Spring Washam gives a dharma talk around the concept of Samsara and the freedom provided by the Eightfold Path, which is like the Yellow Brick Road that leads us away from suffering.
The Yellow Brick Road
What is Samsara? Spring reflects on this concept, which translates as endless wandering, or the Wheel of Suffering. She talks about how we are all searching for a path in life, and details how she found her path through Buddhism. She advises us all to look to the Yellow Brick Road of freedom that is the Noble Eightfold Path.
“There could be a way that we could traverse out of suffering as a community. That’s the idea of this yellow brick road. What if we were to follow it wholeheartedly?” – Spring Washam
Joseph Goldstein explores how the nature of craving keeps the wheel of Samsara turning in Insight Hour Ep. 76
Wisdom and Ethics (22:00)
Spring covers the first two parts of the Eightfold path, which are around wisdom and ethics. This includes Wise View, Wise Intention, Wise Speech, Wise Action, and Wise Livelihood. She talks about how we move towards more wholesome thoughts and actions in life precisely because they involve less suffering.
“Wise View is sort of a way in which we understand how suffering is created. We start to see how our thoughts and emotions link together… The heart of Wise View is a deep understanding into cause and effect.” – Spring Washam
Mental Development (46:20)
Spring focuses on the last part of the Eightfold Path, which covers mental development. This includes Wise Effort, Wise Mindfulness, and Wise Concentration. She talks about reaching the end of the Yellow Brick Road, and how the heart truly knows the way.
“[Wise Mindfulness] is how to take care of this moment, how to be in the moment wisely.” – Spring Washam