Podcast
Sacred Wisdom, Sacred Texts
Hosted by Kevin Caldwell · ENGLISH
Through the help of a number of my friends, the sacred texts, I will be exploring the interconnection of my self (and each of our "selves"), others, our world, and the divine...
I sometimes call that "soulcialism," this interconnection of all things, which for me becomes more and more real as we:
Experience interconnection through imaginative empathy, and...
Express interconnection though compassionate action.
The sacred texts of of the world's great religions have a lot to say about these things, and about those 4 spheres of connection (self, others, nature, divine).
I am no Tolkien, but in some ways my music and poetry is like the Hobbit, my prior podcasts (Cow Behind the Barn and Soulcialism; Making it Real) are my Lord of the Rings, then this series of Episodes, Sacred Wisdom, Sacred Texts, is like my "Silmarillion."
For more of my music you can find me on all the apps, just look for Kevin Caldwell. I also share my music and poetry on YouTube @KevinCaldwellMusicandPoetry.
All of this flows from and is the fruit of years of my “conversations” with some of humanity's most influential sacred texts, each of which has become a spiritual friend to me: the books of Genesis, Exodus, the Bhagavad Gita, the teachings of the Buddha, the Tao Te Ching, the Gospels of John and Luke, and the Quran.
As humans, we have different ways of knowing what we know. In order to more fully experience the richness of these texts, I will draw upon reason, imagination, emotion, intuition, memory, hope, love, and our senses. I will weave meditation practices into the episodes and sometimes include examples of my own art as opportunities to engage the wisdom of these friends with more of the fullness of our humanity.
Each sacred text grasps different facets of reality and touches various aspects of the Truth. They describe their experiences of Truth in different ways. Sometimes they are in harmony, sometimes they seem to disagree, and sometimes in fact they don’t agree with each other. I will be transparent about how I decide what I agree with, disagree with, and remain undecided about. I will also be clear about why!
In most episodes I unpack “big chunks” of individual texts line by line, allowing their unique wisdom to speak. Occasionally, I invite these ancient voices into conversation together, allowing them to speak to each other as if they were not only my friends but also friends with each other.
This holistic way of engaging the collective wisdom offered by these friends enables us to experience a more complete picture of ourselves, the world, and the Divine.
#moses #gita #buddha #laotzu #jesus #quran #spirituality #mutualism #kevincaldwell #soulcialism #sacred #sacredtexts #religion #art #truth #creativity
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Episode 20 John Meets the Buddha #buddha #Jesus #self #reality #divine #sacredtexts #spirituality
Today00:41:50Tap to summarizeThis Episode includes me trying to make sense of John and the Buddha, and it features four aliens trying to make sense of a truck on a desert highway. How do these two things go together? And what does it have to tell us about “ultimate reality?” I have been looking forward to getting these two into the same room, after spending one on one time with them over 20 Episodes, or about 10 each,…and now here we are, two of my good friends, all together… Now what? I have a list! My list has been developing over the course of the last 20 Episodes…And if you are new to the podcast, that means you have missed a lot and as you join us in my living room for coffee you might start feeling a little lost…like the feeling of sitting around with a group of people who have known each other a long time. Even though I am boiling my list down to three main themes, there are going to be a lot of things we’ve covered in prior weeks that I have to just assume everybody knows. So, I apologize in advance. My three things, boiled down: What is wrong How do we fix it What is real And that last one is actually what most interests me because it seems like the first two sort of hinge on that. So I will begin by asking my friends to talk about that…what is real, what is “ultimate reality,” though I am very aware that this is vocabulary neither friend would use.
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Episode 19 Right Concentration #buddha #dhamma #compassion #metta #meditation #concentration #mind
1w ago00:30:04Tap to summarizeRussian stacking dolls, an elaborate drop down menu, a plate of spaghetti noodles…the Buddha;s teaching can be bewilderingly complex! Well, reality is complex so we shouldn’t be surprised…but what if there was a single unifying thread? This Episode continues to explore the teaching of the Buddha from the "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" (dhumma-chak-ka-pawat-tana soot-a), or, the “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma” Sutta. I also draw on other suttas in order to provide more detail about elements the Buddha mentions in this discourse but about which he does not go into detail. I am usually relying on the translation of the sutta by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, ie., monk Thanissaro (birth name, Geoffrey DeGraff). The sutta explored in this episode can be found here: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN56_11.html. There is a site where all of his works can be accessed: www.dhammatalks.org. For anyone wishing to compare translations of this Sutta, or others, Access to Insight is a helpful resource: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html. The site is technically “retired” but is a treasure trove of resources, translations, and backgrounds to the many translators, etc. Here is the portion of the Buddha’s teaching being discussed in this Episode: …. From the Saccavibhanga Sutta, or “Discourse on The Analysis of the Truths”, the translation by Piyadassi Thera: Right Effort: "What is right effort? Herein a monk puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to prevent the arising of evil, of unwholesome thoughts that have not yet arisen; puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to banish the evil, unwholesome thoughts that have already arisen; puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to develop wholesome thoughts that have not yet arisen; and puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to maintain, to preserve, increase, to bring them to maturity, development, and to complete the wholesome thoughts that have arisen. This is called right effort.” Right Mindfulness: "What is right mindfulness? Herein a monk lives practicing body contemplation on the body, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it), having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of the body). "He lives practicing feeling-contemplation on the feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of feelings). "He lives practicing mind-contemplation on the mind, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of the mind). "He lives practicing mind-object contemplation on the mind objects, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of mental objects). This is called right mindfulness.” Right Concentration "And what is right concentration? Herein a monk aloof from sense desires, aloof from unwholesome thoughts, attains to and abides in the first meditative absorption (jhana) which is detachment-born and accompanied by applied thought, sustained thought, joy, and bliss. "By allaying applied and sustained thought he attains to, and abides in the second jhana which is inner tranquillity, which is unification (of the mind), devoid of applied and sustained thought, and which has joy and bliss. "By detachment from joy he dwells in equanimity, mindful, and with clear comprehension and enjoys bliss in body, and attains to and abides in the third jhana which the noble ones (ariyas) call: 'Dwelling in equanimity, mindfulness, and bliss.' "By giving up of bliss and suffering, by the disappearance already of joy and sorrow, he attains to, and abides in the fourth jhana, which is neither suffering nor bliss, and which is the purity of equanimity-mindfulness. This is called right concentration.”
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Episode 18 Right Mindfulness #buddha #mindfulness #meditation #sati #compassion #enlightenment #calm
2w ago00:35:40Tap to summarizeThese days when I go to the gym and work on various muscle groups, my motivation includes wanting to stay strong enough to wrestle with my grandkids! Developing Right Mindfulness is like working a muscle group…My Motivation? To live with compassion… This Episode continues to explore the teaching of the Buddha from the "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" (dhumma-chak-ka-pawat-tana soot-a), or, the “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma” Sutta. I also draw on other suttas in order to provide more detail about elements the Buddha mentions in this discourse but about which he does not go into detail. I am usually relying on the translation of the sutta by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, ie., monk Thanissaro (birth name, Geoffrey DeGraff). The sutta explored in this episode can be found here: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN56_11.html. There is a site where all of his works can be accessed: www.dhammatalks.org. For anyone wishing to compare translations of this Sutta, or others, Access to Insight is a helpful resource: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html. The site is technically “retired” but is a treasure trove of resources, translations, and backgrounds to the many translators, etc. Here is the portion of the Buddha’s teaching being discussed in this Episode: …. From the Saccavibhanga Sutta, or “Discourse on The Analysis of the Truths”, the translation by Piyadassi Thera: Right Effort: "What is right effort? Herein a monk puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to prevent the arising of evil, of unwholesome thoughts that have not yet arisen; puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to banish the evil, unwholesome thoughts that have already arisen; puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to develop wholesome thoughts that have not yet arisen; and puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to maintain, to preserve, increase, to bring them to maturity, development, and to complete the wholesome thoughts that have arisen. This is called right effort.” Right Mindfulness: "What is right mindfulness? Herein a monk lives practicing body contemplation on the body, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it), having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of the body). "He lives practicing feeling-contemplation on the feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of feelings). "He lives practicing mind-contemplation on the mind, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of the mind). "He lives practicing mind-object contemplation on the mind objects, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of mental objects). This is called right mindfulness.” Right Concentration "And what is right concentration? Herein a monk aloof from sense desires, aloof from unwholesome thoughts, attains to and abides in the first meditative absorption (jhana) which is detachment-born and accompanied by applied thought, sustained thought, joy, and bliss. "By allaying applied and sustained thought he attains to, and abides in the second jhana which is inner tranquillity, which is unification (of the mind), devoid of applied and sustained thought, and which has joy and bliss. "By detachment from joy he dwells in equanimity, mindful, and with clear comprehension and enjoys bliss in body, and attains to and abides in the third jhana which the noble ones (ariyas) call: 'Dwelling in equanimity, mindfulness, and bliss.' "By giving up of bliss and suffering, by the disappearance already of joy and sorrow, he attains to, and abides in the fourth jhana, which is neither suffering nor bliss, and which is the purity of equanimity-mindfulness. This is called right concentration.”
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Episode 17 Right Effort #buddha #sacredtexts #meditation #dhamma #compassion #mindfulness #empathy
2w ago00:37:24Tap to summarizeSome people seem to do the most difficult things effortlessly. Me? I tend to try too hard, sort of like tuning a guitar string…until breaks. Of course, some of us don’t make enough effort…is there a “right effort?” The Buddha thought so... This Episode continues to explore the "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" (dhumma-chak-ka-pawat-tana soot-a), or, the “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma” Sutta, I am usually relying on the translation of the sutta by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, ie., monk Thanissaro (birth name, Geoffrey DeGraff). The sutta explored in this episode can be found here: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN56_11.html. There is a site where all of his works can be accessed: www.dhammatalks.org. For anyone wishing to compare translations of this Sutta, or others, Access to Insight is a helpful resource: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html. The site is technically “retired” but is a treasure trove of resources, translations, and backgrounds to the many translators, etc. Here is the portion of the Buddha’s teaching being discussed in this Episode: …. From the Saccavibhanga Sutta, or “Discourse on The Analysis of the Truths”, the translation by Piyadassi Thera: Right Effort: "What is right effort? Herein a monk puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to prevent the arising of evil, of unwholesome thoughts that have not yet arisen; puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to banish the evil, unwholesome thoughts that have already arisen; puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to develop wholesome thoughts that have not yet arisen; and puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to maintain, to preserve, increase, to bring them to maturity, development, and to complete the wholesome thoughts that have arisen. This is called right effort.” Right Mindfulness: "What is right mindfulness? Herein a monk lives practicing body contemplation on the body, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it), having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of the body). "He lives practicing feeling-contemplation on the feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of feelings). "He lives practicing mind-contemplation on the mind, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of the mind). "He lives practicing mind-object contemplation on the mind objects, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of mental objects). This is called right mindfulness.” Right Concentration "And what is right concentration? Herein a monk aloof from sense desires, aloof from unwholesome thoughts, attains to and abides in the first meditative absorption (jhana) which is detachment-born and accompanied by applied thought, sustained thought, joy, and bliss. "By allaying applied and sustained thought he attains to, and abides in the second jhana which is inner tranquillity, which is unification (of the mind), devoid of applied and sustained thought, and which has joy and bliss. "By detachment from joy he dwells in equanimity, mindful, and with clear comprehension and enjoys bliss in body, and attains to and abides in the third jhana which the noble ones (ariyas) call: 'Dwelling in equanimity, mindfulness, and bliss.' "By giving up of bliss and suffering, by the disappearance already of joy and sorrow, he attains to, and abides in the fourth jhana, which is neither suffering nor bliss, and which is the purity of equanimity-mindfulness. This is called right concentration.” #buddhism #pluralism #religion #spirituality
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Episode 16 Right Speech, Action, Livelihood #buddha #ai #socialmedia #gender #sexuality #dhamma
2w ago00:39:37Tap to summarizeInvestment advice, AI, gender and sexuality. The Buddha presented the Eightfold Path roughly 2,500 years ago, can it have anything relevant to say to all that? If I took the time to record this, my answer must be yes, right? This Episode continues to explore the "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" (dhumma-chak-ka-pawat-tana soot-a), or, the “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma” Sutta, I am using the translation of the sutta by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, ie., monk Thanissaro (birth name, Geoffrey DeGraff). The sutta explored in this episode can be found here: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN56_11.html. There is a site where all of his works can be accessed: www.dhammatalks.org. For anyone wishing to compare translations of this Sutta, or others, Access to Insight is a helpful resource: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html. The site is technically “retired” but is a treasure trove of resources, translations, and backgrounds to the many translators, etc. Here is the portion of the sutta being discussed in this Episode: …. “And what is the middle way realized by the Tathāgata that—producing vision, producing knowledge—leads to stilling, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to unbinding? Precisely this noble eightfold path: Right View, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This is the middle way realized by the Tathāgata that—producing vision, producing knowledge—leads to stilling, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to unbinding.”
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Episode 15 Eightfold Path #buddha #dhamma #rightview #selfimprovement #meditation #wisdom #buddhism
2w ago00:32:17Tap to summarizeIn the movie Braveheart one of my favorite scenes comes right after William Wallace has stirred everyone up with a fiery speech and one of his friends and fellow rebels says, “fine speech…now what do we do?” “Be yourselves,” says Wallace. How would the Buddha answer “now what do we do?” This Episode continues to explore the "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" (dhumma-chak-ka-pawat-tana soot-a), or, the “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma” Sutta, I am using the translation of the sutta by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, ie., monk Thanissaro (birth name, Geoffrey DeGraff). The sutta explored in this episode can be found here: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN56_11.html. There is a site where all of his works can be accessed: www.dhammatalks.org. For anyone wishing to compare translations of this Sutta, or others, Access to Insight is a helpful resource: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html. The site is technically “retired” but is a treasure trove of resources, translations, and backgrounds to the many translators, etc. Here is the portion of the sutta being discussed in this Episode: …. “And what is the middle way realized by the Tathāgata that—producing vision, producing knowledge—leads to stilling, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to unbinding? Precisely this noble eightfold path: Right View, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This is the middle way realized by the Tathāgata that—producing vision, producing knowledge—leads to stilling, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to unbinding.”
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Episode 14 Devas, Mara, Brahma #buddha #mindfulness #dharma #buddhism #enlightenment #awakening
2w ago00:25:24Tap to summarizeWhen the Buddha achieved enlightenment, and the wheel of his teaching started rolling, it is said that there was a seismic reaction in the entire cosmos, a spasm throughout the universe…and it is a strange universe… This Episode continues to explore the "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" (dhumma-chak-ka-pawat-tana soot-a), or, the “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma” Sutta, I am using the translation of the sutta by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, ie., monk Thanissaro (birth name, Geoffrey DeGraff). The sutta explored in this episode can be found here: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN56_11.html. There is a site where all of his works can be accessed: www.dhammatalks.org. For anyone wishing to compare translations of this Sutta, or others, Access to Insight is a helpful resource: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html. The site is technically “retired” but is a treasure trove of resources, translations, and backgrounds to the many translators, etc. Here is the portion of the sutra being discussed in this Episode: …. And when the Blessed One had set the Wheel of Dhamma in motion, the earth devas cried out: “Near Vārāṇasī, in the Deer Park at Isipatana, the Blessed One has set in motion the unexcelled Wheel of Dhamma that cannot be stopped by contemplative or brahman, deva, Māra, or Brahmā, or anyone at all in the cosmos.” On hearing the earth devas’ cry, the Devas of the Four Great Kings took up the cry… the Devas of the Thirty-three… the Devas of the Hours… the Contented Devas… the Devas Delighting in Creation … the Devas [Muses?] Wielding Power over the Creations of Others… the Devas of Brahmā’s Retinue took up the cry: “Near Vārāṇasī, in the Deer Park at Isipatana, the Blessed One has set in motion the unexcelled Wheel of Dhamma that cannot be stopped by contemplative or brahman, deva, Māra, or Brahmā, or anyone at all in the cosmos.” So in that moment, that instant, the cry shot right up to the Brahmā worlds. And this ten-thousand-fold cosmos shivered & quivered & quaked, while a great, measureless radiance appeared in the cosmos, surpassing the effulgence of the deities.
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Episode 13 ”Dr. Buddha,” Pt 2 #buddha #nobletruths #suffering #nirvana #sacredtexts #consciousness
2w ago00:36:24Tap to summarizeEverything is permanently impermanent, and impermanently permanent; existence is non-existent, and non-existence exists…the Buddha called his teaching “the middle way” and it is full of yes/no and both/and… This Episode continues to explore the "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" (dhumma-chak-ka-pawat-tana soot-a), or, the “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma” Sutta, I am using the translation of the sutta by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, ie., monk Thanissaro (birth name, Geoffrey DeGraff). The sutta explored in this episode can be found here: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN56_11.html. There is a site where all of his works can be accessed: www.dhammatalks.org. For anyone wishing to compare translations of this Sutta, or others, Access to Insight is a helpful resource: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html. The site is technically “retired” but is a treasure trove of resources, translations, and backgrounds to the many translators, etc. Here is the portion of the sutra being discussed in this Episode: “Now this, bhikkhus, is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering: it is the remainderless fading away and cessation of that same craving, the giving up and relinquishing of it, freedom from it, nonreliance on it. “Now this, bhikkhus, is the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering: it is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view ... right concentration. “‘This is the noble truth of suffering’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “‘This noble truth of suffering is to be fully understood’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “‘This noble truth of suffering has been fully understood’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “‘This is the noble truth of the origin of suffering’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “‘This noble truth of the origin of suffering is to be abandoned’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “‘This noble truth of the origin of suffering has been abandoned’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “‘This is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “‘This noble truth of the cessation of suffering is to be realized’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “‘This noble truth of the cessation of suffering has been realized’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “‘This is the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “‘This noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering is to be developed’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “‘This noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering has been developed’: thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, true knowledge, and light. “So long, bhikkhus, as my knowledge and vision of these Four Noble Truths as they really are in their three phases and twelve aspects was not thoroughly purified in this way, I did not claim to have awakened to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment in this world … Knowledge and vision arose in me: ‘Unshakable is the liberation of my mind. This is my last birth. Now there is no more renewed existence.’”
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Episode 12 Buddha as Doctor: Symptoms, Diagnosis #buddha #nirvana #suffering #buddhism #sacredtexts
2w ago00:36:13Tap to summarizeIf humanity were a patient and you were called upon to treat it, where would you begin? Like a doctor, the Buddha has examined our symptoms, formed a diagnosis, given a prognosis, and he prescribed a cure… This Episode continues to explore the "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" (dhumma-chak-ka-pawat-tana soot-a), or, the “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma” Sutta. I am using the translation of the sutta by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, ie., monk Thanissaro (birth name, Geoffrey DeGraff). The sutta explored in this episode can be found here: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN56_11.html. There is a site where all of his works can be accessed: www.dhammatalks.org. For anyone wishing to compare translations of this Sutta, or others, Access to Insight is a helpful resource: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html. The site is technically “retired” but is a treasure trove of resources, translations, and backgrounds to the many translators, etc. Here is the portion of the sutra being discussed in this Episode: “And what, bhikkhus, is that middle way awakened to by the Tathagata, which gives rise to vision ... which leads to Nibbāna? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This, bhikkhus, is that middle way awakened to by the Tathagata, which gives rise to vision, which gives rise to knowledge, which leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Now this, bhikkhus, is the noble truth of suffering: birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering; union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation from what is pleasing is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering; in brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering. Now this, bhikkhus, is the noble truth of the origin of suffering: it is this craving which leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking delight here and there; that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, craving for extermination. Now this, bhikkhus, is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering: it is the remainderless fading away and cessation of that same craving, the giving up and relinquishing of it, freedom from it, nonreliance on it. Now this, bhikkhus, is the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering: It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This, bhikkhus, is that middle way awakened to by the Tathagata, which gives rise to vision, which gives rise to knowledge, which leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna.”
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Episode 11 Introducing the Buddha #buddha #dhamma #wheelofdhamma #sacredtexts #wisdom #divine #self
2w ago00:33:50Tap to summarizeThe "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" (dhumma-chak-ka-pawat-tana soot-a), or, the “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma” Sutta, Buddhism is everywhere, and nowhere. I meet people all the time who say things like, “yeah, I’m really into Buddhism…” but who seem to have no idea what the Buddha actually taught. This Episode will get our toes in the water, or as he might have said it, “get the wheel rolling…” IYKYK! I am using the translation of the sutta by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, ie., monk Thanissaro (birth name, Geoffrey DeGraff). The sutta explored in this episode can be found here: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN56_11.html. Here is a site where all of his works can be accessed: www.dhammatalks.org. For anyone wishing to compare translations of this Sutta, or others, "Access to Insight" is a very helpful resource: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html. The site is technically “retired” but is a treasure trove of resources, translations, and backgrounds to the many translators, etc. And here is the portion of the Sutta we are looking at in this Episode: Dhammacakkappavattanasutta Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikku On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Baraṇasi in the Deer Park at Isipatana. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus of the group of five thus: “Bhikkhus, these two extremes should not be followed by one who has gone forth into homelessness. What two? Oe pursuit of sensual happiness in sensual pleasures, which is low, vulgar, the way of worldlings, ignoble, unbeneficial; and the pursuit of self-mortification, which is painful, ignoble, unbeneficial. Without veering towards either of these extremes, the Tathagata has awakened to the middle way, which gives rise to vision, which gives rise to knowledge, which leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. “And what, bhikkhus, is that middle way awakened to by the Tathagata, which gives rise to vision ... which leads to Nibbāna? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This, bhikkhus, is that middle way awakened to by the Tathagata, which gives rise to vision, which gives rise to knowledge, which leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna.
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