January 2005 Meetings Topic

Who/What to Believe?

January 2005's two meetings focus on Buddhist teachings concerning who and what should be believed. As always, each meeting will begin with a thirty minute meditation session, followed by a presentation and group discussion.

The first meeting of the month will draw on a primary text from Buddhist scripture and the second meeting will focus on a modern commentary.

Please look for individual posts for each meeting subtitled "January 2005 - Meeting 1" and "January 2005 - Meeting 2" for details on meeting leader, date, time, location, and text resources.

This is an information-only post and cannot accept comments.

The posts for the individual meetings subtitled, "January 2005 - Meeting 1" and "January 2005 - Meeting 2" will accept and, hopefully, encourage discussions through the postings.

What to Believe? 2005JanMtg1

Who/What to Believe?
2005 January - Meeting 1

Leader: Graham Robertson
Date: Wednesday 01/12/2005
Location: BIG Meeting Room - Lewman Farm
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
__________________________

Primary Text Resource:
Kalama Sutta - The Instruction to the Kalamas.
Anguttara Nikaya III.65
read it here...


Presentation Outline:

I. Overview of historical setting
A. Prevalence of gurus
B. Location of Kalamas (see maps at end of this post)

II. What/When/Who to Believe
A. Criterion for rejection
B. Role of greed, hatred, delusion
C. Criterion for acceptance
D. Absence of greed, hatred, delusion

III. Four Exalted Dwellings (brama-vihara)
A. Metta (goodwill)
B. Karuna (compassion)
C. Mudita (appreciation filled with joy)
D. Upekkha (equanimity)

IV. Four Solaces
A. If pleasant rebirth based on kammic result, then benefit.
B. If no pleasant rebirth, still lives well in the here and now.
C. If evil results happen to evil-doers, no worries because no evil being done.
D. If evil results do not come to evil-doers, still no worries because no evil was committed.

V. Relevance to daily life - discussion


Maps of Modern & Ancient South Asia:
(for geographic placement of Kalamas)

Modern South Asia - Area where Buddha taught encircled.

(click image to enlarge)


Detailed view of Buddha's teaching area with special focus on Kesaputta (modern-day Kesariya) in the Kosala Kingdom where the Buddha delivered the Kalama Sutta.

(click image to enlarge)

What to Believe? 2005JanMtg2

Who/What to Believe?
2005 January - Meeting 2

Leader: Graham Robertson
Date: Wednesday 01/26/2005
Location: BIG Meeting Room - Lewman Farm
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
__________________________

Modern Commentary Text Resource:
A Look at the Kalama Sutta by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Buddhist Publication Society Newsletter. Cover Essay #9, Spring 1988
read it here...


Presentation Outline:

I. Background on Author
A. Bhikkhu Bodhi biography (see photo and links at end of this post)
B. Author's guiding principles

II. A Qualified "Free Inquiry"
A. Specificity of advice to Kalamas' situation
B. Buddhist vs Non-Buddhist guidelines

III. Kalama Sutta as Doorway to Buddhist "Faith" (saddha)
A. Responsibilities and obligations of Buddhists to doctrine & path
B. Inter-related doctrines, conditional penetration
.1. Three marks of existence
.2. Four noble truths
.3. Eightfold path

IV. Discussion - Debate: some guiding questions
A. How free is free inquiry for those on the path?
B. How to avoid tendency to 'shop' for convenient spirituality?
C. What, if anything, do we owe the Buddhist tradition as lay followers interested in its teachings?


Photos and Links to Bhikkhu Bodhi:
(For further reading and deeper understanding of author. His Vesak address to the United Nations in 2000 is brilliant - especially the clarity with which he summarizes the Buddha's teachings and relevance to modern times towards the end of the article)

Bhikkhu Bodhi.

(click image to enlarge)


Bhikkhu Bodhi Links.
Biographical Interview 1
Biographical Interview 2
Buddhist Publication Society
Other Online Writings
Address to United Nations
Middle Length Discourses for purchase
Current Monastery
(click links to visit)