Armchair Buddhist Exchange

The Seven Factors of Awakening (sapta-bodhyanga}          Summary from Chapter 26      The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching,         Thich Nhat Hanh (1998) Parralax Press, Berkeley,CA. As part of the San Antonio Plum Branch Sangha Book Club I generated this summary. Some other summaries by experts are easily available on the web. Bonnie  Background Information: Not from above book. The Seven Factors of Awakening are from the Pali Canon (Tipitaka: Three Baskets) of the Theravada Buddhist tradition. The canon was first written down at the Fourth Buddhist Council in 29BCE.  That is about 450 years after Buddha died. Prior to this point, transmission of the teachings was oral and first formally gathered together at the First Buddhist Council where Ananda recited the Sutta Pitaka.  {Deep, deep bows to Ananda), The Seven Factors are found in the second basket, Sutta Pitaka, the discourses and sermons of Buddha, and perhaps a few close disciples, which is the biggest of the three baskets of the

 The idea of lessening my suffering and feeling more joy is what drew me to Buddhism, as well as it seemed more rational than the Catholic religion I was raised in. Bonnie

 What is it that drew you to Buddhism?

 Hi  This blog is designed to help folks interested in Buddhism communicate with each other, share problems and practices, and ask questions in a friendly and informal way. You may or may not consider yourself a Lay Buddhist (person who practices some form of meditation and follows some type of Buddhist tradition).  This blog welcomes all persons interested in any of the many schools and traditions of Buddhism that have flowered in the "West". I'll listen to it all.  I am a lay Buddhist who follows the practice in the Plum Village Tradition of Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh. I was previously a member of the  Soto Zen Buddhist Center/Temple of Chicago under Kongo Richard Langlois. I have also attended a retreat led by Chogyam Trungpa, one led by Michael Ciborski of Morning Star Mindfulness Center and two led by Terry Cortes, Dharma Teacher in the Plum Village Tradition. So a mixed experience, probably not unlike those who might find this blog of interest. I make no claim to b