Don’t use the word “mindfulness”; daydreaming 32:03 Peripheral awareness, being in your senses 35:10 Ten minutes six times per day; remember and be glad you can see 38:46 Students on the island 40:51 Dhammarato’s hobbies 43:35 Disrobing; drinking and eating out; learning to do nothing

Martin and Dhammarato explore practice by analogy to learning a musical instrument: practice in seclusion, practice in front of others (performance, busking), and practice for the music #practice #seclusion #performance See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo9wHYN-RiI Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 This is an active practice in three ways: seclusion, performance (busking), just the music 06:55 Putting the Dhamma in ordinary life 11:27 The Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha; begin to think about where you can find nobles 22:48 Understanding how the mind works; the second noble truth 26:24 Looking at what we are doing and making a change; samma sankappa 30:52 Gladdening the mind: injunction, instruction, thought 33:02 The Life of Brian; never mind, start again 35:59 Catching unwholesome thoughts; using the breath; developing sati 39:45 Look into the five aggregates and paticcasamuppāda

Markus and Dhammarato talk about how gladdening the mind leads to a change of attitude. #mindfulnessofbreathing #confidence #jhana Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn118 https://suttacentral.net/mn48 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqWhEWnYFeM Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Gladdening the mind; changing our feelings 04:47 Sensory input and talking to ourselves 07:00 Being above the world; the ānāpānasatisutta; the four elements (MN 118) 13:13 Sukha is the opposite of dukkha 15:06 A change of attitude (MN 48) 21:22 Removal of hindrances; sukha; piti; applied and sustained wholesome thought (first jhāna)

Markus and Dhammarato talk about the subtleties of sati. #mindfulness #nurturing #selfcriticism See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_1Ha63JhVY Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 The residue of feeling from the immediate preceding thought 02:50 Being in a critical mind state; looking for rehabilitation 06:40 Five out of the six senses are anchors; the mind rarely takes in new data 11:45 Sati is a skill to be developed; first event on waking; begin to have nurturing thoughts

The Sangha discuss how Buddhism spread to the West. #ashoka #blavatsky #thoreau Buddhism in the United Kingdom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_the_United_Kingdom Buddhism in the United States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_the_United_States Helena Blavatsky https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Blavatsky Henry Steel Olcott https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Steel_Olcott Pali Text Society https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pali_Text_Society See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2_oGr7fupk Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 How did Buddhism come to the West? Disruption in China; intentional wandering; Asokha’s emissaries 05:33 The British in Sri Lanka; Thoreau, Emerson and Buddhism; Mme. Blavatsky, Olcott, and Krishnamurthi 09:09 D T Suzuki; Zen in California; lack of nobles in the West; cultural differences 14:28 Looking for nobility 15:49 Schopenhauer & Nietzsche; postmodern philosophers; consumerism 22:17 What’s the relationship between intellectuals and the rest of society? 24:27 Wholesome qualities in non-Western cultures; underlying anxiety and fear; questioning 30:23 Ignoble Buddhism in the West; the blind leading the blind 37:11 The Dhamma is difficult to understand without a teacher; nobles in the West are ignored 40:50 Kindling the fire of knowledge; rehabilitating the mind; good breathing

Robert and Dhammarato reflect on the difference between wise ignorance and foolish ignorance across a variety of social circumstances and relationships. #ignorance #evidence #happiness Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn139 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SteQ9iWc3U Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 The difference between wise ignorance and foolish ignorance; jumping to a conclusion 00:12:29 Right view: get some evidence 00:15:35 Is protest valuable? Revenge in politics; debt slavery 00:27:41 Delusion is a step below ignorance 00:34:40 Happiness as status; statistics as manipulation; using external standards 00:41:32 Definitions of happiness; feeling and meaning (MN 139) 00:52:12 Wise ignorance and right effort; insecurity of wealth; mansions as fortresses 01:00:08 Finding the balance between wealth and poverty

The Sangha discuss power as a proxy for safety, security, comfort, and satisfaction. #power #ideology #gratification See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98ZX71ca_As Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Power as a proxy for safety and security 00:06:01 Magical thinking and power 00:07:47 Levels of organisation and ideology; how do we treat ourselves? 00:15:03 Power and religion; the golden rule; treat people the way they want to be treated 00:18:21 Running power trips on ourselves; sankhāra; gladdening the mind 00:25:50 Everything starts in the mind; things are not dangerous 00:28:32 A joke about marriage; critical thinking vs. nurturing; punishment vs. rehabilitation 00:35:32 Approaching family conflict through friendship; teasing 00:39:53 Delayed gratification; trying and playing; it’s complicated but I’ll get it 00:47:20 Consciousness constricts to the things we want 00:55:31 Intellectual understanding; attitude; playing close attention to our thoughts so we can make a change 01:00:40 Share the practice with a smile

The Sangha discuss various analogies providing insight into the nature of skill development during practice of the noble Dhamma. #skilldevelopment #mindfulness #experiment See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7Z2OyEr-Zk Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00 Malicious gossip as normal behaviour; wrong speech and action 08:44 Creating unwholesome stories; seeing how dukkha arises 10:49 Looking at practice as skill development 14:33 Dukkha is a repetitive process; refined sati; entropy in practice 19:10 Snowboarding analogy; more subtle effort 20:37 Anxiety, restlessness, and worry - pay attention to the causes and conditions; dissatisfaction 27:50 Engineering analogy: how does this work? Skill development starts with fundamentals 32:17 Adjusting to new information; seeing patterns instead of sticking to an old heuristic 35:50 The situation is not the problem 36:44 Mara gets more skilled too; seeing subtle dukkha; ideologies and views in practice circles 40:57 Teaching someone how to learn rather than creating dependency; providing a spark 45:15 Learning from mistakes and feedback; trial and error; celebrating success

The Sangha discuss how dependent origination has developed over time, the power of repetition, and learning to use triggers and anchors as part of wisdom at the point of contact. #dependentorigination #triggers #anchors Suttas mentioned in this discussion: The Udāna The Udana - part of the Khuddaka Nikāya - is composed of eight chapters (vagga) of ten discourses each. The chapter titles are: Bodhivagga (Awakening chapter) Mucalindavagga (King Mucalinda chapter) Nandavagga (Ven. Nanda chapter) Meghiyavagga (Ven. Meghiya chapter) Soṇavagga (Lay Follower Sona chapter) Jaccandhavagga (Blind From Birth chapter) Cullavagga (Minor chapter) Pāṭaligāmiyavagga (Pataligamiya chapter) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udāna https://suttacentral.net/pitaka/sutta/minor/kn/ud The Sutta Nipata The Sutta Nipata is also part of the Khuddaka Nikāya https://suttacentral.net/pitaka/sutta/minor/kn/snp Other suttas mentioned https://suttacentral.net/dn15 https://suttacentral.net/mn9 https://suttacentral.net/mn38 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB-9XxE16OE Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Dependent origination changed over time: old texts: Udāna, Sutta Nipata (DN 15, MN 9, MN 38) 00:06:30 The power of repetition 00:10:37 Resting places in paticcasamuppāda; people wake up when they see the dukkha 00:13:14 The importance of the point of contact; triggers 00:16:11 Learning discernment; pretend favourites 00:21:13 What triggers behaviour? Phassa (contact); salāyatana: our understanding 00:29:48 How to deal with something in a mundane setting; choosing how to feel 00:41:03 Did the Buddha talk about trauma? “Sankhāra” could be translated as “trauma” 00:46:49 Triggers and anchors can be used ignorantly or to our advantage: wisdom at the point of contact 00:48:59 Stop controlling things, it’s exhausting 00:50:51 We don’t have to worry about the future; creating anchors through repetition 01:00:09 How to deal with people from different cultures and communication styles - stop!

Robert and Dhammarato talk about anatta, insights from Zen, competition, and change. #zen #anatta #change Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn38 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP5ksgwBsW4 Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 Anatta - no soul 00:04:16 Zen insights 00:06:12 Christianity is a form of atheism (Slavoj Žižek); Freud ‘Moses and Monotheism’; Jung ‘Answer to Job’ 00:12:08 ‘The cycle must go on’ the Buddha teaches to come out of that cycle 00:13:34 Power and strength; coming out of competition; avoiding groups 00:20:04 Gender differences in competition; lessons from society 00:29:37 Back to anatta; the possibility of change; appearance; clothing; dress codes 00:46:43 Zen emphasis on non-discrimination; causes and conditions; rebirth and reincarnation (MN 38) 01:10:39 Nisargadatta Maharaj ‘I Am That’; seeing the cycle of feelings; life is intrinsically good 01:20:12 Studying the Dhamma with intensity; magical thinking; samatha and vipassanā are not separate

The Sangha discuss the simplicity of the Dhamma and make analogies with scientific enquiry and the mindset of various professions. #buddhadhamma #scienceexperiment #investigation See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTcwbKRThzc Weekly Sangha calls, everyone is welcome. ►The Sangha US - https://join.skype.com/uyYzUwJ3e3TO ►The Sangha UK - https://join.skype.com/w6nFHnra6vdh To meet Dhamma friends, hang out, or volunteer—join our Discord Sangha. Everyone is welcome. ►Discord - https://discord.gg/epphTGY 00:00:00 The mind of a scientist and parallels with effective practice 00:02:51 Analogy of a woodworker and an architect; understanding arising and passing away 00:11:07 Being blindfolded by craving, aversion, and the hindrances; waking up to the senses 00:13:30 The symbol of justice is flawed; trying to fix the world from a position of fear 00:15:17 Becoming entranced by a role; being an arbiter of justice and truth 00:19:32 We cause our own dissatisfaction; throwing a tantrum; choosing dukkha-nirodha to recondition the mind 00:25:07 The Ingram and Dhammarato Mahasi debate and gladdening the mind 00:33:17 Ridiculous social conditioning; draining the swamp of unwholesome thoughts 00:41:02 You win every battle you’re not a part of; wanting to conquer people 00:43:34 It’s more important to make friends; right noble wisdom 00:48:26 Whenever you remember; “every time” is a delusion; time is an emergent phenomenon 00:54:50 The teachings are simple - deceptively simple; see for yourself 00:58:10 Dhamma talks are like training wheels