DHARMA SPRING

The Four Ennobling Insights

July 17, 2020 Andrew Palmer
DHARMA SPRING
The Four Ennobling Insights
Show Notes

When engaging with an ancient tradition such as Buddhism in our contemporary times, we can find ourselves in a "terminology minefield." We're often presented with a succinct translation of teachings and concepts, even though a single word from the language of the original text often has multiple, varying meanings. Therefore, if we land solidly and firmly on any one of those meanings - BOOM! Game over. And can you imagine how humongous the texts would be if scholars attempted to include the various meanings? Providing a succinct translation is practical and helpful, and it is equally practical and helpful for us to be aware of the greater field from which that translation comes, taking it all in and becoming aware of how much is actually there, making it what it is. Doing so benefits the tradition, freeing it from the constraints narrow definitions and limited understandings, opening it up, expanding it, keeping it fresh, relevant, alive. The talk at hand is in service of that.

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