The Buddha’s Experiential Alternative to the Brahmanical “Self” with Gil Fronsdal
Cost:
Dāna Program
This dana program is freely offered in the spirit of generosity. Any donation you can offer to the teacher and to the Sati Center to continue making these teachings available is greatly appreciated.
Study, practice, and discussion of the Discourse of the Root of All Things
Online via Zoom
Whoever intentionally placed as the Discourse of the Root of All Things as the first discourse in the Middle Length Discourses, did so strategically so these teachings serve as the entry point to the succeeding 151 discourses. The text functions somewhat as ritual text pointing away from any perception that impute a essential soul-like self in what is perceived to perceiving phenomena in their simplicity without an overlay of “self.” The Buddha’s teaching are explicitly contrasted to Brahmanical idea of “self” (atman).
The hour will be spent slowly reading and discussing this short text so that it comes alive for our modern times. No familiarity with the Buddha’s discourse or teachings necessary. A translation and Gil’s study guide on the discourse will be sent out a week before the class.
About the Teacher:
Gil Fronsdal is the senior guiding co-teacher at the Insight Meditation Center (IMC) in Redwood City, California and the Insight Retreat Center in Santa Cruz, California. He started Buddhist practice in 1975, and has been teaching for IMC since 1990. Gil is an authorized teacher in two traditions: the Insight Meditation lineage of Theravada Buddhism of Southeast Asia, and Japanese Soto Zen. He holds a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from Stanford. He is a husband and the father of two sons.