As a peer-led group, we share the opportunity to lead Wednesday night dharma discussions. Members of the DIG Google group can send and receive information on discussion topics in advance of the Wednesday night meeting.
Please note that these topics are given as suggestions. If you would like to discuss another Buddhist topic, you are welcome to do so!
Links provided for certain topics are also suggestions, or starting places for your own investigation.
If you have a link you think would be helpful, send an email to let us know!
Do a little research if you're not familiar with the topic. Resources are linked for some subjects below, or check the Other Resources page for links.
Keep the talk short: 5-15 minutes. Ideally, provide enough info to serve as a springboard for discussion, not a lecture.
Relate the topic to your personal practice.
At the end of the talk, ask a few questions to stimulate discussion. If some aspect of the topic puzzles you, it's probably a good discussion question.
Four foundations of mindfulness
Seven factors of enlightenment: energy, investigation, rapture, tranquility, concentration, equanimity, mindfulness
Mindfulness on and off the cushion
Three desires: sense desire, desire to be, desire not to be
Three poisons: desire, hatred, ignorance
Eight Worldly Dhammas: pleasure/pain; praise/criticism; fame/disgrace; gain/loss
Working with daily difficulties
Working with daily difficulties
Three marks of existence: anicca (impermanence); anatta (not self); dukkha (unsatisfactoriness/suffering)
Five aggregates: material form, feeling, perception, consciousness, mental formations
Faith, doubt, authority, experience
The three refuges: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha
Four bases of power: desire, persistence, intention, discrimination
Five faculties: conviction, persistence, mindfulness, concentration, discernment
Four Great Efforts (aka Four Right Exertions)
How do you support the path in your life?
Renunciation and happiness
10 fetters: self-view, doubt, attachment to rules and rituals, sensual desire, ill-will,
desire for fine material existence, desire for immaterial existence, conceit, restlessness, ignorance
Transcendent dependent origination
Four stages of enlightenment (stream enterer, once-returner, non-returner, arrant)
Meditation methods
Recommended books
Favorite suttas
Admired teachers
What do we want from our practice?
Why do we practice?
Helpful or confusing aspects of the Dharma
First noble truth—the truth of suffering
Second noble truth—the cause of suffering
Third noble truth—the end of suffering
Fourth noble truth—the path that leads to the end of suffering
Actions associated with each Truth
Why are they called the Noble Truths?
What is the Eightfold Path & why is it important?
Any aspect of the Path or any of the 3 categories:
Wisdom (panna)
Right view
Virtue (sila)
Right action
Right livelihood
Right speech
Right mindfulness
Right concentration
Why ethics & virtue are important in Buddhism
Any of the five precepts:
Refraining from killing
Refraining from taking what is not given
Refraining from wrongful speech
Refraining from sexual misconduct
Refraining from intoxicants
Any or all of the 10 Courses of Skillful/Unskillful Actions
Dana parami : generosity, giving of oneself
Sila parami : virtue, morality, proper conduct
Nekkhamma parami : renunciation
Panna parami : transcendental wisdom, insight
Viriya (viriya) parami : energy, diligence, vigor, effort
Khanti parami : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance
Sacca parami : truthfulness, honesty
Adhittana (adhitthana) parami : determination, resolution
Metta parami : loving-kindness
Upekkha parami : equanimity, serenity
Additional readings for each of the 10 Perfections
Metta—loving kindness
Karuna—compassion
Mudita—sympathetic joy
Upekkha—equanimity