WHEN SPIRITUAL PRACTICE SEEMS DIFFICULT...

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

Today's subject is "WHEN SPIRITUAL PRACTICE SEEMS DIFFICULT" and we draw on the Buddha's teaching to a young deva in the Kāmada Sutta (SN 2.6) for inspiration and encouragement.

At different times, we have all experienced the thought or feeling that this spiritual path and practice is "too difficult" or "too hard" or even that "it's an impossible process".

Our session today specifically focuses on learning from Kāmada's example and particular areas where he is going wrong, the importance of certain aspects of how we practice and develop the Noble Path.

There are four key areas we look at (based on Kāmada's lamentation to the Buddha):

1. Difficult to do (spiritual practice)
2. Difficult to obtain (joy)
3. Difficult to concentrate (the mind)
4. Difficult to pass and uneven (the path)

Some of the suttas covered directly or indirectly in this session:

• — Sekha Pāṭipada Sutta (MN 53) ­­­
• — Hārasampātabhūmi (Pe 7)
• — Bhāvanā Sutta (AN 7.71)
• — Vatthūpama Sutta (MN 7)
• — Karaniyametta Sutta (Sn1.8)
• — Hāliddikāni Sutta (SN 22.3)
• — Cunda Sutta (Ud 8.5)
• — Akkhama Sutta (AN 5.139)
• — Samacittavagga (SN 2.36)
• — Āpaṇa Sutta (SN 48.50)
• — Papāta Sutta (SN 56.42)
• — Ariyamagga Sutta (AN 10.189)
• — Ariyamagga Sutta (AN 10.145)

To read the Kāmada Sutta (SN 2.6) - https://suttacentral.net/sn2.6/en/sujato

A VIDEO of this FULL SESSION with presentation slides has been published to the Sutta Meditation Series YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1hmJtOeoVA AND on Spotify as a video podcast

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai