Summary: Episode Description: This sixth lecture of the program is entitled Solar Dharma. In it, Stephen fleshes out two metaphors found in the Pali canon, that of the "sun" and that of the "stream." Excellent research by buddhist scholar Johannes Bronkhorst suggests that, contrary to a standard view, the buddha did not live in a brahmanical culture, that is, his milieu was not "hindu." Brahmanism did not extend as far east in India as Sakya, the kingdom where the buddha lived. Furthermore, the buddha was not, in his teachings, reacting against a brahmanical worldview. Rather, the Sakyans were probably descendants of the indigenous populations of eastern India, and they probably worshipped the sun. In his teachings, the buddha does not reject this culture of sun worship but rather incorporates its metaphors into his prescription for living a vibrant life. In particular, the sun, in its loving warmth and light of wisdom, becomes a metaphor for nirvana, a space from which, like the sun, we can act with selfless generosity, constantly giving ourselves away. The second metaphor, that of the "stream," refers to the eightfold path "to be cultivated" as the fourth task. The "stream-entrant" is one who has begun down the path, flowing, living life in a "fluid and creative way." A stream-entrant has also "made the path their own" and has begun to be "independent of others" in the practice. This is not to say that "good friends," or the "noble community" of practitioners, is not important. However, stream-entrants are not blindly dependent on others. The noble community is one of "autonomous individuals" who nourish each other's practice and lives." This community is not comprised of perfect monastics. Indeed, in the buddha's time, his "assembly" included many lay people as well as "sinners." The point is that everyone is included, because the human condition is not one of perfection. We will be constantly visited by greed, hatred, and confusion. We don't practice in order to rid ourselves of these things but rather to incorporate them into a life in which we "shine like the sun and flow like a stream." For Series description and Teacher BIOs, please visit Part 1. To access the entire series, please click on the link below: A Culture of Awakening: All 18 Parts
