Understanding Our Mind:50 Verses on Buddhist Psychology
Study and Practice Zoom Group – Fourth Thursday of each month
Beginning October 27, 2022
In 2020 thirteen members of the Waves and Water Sangha began to study and practice Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings on the transformative power of Buddhist Psychology. Previously released as Transformation at the Base, the 2002 revision was published by Parallax Press as Understanding Our Mind 50 Verses on Buddhist Psychology. Each month, on the fourth Thursday evening, we came together on Zoom prepared to discuss four of the 50 chapters – in the range of 18-22 pages of text. Thich Nhat Hanh presents a commentary on each of the four-line verses providing a framework for our practice.
Undertaking the study and practice of these teachings means we must surrender to not-knowing at times! The teachings require us to sometimes go beyond our understanding of “mind,” “consciousness,” “self,: “perceptions,” etc. There are six sections in the book: Store Consciousness; Manas; Mind Consciousness; Sense Consciousness; The Nature of Reality; and The Path of Practice. Some of us, last year, had read these teachings – or begun and abandoned them. Some had never encountered these teachings before. We came together as a true Sangha to encourage each other.
Each gathering begins with 10 minutes of meditation. Bethan then takes 20-30 minutes to present the key elements of the four chapters using everyday life examples to gain entry to some of the more complex teachings. Each member of the group then shares comments, confusions and take-aways. Bethan helps unravel any knots before small group discussion focused on how we can begin to practice with our expanding awareness of the nature of consciousness. There is an opportunity for further discussion before a short meditation and the sound of the bell. After the gathering, Bethan shares her notes from each session.
PLEASE LET US KNOW AT wwsangha@gmail.com if you would like to join us. Some from last year plan to begin again – it’s that kind of book! We would like to begin with at least 8-10 members. Unfortunately, it is not possible to jump in later in the year as the verses and commentaries build on each other.
You will definitely need the book – today there are two copies available at Banyen Books; 1 at Amazon. It no longer seems to be available at Burnaby or Vancouver Public Libraries and is sold out other places – you may have more luck. We have the reading for October on .pdf to give you time to find a copy! And we will continue to produce .pdf until we can find a Canadian source. You may also find it at Parallax Press.
