Little Bangkok Sangha : Meditation group

You are invited ! the first Monday of each month will be group meditation and dharma based on the original teachings from Sakyamuni Buddha.

There is a lot of pseudo spiritual stuff out there these days - some good, and some less so! This series will focus exclusively on the actual, historical teachings of the mystic path as found in the 'suttas' - the earliest known record.

This month:
'This is Why we Talk About 'Suffering'
Suffering, or 'Dukkha' is the first of the Noble Truths in all schools of Buddhism. There is a reason for this philosophically, and another reason for direct application in meditation. This is based directly on the earliest suttas. It is 'core' Buddhist theory and practice!

Speaker:
Venerable Pandit has been an ordained Buddhist monk in Thailand since 1996. He has a degree in Psychology and a MA in Buddhist Studies. His focus is on early Buddhist teachings, enlightenment traditions, story and fairy tales, and psychology - all from the perspective of a real meditation practice. Expect clear and precise delivery, and a little humour!

***

Inviting:
Everyone is welcome, from beginners to experienced meditators. We meet to support and encourage each other in our practice. If you are a beginner, some instructions will be given; experienced meditators can develop their own practice.

***

You are invited ! the second Monday of each month will be group meditation and dharma on all aspects of meditation and the mystic path - psychology, philosophy, faerie tales - we'll be covering it all month by month

This month:
OK - this week (Mon October 12) we'll talk about how the Sangha outlasts any monk - specifically the bad behaviour of some monks, such as has been in the news in recent weeks. It's not in fact anything new - the Buddha himself talked about it, and was continually correcting and cleaning up the behavour of the Sangha in his own day. He praised the sangha as a whole, as being greater than any individual, and instigated some precautionary measures to maintain integrity.
Do these still work?

Speaker:
Venerable Pandit has been an ordained Buddhist monk in Thailand since 1996. He has a degree in Psychology and a MA in Buddhist Studies. His focus is on early Buddhist teachings, enlightenment traditions, story and fairy tales, and psychology - all from the perspective of a real meditation practice. Expect clear and precise delivery, and a little humour!

***

Inviting:
Everyone is welcome, from beginners to experienced meditators. We meet to support and encourage each other in our practice. If you are a beginner, some instructions will be given; experienced meditators can develop their own practice.

***

You are invited ! the first Monday of each month will be group meditation and dharma based on the original teachings from Sakyamuni Buddha.

There is a lot of pseudo spiritual stuff out there these days - some good, and some less so! This series will focus exclusively on the actual, historical teachings of the mystic path as found in the 'suttas' - the earliest known record.

This month:
Topic this month is the classic '5 nivarana' or 'hindrances, as they appear in the early suttas viz:

• Sensual desire (kāmacchanda)
• Ill will (vyāpāda)
• Sloth and torpor (thīna-middha)
• Restlessness and remorse (uddhacca-kukkucca)
• Skeptical doubt (vicikicchā)

Most specifically the question is "What exactly do these hinder?"

Speaker:
Venerable Pandit has been an ordained Buddhist monk in Thailand since 1996. He has a degree in Psychology and a MA in Buddhist Studies. His focus is on early Buddhist teachings, enlightenment traditions, story and fairy tales, and psychology - all from the perspective of a real meditation practice. Expect clear and precise delivery, and a little humour!

***

Inviting:
Everyone is welcome, from beginners to experienced meditators. We meet to support and encourage each other in our practice. If you are a beginner, some instructions will be given; experienced meditators can develop their own practice.

***

You are invited ! the second Monday of each month will be group meditation and dharma on all aspects of meditation and the mystic path - psychology, philosophy, faerie tales - we'll be covering it all month by month

This month:
Lantern consciousness vs spotlight consciousness - these terms are used by Alison Gopnik in her excellent book The Philosophical Baby. She is comparing the kind of open attention a baby or a meditator has, to the focused attention that most adults inhabit. Gopnik is, by the way, a meditator herself, and frequently references such experience.
So are you like a baby, or a functional adult???

Speaker:
Venerable Pandit has been an ordained Buddhist monk in Thailand since 1996. He has a degree in Psychology and a MA in Buddhist Studies. His focus is on early Buddhist teachings, enlightenment traditions, story and fairy tales, and psychology - all from the perspective of a real meditation practice. Expect clear and precise delivery, and a little humour!

***

Inviting:
Everyone is welcome, from beginners to experienced meditators. We meet to support and encourage each other in our practice. If you are a beginner, some instructions will be given; experienced meditators can develop their own practice.

***