Dharmapala College

The very first sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya seems to puzzle modern translators. Bhikkhu Bodhi finds it a very difficult text, and the Dutch translator translates only its skeleton, suggesting it should be read only by very experienced readers. But when reading it with the eye of the early Mahayana, it becomes a very interesting and even inspiring text.

In it the Buddha gives an exposition (pariyaya) on the root of all dhammas. It is essentially an exposition on the interpretation of the dhammas - not of ‘things’, as bhikkhu Bodhi translates. Wrong interpretation of them consists in contributing to them some reality. The task of the spiritual practitioner is tho get rid of this attitude, and arahants an Buddhas are described - in very long Pali style detail - as free from this attitude.

Without using the technical term svabhava, self-existence of dharma’s, or sunyata, the sutta conveys very much the same meaning as the Heart sutra, and in the Seminar we will study - and reflect and meditate on - both texts.

The seminar is intended for serious practitioners, order members and otherwise, who look for an occasion to have a fresh look into this root theme of Buddhist practice.

14 February, 6pm - 17 February, 2pm, at Madhyamaloka, Birmingham
With Dhammaketu

Suggested donation: £ 90

To go back to our 2008 schedule, please click here.