Theravadin limerick challenge

Explore the ancient language of the Tipitaka and Theravāda commentaries
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cooran
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by cooran »

I'm glad this is the Sasana
I sit and do vipassana
The Buddha's Teaching supreme
To break out of Samsara's Dream
And gain Nibbana's Liberation.

Ogha: floods - is the name for the 4 Cankers
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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Jechbi
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by Jechbi »

Ogha

A radiant one went to the Buddha
and she asked how to cross every ogha.
"I did not push ahead
nor stay put," Buddha said.
And she bowed from a deep, heartfelt saddha.


Padaparama
Rain soddens what is kept wrapped up,
But never soddens what is open;
Uncover, then, what is concealed,
Lest it be soddened by the rain.
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cooran
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by cooran »

pada-parama
http://www.palikanon.com/english/wtb/n_ ... parama.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jechbi ....padaparama has FIVE syllables!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o
I'll try ....

He's a padaparama-ist
Words he reveres as the highest
No sila nor anapana
Doesn't practice vipassana
Thus can't see things as they really are.

patigha ~ In an ethical sense, it means: 'repugnance', grudge, resentment, anger, and is a synonym of vyāpāda, 'ill-will' (s. nīvarana) and dosa, 'hate' (s. mūla).
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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Jechbi
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by Jechbi »

Hey, it's a challenge! At least it wasn't vipassanupakkilesa or something. (Side challenge: What's the longest Pali word you've come across? And can you use it in a limerick?) :thumbsup:

Okay, i'll take a swing at Patigha --

Raga, patigha, avijja,
like a song in my head, fa-la-la.
It's been playing so long
that I just sing along.
Now be still. Hush. Just listen. A-ha!


Time to lob out a softball: Bikkhu
Rain soddens what is kept wrapped up,
But never soddens what is open;
Uncover, then, what is concealed,
Lest it be soddened by the rain.
flyingOx
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by flyingOx »

Subhadda was finally a Bikkhu
and he knew what he had to go through
dwelling alone
without any phone
he could now get on with his breakthrough

vinaya
One is encouraged to seek the truth, but be warned if you ever find it, you will be treated as blasphemous.
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Jechbi
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by Jechbi »

Vinaya

There once was a layman who tried
the vinaya to keep. What a ride!
He begged for his food
but got coins. He was screwed.
So he bought lunch -- with fries on the side.


Naga
Rain soddens what is kept wrapped up,
But never soddens what is open;
Uncover, then, what is concealed,
Lest it be soddened by the rain.
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cooran
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by cooran »

Naga

The Nagas sheltering Buddha from the rain

Image

There was a hoodless Naga
Whose life was a boring saga
He used hood restorer
The result will awe ya
Then he sheltered Buddha from downpour.

Ottappa

metta
Chris
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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Jechbi
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by Jechbi »

Ottappa link

Hiri-Ottappa, show me the way,
By your light, let me not go astray.
For myself, let me care
and for others beware,
and thus heedful, be loving today.


Mara
Rain soddens what is kept wrapped up,
But never soddens what is open;
Uncover, then, what is concealed,
Lest it be soddened by the rain.
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cooran
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by cooran »

Mara crafted a little plan
little plan, just a little plan
spread greed hate, delusion,
Three Poisons leading to confusion
'Til we see things as they really are.


middha sloth
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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Jechbi
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by Jechbi »

Middha

Oh, middha, you tire me so!
Then I yawn, and I just want to go
right into the bed
and lay down my head
and quit.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


Sappaya
Rain soddens what is kept wrapped up,
But never soddens what is open;
Uncover, then, what is concealed,
Lest it be soddened by the rain.
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cooran
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by cooran »

Practising at Dhammagiri
Can make a lay person weary
But the sapaya there
(Benefits rich and rare)
Make any effort easy to bear.

Anabhijjhā
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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Jechbi
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by Jechbi »

That is a most excellent limerick.
Rain soddens what is kept wrapped up,
But never soddens what is open;
Uncover, then, what is concealed,
Lest it be soddened by the rain.
nathan
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by nathan »

Anabhijjhā
- 'freedom from covetousness', unselfishness



The senses are empty of self.
The body is empty of self.
The mind cannot claim it.
Or memory retain it.
So let go a hold on a self.


āloka-saññā
- 'perception of light'
But whoever walking, standing, sitting, or lying down overcomes thought, delighting in the stilling of thought: he's capable, a monk like this, of touching superlative self-awakening. § 110. {Iti 4.11; Iti 115}
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Assaji
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by Assaji »

āloka-saññā - 'perception of light'

I observed how the bright moon last night
Shone and glimmered with fabulous light
Was it night or a day?
My perception was swayed
And evolved into brightness of mind.

anicca-saññā - 'perception of transiency'
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cooran
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Re: Theravadin limerick challenge

Post by cooran »

It works like this:

A poster will propose a Buddhist Pali term as a challenge, and the next poster will write a limerick about that term, then suggest another term.

Obviously, no limerick is going to be the only possible limerick to illustrate a certain Pali word, so the words can be repeated. If someone wrote a limerick earlier about samvega, for example, it can still be suggested again as a challenge. There are no limits.

An important point: Please, please remember that METER is crucial. Here is the correct meter for limericks:

iamb anapest anapest
iamb anapest anapest
anapest anapest
anapest anapest
anapest anapest anapest

If you deviate from that, you'll be forced to read the unabridged works of Julia A. Moore. :lol:
We grasp pleasure riches food youth
We flee from old age sickness death
How to find happiness?
How to find ease and peace?
Anicca-saññā - know all things cease!


desanā ~ exposition of the Doctrine
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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