To Nirvana in 5 sentences
One evening about two weeks ago I picked up the Samyutta Nikaya and stumbled over a short sutta which mesmerized me for the next two weeks. It is one of those short yet deep suttas which makes the Samyutta Nikaya…
Category: Buddhism
Buddha laughed at theists (and accidentally created Christianity)
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…
Vesak Fullmoon today
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…
Finally – All 33 Nibbana sermons on the web
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…
Mnemonics & Tipitaka
“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…
Ox and crops
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…
Buddhism: More Than Mere Philosophy
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…
Buddhists without the Word of the Buddha
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…
Science of the present moment
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…
Purifying Thoughts
[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…