Mahabodhi
Recent articles, talks and discussions 2011
ideology mindfulness psychology: buddhism
Buddhism and Education
'Curriculums, Exams and Degrees - How Do We Really Learn About Life?'
A public talk at the Manchester Buddhist Centre, in the 'Buddhism and the Big Questions' series, 26th March 2011
In this talk I explored how the Buddhist teachings of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Kalama Sutta and Meghiya Sutta shed light on what would be a Buddhist education. Along the way I examine the educational theories of John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau. I also look at the twentieth century philosophies of Logical Positivism and its influence on the digital revolution and at Heidegger's Phenomenology and its influence on valuing personal experience.
Watch video - 65 mins (45 Mb)
Buddhism and Science
'Buddhism and Science' colloquium, Oxford University, 2010
This seminal series of videos was recorded during a 2-day colloquium on Buddhism and Science at Oxford University involving leading scientists, philosophers, Buddhist scholars and Buddhist practitioners in deep debate on the perceived convergence of modern science (relativity theory, quantum mechanics, systems biology, cognitive psychology, clinical science) with some of the traditional ideas of Buddhism (anti-metaphysical stance, interdependence, emptiness, no-self). The colloquium was organised by Vesna Wallace (Numata Professor of Buddhist Studies at Oxford), Denis Noble (Emeritus Professor of Physiology) and Alan Wallace (Director of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies). In addition to the introduction, there are 11 30-minute recordings. The debates are lively and critical.
I could only get to the second day, where I saw Peter Hacker's talk, and contributed to the closing discussion. All of the proceedings were videoed and made available on Voices from Oxford website.
Impressions
Day 1 - 4th March 2010
Introduction by Denis Noble.
'Is there a Buddhist science?' by Vesna Wallace
'Relativity and Emptiness' by Laurent Nottale
'Systems Biology and Relativity' by Charles Auffray
'Systems Biology and No-Self' by Denis Noble
'Science of the Mind' by Alan Wallace
'Mindfulness in Clinical Psychology' by Mark Williams
'Cognitivism and Buddhist Psychology' by John Peacock
'Classical causality to quantum entanglement' by Michel Bitbol
Buddhism and Science - General Discussion
Day 2 - 5th March 2010
Response by Peter Hacker
Buddhism and Science - Closing Discussion I'm in this video!
Peter Hacker's views in TPM; The Philosophers' Magazine 25th October 2010
Psychotherapy Conference
International Conference of Cognitive Psychotherapy , Rome, 2008
Attended conference, met Jon Kabat-Zinn, delivered poster presentation entitled: 'Can mindfulness be contained within a behaviourist framework?' which was published in Italian journal Psychomed. Gave out paper of same title to 100 delegates.
Conference programme
Paper
Poster presentation
Psychomed Poster published in December 2008 issue (as pdf - 8Mb)
Mindfulness
Mindfulness of 'objects present in the mind'
- Dhammas satipatthana
Excerpt from book-in-progress on mindfulness; seeing 'mental objects' or dhammas as what constitutes a persons view or perspective.
Read
Talks on Mindfulness
Five talks on mindfulness at the Manchester Buddhist Centre.
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness:an introduction (15Mb)
3rd September 2007
Mindfulness of Body (13Mb)
10th September 2007
Mindfulness of Feeling (18Mb)
24th September 2007
Mindfulness of Citta (Heart-mind) (36Mb, 53 mins)
1st October 2007
Mindfulness of Mental Objects (22Mb, 49 mins)
8th October 2007
Course handouts
Consciousness and the Embodied Mind
Notes for talk at Padmaloka Retreat Centre exploring phenomenology, cognitive therapy and the Satipatthana Sutta. May 2007.
Read
Triratna Buddhist Order
The Three Great Phases of the FWBO / Triratna Buddhist Community
An analysis of evidence for Reginald Ray's Threefold Model in the historical phases that the FWBO / TBC have gone through since 1973. Published in November 2010 issue of Triratna Buddhist Order journal, Shabda.
Read
Work As Spiritual Practice: Introducing Reginald Ray's Threefold Model
Talk given at Manchester Buddhist Centre, 6th September 2010
Listen (39 mins)
Complete Path to Nirvana
The Mindful Path to Nirvana
This article explains how a Buddhist teaching called the Five Margas or Paths works as a path to Nirvana. The article in particular shows how mindfulness operates at different stages of progress along the path. Published in November 2011 issue of Triratna Buddhist Order journal, Shabda. Develops ideas in previous article published in Shabda in November 2010.
Read
Stream Entry and the ‘Five Paths’
The path to awakening is expressed in the Jewel Ornament of Liberation as the ‘Five Paths.’ This article explores how they fit in with stream entry. Published in Shabda in November 2010.
Read
Views
Views and Emotions
This short article explains why it is important to distinguish between the views we have on the one hand and the way we are often emotionally attached to them on the other. It goes into why an ad hominem argument is not really an argument because it only points to the mental state of the person rather than the view they are proposing. Published in November 2011 issue of Triratna Buddhist Order journal, Shabda.
Read
Loving Kindness
The Metta Bhavana
This short article explains how we develop positive emotions through changing our perspective on people. Published in November 2011 issue of Triratna Buddhist Order journal, Shabda.
Read
Universal Loving Kindness (Metta)
as ‘Constructive Imagination’
This short article explains how we develop positive emotion through the transformation of sanna or apperception. Published in April 2011 issue of Triratna Buddhist Order journal, Shabda.
Read
Ritual and Devotion
A Schema for Imagination and Ritual based on the Five Buddha Mandala
This short article explains the mechanics of imagination and ritual with emphasis on five pitfalls to avoid: literalism, philistinism, skepticism, superstition and delusion. Published in February 2011 issue of Triratna Buddhist Order journal, Shabda.
Read
Twelve step bowing programme
Short practical article on bowing. Published in November 2010 issue of Triratna Buddhist Order journal, Shabda.
Read
Mindfulness of Reality through Play and Poetry
Talk at Western Buddhist Order National Order weekend on the theme of 'Imagination,
Ritual and Sadhana.' February 2005
Listen (34MB)
