Bhikkhu Bodhi: Dhammadayada Sutta: To Inherit the Teaching, Part 2

This podcast explores the Dhamma Dayada Sutta, emphasizing the Buddha's teachings on being heirs to Dhamma rather than material possessions. It features a comparison between two monks: one who refuses leftover food to stay true to this principle, and another who accepts it. The Buddha praises the first monk for his dedication, underscoring the importance of having few desires, being content, overcoming defilements, living simply, and energizing oneself. The conversation then examines various ascetic practices endorsed by the Buddha to nurture these qualities, along with the vital role of seclusion—both physical and mental—in spiritual development. It contrasts monks who embrace seclusion with those who do not. Lastly, the podcast discusses 16 defilements that can be overcome through the Noble Eightfold Path.