Forever taking a stand
The most difficult part in insight meditation is to realize that your mind always takes a stand. Otherwise it could not exist. If you see, you took a stand on a sight, a see-sensing, a seeing, a see-feeling If you…
Author Archives: theravadin
So close you cannot see it
Or: What does sankhara mean? There is quite a deal of confusion regarding this important Buddhist term some of the translations run as follows volitional formations mental formations fabrications, etc. etc. However, a translation for sankhara is quite easy š…
Can consciousness see itself?
For those interested in understanding how insight leads to enlightenment probably the best contemporary resource are venerable ĆÄį¹ananda’s texts. This venerable monk, currently residing in Sri Lanka, combines a deep understanding of the pali canon – not just in theory…
Tissabhuti’s disease
Here comes another very beautiful story from the ancient days of early Buddhism. Enjoy: At that time in the MahÄvihÄra lived a monk named TissabhÅ«ti who was currently studying the books of monastic discipline. One early morning while he was…
Zen like Vipassana :-)
Don’t you love this: āāIdha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaį¹ paį¹ipanno hoti ā āno cassa no ca me siyÄ, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaį¹ bhÅ«taį¹ taį¹ pajahÄmÄ«āti upekkhaį¹ paį¹ilabhati. Here, o monks, a monk does train himself thus: – “Had…
Buddhist Christian?
Buddhist Channel had an article today about the topic of Buddhist Christians or Christian Buddhists having to practice in secrecy :-). Well, they do not fear angry Buddhists but somehow their own Christian fellow-believers. Why is that? Monotheistic wrath? š…
Even the 4 noble truths
…i would encourage you to read this post first. Otherwise you will have a hard time understanding what is said next: Now, interpreting “iti pajanati” directly as a way to meditate, even Buddha’s 4 noble truth become themself a theme…
Craving for Nibbana?
Or: How can i desire Nibbana if it is supposed to be the end of desires? Part of mainstream Buddhism and supported by a notion from late Mahayana school of thought is the proposition that you cannot achieve Nibbana if…
Stronger prior to breaking
Or: The meaning of samyojana The Buddha defined four stages during the emancipation from Samsara: The stream enterer – someone who realized nibbana (magga-phala) through insight meditation for the first time with a reminder of 7 lives left in samsara…
Hearing background noise in the jhanas?
For many, this is a big issue. Some take the position to say, that it cannot be a jhana if the meditator experiences “any” (other) sense impression, than the meditation topic. Others say, wait a moment, i can clearly experience…