Tahn Pamutto reflects on the Fourth Noble Truth – the Truth of the Path to the End of Suffering. Drawing from the previous talk on the third truth, Cessation, he explains how development in Buddhist practice is not merely a matter of eliminating defilements but is just as much about setting the foundation for them […]
Talk: The Fourth Noble Truth Read More »
The recordings for the online daylong around the theme of Bhava, or Becoming, is now up on the Innovative Dhamma YouTube channel. There are two talks, one for morning and one for the evening:
Bhava Daylong recordings Read More »
The Adittapariyaya Sutta, or Fire Sermon, is one of the three cardinal suttas of Theravada buddhism. This sutta concisely lays out some of the most important concepts underlying the Buddha’s 45 years of teaching. This came just as the Buddha, freshly enlightened, set out on said teaching career to find those with ‘little dust in
A Visual ‘The Fire Sermon’ Read More »
The theme of the daylong yesterday was Clear Comprehension, or Sampajañña in Pali. This is a basic and important function of becoming aware, and is intrinsically linked to Sati, or Mindfulness. Returning to Massachusetts after a month away, an amazing change has taken place. Before, the hillsides were lush and green with foliage spilling out
Essay: Beneath the Façade Read More »
In this Uposatha reflection Tahn Pamutto relates the story of MN 89 – a sutta relating the last conversation of King Pasenadi, a devout follower of the Buddha, as he enumerates those things he sees in the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha which inspire faith and confidence in him. These things, called the Monuments of the
Talk: Monuments to the Dhamma Read More »
There are many possible reasons to get involved with the lifestyle and practice of the Buddha’s teachings. For some it is something they are born into and gives a sense of cultural identity. For others it’s something they stumble on partway through life and seems to provide answers to questions they didn’t know they had.
Essay: Wanting to Be Free Read More »
A visual walkthrough of sutta MN 38 – the Conditionality of Consciousness! MN 38 – Part One Consciousness – Upavana.org MN 38 – Part Two Nutriments – Upavana.org MN 38 – Part 3 – Upavana.org
Life is full of traps. In order for a trap to be effective, it has to be appealing. So it is with life. The things that trap us tend to be attractive things – romantic love, wealth, fame, travel, excitement … These are the obvious baits. There are less obvious ones too, like patriotism, responsibility,
Blessedly, in this modern day fewer and fewer get severed limb from limb by bandits. We deal with more mundane severing, the the piecemeal flaying of taxes or the slow attrition of our car breaking down. But even if we were cornered and knew it was our last breaths, would we be able to accept
Sever Me Savagely 2 Read More »
During the last of the September Daylongs, Tahn Pamutto opens by reflecting on the theme of the day: Vipassana. This word has become ubiquitous in meditation circles but was not always so. While it’s an easy way to explain the process of freeing the mind, it was not a common or deeply expounded theme in
What is Vipassana? Daylong Read More »
