Contmplating Gratitude November 25, 2020

Each year, when the Orlando Insight Meditation Group meets on Thanksgiving Eve, the topic for review and discussion is gratitude.  After a brief review of how Buddhism regards the issue of gratitude, the psychologically beneficial cultivation of a daily gratitude inventory is also described.  Following this, Peter describes his gratitude for how dedication to Buddhist principles and processes have benefited his life for over 3 decades, along with his discovery of how intricately beautiful and wondrous life can be when enhanced by the cultivation of mindfulness.  This was followed by the shared experience of gratitude expressed by all of those attending the meeting.

Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Contemplating Gratitude

Next week’s talk will focus on a review of a core concept of Buddhism, Dependent Origination, which explains how each moment of self-creation is formed and then dissolved into the next moment of self-creation.  This provides a way to understand the concept of karma, that is, the way that we can create a future self that is less afflicted with distress and confusion.

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2019 Thanksgiving Eve Talk November 27 2019

Since our Sangha meets on Wednesday evenings, Thanksgiving Eve is dedicated to reflecting gratitude for the benefits of Buddhist principles and practices and the bounty and beauty of life on this planet.  During the talk, various participants contributed their insights and appreciations for the benefits of meditation practice.

Next week’s talk will focus on the fourth of the Brahma Viharas (Divine Abidings), Upekkha, which is the balancing function that allows us to avoid the “near enemy” and “far enemy” of each of the other benevolent qualities–Metta (Lovingkindness), Karuna (Compassion) and Mudita (Sympathetic Joy).

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