The Buddha's Ten Recollections

[@hammersaw3135]

This was one of the best I have I seen on this subject and confirmed without a doubt in my mind that I have been on the good path. I have a hard time thinking these could be overlooked, but I see why, they are indeed part of the hard work of conquering one's self

[@DougsDharma]

Glad it was helpful!

[@anicca6877]

So much to learn and reflect each time. Thank you for taking out time to share your wisdom with us. Wish you good health.

[@DougsDharma]

You as well Sanket Garud, thanks for the comment! 🙏

[@titussteenhuisen8864]

Thank you for recollection of the 10 recollections

[@DougsDharma]

🙏

[@quietdemon8138]

Awesome video dude, I’ve been a Buddhist since I was 13 after watching an old episode of the Simpsons guest starring Richard Gere when I was younger but didn’t understand what it was, by the time I was 13 I understood and it just clicked with me ever since, I’ve since preferred the path Zen Buddhism as it connected with me a bit more but I will always be grateful to the show for first introducing me to it,✌️and ❤️ to anyone who reads this

[@DougsDharma]

That's great Quiet, thanks for letting me know! 🙏🙂

[@ikkong8436]

Sadhu sadhu sadhu🙏🙏🙏

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@DougsDharma]

Check out this video on mindfulness for beginners next: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJLIgnt7ZtSGidk Consider joining us on Patreon if you enjoy these videos, and get fun benefits like exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, audio-only versions, and extensive show notes: www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma 🙂

[@titussteenhuisen8864]

For peace I like the word harmony

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, that's a good one too.

[@prashantlakhera6156]

HI Doug, would you start teaching early suttas of Buddhism, or at least their summary? I think it is good to teach suttas, as there are not many Buddhist teachers who explain so perfectly as you do.

[@DougsDharma]

It's something I might do Prashant, in my courses I do some sutta studies where I go through suttas in some detail. My concern for the KZbin channel is that they would probably not be that popular. People are more likely to be interested in topics than suttas.

[@xiaomaozen]

Thank you for the recollection of the recollections. 😁 Very useful. 😊 I especially consider the _memento mori_ practice as potentially very powerful.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes I agree xiao mao, it's one I should practice more ... And you're very welcome! 🙂

[@nleo6748]

Sadhu sadhu sadhu !

[@DougsDharma]

🙏

[@rufushume8910]

Thank you for covering these practices. They sound very useful to me, so practitioners not remembering them surprises me. I plan on experimenting with a slightly modified version of the 10 recollections and reporting back on the result in a month. Out of curiosity, do you by any chance know why practitioners forgot them?

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome Rufus! It’ll be interesting to hear how it goes for you. As to the forgetting, it was a bit of a joke since for whatever reason people don’t tend to talk very much about these recollections nowadays. I’m not sure why!

[@rufushume8910]

​@@DougsDharma after a month of practicing the recollections, I have found that my self-discipline has improved substantially, it is much easier to resist unwholesome conditioning, and my motivation is far more consistent. Reflecting on my past virtuous and generous actions is particularly useful for dealing with unwholesome conditioning. This is partly because reflecting on past spiritual successes helps me persist in dealing with conditioning that would take a while to overcome and partly because reflecting on the positive benefits of skillful behavior seems to work better for me than reflecting on the negative consequences of unskillful behavior. Reflecting on how practitioners I find inspirational would act has also improved my decision-making somewhat. As a secular practitioner, I have found reflecting on the concept of a Deva surprisingly useful. In particular, people who became Devas had to persist in developing wholesome qualities and overcoming negative conditioning over the course of many lifetimes - even if the benefits of doing so were not immediately tangible - working to create whatever wholesomeness they can. I found the idea of people who would do such a thing surprisingly inspirational. The most interesting thing about my experience with these practices is how if I remember one in my daily life, I also simultaneously recall the other recollections. For instance, if I become tempted to do something and remember that the spiritual practitioners that I admire would not do such a thing (recollecting the Buddha), I also recall death (which makes whatever I am tempted to do seem less worth my limited time), my past virtuous actions, the inspirational notion of a Deva, and how my conduct potentially impact the practices of others (by making me less able to help them or by making me less of a good role model - recollecting the sangha) alongside the rest of the recollections. This combination effect has been very helpful in my practice.

[@painpixie]

Thank you, Mr. Doug for this. What an amazing video! I could listen to your voice all day. 🙂 It is very soothing. Could you recommend any books for one who wants more basics for the path of a layman? Thank you. 🦇🖤🦇 🙏

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome pain pixie! One book I liked is Phillip Moffitt's "Dancing with Life". Also from a more traditional angle the books by Bhante Gunaratana are very good too. 🙂

[@painpixie]

@@DougsDharma - Thank you so much, Mr. Doug! I will look into both. I appreciate your guidance.

[@titussteenhuisen8864]

Self compassion, don’t know if that exist when dissecting mind

[@DougsDharma]

Well hopefully we're dissecting the mind out of self-compassion, in order to help end dukkha.

[@scottkraft1062]

Buddha never wrote any of his teachings on paper because his message was simple and meant to be spread to others starting with one's actions

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, the Buddha's message was very direct. However there is no evidence for writing of any kind in the suttas, much less paper that wasn't invented for centuries after the Buddha's lifetime.

[@scottkraft1062]

@@DougsDharma we've been making paper longer than 2,500 years

[@DougsDharma]

@@scottkraft1062 Paper is a relatively late invention. Papyrus and other similar substrates were used much earlier. At any rate there is no evidence the Buddha knew about any of them.

[@scottkraft1062]

@@DougsDharma Buddha's story isn't the same one that's told today he was a man without an ego which allowed him to see the truth living each day like it would be his last. He didn't allow people to follow he told everyone was equally special in there path could only be found alone . He helped everyone different and moved on never looking for recognition just to relieve others from suffering. He lived a life without desire and he left his wife and son because he realized they would never be able to see him because money and wealth doesn't allow them to understand what he was so and knew only the simple people could see the truth. The Buddha ate whatever he was offered and knew we had to eat meat but he couldn't kill anything and he knew that killing for food was natural. I'll be going to south America next month I'll be starting in Chile and see where it takes me and I'm happy that your helping others because if things don't change the America will no longer exists.

[@Chris-op7yt]

ha ha...commandment one, think about me, your supreme leader. just like christianity.

[@DougsDharma]

It can be seen that way I guess, but these are not commandments, they are practices that one can do or not do depending on one's needs and interests.

[@Chris-op7yt]

@@DougsDharma : appeal to emotion is common in all religions. buddhism just as guilty. my only "need" is for truth or as close as we can get to it. Having improved my critical thinking / scepticism, i can see the "voodoo" in buddhism just as in other religions. All based on make believe stuff that sounds plausible only when not examined. Buddhism is akin to make believe psychology, with some real and true observations thrown in for good measure. As far as the foundations go though--like all ideologies--based on false beliefs about human nature. There is zero evidence for a "spiritual" realm in any real sense. So if you want real insights into human nature, then neuro-science has some real answers. Even psychology--which buddhism borrows cliches from--is quite broken. Whether psychology or (modern) buddhism has the misfortune of being first to propagate misconceptions about the human condition is academic. Interesting that buddhism is merely occult and fixes nothing that is not broken, just like christianity makes the same kind of false promises, and both provide lies/fairytales as answers. not boasting about my powers of critical thinking btw..but the false assertions are in plain sight

[@DougsDharma]

@@Chris-op7yt Sure, I've been in the skeptic movement for well over a decade now. There is plenty that skeptics can find problematic in Buddhist teachings. This is why my own practice is secular: I leave aside the more speculative stuff as unproven and stick with the practices that are at least plausible and workable. That said, as a scholar of the early material I do also feel it should all be taught as history.