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The Myth of the Return Journey

by Sangharakshita

The Parable of the Return Journey has a theme which resonates with many similar stories in world literature. Here its important elements are related to the personal quest for meaning.

Talk given in 1971.

This talk is part of the series Parables, Myths and Symbols of Mahayana Buddhism in the White Lotus Sutra.

Tracks (click play to listen)

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	1.	Human existence in terms of symbols (13:08)
	2.	The Parable of the Return Journey (19:13)
	3.	Comparisons with Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son (5:10)
	4.	Comparisons with the 'Hymn of the Pearl' (4:29)
	5.	Time (11:18)
	6.	The Parable of the Poisoned Arrow (2:38)
	7.	The 'Lower Self' and the 'Higher Self' (4:47)
	8.	The first step of spiritual development (2:43)
	9.	Religious projection and confronting the light of Truth (9:19)
	10.	Clearing away the dirt (2:31)
	11.	Where is our real centre of interest? (3:29)
	12.	Restoring the unity between our higher and lower selves (2:11)
	13.	Becoming like the Buddha (3:59)