How to practice in everyday life 3.

Third week of the second course with the theme, "How to practice in everyday life" at intermediate level practice in the Triratna Buddhist Community. Our theme is the Second Precept, Not Taking the not Given or Generosity. Taught by Suvannavira. Questions for reflection: 1/ A subtle form of taking the not freely given is talking to someone when they want to be on their own. Can you think of other subtle forms of taking the not given. 2/ How does the idea of practising generosity sound to you? Are there any situations where you wouldn’t think it was good to practice generosity? 3/ The ego can be identified with our self, family or any social group. Which form of ego identification is strongest in you? 4/ How has it felt when you have been given to by others? How as it getting presents as a child at Christmas? 5/ Which of the six dimensions of giving do you feel closest too, and which do you feel most resistant to? 6/ Try giving something to someone this week, which you don’t usually do. How did it feel? 00:00:00 Course Introduction - The theme of the course is practice in everyday life. 00:01:13 Ethics and mental states - Ethics as the development of skillful mental states. - The five fundamental principles of ethics as expressed in the five precepts. 00:02:28 First precept - Negative form: abstaining from killing and doing harm. - Positive form: deeds of love and kindness. - The importance of mindfulness and understanding others. 00:11:09 Second precept - Negative form...