Search Highlights 2008
While the number of drafted articles grows šĀ . Thought i might share with you some of the topics people were looking for and I hope that at least some answers got solved. May all beings be free from avijja and…
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, assutavÄ puthujjano ariyÄnaį¹ adassÄvÄ« ariyadhammassa akovido ariyadhamme avinÄ«to, sappurisÄnaį¹ adassÄvÄ« 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, lets hear what the Buddha has to say on this topic: At Savatthi… “Monks, the Tathagata ā 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 a bad shape – is surprised as to how much the Buddha was able to help in his wordly affairs: Indeed the Buddha…
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…
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 to ignore this interesting gatha. Seems like every monastic translator…
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 š I’mĀ glad we…
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….