Download Articles and Resources
On this page, we will offer various articles and study resources for download. If you wish to know about future uploads to this page, please contact us here, and we’ll keep you informed by email.
1. Articles on Clear Thinking
Jnanaketu has written a series of articles for Shabda, which are open to all to read.
Clear Thinking and Dharma Practice
This article explains what clear thinking is, what skills are involved, gives some simple examples, shows how clear thinking can be applied, and suggests some reading. It also briefly explains the value of being able to identify ambiguities, hidden assumptions and fallacies in argument,
Going for Clarity and Depth in Clear Thinking
This article explains the uses of clear thinking in Dharma study, especially how it can help participants to think and express themselves more clearly, to formulate questions, and to consider the implications of accepting a conclusion. It also suggests that focusing on a single key question, using summarising and paraphrasing, and engaging in a simplified form of debating can help participants to get to grips with a topic.
More Ideas for Helping Dharma Study Groups go for Clarity and Depth
How can study group leaders help participants to be fully engaged in Dharma study? How can we best help participants to investigate the meanings and implications of what they are studying? This article divides moves commonly used by study leaders into moves which initiate and moves which respond. It then goes on to suggest how one’s repertoire of moves can be extended by drawing upon ideas about clear thinking. Six useful initiating moves and six useful responding moves are identified and described.
2. Reflection Exercises.
Reflection on View
This is a paired exercise designed to aid reflection on a piece of text or a view that one holds. It includes some examples of text. Participants are led through the stages of the practice: how to begin, how the reflector might work in the reflection, and how their partner might most usefully respond. Also here are encouragement to ponder the implications of accepting the text or view in question, and some general guidance to help the reflection to go well.
Do we really know what views prompt our actions? Fortunately, our very actions – including our “thought actions” – can give clues to views that might have escaped our notice.
Here you will find a relatively simple exercise designed to unearth underlying views by means of investigating your actions. It’s been used at Dharmapala College several times, and most people have found it well worth doing. It was generally found that it brought participants into better communication than they had been in before doing the exercise.
You are welcome to try it out for yourself, or adapt it to your own ideas and needs.
Jnaneketu is interested to see any adaptations of this that anyone might like to make. Please let him know through our contact site: connect[AT]dharmapalacollege.org