Many People, Many Paths,
One Heart of Awakening
Teacher: Sharon Beckman-Brindley
Resource Material: Making the practice our own.Resources.pdf
On the Buddhist path to freedom, there is no one teaching and no one tool that fits all people in every circumstance at all times. The Buddha himself was famous for teaching in many different ways according to the qualities and inclinations and readiness of his listeners as well as the specific circumstances that they found themselves in. A wholesome Dharma practice requires us to remember and become familiar with many many different Dharma doors.
Often, when things are stalled or not going so well, we are pushing at the wrong door, trying to force ourselves into a practice or a behavior or an attitude that isn't working well. For me. Here, with this. Now. We may be determined to press on with more effort when what is needed is more ease and kindness and sweetness. Or we are trying to maintain a quality of sweetness when what is needed is patience and diligent persistence through difficulty. Or we are taking something on a superficial faith without being willing to truly and deeply study, inquire, investigate and diagnose the present circumstance and resources. What is the problem here? What's going on?? What's needed? What's available?
In this evenings talk, we will explore this principle with attention to several Dharma doors across two different Buddhist traditions.