February Meetings Topic

The Elevator Answer
Core Buddhist assumptions, teachings and practices

Following on the heels of January 2005's two meetings on Buddhist teachings concerning who and what should generally be believed, February's meetings topic will focus on articulating core Buddhist assumptions, teachings and practices.

Though the basic teachings may already be familiar to us in an academic or theoretical sense, these meetings will encourage us to accurately articulate those basic teachings when we find ourselves in the following situation: "Oh, you're interested in Buddhism. I've always been curious- what's it all about?..."

This situation is often referred to as "The Elevator Answer" - because it is framed as follows:

You are staying at a hotel for a conference on _________ (in our case Buddhism), on your way down to the first session, a stranger gets on the elevator with you and notices your nametag identifies you as participating in the Buddhist conference. The stranger turns to you and says, "So, Buddhism, what's that all about?" You then have until the elevator reaches the lobby to provide an answer that is accurate and meaningful.

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 "February 2005 - Meeting 1" and "February 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 will accept and, hopefully, encourage discussions through the postings.

Core Buddhist Assumptions & Teachings - 2005FebMtg1

The Elevator Answer
Core Buddhist Assumptions & Teachings

2005 February - Meeting 1

Leader: Graham Robertson
Date: Wednesday 02/09/2005
Location: BIG Meeting Room - Lewman Farm
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
__________________________

Primary Text Resources:
This month's primary text resources will cover core Buddhist assumptions and teachings. Namely: the three marks of existence, the four noble truths, and the noble eightfold path. Several different passages from throughout the Buddhist Scriptures will be used, please click on the links in the outline below for reading.


Presentation Outline:

I. Assumptions - tilakkhana - three characteristics of all existence: impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, not-self
A. anicca - impermanence
See points #5 and #6 in the linked text: read it here...
B. dukkha - unsatisfactoriness/'stress'
See point #6 in the linked text: read it here...
C. anatta - not-self
Sutta on not-self: read it here...


II. Analysis - cattari ariya saccani - Four Noble Truths
A. Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta - Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion read it here...
B. Please note this is the Buddha's first public teaching - parts of it should be in every "elevator answer."

III. Teaching/Path - ariya patipada – Noble Path
A. dukkha nirodha gamini patipada ariya sacca - The Noble Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Dukkha read it here...
B. Please follow all links related to the primary one above. Also, note the successive, interpenetration of Buddhist teachings from the assumptions, which lead to the noble truths, which lead to the path of practice.

IV. Discussion - Debate: some guiding questions
A. Importance (or not) of ability to articulate these core assumptions & beliefs?
B. How to avoid divisive tendencies such as monk vs. lay understanding, Asian Cultures vs. Western Cultures, Religion vs. Philosophy, One school of Buddhism vs. another?

V. Homework - Take some time to write your own one or two paragraph "Elevator Answer". The exercise should help sharpen your focus (what's the Pali word for that?), come to a greater understanding of your own interest in Buddhism, and increase your ability to articulate that interest.

Core Buddhist Assumptions & Teachings - 2005FebMtg2

The Elevator Answer
Core Buddhist Assumptions & Teachings

2005 February - Meeting 2

Leader: Graham Robertson
Date: Wednesday 02/23/2005
Location: BIG Meeting Room - Lewman Farm
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
__________________________

Building on the first three study-guide style meetings of 2005, the second February meeting is our first example of how sharpening and clarifying one's own understanding of Buddhism can be of direct benefit for formulating meaningful responses to our own experiences in the world.

The second meeting will focus on the discussion of Professor David R. Loy's paper, "The Spiritual Roots of Modernity - Buddhist Reflections on the Idolatry of the Nation-State, Corporate/Consumer Capitalism and Mechanistic Science". The discussion will focus on both the content of the paper and on the influence of Loy's deep understanding of Buddhism in his life and work.


Modern Commentary Text Resource:

The Spiritual Roots of Modernity - Buddhist Reflections on the Idolatry of the Nation-State, Corporate Capitalism and Mechanistic Science
by David R. Loy read it here...


Presentation Outline:

I. Background on Author
A. Professor David Loy - biographical summary (see photo and links at end of this post)
B. Author's guiding principles

II. Relationship between Buddhist study / Buddhist analysis
A. Unavoidable, beneficial overflow
B. Transcending common distractions (monk vs. lay, religion vs. philosophy, heart of dhamma = as it is)

III. Three Roots (mula) of Evil
A. lobha - Greed
B. dosa - Anger/Aversion
C. moha - Delusion

IV. Discussion - Debate: some guiding questions
A. Content - agree with Loy's analysis?
B. Relationship between insight/study and ability to articulate & apply?
C. What content / context / area of speciality in your own life and/or work could you apply a Buddhist critique -- or could benefit from being seen through a Buddhist lens?

Photos and Links to Professor David R. Loy:
For further reading and deeper understanding of author.

NOTE: his paper "Religion and the Market" that appeared in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion is remarkable (especially his functional definition of religion, which I co-opted years ago).


David R. Loy
Faculty of International Studies
1100 Namegaya
Bunkyo University
Chigasaki 253, Japan
Email: loy@shonan.bunkyo.ac.jp

Other Writings/Links Featuring Professor Loy
Religion and The Market
New Holy War Against Evil
West Against the Rest
Book Review
(click to read/visit)