Joseph Goldstein - Buddhism The essential points -

Teaching given in Geneva at Vimalakirti Center in April 2013 .

[@JDzele]

0:10-40:47 This talk is so clear, precise and deep that, listening to it for the fifth time or so, I just assumed the proper posture, shut my eyes, took a few full breaths, directed as much awareness and mindfulness as my modest beginner's capabilities allowed and just followed it through as a guided meditation. Thank you Joseph Goldstein and Pascale Ferradini for this precious gem of wisdom. Namaste 🙏

[@unbrokensoul3261]

Wwewwwt7wyywwww7wwy wyww😊

[@ladakhthroughages.6286]

Great teacher. Thanks Joseph. How profound the Buddha’s teachings are. There are religions who talk of how to divorce a woman. What women should wear. How an animal should be butchered. In which direction prayer should be offered. How buttering should be done to pardon your sin etc. Here is a teaching that makes your concepts observed and cleared at subtle mental level and make one enlightened by own efforts. 🙏🙏🙏

[@UKYin0369]

💖💞JG dharnma sharing🎊 Tqvvm🙇🏻🙏🙏🙏🇲🇾🌺

[@anthonywoods2785]

Joseph is just a good person above all

[@jb-ob1yf]

This talk blew my mind about 9 months ago & it was almost too much. So lucky to have access to this teacher & teachings but I’m feeling more & more confused. I’m starting to think I both know nothing & everything. “I still don’t understand anything” and yet I now know “everything changes”. Whatever has the nature to arise -will pass away. I’m glad to listen again but I’m still horrified that everything changes - I have no “ah-ha” moment, I feel lost. I feel like I’m doing meditation / Buddhism wrong - the farther I go with vispassana the more I fragment & any foundation I had dissolves. I have nothing to hold on to

[@MsLeenite]

A complete Buddhist practice is 3-dimensional: Ethics, Wisdom and Tranquility (or Sila, Panna and Samadhi, in the Pali language). Meditation (Samadhi practice) is only one part, so it's perfectly understandable that you feel disoriented and unstable. You're like a boat without oars. To stabilize your meditation practice, please continue to study the Buddha's teachings, and do your best to follow a path of ethical conduct. The monk and translator Bhikkhu Bodhi has published several books of collected excerpts from the Suttas (discourses). One which many people recommend as a starting place is "In the Buddha's Words". Reading the discourses will give you some sense of continuity with this 2,600 year old tradition, that you are participating in. The problems of human nature and human life have not changed, even if customs and technologies have. In Buddhism, a basic foundation of ethics is contained in the Five Precepts, and the Noble Eightfold Path. The Five Precepts are: to refrain from killing other living beings, to refrain from stealing, to refrain from using sex in a way that hurts self or others, to refrain from lying, and to refrain from using alcohol or drugs which diminish one's sense of responsibility. The Noble Eightfold Path is the fourth element of the Four Noble Truths, which the Buddha taught in his first discourse. It lays out the eight factors of a practitioner's progress toward freedom from the suffering inherent in material existence. When I first started investigating Buddhism, I was surprised to find that good old Wikipedia has a lot of information about definitions and concepts in the various schools of Buddhist practice. KZbin has an enormous number of videos of "Dhamma talks", "Sutta studies" and other lectures and discussions. The two people whose videos I watched most when I started out were Joseph Goldstein, and Bhikkhu Bodhi. So I got the two perspectives of a good lay teacher and a scholarly monastic. Also, there is a group based in the UK called the Vipassana Fellowship (vipassana-dot-org), which hosts a 10-week online meditation course that I took myself 10 years ago. There are daily lessons which give a systematic presentation of the Buddha's life and major teachings, along with texts and audio files introducing several kinds of meditation. There is an online forum available for student discussions, and the staff answers student questions. I found it to be a very good introduction, at a reasonable cost. I hope this helped you. May you be well, safe, and happy, and make your way to liberation.

[@jb-ob1yf]

Thank you so much for your response@@MsLeenite . From what you wrote - it seems you are pointing to study the ancient texts & to follow ethics. Ethics- I am working on now becoming a vegetarian & to be more accurate in speech (less lying to myself & others). I am taking courses with IMC and with my vispassana mentor in Canada - so it’s reassuring I’m attempting to do the things you suggest. I am surprised how hard meditation is for me presently. I resist embodiment, feeling my breath & truly seeing the emotions, thoughts & physical sensations that arise. I’m hoping to come out the other side sooner rather than later as there is much discomfort presently. All the best to you on your path. Warm & kind regards, Judy

[@karlaklarin4421]

A wise teacher, a gentle man and a compassionate soul.

[@lmansur1000]

Love this teacher. He makes so much sense in the way he explains Buddhist Dharma in a down-to-earth way. Thank you Joseph!!

[@raymondlai4656]

Dear Pascale Ferradini :), I would like to say, thank you, to you, for taking the time, energy and effort to both upload and share this video with the youtube community. Thank You, Pascale Ferradini!

[@carrieking1348]

Yes, thank you Pascale Ferradini. This lecture is so dense and packed with wisdom that I have to stop repeatedly to absorb and reflect. Transformative. Thank you again.

[@catherinekasmer9905]

Dear Joseph, thank you so much for your clear and loving elucidation of Buddha’s precious teachings. It’s hard to express in words my gratitude to you for your many years of effort to gain this level of wisdom which you are sharing with all of us. Connecting to your teachings through the internet feels like a true miracle. Hearing Buddha’s teachings from your gentle voice and also seeing your face conveys the meaning in deeper ways more quickly than only reading books. It is also wonderful to see that there are so many people who are on this path. May loving kindness, truth and peace prevail on earth.

[@JahsehLeigh]

beautifully said

[@silviamariag]

Deep bow of gratitude to Joseph, a true bodhisattva!

[@bharatiankush2777]

Agrred

[@chantinijssen1034]

Thank you Joseph Goldstein for your clarity and patience

[@jonathanm4508]

1:30 - "We are creating moment by moment our own inner lives."

[@Gabriel-uw7qx]

Some quick notes that I took while listening to it, maybe someone will find them useful. Nonetheless, I still recommend watching the whole thing, very insightful. karma - our actions bring results skillful/unskillful - the point of reference is the motivation behind the action the cause for metta to arise is seeing the goodness in people, to see what is good in people nobody makes us feel a certain way

[@diggie9598]

Thank you for your notes Gabriel. Much appreciated!

[@sublimeister9630]

Karma = Action + Causality = Nataraja (Lord of the Dance). “There are no mistakes in the Universe” (Allan Watts), hence the line by Rumi: “Judge a moth by the beauty of its flame.” Be aware rather of the supposed size and ripples of your Karmic Ego in this immense Universe. 😃

[@McLKeith]

Joseph explains our lives and practice so effortless and naturally. Thanks.

[@raymondlai5]

Dear Pascale Ferradini =) My name is Raymond Lai. I am a member of the University of Sydney Buddhist Society also known as Unibodhi. I would like to say, thank you, to you for taking the time and effort to both upload and share this video with the youtube family. I hope you have a lovely and fun day, Pascale! =) Kind Regards Raymond Lai (Member of the Buddhist Family)

[@jackzzz5052]

We have a Buddhist society? lol

[@pleasepense3698]

Many of his talks are also on Spotify on the Insight Hour podcast

[@bronaghbatch7132]

Thank you, Joseph. From my heart❤

[@jatza07]

thank you very much for sharing. I'm a buddhist for over 8 years now but I discovered Joseph Goldstein dwo days ago and I have feeling that Insight Meditation it's a new chapter on path :)

[@Cyanapanasati]

There are 470 some odd talks by Joseph Goldstein free to listen to on Dharma Seed.

[@Cyanapanasati]

Check out Guy Armstrong and Shaila Catherine while you are at it! Namaste

[@jkdurden]

Pema Karma Deschen Thank you

[@SoFarSoler]

Namaste. Thank you.

[@SteveVader101]

thanks :)

[@upstatenewyork]

@@willdavis9461 thanks for that info!

[@tommyhawke9677]

Thank you for your expression on the essential points Joseph. I recall a lovely feeling arise in my heart some years back when my desire to 'know what it was and is' from sincere study, just popped in rays of giggling as something occured and everything changed. Yet my eyes could not register any change. Everything was exactly the same apart from an absence of what became apparent as 'the desire to acquire' by more study. I refer to it as a flash of 'en lighten-up (ment)'. Ocassionally I notice my furrowed brow as desire arises - the waste product of unguarded thoughts - and I smile. Sometimes I'm fortunate enough to be walking through a town passing people and that smile can be given to someone in passing. I believe the smile to be such a gift of wordless wonder like the ephemeral majesty of the snow capped mountain. If it was so, each smile I collected, would be saved in a wooden box carved and colourful, and a delight to be held. All I would need to do was carry it with me at all times and hand them to someone that needed it then. But hey, what's so delightful is this stream of commentary is nothing special. With metta

[@wendyking7539]

Nothing special - just real life.

[@paulwalpole6103]

That piece towards the end regarding the past as a concept only existing in the now...really good!! Made total sense. _/\_ :)

[@AlexTube2006]

Thanks for posting this. It is so enriching and refreshing

[@rosecrow810]

Thank You for taking the time to share this wonderfully informational and helpful teaching with us all ❤️.

[@didjesbydan]

I really like his talks, and he gives a really concise explanation (around 48 minutes) to reconcile the apparent contradiction between the doctrines of non-self and rebirth. But concisely explained or not, the belief in rebirth is comforting conjecture and an obstruction at the gate. It remains a contradiction to and distraction away from the profound states to be found in facing impermanence, non-self and ambiguity. Like the teachings of Buddha Nature which seek to console the coward within against the nihilist fear, the dogma of rebirth is like a thief at the gate to enlightenment.

[@laapasakuna]

Or, the notion - rather than "the dogma" - of rebirth may be the gate itself, or part of it, since the Buddha, according to most scriptures, presented it on numerous occasions.

[@danielchen2436]

Found out about Goldstein from Dan Harris. Amazing stuff. Thanks for uploading this.

[@mamta3632]

Dan Harris and Goldstein have changed my life

[@nicholaswilliams8470]

So much wisdom.

[@Funsoul8]

I wish he had more of these talks here on Utube,,he is the best speaker ever on Buddism...xoxo

[@NangongReng1973]

Yup, but I prefer monks than professional speakers because monks are the people who really dedicate their lives to Buddhism 24-7. Ooops! I make a distinction between who is better than who!

[@Funsoul8]

Yes but most Buddists are gay anyway..like all the religions , catholic priests, Monks, all those "So Called Celebrate" religions, their all That way..Its time the Catholic Pope decides to allow Priests to marry..

[@NangongReng1973]

L J You mistake Buddhists as soft, but do you know that they are cultivating themselves, so that they will not be reborn in the vicious realm. It's not easy to throw away one's ego. An angry person can't throw away his ego because he thinks he is protecting himself ,so he is always 'attacking' others to prove he can't lose to others. There are no signs of tolerance. But there is cause and effect. If he makes lives hard for others, he is also causing harm to his future lives because 'retribution' will come back. It's better to regret now and try to tame some of the actions and speech than to reborn in hell and then regret.

[@Cyanapanasati]

Dharma Seed has something like 477 talks of his. It is entirely free to listen. Another wonderful speaker who I listen to on there is Guy Armstrong. These two men are wonderful! Guy has a few great series of talks on Emptiness or Not-Self. I highly recommend visiting the website if you love Joseph Goldstein!!! Namaste !

[@Cyanapanasati]

Shaila Catherine as well! Namaste

[@lmansur1000]

Explanation of thr difference between reincarnation and rebirth: crystal clear... very helpful!

[@lyndalou2892]

Thank you for uploading this. Blessings!

[@rossmurray7551]

Beautiful teaching, and joyous reminder of the beauty of the Dhama.

[@honzagp]

Thank You, great awakening.

[@bormeepai_nobody]

thankyou for the upload. greatly appreciate it

[@alexander69663]

thank you my teacher. Much metta to you....

[@johnstewart7025]

centered AND with compassion

[@mattbermudez2876]

Love this! Nice and clear and well presented. Thank you!

[@123susancalvin]

wonderful, thank you for sharing

[@tyjohn2378]

I wish this teaching available in college classrooms for young people's to understand what life a head them.

[@ladakhthroughages.6286]

I wonder, who could be those 36 people with their thumps down to such a wonderful teachings..

[@kellmerWF52]

I am sure they have changed .But do they realize it?

[@josephoutward]

If you are not hammered in the fires of pain and quenched in the tears of sorrow you will fold or snap when tested.

[@davidrosen4951]

A lot of wonderful things in this talk. However, I believe it would be worth considering a way to restate the idea that "no one makes us feel a certain way". Of course we have an impact, sometimes powerful, on each other. Be it through kindness or cruelty or a whole range of other emotional communication. I have latitude in my response but I certainly have emotional responses to the words and behavior of others. The words "no one makes me feel a certain way" carries a sense of detachment that verges on insular. Perhaps we might say that "we can learn new ways of responding to the words and actions of others".

[@darrinheaton2614]

I got a bit snagged at this part of the talk as well. I think your amendment makes sense.

[@davidrosen4951]

@@darrinheaton2614 Sometimes when I hear things like this or similar ("You're responsible for your own reality" etc.) I think, 'Yes but...". Nice to know someone else is doing a bit of head scratching. Maybe my amendment could use a bit of pithy rewording though.

[@kgnunwei]

Fantastic

[@419farmer_Dan]

Thank You

[@Zisch2]

Super interesting. Makes me want to learn more about Buddhism. One beautiful habit that really anybody can take away from this is brutal honesty about everything that happens in our minds. Thoughts matter not only actions. The motivation behind socially "good" acts like sharing or helping others are a good field to start. There are many possible reasons why people help other people. Teal Swan has a nice video about this on you tube. Anyway, thanks for sharing this video. I´m sure the motivation to do so was pure ;)

[@nature2601]

Thank you so much for sharing this video. Happy Wesak 24 May 2013.

[@DanieleMAgostini]

Www.google.com

[@tao5198]

If possible, please upload more videos. Thanks.

[@Rover08]

58:23 In Search of Lost Time - LA Recherche Du Temps Perdu

[@liowpohhuat9107]

Law of causation based on Cause and effect.

[@jackzzz5052]

Thanks!!

[@pearlyyu9445]

Thank you

[@Viriyascybin]

Listened to this on LSD and instantly became an arahant.

[@fattidiliberta]

Canzona di Bacco In occasione del carnevale a Firenze venivano composti canti carnascialeschi per i trionfi, rappresentazioni allegoriche o ispirate alla mitologia. La Canzona di Bacco, composta dal Magnifico signore di Firenze per una di queste sfilate, descrive il dio del vino, che avanza accompagnato dalla sposa Arianna e seguito da satiri, ninfe e altri personaggi. Quant’è bella giovinezza, che si fugge tuttavia! Chi vuol esser lieto, sia: di doman non c’è certezza. Quest’è Bacco e Arïanna, belli, e l’un dell’altro ardenti: perché ’l tempo fugge e inganna, sempre insieme stan contenti. Queste ninfe ed altre genti sono allegre tuttavia. Chi vuol esser lieto, sia: di doman non c’è certezza. Questi lieti satiretti, delle ninfe innamorati, per caverne e per boschetti han lor posto cento agguati; or da Bacco riscaldati, ballon, salton tuttavia. Chi vuol esser lieto, sia: di doman non c’è certezza. Queste ninfe anche hanno caro da lor esser ingannate: non può fare a Amor riparo, se non gente rozze e ingrate: ora insieme mescolate suonon, canton tuttavia. Chi vuol esser lieto, sia: di doman non c’è certezza. Questa soma, che vien drieto sopra l’asino, è Sileno: cosí vecchio è ebbro e lieto, già di carne e d’anni pieno; se non può star ritto, almeno ride e gode tuttavia. Analisi del testo Quattrocento Chi vuol esser lieto, sia: di doman non c’è certezza. Mida vien drieto a costoro: ciò che tocca, oro diventa. E che giova aver tesoro, s’altri poi non si contenta? Che dolcezza vuoi che senta chi ha sete tuttavia? Chi vuol esser lieto, sia: di doman non c’è certezza. Ciascun apra ben gli orecchi, di doman nessun si paschi; oggi sian, giovani e vecchi, lieti ognun, femmine e maschi; ogni tristo pensier caschi: facciam festa tuttavia. Chi vuol esser lieto, sia: di doman non c’è certezza. Donne e giovinetti amanti, viva Bacco e viva Amore! Ciascun suoni, balli e canti! Arda di dolcezza il core! Non fatica, non dolore! Ciò ch’ha a esser, convien sia. Chi vuol esser lieto, sia: di doman non c’è certezza.

[@ottoellison2832]

We are what we do.

[@JohnCampbellmarleybikes]

Solid Goldstein!

[@LONDONFIELDS2001]

He's the absolute fucking don

[@AlphaHealthYT]

Amazing talk!

[@Rover08]

Concept of self 33:02

[@siuannimhaonaigh9608]

Beautifully explained

[@theinzwin]

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

[@Beautyizme]

Thank you for this beautiful message. I am sorry to burden this thread with my message. I am in emotional pain from a great loss. I haven't been able to find my inner peace. What am I doing to not find joy again. I am finding myself moving away from the middle ground to grief at all times. I long to see the beauty again, yet I see nothing.

[@redjumping]

It would be nice if I was a Zen master and could say something deeply changing. Sadly I'm not, but remember "EVERYTHING... changes" to find relief in the moment, try to watch your feelings. good luck

[@WCCPlays]

started giving Dharma talks to 10-12 people, now 29500+

[@jatza07]

why the questions are cut off ? :(

[@kerrybarnes2002]

It would be good it u could divide it into chapters

[@rodneyhatch56]

sadhu sadhu sadhu

[@pascaleferradini736]

Because there was no microphone in the audience and they are not audible.

[@haidersalam2406]

Yc

[@johneleven25]

Will the Dharma pass away too?

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

Interesting. How scientific is it?

[@Blargkkake]

The results of various types of meditation, of vipassana and the unconditional love of metta can be reproduced by anyone through practice. Sometimes certain effects can be mimicked through chemical means, ego death, dissociation that sort of thing. That's as much as I know on the subject, I suspect there is much more to it and that it is worth investigating.

[@jamesvonhendriksen6314]

there's a fair amount of science behind it. look up sam harris.

[@lgambis]

who gives this a thumbdown?

[@skripnigor]

Sounds like a belief system - just one among many many others. I wonder what happens to non-believers after death according to buddhists' belief?

[@chadhawkins2520]

Hey Jakob . My understanding is that it is not so much a belief system but and experiential system of understanding and seeing the truth . I think belief doesn't matter as much as "seeing" because according to the teachings the mind follows universal laws like everything else in the universe .A Buddhist practitioner is engaged in cultivating good qualities and understanding one's mind and not so much a devotional practitioner who worships a deity and subscribes to dogmatic doctrine. When you strip it down to it's essence the teaching are a very sophisticated pyschology . What happens when you die depends more on conditions you've cultivated than what you believe .I hope I was skillful enough with my words to shed a little light on it for you .

[@Rabbithole8]

Buddhism doesn't accept dualistic concepts such as believer and non-believer. As a famous Zen Buddhist recommendation goes, "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!" The concept of a "non-believer," as you suggest, is foreign to Buddhism. In Buddhism, developing a non-grasping mind is essential. Holding on to "beliefs" as dogma, isn't productive. So, to paraphrase the Zen saying, if you are holding on to a proposition, especially when encountering contrary evidence, you must re-evaluate that proposition. You must constantly be open to new evidence. This is not to say that Buddhism doesn't fall into the trap of magical thinking. However, as a religion, it is far more open to having it's beliefs such as rebirth into a next life challenged and dismissed. One is free not to believe in rebirth into another life, or any another concept, and still become Enlightened. It is perceiving your own nature, as Joseph Goldstein pointed out, that is important.

[@Rabbithole8]

Your claim that Zen Buddhism has nothing to do with Theravada Buddhism is simply incorrect. However, one ought to be cautious and avoid conflating the two. There are differences. In fact, there are differences within schools of Theravada. Your claim that Theravada Buddhism is “sick and nihilistic” is a value claim and not a factual claim. It seems to me that you are under a misapprehension.

[@Rabbithole8]

Your sectarianism is a blindfold that reveals the source of your diatribe and affirms that you are misinformed. Good and evil, existence, non-existence, are dualistic concepts that Buddhism (Theravada) rejects. Your assertion that Buddhism promotes a notion of “non-existence” is wrong. The claim that a person does not exist is foreign to Buddhism. Buddhism doesn’t reject existence, but challenges one’s perception of existence. There is no permanent self but patterns (skanda) that emerge and abate. Once one is Enlightened, to the degree of an Arhat, one becomes free of greed, hatred etc., and embodies compassion. As far as Siddhartha Gautama’s family suffering because of his choice, his wife and mother become his disciples. Therefore, they would reject your claim that his family suffered. One can look at the negatives of Hinduism such as the caste system and define the religion from that one destructive element, or step back and try to be objective. I suggest that you demand of yourself what you probably demand of others when it comes to understanding your religion: do not make unfounded claims; do not spread falsehoods, attempt to be objective and fair. Considering your two posts, I suspect you will not take this course but continue in what feeds your aggression and unskillful mind state. However, you can choose not to do that.

[@enlightenmentandphilosophy]

Jakob D you obviously are not understanding buddhism at all if you see it as a belief system.

[@nuggetoftruth-ericking7489]

Fascinating. I just gave a response from a Christian perspective to Buddhism on my channel.

[@earthwaterairspiritfireleb5482]

Nothing Exists

[@JasonGafar]

Things exist, we just perceive them incorrectly.

[@TheGreeny38]

@@JasonGafar is this because we view them from a dualistic perspective? From this so called self? I read about there being a relative truth and an absolute truth.

[@yoooyoyooo]

At least nothing exitists if nothing else.

[@alanhehe4508]

How do you learn to have love for inconsiderate people who keep triggering your trauma?? I have trauma around banging. My alcoholic father would lie on the floor and pound on it (loudly) while ragging about God and Jesus, etc, when I was a child. Now, I have a millennial neighbor who REFUSES to EVER take her 2 yr old child outside, but let's him run around the apt. These apts are connected and have VERY cheap, particle board floors. I can hear it when people just walk. The kid, who is already very obese, running in the apt is really loud. It sounds like someone is bowling!! And it throws me into a rage that I can't control. It makes me mad that she's so lazy (can't put that damn phone down) she's willing to ruin that kid's health. Kids need fresh air, sunlight, connection with nature, and exercise!! And SHE, when she was pregnant, complained about other neighbors for THE SAME THING!! How can you have compassion for such an utterly inconsiderate, hypocritical person?? Also, how does one be connected and present in the body, yet not identify with it?? Any thoughts would be appreciated. I don't want to be so angry. Thanks.

[@Hammid]

In it for the moniez!

[@Somsaksrisomrun]

Tttt

[@marthathomasnook5131]

SOMSAK SRISOMRUN

[@etc.4903]

Boring

[@kkonti1113]

As boring as basic truths can be.