Here is an interesting book I read the other day: “Buddha laughed at theists (and accidentally created Christianity)”. The core idea revolves around the “strange” similarities between the Jesus of the New Testament and many of the (sometimes close to…
a peaceful Vesak to everyone. If you don’t know what Vesak is, please read here. Thus I have heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in Nigroda’s park. Then Mahanama the Sakyan approached…
For many Dhamma friends who have studied Ven. K. Nyanananda’s Nibbana sermons in English translations this will be great news. All 33 Dhamma talks (the complete series) on Nibbana can be found on this website (with the Pali in Unicode…
“At the time now, the lay-follower Nandamata got up in the morning when it was still dark, and recited in a loud voice the Parayana[Sutta Nipata v.976-1149] ” AN, VII, 50. “‘So be it, Lord !’, said the Venerable Sona…
From the Theragatha, the Verses of the Elders. 445. Uppajje te sace kodho, āvajja kakacūpamaṃ; Uppajje ce rase taṇhā, puttamaṃsūpamaṃ sara. (1) 446.‘‘Sace dhāvati cittaṃ te, kāmesu ca bhavesu ca; Khippaṃ niggaṇha satiyā, kiṭṭhādaṃ viya duppasun”ti; 445. If anger arises…
A dear friend of mine–that happens to be a fairly new convert to Theravada Buddhism–emailed me with a question. Is Buddhism more than just a philosophy? A colleague of hers, upon hearing of her new-found religion, quickly dismissed her ambition…
The other day I came across this very true statement: ”It is a sad fact that whereas we rarely find Muslims without the Quran or Christians without the Bible, yet we find many Buddhists without the Nikayas.” This quote is from…
What is the difference between right mindfulness and wrong mindfulness? [1] Both of them are part of an electric drill, if you excuse the mundane simile for a moment: It is the direction of the drill that ultimately matters, and…
[Part of our series: Arahant Stories.] Once, they say, the monk Elder called “Rag-robe” (Paṃsukūlikatthero), who lived in Pacinakhandaraji, decided to travel to the great pagoda-mountain* in order to worship the stupa there. After he had venerated the stupa, he…
In addition to an earlier post on Ven. Malunkyaputta‘s most interesting analysis of vipassanā meditation (right in front of the Buddha) which clarified what “bare awareness” actually boils down to in terms of meditation practice there is another beautiful personal…