Dhammarato Dhamma

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

The Sangha discuss how Dhamma helps us to change the habits of mind from dukkha to sukkha using the analogy of the leading a horse from the world, to a pasture, to a corral, and finally into a stall. #fournobletruths #eightfoldpath #mantra Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn12 https://suttacentral.net/mn19 https://suttacentral.net/mn111 Dhammarato’s mantra video https://youtu.be/n7hae8VRy1g itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi, satthā devamanussānaṁ, buddho bhagavā’ti ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGxaDJ3xp3I 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 Wanting happiness and choosing happiness 00:03:50 If thoughts are unwholesome change them; don’t dig a dukkha hole before you get to step 12 00:08:31 Three lifetimes: the immediate past, the immediate present moment, and the immediate future 00:12:06 Wanting magical powers; magical belief systems; fear and wanting power 00:26:03 Sukha -step 6 of ānāpānasati; the first minute of practice 00:28:42 After the joy, confidence; how to spend time now (MN 111; MN 19) 00:34:38 From first to second jhāna: how the mind is working, how good we feel; third and fourth jhāna; the end of perception and feeling 00:38:28 Hindrances: whacking the cow; using the breathing 00:43:26 Sati is training to be ready for the danger of engaging the world; friendliness; remembering safety & security 00:48:17 Changing the habits of the mind; if fruitions exist you don’t live your life in them; cessation of thought and feeling 00:55:30 From the world to a pasture; to a corral; to a stall; getting into a wholesome state is most of the work 00:57:52 Mantras are best when they mean something (MN 12); any wholesome song will do

The Sangha talk about family and friendship and finding the best place to practice during each phase of life. #wat #bhikkhu #seclusion See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2u2W9usBLg 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 family can be a good place to practice; becoming a bhikkhu; open wounds: āsava 00:12:03 Western Buddhism and sporadic retreats 00:15:17 Dogen’s advice to laypeople; an old and open path; Mullah Nasruddin 00:26:34 Noble monarchs and officials; reform of the sangha; ordination: up to seven times 00:36:48 Mini-seclusion in daily life; no distinction between ordination and lay life 00:40:47 Finding community in the West; noble friends; the noble desert 00:55:49 Enjoy the emptiness; enjoy your duties

Markus and Dhammarato discuss how the Dhamma helps us out of the wrong lessons we learned as a child by explaining how the mind works.#dependentorigination #transactionalanalysis #fournobletruths See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuzNcQkP7S8 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 OK corral; society teaches us to be losers; listen to the language you are using; Gestalt & Fritz Perls 05:49 Wrong lessons we learn as a child; coming out of victimhood; rites of passage; GREB 10:15 The relevance of the Buddha’s teaching: feeling good 16:39 What the practice is all about: control 19:29 How the mind works; feelings and attitude; mind is the forerunner 24:04 Observing ourselves; sammā sankappa is a skill to be developed: attitude change 28:21 How to stay out of unwholesome thoughts; dependent origination explains the second noble truth

Scott, Dean, Laurent, and Dhammarato talk about the skills of entering first jhāna and re-entering it fromsecond jhāna. #jhana #mindfulnessofbreathing #samadhi Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://sutacentral.net/mn19 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBWbofvB5-M 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 Peaks and plateaus; seeking highs; consistent wholesome thoughts 06:37 Subtle unwholesome thoughts; using the breathing 09:56 Three skills associated with first jhāna; sati; repetition of entry into first jhāna; applied thought 14:00 Sustained thought 15:06 The skill of coming out of first jhāna; going into jhāna 16:31 The Middle Path; ordinary unwholesome thoughts are one extreme; higher jhāna are another extreme 21:12 Unwholesome thoughts; the cowherd (MN 19); experiencing how good we feel; breathing & chanting; mantras 37:02 Song lyrics as a corral; advaita; training to make the mind wholesome 45:13 Working with the early parts of dependent origination; perception; creating a wholesome past 48:35 Just using the present moment; the higher jhāna shows how the mind works; just look 52:03 Coming out of first jhāna as an opportunity for skill development

The Sangha discuss the hindrances, how Western misconceptions impede practice, Buddhism in society, the timelessness of the Dhamma, and the lawfulness of nature. #buddhadhamma #beinginthemoment #buddhiststory Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn36 https://suttacentral.net/mn38 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTAyIR-uAMg 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00:00 Arising and passing away; personality view; seeing the reality of things (MN 36, MN 38) 00:13:44 The five hindrances; sati; wisdom at the point of contact 00:18:46 Western insight meditation and concentration; separating samatha and vipassanā 00:21:05 The fiction of access concentration; samādhi as unification of mind 00:23:29 The bad example of education 00:27:30 Restlessness: perceiving things with greater clarity and greater subtlety; āyatana vs. fabrications 00:33:18 Retreats and restlessness; Amaravati; going into nature; finding a state of comfort 00:39:05 Dhammarato’s farmer story: fixing the fence; seeing restlessness 00:44:16 Being around wise people on a daily basis; time to relax 00:46:57 Permaculture and farming in a Buddhist setting; Sepp Holzer 00:52:04 Integration of Buddhist institutions and the community; adjusting to the local culture 00:56:25 The Buddha’s Dhamma as the science of experience; lawfulness; how dukkha arises

Michael and Dhammarato talk about the development of the foundational skills of practice from the noble eightfold path to the five faculties and ending with the seven factors of awakening. #nobleeightfoldpath #buddhadhamma #beinginthemoment Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/an4.162 https://suttacentral.net/mn48 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VrzNEhOjBk 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00:00 Fast or slow, hard or easy? (AN 4.162) Strong determination sitting in Goenka practice 00:06:14 The five faculties; samādhi: the two types of concentration; skills to be developed 00:10:14 Saddhā: confidence; the quality of attitude: sammā sankappa 00:13:34 Investigation and sati 00:17:17 Taking the effort to make a change 00:20:35 GREB: Government, religion, education, and business; resisting change 00:28:26 The factors of awakening; enlightenment: light (knowledge), heaviness (deliverance) 00:42:32 Wholesome and unwholesome; past and future; right now… 00:56:34 Practice when you remember; sit down intentionally six times a day for ten minutes 01:00:43 The first step (MN 48); the eightfold noble path 01:11:26 Before (the noble eightfold path); now (balancing the factors); the end result (the seven factors of awakening)

The Sangha discuss the background and lineage of Bhikkhu Buddhadāsa and nobility in the context of Buddhism’s historical background. #buddhism #dhamma #buddhadasa Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://www.suttacentral.net/mn48 Sanghanayok Somdet Phra Buddhaghosajarn (Buddhadāsa’s teacher) https://www.suanmokkh.org/articles/8 Prince Watchirayanawarorot / Manusyanagamanob (Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phramahasamanachao Kromphraya Vajirananavarorasa) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajirananavarorasa Supreme Patriarchs of Thailand (Sangharaja) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Patriarch_of_Thailand The Saṅghādisesa https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/vin/sv/bhikkhu-pati.html#sg Santikaro https://cloudmountain.org/profile/santikaro/ Emperor Ashoka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashoka See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g29g_dnBKE 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00 Marcus working at a wat; abbots and nobles 10:02 Buddhadāsa’s teacher Somdet Phra Buddhaghosajarn; Supreme Patriarch Prince Vajirananavarorasa (‘The King and I’) 14:06 The teaching has not been lost, just badly translated 17:51 Achan Chah and Bhikkhu Buddhadāsa; Amaravati 19:41 Buddhadāsa’s Saṅghādisesa in Bangkok; teaching the right thing to the wrong people; Santikaro 32:23 Emperor Ashoka and the development of Buddhism; Third Buddhist Council 38:06 Hunger and thirst for the Dhamma (MN 48) 40:49 The Universe has been left unlocked 42:47 The objective is to watch each step; a thicket of views; remember to look and make a change 51:25 Become a child to enter the kingdom of heaven

The Sangha discuss the twelve links of dependent origination from ignorance to dukkha. #dependentorigination #beinginthemoment #wisdom Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentra.net/mn117 False memory syndrome 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=XA18nQ9qJJw 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00:00 Dependent origination (paticcasamuppāda): ignorance is the foundation 00:07:52 Sankhāra are old memories of little value 00:08:15 Consciousness (viññāna, sensory input) is a type of sankhāra; understanding of sensory input is perception 00:10:45 Nāmarūpa is perception 00:13:09 Salāyatana: our understanding of perception; the nun’s habit example 00:17:56 AI and creativity; recognition 00:25:22 Contact: ignorance embedded in processed data 00:33:29 Liking, wanting, grasping, clinging: ignorance in this moment; wisdom at the point of contact (MN 117) 00:51:09 Crafting an identity: the personality view 00:56:44 Physical pain, piti, sukha; responding to pain that cannot be alleviated 01:06:36 Goals, desires, cravings; wanting validation; have little goals that you can meet 01:13:06 Handling this moment; time frame: only a day long; enjoy this next breath

Laurent, Dean, and Dhammarato talk abou practicing during covid19 and other illnesses and whether students should aim for fourth jhāna. #jhana #mindfulnessofbreathing #recuperation Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn19 Bhikkhu Vimalaramsi https://www.dhammasukha.org/ven-bhante-vimalaramsi Hillside Hermitage https://www.hillsidehermitage.org See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIeBL6jzTmY 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00:00 Congestion; breathing better; nose and mouth; practice during illness 00:16:57 Tiredness; oxygen depletion 00:19:57 Covid fears; sitting upright; the many benefits of ānāpānasati 00:33:53 Avoiding being a victim during illness; playing with new toys 00:45:44 Right view is investigating, inspecting, looking; wake up and look right here, right now (MN 19) 00:56:50 Smear campaigns; don’t deal with people when you’re in the wrong mood 01:00:31 Vimalaramsi’s students reach sotāpan on a 10-day retreat, why don’t you encourage your students with the jhāna 01:03:28 We don’t manipulate reality in the jhāna; enjoy the show 01:05:43 You don’t answer the question; why not aim for fourth jhāna? 01:08:09 Enthusiasm and the sotāpan 01:09:02 Ajahn Nyanamoli Thero and Hillside Hermitage; senses and sense pleasures; laypeople and monks 01:13:55 Don’t make rules, look; remember to shut up 01:17:30 Piti and sukha are temporary; things change; skills develop 01:21:42 Someday directly answer my questions

Markus and Dhammarato talk about the foundational skills of the noble eightfold path. #nobleeightfoldpath #mindfulnessofbreathing #confidence See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObcfcHZOf5c 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00 Being pro-active about wholesome thoughts; gladdening the mind is the first thing that should be done 05:01 The Dhamma is best learned in small groups; Western Buddhism misses the point 08:30 Transmission of joy, enthusiasm, delight for the Dhamma 10:28 The value of the Dhamma is great but repetition is essential; mindfully wake up; mind state influences mind objects 20:35 Investigating the state of mind is the first thing we do; then: how can we tweak this thing? 24:26 Ānāpānasati is like a jigsaw puzzle: seeing body, feelings, and mind working together 26:55 Diffuse anxiety and being unaware of unwholesome thoughts; fear is primary 31:10 Gladdening the mind is working with body and feelings: out of the past, out of the future; the breath is life-giving 38:19 Safety, security, comfort, and satisfaction, the basis of ānāpānasati 42:38 The various postures are about whether we are comfortable; 10 minutes for practice; confidence grows 46:15 The progress of skill development; feeling wealthy (sammā sankappa) 48:45 Unification of mind and perfect morality; the teaching is simple: don’t worry be happy

The Sangha discuss the progress of practice through experience of tensions in the body as insight into the causes and conditions of dukkha. #anapanasati #beinginthemoment #mindfulnessofbreathing 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=FS3hp4ljRtY 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00:00 Our relationship to unpleasant sensations 00:06:58 Misinformation about waking up; needing at least 1st jhāna 00:15:31 Cleaning vs. brute force vipassanā; a common sense attitude to happiness 00:22:23 Heaviness in the chest; taking a deep breath 00:31:07 Tension between the eyes; migraine; the steps of ānāpānasati 00:47:29 Gladdening the mind is powerful; winning the game of life; progress of the jhāna (MN 111) 00:55:35 The Buddha was a regular dude who became awakened 01:00:41 Elephant analogy; insight into causes and conditions 01:08:50 The true self as a useful fiction

Eno and Dhammarato talk about seeing the think-feel cycle and learning to control the feelings. #beinginthemoment #egoism #nobleeightfoldpath 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=ZmUfhhJBmEw 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00:00 Following your heart, instincts, automatic pilot; intuitions: sensations vs. magical thinking 00:03:57 Waking up to the dual process 00:07:57 Seeing critical thoughts and becoming more critical; seeing the think-feel cycle 00:21:59 Achan Pho; playing with the senses; just keep open; part of the waking up process 00:34:12 Who is having these thoughts? (MN 2) 00:44:43 Noticing egotistical thoughts; can you see what’s going on without the rule? 01:04:33 Using new delusions to challenge old delusions; developing the skill to control the feelings

Markus and Dhammarato talk about the foundations of practice based on the noble eightfold method and the development of investigation into the wholesomenesses of thoughts as a skill. #beinginthemoment #nobleeightfoldpath #wholesomememes See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1N4UdST5pI 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00:00 Practice and skill levels; the results of correct practice can be seen 00:07:45 The Buddha teaches only one thing: dukkha, dukkha-nirodha; never mind, start again; don’t worry, be happy 00:16:35 Being a victim; rites of passage; victimhood is a mentality; feeling safe and secure 00:30:21 The four noble truths; greed and ill-will based in ignorance; the eightfold noble path: a method for right attitude 00:42:23 Fear, survival, false positives 00:47:03 Practicing being in a state of satisfaction; practicing joy, not endurance 00:56:27 Samādhi: gathering the factors together 00:59:38 Shorter periods of practice are helpful 01:01:21 Wholesome thoughts: easily found in the here now; investigation is a skill

Eric and Dhammarato talk about the finer points of ānāpānasati practice. #anapanasati #mindfulnessofbreathing #beinginthemoment See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJajT2a2Z38 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00:00 Playing with the breath; don’t put too much work into it, just build sati 00:04:02 Sati joke; mind, behaviour, heart, breathing; remember often enough 00:09:16 A bit of time after the out-breath for relaxation and getting in touch with feelings; being in touch with body 00:23:30 The wholesome use of imagination; “karuna” translated as “nurturing”; avoiding thankas becoming kasinas 00:34:06 You don’t have to close your eyes 00:37:56 Sati: do you come back with an in-breath or an out-breath? The breath is life itself; waking up to satisfaction 00:47:08 Sustained deep breathing is like a layer of wholesomeness 00:58:34 The emotions are the language of the child; taking control of the feelings

Christian, Laurent, and Dhammarato talk about the Dhamma as a simple teaching that works for everyone. #dependentorigination #anapanasati #nobleeightfoldpath See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaa-hvAvQjo 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00 The teaching is small; one size fits all 09:02 The mind is the forerunner; anchors: motivation devices to wake up 17:24 We use the mind to train the body and then to feel the way we want to feel 19:35 Ānāpānāsati works for everyone 22:01 A moment-to-moment practice 24:20 The four noble truths and the noble eightfold path 30:42 Practice, practice, practice

The Sangha discuss perception and consciousness through the lens of dependent origination (paticcasamuppāda). #perception #consciousness #dependentorigination Suttas mentioned in this discussion https://suttacentral.net/mn140 See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLNHjA-Oy-M 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00:00 Consciousness, perception, Escher, propaganda, news 00:04:41 Confirmation bias; the truth is quite small 00:09:47 Perception has to be developed as a skill; fresh information, sankhāra; nāmarūpa; salāyatana 00:14:13 Ignorantly in the world; know how to look: paticcasamuppāda (dependent origination) 00:19:07 Ignorance, craving, aversion; look at where you’re going; artisans and arhats 00:36:14 The five faculties (indriya); names and qualities to be developed 00:41:55 Sati; remember to wake up and look; right effort; two types of consciousness 00:45:03 Raw input data; watch every step; forward and reverse sequences (MN 140) 00:53:59 Is this poison? The first jhāna — a mind fit for work 00:55:55 Wisdom at the point of contact; safe; secluded; fear is part of the sankhāra 01:00:43 Being satisfied right now; just take a deep breath; flickering in and out of fourth jhāna; neither perception nor non-perception; boundless states 01:09:43 The boundless states are different for different people; clock metaphor; samādhi

Tessa and Dhammarato talk about finding satisfaction in the breath. #anapanasati #mindfulnessofbreathing #beinginthemoment See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85r0Q2XHuuQ 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00:00 Complaining; wanting results; becoming process-oriented; being satisfied with not getting what you want 00:11:32 The lies we tell ourselves; we can change the mind; recognise the feeling of disappointment 00:14:23 Everyone’s mind wanders; there are no results 00:18:34 Misery and high standards; everything falls apart 00:22:20 You won’t get what you want; continue to investigate 00:28:28 Dependent origination vs. making life into a photograph; life is a movie 00:32:47 Practice (guided meditation) 00:52:03 Be in the present moment; see the complaints 00:54:33 The same thoughts keep happening; holding your breath 01:03:38 Play with the breath

Cathal and Dhammarato talk about travelling to Amaravati Monastery and about Westerners in Thai wats. #buddhistmonk #bhikkhu #buddhadhamma Amaravati Monastery https://amaravati.org/ Ajahn Amaro https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajahn_Amaro See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfujSJ6gvIQ 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00 Amaravati Monastery; Achan Chah 09:40 The characteristics of the sotāpan 12:25 Taking refuge: monk and layperson 15:45 Westerners in Thai wats; making friends 27:33 Fears and uncertainties; knowing the Thai community 32:53 Fear of non-acceptance

Markus and Dhammarato talk about psychiatry, psychology, and psychotherapy from a Buddhist perspective. #psychiatry #psychotherapy #buddhadhamma The OK Corral http://ernstokcorral.com/Publications/OK%20CORRAL%20monograph.pdf See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HzFahd0JW4 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00 Thinking and feeling disorders and the capacity for change 04:21 The Dhamma is one size fits all; the second noble truth: the cause; delusion 07:45 Eric Berne and the OK Corral; transactional analysis; wake up to the rules 12:22 Delusions drive people crazy; Thai attitude to work and family; medical issues and religious issues 17:56 Morality and ethics in school; the noble eightfold path; clean up the mind so we are satisfied 22:03 Explaining the ok corral; helplessness and helpers; GREB; wake up and become a winner 29:40 Wake up; right view; using your chair as an anchor; feelings as a driver; nurturing 40:03 Parent, adult, and child from a Buddhist viewpoint; turning GREB into a toy 44:12 Music; repetition; rehearsal - this is the practice; cognitive behavioural therapy

The Sangha discuss how wise choices lead to dispassion and disenchantment. #wisdom #choices #buddhadhamma The Death of the Buddha: A Medical Enquiry https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26880057_The_death_of_Buddha_a_medical_enquiry See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMqCRp3VVEw 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00:00 Impermanence; contemplation of the body; emptiness; arising and passing away 00:11:23 Dispassion and disenchantment; chasing after sensual pleasures 00:13:38 The noble eightfold path; the body as a distraction; biological processes 00:19:51 Cloudiness, wisdom, and judgment; supermundane right view 00:27:35 Medicine and prevention; wholesome dying; comfort and acceptance; knowledge and fear 00:44:01 Mind and body as one system; good sleep, good people; good friendships; remove the hindrances 00:52:40 Western issues; piti and sukha; comfort and ease; eliminating dukkha

Tessa and Dhammarato experience a guided meditation. #anapanasati #mindfulnessofbreathing #guidedmeditation See the video version of this call on YouTube. ►YouTube Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvrP7WsIeYc 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 These videos are also available in Podcast form on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. ►Podbean - https://dhammaratodhamma.podbean.com/ 00:00 Things are constantly changing - even cycles; 90% of people don’t get any value from the Dhamma 15:50 Analogy of a security system; discounting reality/change 23:42 Making impossible rules; being broken; finding satisfaction in little things 28:03 The Dhamma is small; one breath at a time; remind yourself, again and again; let it be good enough (guided meditation) 46:01 Just ten minutes several times a day; don’t worry about anything; establish a practice; dispense with the rules