Youse are listening to too many Dhamma talks

[Gabriel_L]

@MitchellStirzaker

Does anyone think that there is a way to practice in order to go from remembering a small percentage of the wisdom heard and read (as I do), to remembering a larger amount of wisdom heard and read?

Hi @MitchellStirzaker , welcome to D&D.

I strongly recommend “starting from the begining” and developing a mind map of the teaching aligned with that one we see the Buddha teaching in EBTs.

This mindmap is basically built around two things: the four noble truths and the noble eightfold path.

Towards that, it may be a nice idea to watch the videos from the workshop on the topic of the noble eightfold path that BSWA is hosting. You can find more about it in this topic:

New Sutta workshop series from BSWA on the Noble 8 fold Path

Once again the BSWA, are presenting a 6 day series of workshops, to be held over February and March 2021. Buddha in the Four Noble Truths identified the Noble Eightfold Path (N8P) as the path that will lead to cessation of Suffering. What is the big-picture context for the N8P? What are some typical misconceptions about the N8P? How do we practise the N8P? What is the relationship between the eight factors? Are there any of the 8 factors which are more important than others? How should the …

The beauty of the mindmaps we find in the suttas is that they are usually based on concepts which link back to each other.

The four noble truths must be appreciated together with their specific tasks. And these tasks relate very clearly to specific aspects of the eightfold path themselves.

In line with that, I often refer to the diagram below. The most relevant part of it is the section summarising the bodhipakkhiya dhammas (towards the right half of the diagram), which consist of 37 principles which the Buddha said summarise the whole of his teaching.

The eightfold path is a central or core aspect of these 37 principles or qualities which lead to awakening and is surely a very good idea to learn about those starting with it.