Last updated on 03/01/2023
Episode 1
Episode 2
Leigh has been practicing meditation since 1985. He is the senior American student of the late Ven. Ayya Khema. He began teaching retreats in Europe and North America in 1997, and is the author of the book “Right Concentration – A Practical Guide to the Jhanas”. This is first part of our in-depth exploration of different aspects of Buddhist teachings that Leigh generously took time and energy for.
Episode 1 Show notes
- The falling of the veil, spiritual hedonism and world trip
- The story of Theravada nun Ayya Khema
- Ways to look at Pratītyasamutpāda – dependent origination
- Five skandhas, Eckart Tolle and taking a nap
- Emptiness or Śūnyatā, inherent existence and the deathless
- Immortality project
- Leighs process of studying the Suttas
- What are Jhanas or the stages of indestructible mind
- Morality, concentration, wisdom
- Jhanas as a spectrum of concentration states
- As you go deeper the space of observer gets smaller
- Don’t get fooled by your concepts
- Leigh’s and Nathan’s take on the spiritual world of today
- How Buddhism translates into Western culture
This episode is also available with video:
Episode 2 Show Notes
- Studying Buddhist suttas and commentaries, Visuddhimagga and Abhidhamma
- Stream entry, interpretation, importance and application of buddhist models
- Pulling out mile markers
- Long-term practice, improvement and reduction of dukha and unshakable peace
- On Daniel M. Ingram’s sub-jhanas, excitement about and usefullness of experience
- Contemplation on 32 body types
References
- Leigh’s Book – Right Concentration – A Practical Guide to the Jhanas –
- The Source: A Novel by James A Michener
- Ven. Ayya Khema
- Stephen Batchelor: Verses from the Center: A Buddhist Vision of the Sublime
- Maurice Walshe: The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya (The Teachings of the Buddha)
- Bhikkhu Bodhi & Bhikkhu Nanamoli: The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya (The Teachings of the Buddha)
- Ajahn Achalo interview
- Ajahn Buddhadasa Bhikkhu: Under the Bodhi Tree: Buddha’s Original Vision of Dependent Co-arising
You can find many more great references on Leigh’s website.