Search Highlights 2008
While the number of drafted articles grows 🙂 . I thought I might share with you some of the topics people were looking for, and I hope that at least some answers were found. May all beings be free from…
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Immediate Enlightenment – Gradually attained
There is a rather interesting sutta in the Samyutta in which the Buddha illustrates the meaning and significance of the term sankharo in a straightforward manner: Idha bhikkhave, assutavā puthujjano ariyānaṃ adassāvī ariyadhammassa akovido ariyadhamme avinīto, sappurisānaṃ adassāvī sappurisadhammassa akovido…
Like tending a seedling – Cultivate your meditation
Imagine you just planted an apple tree. Well, you actually took one little apple seed and found a nice spot for it to grow. Then you covered it with some earth and sprinkled water over the spot. Every day you…
Buddha or Arahant? – Don’t take the finger for the moon!
What is the difference between a Buddha and an Arahant? Before “deciding” which way to go, let’s hear what the Buddha has to say on this topic: At Savatthi… “Monks, the Tathagata — the worthy one, the fully enlightened one,…
Economic Principles in Early Buddhism
In the Samyutta Nikaya we find this famous saying by King Pasenadi who – being physically in bad shape – is surprised at how much the Buddha was able to help in his worldly affairs: Indeed the Buddha has shown…
The bare awareness refrain
In the famous sutta on the four pillars of mindfulness (Mahasatipatthana), we find a passage which is repeated throughout the text as some kind of refrain, summarizing the quintessence of samma sati, or right mindfulness/awareness: “In this way he remains…
Find the differences…
Temple monks – Dana 1960 Temple monks – Dana 2008 Found all the differences? Maybe now you know why there is no English translation of the Phusso Theragatha? v. 949 – 980. Hmmm…. The online versions of the Theragatha seem…
Making the Jhanas Mainstream
…was Ayya Khema‘s noble intention. Let us all walk in her footsteps. From an email thread: Better I respond now, before letting this lie around too long…so short answers. If not clear enough, give me a call 🙂 I’m glad…
Where is the Buddhist Bible?
Or: There IS a Buddhist Bible. An invitation to read: When was the last time you read a book? How many pages did you gobble up during a weekend? 400? 200? 800? What if someone tells you that after reading…
Chanting in the 6th century
Just recently I came across this fascinating story, which is especially valuable to those among you who read or chant Pali texts: Dhammaruwan Story: Dhammaruwan was born in a small village near Kandy, Sri Lanka in November 1968. From the…