The Way to the Far Shore Pārāyanavagga: Sutta Niptta Book Five with Leigh Brasington

This program will take an in-depth look at the 16 suttas found in Sutta Nipata Book V. Many scholars believe these discourses were composed early in the development of Buddhism, prior to the inevitable institutionalization of the tradition. These suttas are presented as conversations in which the Buddha addresses questions posed by learned brahmins, for example: “Where do mind-and-body completely cease?” “Who here in the world is content?”; “What is the origin of dukkha?”; and “How should one view the world so the King of Death does not see one?” Together, we will explore these questions and the Buddha’s responses, as well as other themes such as old age and death, dukkha, craving, sensuality, quenching, nothingness, and awakening. This weekend will include time for sitting meditation, careful reading and interpretation of the text, dharma talks, and opportunities for questions and reflections.

Leigh Brasington has been practicing meditation since 1985 and is the senior American student of the late Ven. Ayya Khema. Leigh began assisting Ven. Ayya Khemma in 1994, and began teaching retreats on his on in 1997. He is also authorized to teach by Jack Kornfield. Leigh has taught the jhanas, along with multiple insight practices, at well over one hundred residential retreats throughout the United States and Europe. He is the author of the books Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas and Dependent Origination and Emptiness: Streams Of Dependently Arising Processes Interacting. Find more about Leigh’s teaching and schedule at http://leighb.com.