Bhikkhu Bodhi: Indriyabhavana Sutta: Development of Mental Faculties

This podcast delves into the 152nd sutra of the Majjhima Nikaya, which centers on the evolution of the sense faculties. It contrasts a Brahmin teacher's sensory deprivation approach with the Buddha's teachings. The Buddha presents three stages of faculty development: first, practicing initial restraint; second, applying vipassanā (insight) to grasp the conditioned nature of sensory experiences and develop equanimity; and finally, attaining mastery as an arahant who rises above all forms of attraction and aversion. Using various similes, the podcast illuminates the nuances of these practices, illustrating the journey from grappling with sensory input to achieving a state of effortless equanimity.