The Buddhist Studies Program is designed for people who have attended three or more mindfulness meditation retreats and have a commitment to daily meditation practice. The course includes dharma talks, small and large group discussions, and guided sitting time. Participants will be expected to use the teachings as a focus of their meditation and daily life practice. Led by Mark Nunberg.
Welcome to folks participating from out of town! All Common Ground programs are offered freely in the spirit of generosity. To learn more about supporting the center and our teachers, click here.
Current Class:
UNDERSTANDING IMPERMANENCE with Mark Nunberg and Visiting Teachers
This eight-week course will explore the Buddha’s teachings on impermanence, the first of the three characteristics that are said to mark all of existence. Insight into the changing and insubstantial nature of all phenomena is essential in freeing the mind of its deep habit of clinging. Each class will include a short talk, small-group discussions, and guided sitting time. Participants will be expected to use the teachings as a focus of their daily practice.
Resources
Course Meditations and Talks:
Study Materials:
- Impermanence, adapted from a talk by Gil Fronsdal, January 1st, 2001
- Experiences and Experiencing , by Joko Beck, from her book, Nothing Special
- The Context of Impermanence, by Andrew Olendzki
- Do We Really Believe in Impermanence?, by Carol Wilson
- Our Real Home – A Talk to an Aging Lay Disciple Approaching Death, by Ajaan Chah
- All about Change, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- The Three Basic Facts of Existence, Impermanence (Anicca), with a preface by Nyanaponika Thera
- Impermanence, by Thich Nhat Hanh, and the definition of Anicca
- Pages 267-268 in Venerable Analayo’s book Satipatthana, The Direct Path to Realization, where he sums up the Buddha’s teachings in the Satipatthana sutta as, “Keep calmly knowing change.”
- Cunda Sutta: About Cunda (Sariputta’s Passing Away), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- On Adaptation and Change, by Buddhist Nun Venerable Candasiri
- Pañcavaggi Sutta: Five Brethren (aka: Anatta-lakkhana Sutta: The Discourse on the Not-self Characteristic), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- The Three Dharma Seals part 1 and part 2, by Thich Nhat Hanh
- Teaching on Death and the Impermanence of the Body:
- Maranassati Sutta: Mindfulness of Death (1), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- Maranassati Sutta: Mindfulness of Death (2), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- The Way of Mindfulness The Satipatthana Sutta and Its Commentary, by Soma Thera
- Wild Darkness in Orion Magazine, by Eva Saulitis
- The Time Comes When it is Easier to Die, by Red Hawk
- A Walk in the Woods, by Phra Khantipalo
- The Snowstorm, by Loren Eiseley
- When Death Comes, by Mary Oliver
- Life in Hell, A cartoon by Matt Groening
- Gotami and the Mustard Seed, Commentary by Andrew Olendzki
- The Joy Hidden in Sorrow, Reflections given by Sister Medhanandi
- Final Thoughts, A Cartoon
Additional Audio/Video:
Impermanence Chant Resources:
