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Exploring Monastic Life 2009
Conducted by Ven. Thubten Chodron©
Sravasti Abbey, Newport, Washington, USA
7-23 August 2009
7 August 2009
The Noble Search
Ven. Chodron gives a commentary on the Noble Search sutra (MN 26). She explains what is meant by the noble search and the ignoble search. Ven. Chodron talks about the difference between the Pali and Mahayana viewpoint of the Buddha. She also discusses what real happiness is.
[84 minutes] : Download mp3 file
8 August 2009
The Benefits of Monastic Community Life
Ven. Chodron explains how monastic community living is conducive to practice. She explains how community living does not mean not enjoying the happiness of this life. Ven. Chodron explains how it is the attachment to the happiness of this life that is a problem.
[70 minutes] : Download mp3 file
9 August 2009
The Buddha’s Enlightenment
Ven. Chodron continues the commentary on the Noble Search sutra (MN26). She talks about the Buddha’s path to enlightenment. Ven. Chodron explains how the Buddha attained deep states of concentration under his teachers but that did not free him from dissatisfaction and afflictions. She also explains the three realms - desire, form and formless.
[66 minutes] : Download mp3 file
10 August 2009
The Greater Discourse on the Lion’s Roar Sutra
Ven. Chodron gives commentary on this sutra (MN12) to explain how the Buddha’s practice of austerities and ascetiscm did not lead to freedom from cyclic existence. She explains how making the body suffer did not lead to eliminating attachment. She discusses the features of the monastic environment and community living that promote spiritual practice.
[79 minutes] : Download mp3 file
12 August 2009
Examining Samsaric Pleasures and the Purpose of Developing Concentration
Ven. Chodron gives a commentary on The Greater Discourse to Saccaka sutra (MN 36). She explains how contact with sense objects leads to craving. She also talks about the nature of samsaric pleasures. Ven. Chodron goes on to give a commentary on the Fear and Dread sutra (MN4) explaining the purpose of developing concentration.
[86 minutes] : Download mp3 file
14 August 2009
Fear and Dread sutra
Ven. Chodron explains how good ethical conduct permeates Buddhist practice and sets the stage for developing concentration and realizations. She explains the different types of Buddhist vows, lay and monastic. Ven. Chodron continues the commentary on the Fear and Dread sutra (MN26). She talks about why the Buddha was reluctant to teach after enlightenment and why we should not take the teachings for granted. Ven. Chodron also explains what Mara symbolizes.
[78 minutes] : Download mp3 file
15 August 2009
The Brahmajala Sutra and Monastic Precepts
Ven. Chodron gives a commentary on the Brahmajala Sutra (DN 1) to explain the development of monastic precepts. She explains how each precept has a story behind it. She also describes the three present day vinaya traditions. Ven. Chodron goes on to talk about ethical conduct as the foundation of other practices.
[86 minutes] : Download mp3 file
16 August 2009
The Brahmajala Sutra and Monastic Conduct
Ven. Chodron continues the commentary on the Brahmajala Sutra to explain activities that are unbecoming of monastics. Ven. Chodron talks about positive and negative ways that a monastic can accept food offerings. She also explains the reason that Buddhist monastics do not work for a living.
[57 minutes] : Download mp3 file
18 August 2009
The Greater Discourse on the Simile of the Heartwood
In her commentary on this sutra (MN 29) Ven. Chodron explains how one may become satisfied with lesser spiritual goals and not have the objective of seeking the heartwood, higher spiritual goals. Ven. Chodron also explains how the simile shows the pitfalls that one can face on the spiritual path and the importance of setting motivation.
[71 minutes] : Download mp3 file
19 August 2009
Honesty and Trust
Ven. Chodron talks about truthfulness, one of the ten paramitas in the Pali Canon. She explains how truthful speech is the foundation of trust and its importance in relationships with others. Ven. Chodron also talks about truthfulness and karmic results.
[40 minutes] : Download mp3 file
21 August 2009
The Kassapa Discourses
Ven. Chodron gives a commentary on Chapter 16 of the Connected Discourses. She explains the advice from the Buddha on how monastics should relate to the laity as well as families and friends . Ven. Chodron explains the Buddha's advice on how to guard the mind when giving teachings, and accepting gifts. She also talks about the importance of restraining the sense faculties and how one maintains monastic vows in modern society.
[80 minutes] : Download mp3 file
22 August 2009
The Role of Admonishment in the Sangha Community
Ven. Chodron continues commentary on the sutras from the Connected Discourses. She explains the role of admonishment in the sangha community in helping each other. Ven. Chodron goes on to talk about the different categories of vows and types of transgressions of the vows. She also talks about the consequences for a monastic based on the level of offense.
[68 minutes] : Download mp3 file
23 August 2009
The Seven Ways to End Disputes
Ven. Chodron explains the seven ways to end disputes within the sangha as given by the Buddha in the Samagama Sutra (MN 104). Ven Chodron also talks about how admonishment of others can be done in a positive way without a judgmental mind. She explains how monastic precepts can be viewed as trainings for the mind rather than as restrictive rules.
[71 minutes] : Download mp3 file
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