Entering the Stream and Beyond Sutta Study with Meditation Workshop

Introduction

Initiated and coordinated by the Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia and facilitated by Āyasmā Aggacitta, Entering the Stream and Beyond Sutta Study with Meditation Workshops were conducted in the first half of 2023 during a nationwide (including Singapore) tour for 16 Buddhist organisations.

The purpose of this web page is to provide an opportunity for those who could not physically attend any of the workshops to still be able to follow the best of those workshops. And for those who attended one to review what they had learnt and to acquire additional information from the other workshops.

Overview

Entering the Stream and Beyond Sutta Study with Meditation Workshop aims to investigate what the suttas say about how to enter the stream and what it entails to become a stream-enterer. The 2-day workshop is designed for interactive participation through guided open mindfulness sessions, and the stimulation of intellectual analysis and discussion among the participants based on the contents of the workbook provided.

Structure of Workbook

In the workbook relevant excerpts from the suttas are arranged into four sections that systematically examine the nature of stream-entry and what it entailed during the Buddha’s time.

Section 1

investigates the When and What of stream-entry: the process of entering the stream and the nature of the breakthrough experience.

Section 2

looks at the How of stream-entry: the conditions necessary for its attainment.

Section 3

scrutinises the Then What of stream-entry: the qualities of a stream-enterer so that we can check whether the character and conduct of someone who believes that he or she is one, really tallies with them.

Section 4

enquires into the But Why of stream-entry: why it is so difficult to authenticate its attainment by using what some modern meditation traditions regard as the ultimate criterion of repeated “fruition attainments”.

Section 5

throws the question And So? to the participants to gauge how much they could comprehend and retain the contents of the workshop, and if they had obtained any significant benefits from it.

Discussion Topics

These are given at the end of each section. Participants are required to contemplate how to answer them prior to the workshop proper. The Buddhist organisations hosting the workshops could try to hold their own pre-workshop discussions for registered participants so that they can obtain more benefits during the workshops proper. Answers should be based on the relevant excerpts found in the workbook and should not simply be unfounded personal opinion.

Structure of Workshop

Introduction and Overview

Āyasmā Aggacitta gives an introduction to the nature of the workshop followed by an overview of the sections to be covered.

Explanation of Sutta Excerpts

He then gives a brief explanation of the sutta excerpts in a section and its discussion topics.

Group Discussion

The participants are split into groups by lots and each group discusses the topics.

Guided Open Mindfulness Practice

During the discussion, a signal is given for everyone to freeze and follow a short open mindfulness practice session guided by Āyasmā Aggacitta.

Group Presentation

After resuming and ending the discussion, a representative from each group has a chance to share the findings of the group to everyone.

Comments and Conclusions

When the presentations are finished, Āyasmā Aggacitta gives his comments and conclusions on the topics.
This process is repeated for each section. At the end of the day, Āyasmā Aggacitta gives his summary and conclusion for what has been covered. On the last day of the workshop he gives his final summary and conclusion.