Discover this podcast and so much more

Podcasts are free to enjoy without a subscription. We also offer ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more for just $9.99/month.

The Brahma Vihāras (Divine Abodes) - Walt Opie

The Brahma Vihāras (Divine Abodes) - Walt Opie

FromThe Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF


The Brahma Vihāras (Divine Abodes) - Walt Opie

FromThe Gay Buddhist Forum by GBF

ratings:
Length:
57 minutes
Released:
Jul 14, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

The divine abodes, also known as the Brahma Vihāras in Sanskrit, are four supreme emotions or mental states that are emphasized because of the Buddha's teaching that "whatever one frequently ponders on, that will become the inclination of their mind." In this talk, Walt Opie examines these four and offers the "near and far enemy" of each one. The commentaries on the Brahma Viharas explain that each of the four qualities has two "enemies." The far enemy represents the opposite mental state, which can pose a challenge to our practice. However, the near enemy, while appearing similar enough to be mistaken for the desired quality, is an imposter that is ultimately detrimental. These are:1. Metta (Loving-kindness)Near Enemy: Sentimentality (a superficial or insincere affection).Far Enemy: Hatred or ill will.2. Karuna (Compassion)Near Enemy: Pity (a condescending form of compassion).Far Enemy: Cruelty or indifference.3. Mudita (Sympathetic joy)Near Enemy: Comparison (feeling joy only when others are less successful).Far Enemy: Jealousy or envy.4. Upekkha (Equanimity)Near Enemy: Indifference (a lack of care or engagement).Far Enemy: Attachment or aversion.Walt also recounts the impact of loving-kindness practice on inmates in his prison outreach program and describes Metta as a good antidote to ill will and anger.He concludes by offering stories of loving-kindness as examples. ______________Walt Opie was introduced to insight meditation in 1993 at Spirit Rock and attended his first residential retreat there in 2005. He is a graduate of both the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders' (CDL4) program and the Sati Center Buddhist Chaplaincy program. Walt is a participant in the current Insight Meditation Society (IMS) Teacher Training program. He leads a monthly sitting group for people in recovery in Berkeley and serves as a volunteer Buddhist facilitator at Solano State Prison in Vacaville. In addition, he is the Executive Director of the Buddhist Pathways Prison Project (BP3). Support the Show.______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter
Released:
Jul 14, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Buddhism for Liberation and Social Action. GBF invites teachers from all schools of Buddhism to offer their perspectives on the dharma and its application in modern times, especially for LGBTQIA audiences.