Dear Friends, The second path factor is right (or wise) intention, sometimes translated as wise thought, resolve, or Gil uses the word consideration. It is the bridge between our views and how we act in the world. Right intention has three parts, to counter the three kinds of wrong intention. (See MN 19 Two Kinds of Thought) We’ll… Read More »
Dear Friends, Thank you for choosing to be part of this January email offering. This is the ninth year I have been doing this, and I continue to be inspired by the teachings, and by knowing you are here with me on this journey. I’m looking forward to exploring the eightfold path with you this month. We’ll start… Read More »
Dear Friends, We have concluded the series of talks from Gil on each of the faculties, so I’ll wrap up the month with a few closing reflections to pull everything together (I hope). The first thing to I want to visit is the idea of balance. The comments that follow are informed by an article from Edward Conze,… Read More »
Dear Friends, Continuing with Kamala’s talk, “The Five Spiritual Faculties’ relationship to Equanimity,” and in particular her comments on the faculty of effort and energy. This effort and energy is balanced. Kamala shares an analogy from Sayadaw U Tejaniya: This is not like a 100-yard dash, it’s more like a marathon. Kamala describes the qualities as patient and… Read More »
Dear Friends, I’ll start today with Kamala’s next talk in the retreat, on the topic of The Five Spiritual Faculties’ relationship to Equanimity. Kamala starts the talk by sharing a teaching she received from Sayadaw U Pandita: Equanimity is like a chariot being pulled by five horses. In the lead is Mindful Awareness. Behind that are a pair… Read More »
Dear Friends, Ānanda was a long-time attendant of the Buddha, and he’s one of my favorite characters from the suttas. He often asks the questions that we’d want to ask, or says the things that we’d say, and the Buddha gives a teaching to him – and by extension, to us. At one point, Ānanda says to the… Read More »
