I foster & board dogs. I take a lot of photos. There is a "zen" to this similar to what Stephen describes. People tend to pose dogs, then "ah! you moved!" The dog senses frustration/impatience and will associate that with the camera (any time you try to take a photo, they'll shut down, won't participate, adding to more frustration that they sense, reinforcing their aversion to what you're doing). The trick is to take a lot of photos (even posed) and something will come out better than you could have tried to get. You let it unfold how it will. There is a intuitive moment you begin to sense, and take the photo. If you miss a moment, no big deal. Another will come. You just take photos without trying to get "the right one." Follow your intuition. If you take 20, one will come out (if you get tuned into the intuition, and the dogs are accustomed to what you're doing, and participate, you can get 3-4 good ones in a row.). It reminds me of the zen or archery. The more you try to aim and control all your movements, the less accurate you'll be. There is an indescribable moment (intuition) when you release the arrow, and you'll be more accurate. It's not an expectation, it's knowing without trying. I think taking photos of dogs is exactly like that. (The beginning of this talk brought that to mind.).

This is Buddhism of the mind and the heart which constantly evolves.

The Question at 54:00 + the Answer at 55:00 = Priceless. Thank you for the dharma talk.

One of the most profound Buddhist sayings is 'Get with the program.'

Very good approach to the Dhamma. Thank you.

Stephen raises an interesting point re photographs. I knew a woman in England (sadly not in the Biblical sense) whose opinion was that I wanted to take her photograph so I could freeze changing reality. Not so. She was very beautiful, possibly more so in my recollection. Photography can be used for many purposes, and she was talking about one, but possibly the most common one. In any cas, I never took her photo, and now my mental image of her almost makes her ideal. On the other hand she was in love with another man. Likely having a deeper relationship would have generated suffering for all concerned. Sometimes you need to know when not to take a photo.

Thanks so much for introducing me to such a radical and constructive thinker, resonated completely with me as image creator and artist teacher🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Thanks very much for good presentation on overview of Buddhist Imagination with Arts. It is hopefully to see more about Buddhist Aesthetic views on Relativism rather than Subjectivist and Objectivist points...!

57:55 bright disquisition on "community of practice"

What program? The one Buddhadharma has in mind for you. How do you do that? Try finding and doing what you love, so it hurt none. The Buddha balance is always there, in Buddha nature, the meaning of clear mind.

well label or not just be discipline, be spirited and be resilient in practising Dhamma

aesthetics pose a rather difficult problem from the point of view of buddha dharma, in the sense that passing judgements of value entails the use of the adjectival function of language, which is precisely what the historical buddha set out to reform both at the level of the inner and the outer discourses (i.e, the interior dialogue and the skilful expression of its results to the other/others). also, art poses an immediate problem in terms of Sila, or "morality", in the sense that it is very easy to envision, from the start, a whole flurry of acceptables and non-acceptables (more or less politically bound, or more or less culturally bound). i do struggle with the possibility of practicing dharma (understood as a liberation from causes and conditions) and the creation of judgement bound plastic (musical;literary) objects f consciousness.

Thank you..........

Einstein reportedly said "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Clearly Stephen sees this. So have many others.but they might have said it differently. That's what makes it confusing, but it also life affirming, nay, it is life itself.

Now I see why he's a Batchelor. But he is making Buddhism more acceptable to a western audience.

Did the speaker said he has been studying or living mostly with Buddhism since the age of 19 ? How then could he got Buddhism mixed up with imaginations or using a wrong anology with photography ? Buddhism is not a belief-based religion but a religion that needs to be understood, practised and experienced. He is also wrong to think that the Buddha's teachings have not been unchanging. How the world and people's perceptions changed could not change the Dhamma, Buddha's teachings. The Dhamma is nature's truth, how could it not be in our society ? He is not a confused person but rather quite unsincere about his subject.

Don't feel bad Stephen. All "religions" are uncomfortable with ideas that there has been change, evolution and adaptation. At least all the "orthodox" forms are.

I've got no problem with some freedom or dexterity within Buddhism but I am suspicious of this.... A Democracy of the Imagination isn't that what the New Age is ?

Unfortunately the practice of Buddhism is too often the 'elephant in the room.'

reimagining dhamma? counterfeit? wow, buddha said, dhamma is timeless. and sangkha can adapt to new environment but dhamma-vinaya remains unchanged. what's next? burn Pali text? buddha's teaching minus karma minus rebirth minus four noble truth minus enlightenment minus no-self minus 4 pair attainers minus dhamma so what's left? you wanna treat it as an art with no rules, fine, then call it mind practice. honestly speaking, please do not use buddha as a marketing springboard.

Please seek a personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Full of crap. He teach nothing but his view of Buddhism. To understand about buddhism, read thripitaka with theravada. Sri Lanka is the place to go to find out true form of buddhism where Buddhism is preserved without distortion.