It is quite easy to mistake the Buddha’s encouragement to lead a virtuous and moral life with the call to blindly adhere to a religious codex or engulf oneself in some form of social trend-setting crusade. Nothing could be further…
Regarding the current Bhikkhuni ordination excitement in Ajahn Chah’s Sangha and the resulting “excommunication” (LOL) of Bhikkhu Brahmavamsa, the following Dhammapada verse came to mind: Others’ faults are easy to see yet hard it is to see one’s own, and…
Sometimes, when we study literature about Buddhist meditation, it can seem very technical and … almost artificial. One of the great benefits of having such a structured and methodical approach to mental cultivation can become a hindrance on the path—…
Have you ever wondered what an Anāgāmī (a non-returner) needs to do or work on in order to attain Arahantship (or final and complete realization of Nirvana)? Or, for that matter, how — if there are any necessary changes —…
One way our ego and conceit express themselves is the infatuation with this will or should go on forever, it will not change. At least not now, when it is, or should be, the way I want it to be……
Is the practice of vipassanā the application of viriya (energy), sati (mindfulness), samadhi (concentration) but only when it generates wisdom (paññā), more specifically ñāṇadassana (knowing and seeing)? Introduction The Sutta-Pitaka has a couple of texts which are not the word…
One might wonder how and why the modern vipassana movement experienced its revival just over a century ago in Burma. Looking back at 19th-century Theravada countries, we can observe a widespread renaissance of Pali studies. This period saw the emergence…
The Pali language has a very interesting verb called “maññati”. Or rather, the way the Buddha uses this verb is very intriguing. It is related to our English “to mean” or German “meinen”. It can be translated in a variety…
…sounds like Zen, might be Zen, but is no Zen? Hidden within the scholastic bodies of ancient Theravadin commentarial literature dwell gems of wisdom taught by ancient Masters of Buddhist meditation. One such beautiful little gem, an allegory, really needs…
Surely, most of you have had experience with the following most common approaches to establishing a Buddhist practice: Scanning through bits and pieces of Buddhist literature and patching them together into your own personal regimen. Following the (ad-hoc) instructions of…