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In an interview, meditation teacher Beth Upton said offhand that the Dhamma has an “offensive message.” I love this sharp phrasing, and want to look together through the window that this observation opens up.

I hear “offensive message” as a rougher way of saying that the teachings of the Buddha move “against the stream.” The freedoms the Dhamma points to—freedom from desire, wanting, identity, ambition—are not only unpopular in contemporary culture but for many folks are considered unhealthy or disconnected. “Against the stream” is a metaphor for renunciation that the Buddha used repeatedly in his teaching, including right after his awakening when he considered not teaching:

“I’ve struggled hard to realize this,
enough with trying to explain it!
Those mired in greed and hate
can’t really understand this teaching.

It goes against the stream, subtle,
deep, obscure, and very fine.
Those besotted by greed cannot see,
for they’re shrouded in a mass of darkness.” (MN 26)

Ok, so I’m mired in greed and hate. And the teachings are hard to understand. What do I do?

Last week we talked about bringing a more precise mindfulness to everyday life. We can think of this as part of advancing in meditation practice, and it is, but we can also think of it as part of the preliminary practices necessary to get un-mired from greed and hate.

The way the Buddha phrases it, we need to get out of the swamps of greed and hate _before_ the deeper teachings of liberation can reach the heart. The first step in this escape is renunciation, which is both difficult and immensely satisfying. The difficulty comes in waves, interspersed with easeful, even blissful, times. Our work is to normalize a balanced lifestyle during the easy times so that it holds us through the difficult.

I’ll talk tonight about some of the prerequisites for health and inner balance that are so helpful for getting un-mired enough that we can hear the offensive message of the Dhamma and not be offended.

SEAN OAKES
Sean Feit Oakes, PhD (he/they, queer, Puerto Rican & English, living on Pomo ancestral land in Northern California), teaches Buddhism and somatic practice focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received Insight Meditation teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance. Sean holds certifications in Somatic Experiencing (SEP, assistant), and Yoga (E-RYT 500, YACEP), and teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and elsewhere.

LINKS
Website: seanfeitoakes.com
Community Page: In It To End It
YouTube channel: In It To End It
Spirit Rock: spiritrock.org/teachers/sean-oakes
Insight Timer: insighttimer.com/seanoakes

GIVING
All of Dr. Oakes’ independent teaching is offered on the model of Gift Economy, in the Buddhist tradition of dāna, inspired giving. Support of our teaching and community is gratefully received. Thank you for your generosity.

Donate:
seanfeitoakes.com/gift-economy

Blessings on your path.