Saturday 1 August 2015

Sketch of an Excellent Man: Pa Auk Sayadaw



From Settie Wessels:

"In the Pa Auk Forest Monastery in Myanmar over a thousand people from all over the world are first taught 40 concentration techniques to be able to analyse the ultimate realities of Mind and Matter (Nāma and Rūpa) at subatomic particle level by 'their own direct experience.' They then proceed to practise Dependent Origination (Paticca-samuppāda) and Insight Meditation (Vipassanā) as described in the “Path of Purification” (Visuddhi Magga), a 1,500 year old summary of the Pāli texts: the legacy of the profound practical knowledge as originally taught by Gotama the Buddha.

For people in search of the truth it can be a life changing experience to learn about 'the wisdom light' produced by a concentrated mind found in the heart base - the sixth sense - described in detail. 

Rare footage of the Most Venerable Pa Auk Tawya Sayadaw explaining Vipassanã and Dependent Origination in English, illustrated by an artist/architect (watercolour, animation) make this subtle and profound knowledge enjoyable to watch even by non practitioners. 

How often can one get a glimpse into what dedicated meditators experience following complex teachings that are over 2,500 years old, thought by many to be lost to the world?
For those familiar with the Abhidhamma and other Pāli texts, it will be impossible to imagine a film that is not only "quite complete" as an introduction to - but also a fascinating watch for people unfamiliar with - the deeper teachings of the Buddha. 

The use of watercolour drawings, animations and special effects opens up this deep knowledge in a surprising and contemporary way, emphasising the role of the 'wisdom light' found in the heart base: the sixth sense."



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