Registration Closes: Friday, October 24 at noon ET.
This course will provide an illuminating and evocative approach to sutta study by exploring the Buddha’s teachings through the lens of similes and stories.
The Buddha’s teaching skill shines through the wide range of examples and similes that he used to convey subtle points of instruction. His teachings are peppered with images of mountains, rivers, oceans, sun and moon, lions, jackals, turtles, quail, fire, archery, craftsmanship, windows, gates, bubbles, mirages, magic tricks, ripe fruit, purified gold, incubated eggs, blind men, sumptuous meals, stumps, creeping vines, chariots, etched lines, childhood games, sandcastles, and more.
The Buddha used imagery to help ordinary people comprehend deep topics. Farmers could relate to references of sowing seeds and yoking oxen to the plough; warriors understood his examples of training horses and driving chariots. Craftsman comprehended the processes of purifying gold. These striking similes continue to help meditation students gain a down-to-earth sense of the profound path taught by the Buddha.
Module Topics:
- Progress and Development
- Understanding Anger
- Protecting Oneself and Others
- Danger in Sensual Pleasures
- Five Aggregates
- What is Nibbana?
- In the Face of Death
- Eightfold Noble Path
Learning Objectives
Participants in this course will:
- discover an accessible and fun approach to sutta study, supported by evocative similes and intriguing imagery
- explore how teachings from the ancient discourses come to life through contemporary contemplative practices
- experience the liberating dynamic of combining study, reflection, discussion, and meditation
- learn ways of incorporating traditional images into a contemporary mindfulness-based meditation practice
- gain an introduction to the Pāli Canon with readings gathered from the primary collections including Middle Length Discourses, Numerical Discourses, Connected Discourses, Long Discourses, Sutta Nipata, Udana
Program Format
Course will include eight modules that have:
- Brief recorded reflections or guided meditations that introduce each lesson (15-30 minutes in length)
- Carefully selected collection of sutta readings that employ similes to explain a dhamma theme (reading assignments will require between 30 – 90 minutes per topic)
- Creative and reflective Try This! exercises to explore and integrate the teachings
- Peer led written discussion forums
- Online video meetings with Shaila Catherine
- Online video meetings are recorded as audio files
This program is co-sponsored with Bodhi Courses, and more information can be found on the website here. Please click on FAQ for answers to many questions you may have about the program.
Note for those familiar with other Bodhi Courses: This series is designed with streamlined content that focuses specifically on the similes. It requires considerably less time to read and listen to the material than most other Bodhi Courses, and the online video meetings occupy a more predominant role. The online meetings will be recorded, but it is highly recommended that students attend the online video meetings as much as possible.
Participation Expectations: Prior to the first online video meeting on Oct 26, please be sure that you have created a BodhiClassroom account, accessed the course material, and read the three short suttas that are assigned for the first module and will be discussed at the first online video meeting. Participants will receive login information from BodhiClassroom beginning on October 20.
