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Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 10:16 pm
by starter
Hello friend,

Thanks a lot for your kind help with my previous posts. I plan to visit Ven. Thanissaro, and I’m starting to read his writings (starting with Wings to Awakening) and listen to his talks (downloaded some talks from http://www.dhammatalks.org/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, starter sets). But it’s a bit difficult for me to choose from his many essays and talks. Would it be possible for you to kindly recommend some of his writings and talks which you consider the best and most helpful?

I have to admit that so far "Wings to Awakening" (Intro and part 1) has touched my intellect, but not my heart. It's highly analytical and intellectual, but I'd rather read some of his writings which can practically guide my practice. I'd highly appreciate your recommendations of such writings and talks of his.

Metta,

Starter

PS: I recommend Meditation4.

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 10:28 pm
by cooran
Hello starter,

Here is a list of Ven. Thanissaro’s online essays. Run through the titles and see what attracts your attention:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

with metta
Chris

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 11:00 pm
by retrofuturist
Greetings Starter,
starter wrote:I have to admit that so far "Wings to Awakening" (Intro and part 1) has touched my intellect, but not my heart. It's highly analytical and intellectual, but I'd rather read some of his writings which can actually lead my heart to peace and liberation (from sufferings), and practically guide my practice.
Cooran's list should be amenable to your stated purposes, but it might be worth reflecting on why you imply that "analytical" teachings cannot "lead my heart to peace and liberation (from sufferings), and practically guide my practice".

Do you seek an emotional salve or the wisdom of the Buddha?

All the best.

Metta,
Retro. :)

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 11:16 pm
by Goofaholix
retrofuturist wrote:Cooran's list should be amenable to your stated purposes, but it might be worth reflecting on why you imply that "analytical" teachings cannot "lead my heart to peace and liberation (from sufferings), and practically guide my practice".

Do you seek an emotional salve or the wisdom of the Buddha?
I would have worded it differently than the OP did but it appears to me what he/she wants is practical instruction on the path of practice rather than an indepth analysis coming from a more theoretical perspective (such as "Wings of Awakening").

To answer the question I find his MP3 dhamma talks quite practice oriented, you can download lots of them from Dhammaseed.

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 11:23 pm
by retrofuturist
Greetings Goofaholix,

Perhaps, but as Ven. Thanissaro says in the Preface...
Many anthologies of the Buddha's teachings have appeared in English, but this is the first to be organized around the set of teachings that the Buddha himself said formed the heart of his message: the Wings to Awakening (bodhi-pakkhiya-dhamma). The material is arranged in three parts, preceded by a long Introduction. The Introduction tries to define the concept of Awakening so as to give a clear sense of where the Wings to Awakening are headed. It does this by discussing the Buddha's accounts of his own Awakening, with special focus on the way in which the principle of skillful kamma (in Sanskrit, karma) formed both the "how" and the "what" of that Awakening: The Buddha was able to reach Awakening only by developing skillful kamma — this is the "how"; his understanding of the process of developing skillful kamma is what sparked the insights that constituted Awakening — this is the "what."

With this background established, the remainder of the book focuses in detail on the Wings to Awakening as a detailed analysis of the "how."
Part I focuses on aspects of the principle of skillful kamma that shaped the way the Wings to Awakening are formulated. Part II goes through the seven sets that make up the Wings to Awakening themselves: the four foundations of mindfulness (here called the four frames of reference), the four right exertions, the four bases for power, the five faculties, the five strengths, the seven factors for Awakening, and the noble eightfold path. Part III reduces all the terms in the seven sets to the five faculties, and then deals with those faculties in detail. With the fifth and final faculty, discernment, the book concludes by returning to the "what" of Awakening, showing how discernment focuses on the Wings themselves as topics to be observed in such a way that they will spark the insights leading to total release.
Metta,
Retro. :)

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:01 am
by dhammapal
Hi Starter,

Yes Wings to Awakening is very intellectual and advanced.

Most of his talks on dhammatalks.org are given during meditation sits whereas at audiodharma.org he has his eyes open and laughs with the audience. My favorite is "Happiness":
http://www.audiodharma.org/teacher/16/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This workshop on the Brahmaviharas is with an audience
http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Retr ... Audio.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For the reason why he translates metta as goodwill rather than lovingkindness, see the first 15 minutes of:
June 26 Early PM Lecture Q & A
http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Retr ... Audio.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
From: Audio Downloads & Resources for Thanissaro Bhikkhu's June 2010 Saskatchewan Retreat on "The Ten Perfections"

I also recommend these articles on Access to Insight:
All About Change
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... hange.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Life Isn't Just Suffering
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... eisnt.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For dozens of quotes by Thanissaro Bhikkhu on the Brahmaviharas (metta, compassion, mudita and equanimity), go to the message archives of my Yahoo Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Buddhaviharas" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With metta / dhammapal.

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:21 am
by Individual
The Not-self Strategy:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... tself.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:41 am
by Hoo
starter wrote:....I have to admit that so far "Wings to Awakening" (Intro and part 1) has touched my intellect, but not my heart. It's highly analytical and intellectual, but I'd rather read some of his writings which can actually lead my heart to peace and liberation (from sufferings), and practically guide my practice. I'd highly appreciate your recommendations of such writings and talks of his....
Hi Starter,

I've been out to the site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Buddhaviharas and like the practice-oriented stuff usually found there. If you want to do some trolling in the messages, there is quite a lot to read and absorb. I'd keep "Wings" handy to see what he said about some of the topics as they come up. In time, what seems intellectual now may speak more clearly to your practice.

Just because it's said in a message, though, doesn't make it right. I'd suggest taking those as leads to what is actually said in the Suttas.

Just my two cents. With Metta,

Hoo

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 1:02 am
by bazzaman
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Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:58 am
by starter
Dear Friends,

Your very kind help has been most appreciated. I'll check into what you've recommended.

I didn't imply that "analytical" teachings cannot lead my heart to peace and liberation (from sufferings), and practically guide my practice". Goofaholix was right about my intention ["what he/she wants is practical instruction on the path of practice rather than an indepth analysis coming from a more theoretical perspective"]. Thanks for the feedback of Retrofuturist, and I've changed the phrasing accordingly.

I don't know how others feel while reading something. Some writings/talks can let my heart feel so peaceful and tranquil ("touched my heart") but some others don't. That's what I meant "can actually lead my heart to peace and liberation (from sufferings)". I listen to my heart to select the right writings/talks for me. Of course insights and wisdom are very important for our practice which can touch one's heart to let-go the attachments and defilements, and I think I'm not seeking emotional salve.

Happy Thanks-giving! Metta,

Starter

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 8:54 am
by dhammapal
Hi Starter, Hoo,

At first when I was studying Thanissaro Bhikkhu's teachings I found it frustrating that although his monastery is called Wat Metta I couldn't find much of his writing or talks on loving-kindness. Later I found that he translates metta as goodwill and Brahmaviharas as Sublime Attitudes.

My Buddhaviharas Yahoo Group actually comes up with 236 message archive Thanissaro search results, which include suttas he translated and some posts have been recycled and/or commented on.

Thanissaro Bhikkhu bases his teachings on the early suttas, sometimes showing up the commentaries written 500 years after the Buddha's parinibbana. See:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... andha.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you liked Wings to Awakening I found an excellent introduction to Buddhism hidden at the end of a study guide “A Refuge in Skillful Action”:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... e.html#act" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With metta / dhammapal.

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 9:39 am
by gavesako
His latest 500 page book is out! It is called "Skill of Questions" and looks very interesting. It develops the theme touched upon in many of his articles, but with lots of Sutta quotations as well. It should soon appear on http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:34 am
by dhammapal
gavesako wrote:His latest 500 page book is out! It is called "Skill of Questions" and looks very interesting. It develops the theme touched upon in many of his articles, but with lots of Sutta quotations as well. It should soon appear on http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hi Bhante, it's online here.
http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writ ... tions.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With metta / dp.

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:23 am
by retrofuturist
Greetings,

Some posts have been split into a new topic...

Do arahants discard vipaka/suffering?
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6382" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Metta,
Retro. :)

Re: Recommendation of of Ven. Thanissaro's essays and talks?

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 6:33 am
by dhammapal
Hi Starter,

I found this 20 minute talk by Ven Thanissaro which addresses your threads about teachings for monks and laypeople, the gradual training:
Cleaning Up Your Personal Environment - October 2009
http://www.dhammatalks.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With metta / dhammapal.