“Pouring 3-Dimensional Tea into a 2-Dimensional Drawing of a Tea Cup” with Benjamin Hohl this Sunday

Dear Community,

Sunday 10am Community Practice & Discussion

This Sunday Benjamin Hohl will lead an exploration of the inherent limitations of the mind’s attempt to conceptualize reality — something Ajahn Amaro describes as “Pour[ing] three-dimensional tea into a two-dimensional drawing of a tea cup.” We will explore this not as a philosophical statement, but rather as something that can be seen and felt in our direct experience. Our exploration will center this passage from Ajahn Amaro’s book Finding the Missing Peace (freely available here):

In the 45 years during which he taught after his enlightenment, the Buddha was quite determined not to create an idea of precisely what we are. Instead he was very clear about what we are not: our thoughts, our body, our ideas, our moods, our achievements or our faults, our problems. The question may then naturally arise: What am I? What is the self?

The Buddha kept reiterating that this is the wrong question. Rather than trying to define what we are, we learn to let go of what we are not. And then the reality of our nature becomes apparent. As soon as one tries to define what one is with concepts, to define an essence of the self, one is bound to be frustrated. Just as if we try to pour three-dimensional tea into a two-dimensional drawing of a tea cup, the reality cannot fit into the proposed container – and it’s not as if a better drawing will help! Intrinsically, it cannot do the job that is being asked of it. (Chapter: “Lesson Three Knowing versus Thinking,” subsection: “Knowing What We Are is Not the Point”)

All are welcome! Registration and Zoom information available here.

With metta (loving-kindness),
Minneapolis Insight