In this introductory presentation, Sean Oakes lays out the basic history and organization of the body of Buddhist texts known as the Pāli Canon, named after the language they use. Preserved by the Theravāda cultures of Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand, the Pāli Canon is—along with the Chinese Āgamas—the earliest full record of the Buddha's teachings, and is the body of texts primarily used in the Theravāda, Insight Meditation, and Early Buddhist traditions.
Talks
August 14, 2023
| 28 min.
Introduction to the Pāli Canon
Sean Oakes
Sean Oakes
Guest Teacher
Sean Oakes, PhD, teaches Buddhism and Yoga focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary meditative states. His current research explores identity, ancestry, and rebirth, and working with the body in contemplative inquiry.