Jack Kornfield explores how the Buddha answered questions, emphasizing the relevance to modern times. He discusses the teachings of the Dharma, the reality of non-self, and living fully without attachment. He also delves into working with contradictions along the spiritual path and the importance of continuity and presence in our practice.
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Quick takeaways
The Buddha's teaching style involved using silence, questions, and direct replies to guide individuals towards liberation and inner freedom.
Letting go of attachments and desires leads to the freedom from suffering and the ability to fully appreciate and experience life.
Deep dives
Purification of the Mind and Inner Freedom
The podcast explores the concept of purification of the mind and inner freedom. It highlights the importance of letting go of attachments and cravings, and the practice of non-grasping. The speaker emphasizes that liberation is not achieved through philosophical opinions or virtuous acts but through the direct experience of one's own mind. The podcast also discusses the gradual purification process, starting with gross impurities like wrong conduct, progressing to moderate impurities like sensuous and violent thoughts, and ultimately letting go of even subtle attachments to family, reputation, and higher states of meditation. The goal is to achieve a balanced and unified mind, free from the grip of suffering and attachment, leading to the attainment of liberation.
The Buddha's Unique Ways of Answering Questions
The podcast explores the various ways the Buddha answered questions. It mentions three main methods: silence, responding with questions, and direct verbal or non-verbal replies. Silence is used when an answer would further confuse or speculate, inviting individuals to reflect on their own experience. Responding with questions encourages individuals to find their own answers and challenges their attachments to concepts. Direct replies aim to awaken individuals by directly pointing them to the truth. The podcast illustrates the Buddha's teaching style through specific stories and sutras, highlighting his focus on human liberation and the path towards inner freedom.
The Joy of Non-Attachment and Liberation
The podcast emphasizes the joy and benefits of non-attachment and liberation. It discusses the metaphor of purifying gold as a way to understand the process of purifying the mind. The speaker describes how letting go of attachments and desires leads to the freedom from suffering and the ability to fully appreciate and experience life. The podcast also shares verses and dialogues that highlight the joy of non-attachment and the profound transformations it brings. It concludes by urging listeners to cultivate continuity in their practice, slow down, and embrace the dance of liberation with joy.
Practicing Mindfulness and Continuity
The podcast encourages listeners to practice mindfulness and continuity in their daily lives. It advises slowing down, being fully present in each moment, and letting go of the past and future. The speaker encourages extended sitting periods, paying attention to sleep patterns, and finding ways to incorporate mindfulness into daily activities. The importance of carrying presentness into walking meditation is emphasized. The podcast concludes by expressing joy and gratitude for the opportunity to discuss these teachings and encourages listeners to approach the practice as a challenging yet joyful dance of transformation.
In this unique exploration of Dharma, Jack shares how we can transform our daily lives by looking into how the Buddha answered questions.
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"This talk on the way the Buddha answered questions is not to give you another talk on Buddhist history, but to connect us with the ancient timeless endeavor of practice, of awakening, and the ways human beings over many centuries have worked with the development of their understanding." – Jack Kornfield
In this illuminating episode, Jack highlights:
How the way Buddha answered questions is relevant to living in our modern times
Buddha's ancient sutras, talks, and Q&As, and how those teachings have touched the world
Buddha's vision of mind and ability to understand the psyche, how it gets entangled, and how we can become free
The "one taste" of Dharma and our capacity for inner-freedom
Illuminating the reality of non-self
How the teachings of the Dharma turn the mind back to one's own personal experience
The radical way of seeing the world through a lens that is not, "I, me, mine."
How to live fully whether we have one life or many lives to live
Buddha's view of the "world on fire" and how to work with this in our daily lives
How to work with contradictions along the spiritual path
Continuity and carrying our practice and presence into the day in an enjoyable way
"The essence of Dharma is how we love moment to moment." – Jack Kornfield
This Dharma Talk from October 1983 at Insight Meditation Society was originally published on DharmaSeed.
