TOPIC FOR THE DECEMBER 1, 2021 ZOOM
WE HAVE RESUMED MEETING IN OUR MEDITATION HALL AT 1818 CARRIGAN AVENUE, IN WINTER PARK!! PLEASE WEAR A MASK WHILE IN THE BUILDING, WHICH WILL HAVE OPEN WINDOWS AND ADEQUATE AIR CIRCULATION.
For those who haven’t been to the site, the house is the only one on the block with a sheet metal roof. Park on the street or in the driveway—please be considerate of the neighbor’s property. Prior to the pandemic, we have met there without complaint from the neighbors. Walk to the left of the garage and through the gate in the chain link fence; the cottage in the back yard is where we meet.
We will meditate in silence from 7 to 7:45, then, after a break, the Dharma talk will begin. I will make every effort to Zoom the meeting, but there may be some technical glitches during the process, and the meeting will be recorded and posted as usual.
There will be a small box near the front door for dana, the practice of donating to the teacher out of gratitude for the teaching. The contribution is not required, and the money will be used to maintain the building and pay for the Zoom subscription. There is a lending library of Dharma related books in the cottage that operates on a trust basis.
As I understand how Zoom works, you must preregister at the site Zoom.us, entering the URL : https://us04web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUuf-2srDMtnERzureO8f2K4iQeRCf-dQ and using the password 620329 in order to participate in the events; registering one time will provide access to all the upcoming meetings, as long as we continue streaming them. The meeting can be accessed by smartphone as well as any internet-connected computer system, following the instructions at the Zoom website. The meetings will be recorded and posted on the website as usual.
After the silent meditation, the presentation on December 1 will involve a review of the Buddhist understanding of faith, which differs from other traditions through emphasizing faith in Buddhist principles and concepts validated through the cultivation of mindfulness and insight into how the selfing process operates, rather than the intervention of a higher power. I hope you will participate in the in-person or streaming meeting, and I wish you well. Peter
Understanding Buddhist Faith
Buddhism presents a perspective from other religions regarding faith as a characteristic of a spiritually wholesome mind, emphasizing validation through direct experience rather than faith in an externalized Higher Power. This view places value on developing mental discipline that is informed by kindness and clarity, which produces confidence regarding one’s growth towards Awakening. This talk describes various levels of faith and the different ways the suttas and commentaries provide understanding, both conceptual and through direct experience.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Understanding Faith
The topic for next week’s review is the importance of being mindful regarding intentions, which play a crucial role in the process of self-organization and action.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:53 — 43.8MB)