The World Is Burning: Buddhist Teachings on Fire (2020)

9-13-20

In this talk at the Tampa Center, Dharma teacher Fred Eppsteiner shows us how we can look at fire and the meaning of fire in a different way. Utilizing Dharma teachings such as the Fire Sermon from the Pali Canon, the Parable of the Burning House as presented in the Lotus Sutra, and from the Japanese Zen tradition, a story from Hakuin Ekaku of the 17th and 18th century.

In the Fire Sermon, the Buddha taught of the fire of desire and greed, the fire anger, the fire of ignorance, and the fire of anger. Fred asks us “Is it true that our mind is on fire?” and to investigate how we feed these fires in our real experiences, and shows us ways to no longer feed these fires which cause so much suffering in our lives and the lives of others. Are we cool or are we hot and burning?