‘Just Enough’ – lunch/movies Sat 29 Aug.

Saturday August 29th we will be holding one of our lunch/movie dates at the Tai Pan Hotel. The topic this time is ‘Sense Desire’ – following on from the talk What is Wrong with the Senses? (Thurs.27th). Our events at the Tai Pan are very informal – it is really our way to get together, meet some good people and have a nice lunch. ‘Movie’ this time round means some short (and amusing) clips relating to the senses, to get the discussion going.

Those who like to just observe and not speak out are welcome, while everyone else should get the chance to give their viewpoint. The intention is to have fun with it, and get to know each other a bit more.

Don’t worry if you don’t know anyone – that is the point. Come along, say hello and join one of the tables. There is always a great atmosphere.

Location: Tai Pan Hotel, Suk 23 (map below)

Date: Sat August 29th

Event: ‘Just Enough’ : a look at Sense Desire in meditation

Lunch: The famous Tai Pan Buffet (which is very good, lots of choice). 206 baht per person – which is paid direct to the Hotel arrive when you like between 11:15 and 12:00 . We will leave the restaurant and move up to the theatre sometime jsut after 1 pm.

Movies: Meeting room level 5, Tai Pan Hotel. Start sometime after 1 pm, with 3 or 4 short movie sections relating to sense desire. Discussion inbetween, before and after, depending on how the group dynamic flows.

Feel Free – to come just for the lunch and company, just for the movie, or both. Come and go as you like (try to come for the whole session is best of course). But if you are planning to attend the lunch please leave a comment below so we know how many tables to reserve. It is not RSVP, but we do need to know roughly how many people will be coming or we get into trouble with the chef when he prepares too much or too little food.

Abstract: Sense Desire gets a bad rap in religion. It is usually considered ‘temptation’ or ‘deluding’. Buddhism too, focusses meditation on keeping yourself ‘mindful’ and not getting caught up in sense desire. But can you live without the senses? Isn’t life meaningless without our little sense pleasures ? What is the alternative?

Yet we know that Buddhists, and people in Buddhist countries are not sad unhappy people starving themselves of any pleasure. So how much do you have to give up, and what is in it for you ? Did you know that a simple electrode into one spot in the brain can produce endless pleasure, without the consequences of pleasure through eating, drugs or other ‘cords of sense desire’ – why is this operation considered immoral, and not made available to those suffering illness?

An easy going discussion on the topic of sense desire, with some short (and some comic) movie presentations on the subject.

Directions:

Goto Asoke BTS or Underground line. Walk East and go down Sukhumvit 23 for 336 meters (thanks Google Earth). Turn left into the Tai Pan Hotel. Restaurant is on the ground floor as you enter the building. Make sure to come and announce yourself – or they might not give you our discounted price for lunch!