Hearing the Lion’s Roar: Three Pali Canon Days

For Order Members and Mitras only

16th Sept: Five Heaps of Being

‘The Tathāgata cannot be reckoned or described in terms of physical form, feeling, perception, mental formations or consciousness.  He is profound, immeasurable, unfathomable like the ocean’

In our second day exploring the Pali Canon we will be focussing on the Buddha’s teachings on the five khandhas (Sanskrit skandhas): form, feeling, perception, mental patterns, and consciousness. These teachings are intended as tools to help free us from the difficulties that come from identifying with aspects of our experience.  In that spirit we will be looking at some of the stories, parables and similes in which the khandas appear and finding our responses to them. Taking inspiration from an argumentative Jain, a ball of foam and a chariot. Intrigued? We hope so.

With Vimalavajri, Dharmalila, and Ella – a team with some experience in the Pali language and close readings of the texts.

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We would encourage you to come to the whole day if you can, as the programme works best that way.

Please bring lunch to share if you can

Please let us know if you will be coming – we will be printing off some material and it helps to have a rough idea.   You can email either Vimalavajri if you know her email address or otherwise info@bristol-buddhist-centre.org.

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How do the foundational teachings of the Buddha shape our lives? We will explore our relationship to the Pali canon through reflection, personal talks, and devotional practice. We have received the Dharma jewel of the Pali canon from a lineage of 2,500 years of practitioners, and we can experience for ourselves how the teachings resonate within us today. We will look at the vital themes of these texts, and ways to enrich our understanding of the suttas.

Programme:

9.30  Doors open

10.00 Dedication and meditation

         The Shorter Discourse to Saccaka – Middle Length Discourses 35

         Groups

13.00 Lunch

14.00 The Lump of Foam – Connected Discourses 22.95

          Vajirā Sutta – Connected Discourses 5.10

          Groups

16.00  Puja

17.00   End

Final event: Sunday November 12th – Metta and Compassion

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