West Wight Sangha Dharma Studies

Friday, 18 June 2010

On Tuesday we discussed Stephen Batchelor's new book "Confession of a Buddhist Atheist". Here he is talking at the book's release in New York.

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Recently, here in the U.K. we have had a whole crop of stories relating to suicide and assisted suicide. As a result we took this as a subject for Dharma study and discussion at our meeting on Tuesday night. From a Buddhist perspective the subject is a whole lot more involved than one might immediately think and throws up many varied and challenging takes on the issue.

Here is a link to the discussion notes that we used, "Modern Buddhist Views of Suicide"

and these are the news items which engendered the topic;

"Is Frances Inglis a cold-blooded killer or a loving mum?"

"Trial of assisted suicide mother right, says DPP"

"Terry Pratchett criticises assisted suicide guidelines"

"Broadcaster Ray Gosling admits mercy killing"

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Guided Meditation Body Sweep by Leigh Brasington Streamed Talk
Downloadable Version

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There is Dukkha (unsatisfactoriness).

Dukkha is one of the Three Marks of Existence the others being Anicca (impermanence) and Anatta (non-self)

The suffering of change Stephen Batchelor explains the idea behind the truth of suffering (Listen on RealPlayer)

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Anatta:
Anatta Made Simple

Not Self, Not No Self

"Impermanence" by Leigh Brasington

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THE THIRD NOBLE TRUTH & THE TEN FETTERS from the London Buddhist Vihara

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Third noble truth