Articles by Ven. Pannobhasa

[nyanasuci]

I like to recomend the newly poblished article by Ven. Pannobhasa: Buddhism and Scientism
http://pathpress.wordpress.com/2012/05/ ... scientism/

Other articles are also:
Some Evidence Suggesting the Spurious Nature of Abhidhamma Philosophy http://pathpress.wordpress.com/2012/04/ ... sophy-2-2/
The Great Surrender http://pathpress.wordpress.com/2012/05/ ... surrender/

[gavesako]

More articles at http://nippapanca.org

The main purpose of this website is to offer unorthodox information about orthodox Buddhism. All schools of Buddhism claim to represent the original teachings of the historical Buddha. However, all of them, including Theravada, the most ancient and conservative school in existence, have been modified over time to better suit the cultures which adopted them. Much of my effort as a monk has been to cut through cultural traditions, including ancient Indian cultural traditions, in order to better understand the true essence of Dharma. The articles, translations, and ideas presented on this website offer a fresh, relatively non-dogmatic approach to what the Buddha really taught. Some of them may be controversial, but a certain amount of controversy may help to stimulate thought, nudge one out of mental ruts, and protect one from the dangers of blind, unquestioning faith. Comments and questions are welcome.

[nyanasuci]

More digitalized and updated articles will appear on Path Press website. Nippapanca might not be updated regularly.
Feedbacks on the articles are much appreciated. Thank you for some already shared thoughts. The author might respond soon.
Metta,

[Alex123]

I have read his articles, very interesting. He occasionally makes very good points.

I do like his:

Some Evidence Suggesting the Great Antiquity of the Atthakavagga (Sutta-nipāta Ch.4)
1. The language of the Aṭṭhakavagga contains several rare and archaic grammatical forms reminiscent of Vedic Sanskrit which are absent in the more streamlined grammar of most of the rest of the Canon.

2. The Aṭṭhakavagga is referred to by name elsewhere in the Tipitaka at, for example, Udāna 5:6 in the Suttanta Piṭaka and Mahāvagga 5:13 in the Vinaya Pitaka. Both of these passages tell the story of a young bhikkhu named Sona Kuṭikaṇṇa who, when requested by the Buddha to speak some Dhamma, recites the Aṭṭhakavagga. The passage in the the Udāna also (correctly) specifies that the Atthakavagga has sixteen parts. Thus it was already compiled and named before the completion of the works in which the story is found.

3. The Aṭṭhakavagga is one of the very few portions of the Pali Canon with a line-by-line commentary that is also canonical - namely, the Mahāniddesa. (interestingly, the purpose of the Mahāniddesa is apparently not to expound upon the great profundity of the Aṭṭhakavagga, as it does more to trivialize than glorify it. Furthermore, the Mahāniddesa was probably not composed merely to comment upon a notably ancient text, as at the time of its composition many suttas were believed to predate the Aṭṭhakavagga - yet they are without a canonical commentary. lts most likely purpose seems to be to reinterpret - to explain away - a large body of proto-Theravadin or even pre-Theravadin philosophy that was clearly at odds with later doctrinal development but was nevertheless too well known to be deleted from the Canon.)

4. According to the literary evidence the Aṭṭhakavagga (but not the Sutta-nipāta as a whole) was common to many, probably most, and possibly all of the ancient schools of Buddhism, including the Mahasanghikas, who are historically the first to branch off from the proto-Theravada/Sarvastivada line (being equivalent to the Vajjiputtas in the Pali account of the second council). The story of ven. Kuṭikaṇṇa's recitation of the Aṭṭhakavagga
is also recorded in the Mahasanghika Vinaya, as well as in the vinayas of other ancient schools preserved in the immense Mahayana Tripiṭaka.

5. The text of the Aṭṭhakavagga contains none of the usual stock passages, little if any technical systematization of doctrine, and, with the possible exceptions of the introductory verses to the Māgandiya Sutta and Sāriputta Sutta, no fairy-tail narratives - all of which are characteristic of later material.

6. The teachings of the Aṭṭhakavagga are addressed to a Sangha of homeless, wandering ascetics, and are very simple (often to the point of being enigmatic) yet also exceedingly profound. They appear to come from a time when the Sāsana was still in a primitive state, most of its converts being veterans to the holy life, and being far more lnclined to practically realize than to theoretically philosophize. The existence of sedentary bhikkhus living in prosperous monasteries and dedicating their efforts to intellectual investigation of Dhamma, which became the norm very early in the history of Buddhism, is clearly at variance with the spirit of these teachings.

[nyanasuci]

It is interesting that for many people the article about Abhidhamma is more interesting than others. But I thought it is of lesser importance, and that Scientism is much more interesting. Perhaps that it is because I am not living in Abhidhammic community. Here Abhidhamma is never regarded of any importance.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings bhante,

I suspect it may be because people are interested in knowing what is and is not Buddhavacana.



Metta,
Retro.

[Kim O'Hara]

I do like his:

Some Evidence Suggesting the Great Antiquity of the Atthakavagga (Sutta-nipāta Ch.4)

Me too!
I haven't read it all but I did skip down to his quotes from the Atthakavagga. Very Zen-like indeed!
I will have to come back to all this.


Kim

[nyanasuci]

I do like his:

Some Evidence Suggesting the Great Antiquity of the Atthakavagga (Sutta-nipāta Ch.4)

Me too!
I haven't read it all but I did skip down to his quotes from the Atthakavagga. Very Zen-like indeed!
I will have to come back to all this.


Kim

It is going to be printed for free distribution when we get sponsors.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Overview of the perils and pitfalls of monastic life, by Pannobhasa Bhikkhu

Image link: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hp ... 9240_o.jpg

Metta,
Retro.

[mikenz66]

Brilliant...


Mike

[nyanasuci]

Result:

[retrofuturist]

Greetings bhante,

Congratulations on reaching nibbana.



Metta,
Retro.

[nyanasuci]

Ups. I should leave it partly unresolved!