April 2 reading assignment for Dharma-Inspired book group: Dancing with Life

[Anne Foster]

A Dharma Friends Event of the Insight Meditation Center of the Midpeninsula

Dharma-Inspired Book Group

Dancing with Life

by Phil Moffitt

 

WHEN/WHERE: Friday, April 2, 5:30-7:00 p.m.,

Insight Meditation Center, 108 Birch St, Redwood City

 

HOMEWORK:

 

April 2 we will discuss pages 208-243 in Dancing with Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering by Phil Moffitt.  Over the next month, you are invited spend one week each focusing on the four "weekly teachings" listed below selected from the book’s web site. 

 

 

The Dharma-Inspired book group is self led and usually meets the first or second Friday of the month.  For our current book, Anne Foster is acting as facilitator and contact person: afo...@rawbw.com, 650-591-1285.  The intention of Dharma Friends events is to further the development of spiritually based friendships and a sense of community within our sangha.

 

TEACHINGS FROM PHILLIP MOFFITT FOR APRIL

 

The other teachings, # 68-76, for the current reading can be found at groups.google.com/group/imcdharmafriends.  Click "Upcoming Events".

 

Teaching #70: Right View or Wise Understanding

 

It is taught that right view is understanding and framing your experience through the Four Noble Truths. Right view is also the understanding that your actions have consequences … Through wise understanding you clarify what really matters to you and formulate a set of values by which to live … Wise understanding is also the continuous, cumulative result of practice.

Chapter 20, Pg 227-228

For your reflection:  Ordinarily you use what I call “surface understanding,” which allows you to control conditions in order to fulfill your desires. In contrast, wise or what I call “deep” understanding enables you to find peace of mind in all circumstances. This week notice if you are just trying to control conditions when difficulty arises, or are you also practicing wise understanding?

 

Teaching #72: Goals Vs. Intentions

 

There is a big difference between goals and right intention … Your goals are your preferences for the future … and provide inspiration and direction as well as determine how you allocate your time and resources. But your goals do not determine how you act right now. Instead, your intention determines how you actually think, act and speak in any given moment.

Chapter 20, Pg 229

For your reflection: Make a list of your goals for the various aspects of your life then write down the intentions which will guide your actions while moving toward those goals. Can you see how different goals and intentions are and how living from your intentions shifts your experience? Notice even small goals such as finding a parking place and how remembering your intentions has a grounding effect.

 

Teaching #75: Right or Wise Livelihood

 

Right livelihood means not earning your living in a manner that brings harm to yourself or others … and not having a violent attitude in whatever you do for a living … any job that takes away joy, either your own or others’, also constitutes unwise livelihood, whereas any job that supports and nourishes well-being is wise livelihood.

Chapter 20, Pg 238-239

For your reflection: This week explore wise livelihood by first noticing the attitude with which you are doing your current job. Ask yourself, is your attitude causing you or others harm? Then review all of the jobs you’ve ever had and ask, was this right livelihood? Beware of judging yourself.

 

Teaching #76: Right or Wise Effort

 

The Buddha describes four kinds of wise effort: avoiding unhealthy mind states; abandoning unhealthy mind states once they have arisen; moving the mind to healthy mind states; and maintaining the mind on healthy mind states that have already risen … Right effort has to do with how you are being with what has arisen.

Chapter 20, Pg 240-241

For your reflection: This week, choose one form of right effort and practice it the whole week. For instance, when you start to fall into self-criticism, deliberately move your attention to something you appreciate about yourself. This is an example of avoiding an unhealthy mind state.