"Wise Understanding" with Jane This Sunday at Minneapolis Insight

Dear Community, 

This Sunday we will continue our exploration of the Noble Eightfold Path by considering the first of the factors: Right View or Wise Understanding.

Many Buddhist teachers emphasize that this first factor is the basis upon which the other seven factors of the path and perhaps our entire spiritual practice, rests. Wow, you might think, that is a pretty big claim! But this statement is based on the simple premise that we need to be rooted in what Right View or Wise Understanding offers, which is the understanding and acceptance of life as it is, including an understanding of the nature of impermanence and the causes of suffering.  

Right View or Wise Understanding asks us to investigate these realities and the nature of our thinking (views/perceptions/beliefs/prejudices) so that we can become aware of the effects of what we think and why we think it. This offers us a clear understanding of what does and does not lead to suffering.  The Buddha taught that Right View or Wise Understanding is pivotal to our practice and the quality of our lives because it determines our decisions and our decisions lead to actions and our actions lead to outcomes that form our life.  

Phillip Moffitt offers that: “The first of the eight path factors is right view, which means you are to engage in observation and reflection, which in turn leads to clarity and insight about what life does and does not offer. Right view is also referred to as wise understanding because it empowers you to live in harmony with life just as it is.” (Dancing with Life, p. 215)

I look forward to gathering this Sunday to practice together and share our curiosity about and experience of Right View/Wise Understanding.  I hope that you will be able to join us.

Registration and Zoom information available here.

With mettā,
Minneapolis Insight