What does it mean to go beyond separation as described in the Heart Sutra?
Prasadachitta prefaces
this rich talk by asking us to consider all the ways we are steeped in
separation. This is evidenced by our language's practice of adding -ism
to a tradition or condition to define ourselves or others -- a practice
that can serve as a judgment that fosters separation.
He goes on to state that the word dharma can have multiple meanings:
- Realizing the nature of reality as sentient beings experience it.
- The teachings of the Buddha
- The lifestyle that a practitioner follows after taking precepts.
He
describes 'taking on' precepts as accepting a challenge, an ethical
code that is often uncomfortable, but changes how we move through the
world.
He
then recites and expands upon the Heart Sutra. It describes attaining
release from suffering and attachment by letting go of duality. He
frames it as a conversation between a fully realized being, the
Bodhisattva of Compassion (Avalokiteshvara with 1,000 arms), and
Sariputra - a wise student who intellectually knows all the teachings
yet is still not free.
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Listen to the full talk on your favorite podcast player or our website:
https://gaybuddhist.org/
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