1. Series 1
2. Series 2
3. Series 3
4. Series 4
5. Series 5

The Buddha’s teaching skill shines through the wide range of examples and similes that he used to convey subtle points of instruction. His teachings are peppered with images of mountains, rivers, oceans, sun and moon, lions, jackals, turtles, quail, fire, archery, craftsmanship, windows, gates, bubbles, mirages, magic tricks, ripe fruit, purified gold, incubated eggs, blind men, sumptuous meals, stumps, creeping vines, chariots, etched lines, childhood games, sandcastles, and more.

These images to help ordinary people comprehend deep topics. Farmers related to the imagines of sowing seeds and yoking oxen to the plough; warriors understood his examples of training horses and driving chariots. Craftsman comprehended the processes of purifying gold. These striking similes continue to help meditation students gain a down-to-earth sense of the profound path taught by the Buddha.

This course will provide an illuminating and evocative introduction to sutta study by presenting and discussing these vivid teaching similes and stories.

THE SERIES

We have developed a series of five 8-module courses. The curriculum for each course explores a wide range of Buddhist topics; each course covers different suttas and similes. The courses can be taken in any order; each one is independent. Students who appreciate this approach to dhamma study will enjoy attending them all.

Series 1 Topics (previously offered in 2020):

1. Five Hindrances
2. Balanced Effort
3. Undertaking the Training
4. Decision-making and Feelings
5. Views and Speculation
6. Life is Short
7. Cultivating Concentration
8. Fueled by Clinging

Series 2 Topics (scheduled for early 2021):

1. Progress and Development
2. Understanding Anger
3. Protecting Oneself and Others
4. Danger in Sensual Pleasures
5. Five Aggregates
6. What is Nibbana?
7. In the Face of Death
8. Eight-fold Noble Path

Series 3 Topics (to be offered in the future):

1. Maturing Our Practice
2. Sense Doors and Attachments
3. Kamma, Conditions, and Results
4. Unaffected and Equanimous
5. On Speech
6. Right View and Impermanence
7. Faultless Awakening
8. Happiness

Series 4 Topics (to be offered in the future):

1. Abandoning the Unwholesome; Cultivating What is Wholesome
2. Dependent Arising
3. Renunciation and Letting Go
4. Knowing the Correct way
5. Four Jhāna States
6. A Thorough Training
7. A Liberated One
8. Awakening Factors

Series 5 Topics (to be offered in the future):

1. Social Corruptions
2. Purification
3. Sense Restraint
4. Four Satipaṭṭhānas
5. Empty of Self
6. Four Noble Truths
7. Dangers of Gains, Fame, Praise
8. Final Goal

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants in this course will

1. discover an accessible and fun approach to sutta study, supported by evocative similes and intriguing imagery
2. explore how teachings from the ancient discourses come to life through contemporary contemplative practices
3. experience the liberating dynamic of combining study, reflection, discussion, and meditation
4. learn ways of incorporating traditional images into a contemporary mindfulness-based meditation practice
5. gain an introduction to the Pāli Canon with readings gathered from the primary collections including Middle Length Discourses, Numerical Discourses, Connected Discourses, Long Discourses, Sutta Nipata, Udana.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Course modules include:

Brief recorded reflections or guided meditations that introduce each lesson (15-30 minutes in length)

Carefully selected collection of sutta readings that employ similes to explain a dhamma theme (reading assignments will require between 30 – 120 minutes per topic)

Creative and reflective Try This! exercises to explore and integrate the teachings

Peer led discussion forums

Audio conference calls with both Shaila Catherine and course facilitators. Scheduled for Sundays, but schedule is subject to change.

Note for those familiar with other Bodhi Courses: This series is designed with streamlined content that focuses specifically on the similes. It requires considerably less time to read and listen to the material than most other Bodhi Courses, but the conference calls occupy a more predominant role. The calls will be recorded, but it is highly recommended that students attend the conference calls as much as possible.

PREREQUISITE FOR ENROLLMENT

There is no prerequisites to attend this course; however, it is designed with the assumption that participants will already have an established mindfulness meditation practice.