Monks, I do not say that final knowledge is achieved all at once. Rather, final knowledge is achieved by gradual training, by gradual practice, by gradual progress. (MN 70)

In the Nikāya, the Buddha often expounds the practice of the path as gradual training that unfolds in stages from the first step to the final goal (Nibbāna). The gradual training occurs in two versions: a longer version in the Dīgha Nikāya and a middle-length version in the Majjhima Nikāya. In this retreat, Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi will teach us the suttas from Pali Canon: Majjhima Nikāya 27 (Cūḷahatthi-padopama Sutta), 39 (Mahā-Assapura Sutta) and if time allows, possibly Anguttara Nikāya 11.3 which presents another sequence that is overlapping with those of Majjhima Suttas. These suttas are considered the Buddha's early discourses on the gradual training for reaching ultimate liberation. By studying these suttas, we are able to get a clear picture of what the steps are for the practice of the path. This retreat will be a great opportunity for us to learn Buddhist doctrines.

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi is a familiar teacher to many of us. He is probably one of the most well-known western Buddhism scholars. His books have been the standard classroom material for many people who study Pali Canon. We encourage you to come and learn from this renowned teacher. Even if you are a non-Buddhist who is just curious about Buddhism or a beginner who just started practicing Dharma, you will definitely benefit from this retreat.

Venue: Mahabodhi Society of USA 1302 Lillian Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94087

Please download and bring this document to the class: Reading materials

A simple vegetarian lunch will be provided to the audience on Sunday (1/19/2020).

If you have non-retreat related Dharma questions for the teacher, please submit your questions in an email to us by December 31, 2019. The teacher will try to answer your question during the General Dharma Q&A session on Sunday afternoon (1/19/2020).

Please use this email address for all correspondence: mahabodhisocietyusa@gmail.com

Your donation to support this event is very much appreciated. Please make your check payable to: Mahabodhi Society of USA.

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist monk. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1944, he obtained a BA degree in philosophy from Brooklyn College (1966) and a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate School (1972).

Drawn to Buddhism in his early 20s, in 1967, while he was still a graduate student, he was ordained as a śrāmaṇera (novice) in the Vietnamese Mahayana order. In 1972, after graduation, he traveled to Sri Lanka where, under Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero, he received sāmaṇera ordination in the Theravada school and, in 1973, he received full ordination as a Theravada bhikkhu.

In 1984, he succeeded co-founder Ven. Nyanaponika Thera as English-language editor of the Buddhist Publication Society (BPS, Sri Lanka). In 1988, he became its president. In 2000, at the United Nations' first official Vesak celebration, he gave the keynote address.

In 2002, he returned to the United States. He currently lives and teaches at Chuang Yen Monastery (Carmel, New York) and is the president of BAUS (Buddhist Association of the United States), which is based at Chuang Yen Monastery.

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi is the founder and chairperson of the non-profit organization Buddhist Global Relief, which combats chronic hunger and malnutrition across the world. BGR currently has many projects in countries ranging from Mongolia to Cambodia to India to Cote d'Ivoire to Haiti to the inner cities of the US.

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi has many important publications to his credit, either as author, translator, or editor. To name a few:

The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya (with Ñāṇamoli Bhikkhu, 1995)

A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma: The Abhidhammattha Sangaha of Ācariya Anuruddha (2000)

The Connected Discourses of the Buddha — a Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya (2000)

In the Buddha's Words (2005)

The Noble Eightfold Path: Way to the End of Suffering (2006)

The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Anguttara Nikaya (2012)

Dhamma Reflections: Collected Essays of Bhikkhu Bodhi (2016)

The Buddha's Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (2016)

The Suttanipata: An Ancient Collection of the Buddha's Discourses Together with Its Commentaries (2017)