Is It Possible to Be a Lay Theravada Buddhist?

[Peter]

Everytime I've read Wikipedia pages on Buddhism I've had to remind myself of this.

Or this.

I have a couple books on Buddhism, but none that go into much depth into Theravada. I have found a couple on Amazon, but I am not sure which is the best book to start with. Any suggestions?

In my opinion you cannot do better than "In the Buddha's Words", by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

You know, I used to be so skeptical of Wikipedia but then began to trust it fairly well.

I think Wikipedia is fine for non-controversial topics. Unfortunately religion tends to be controversial, even Buddhism.

[Mexicali]

I would think that there have always been more lay Buddhists than monks.

[pink_trike]

Unfortunately religion tends to be controversial, even Buddhism.

Or fortunately. It depends on one's psychological default. Imo, controversy injects a note of dynamism into systems that tend toward stasis and inertia, even Buddhism.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Actually, I think it would be easier to be a lay Theravada Buddhist than a lay Mahayana Buddhist.

Why?

In the Pali Canon there are many suttas aimed at householders... but how many Mahayana Suttas will you find sutras aimed at householders?

Metta,
Retro.

[pink_trike]

Greetings,

Actually, I think it would be easier to be a lay Theravada Buddhist than a lay Mahayana Buddhist.

Why?

In the Pali Canon there are many suttas aimed at householders... but how many Mahayana Suttas will you find sutras aimed at householders?

Metta,
Retro.

That's probably true, but also true in my experience is that Mahayana teachers are more accessible (in their teaching styles and interactions with the lay community) than Theravada teachers - using the stuff of ordinary lay life as a vehicle for wisdom. So probably 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

[Dan74]

Greetings,

Actually, I think it would be easier to be a lay Theravada Buddhist than a lay Mahayana Buddhist.

Why?

In the Pali Canon there are many suttas aimed at householders... but how many Mahayana Suttas will you find sutras aimed at householders?

Metta,
Retro.

Well, there is a sutra spoken by a householder, Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra.



It's a very good read!

_/|\_

[robertk]

Even today I see mostly Europeans attending lectures and meditation while the Asians mostly make donations and offerings and then leave.

Isn't dependent on kamma as to the people one meets. Where I live I meet many laypeople who are knowledgeable about Theravada. Some examples: khun somporn, past head of the Thai government pali translation committe which translates the tipitaka and commentaries into Thai. two generals that have written books on Dhamma, sujin Boriharnwanaket - her Dhamma talks are broadcast on about 20 radio stations everyday.
I guess most of my asian friends know more about Dhamma than me. However, these people mentioned above don't go on 10 day meditation retreats etc. so I guess that makes them sub-par in many western Buddhist eyes. They do make lots of donations to various Dhamma activities too.

[Nadi]

Even today I see mostly Europeans attending lectures and meditation while the Asians mostly make donations and offerings and then leave.

I think we need to keep in mind that the path is not only about meditation. Dana is an integral part of the teachings and should be practiced as such. It is also a practice of letting go, and therefore is conducive to meditation as well. I do agree that dana without the development of wisdom would not get you far along the path, but the same is true for meditation without the development of dana and sila. So, I don't think we should belittle the part that dana plays in the Buddha's teachings.

[Jechbi]

However, these people mentioned above don't go on 10 day meditation retreats etc. so I guess that makes them sub-par in many western Buddhist eyes.

I doubt it.

[seanandrews]

My local library system does not carry Bhikkhu Bodhi's IN THE BUDDHA'S WORDS, but it does carry THE CONNECTED DISCOURSES OF THE BUDDHA and THE MIDDLE LENGTH DISCOURSES OF THE BUDDHA. Would you recommend either of those, or should I just buy IN THE BUDDHA'S WORDS?

Can anyone recommend a free, downloadable ebook or iPod Touch/iPhone Application that would be a good place to start? Or Podcast?

[Peter]

I think we need to keep in mind that the path is not only about meditation. Dana is an integral part of the teachings and should be practiced as such.

That is true. However, I was responding to the OP's concern expressed here:

I have read online that Theravada Buddhism does not generally accept lay practitioners because of the amount of time needed to devote to meditation and/or that only a monk can attain nirvana

So we can see the OP is referring to a particular type of practitioner, a particular type of practice.

I don't think we should belittle the part that dana plays in the Buddha's teachings.

I apologize if I gave the impression of belittling dana practice. It is certainly an important part of the Path.

[Ngawang Drolma.]

My local library system does not carry Bhikkhu Bodhi's IN THE BUDDHA'S WORDS, but it does carry THE CONNECTED DISCOURSES OF THE BUDDHA and THE MIDDLE LENGTH DISCOURSES OF THE BUDDHA. Would you recommend either of those, or should I just buy IN THE BUDDHA'S WORDS?

Can anyone recommend a free, downloadable ebook or iPod Touch/iPhone Application that would be a good place to start? Or Podcast?

Dhammapada

The Pali Canon

[seanandrews]

Thanks. I have the Dhammapada. The Pali Canon -- that would be pretty expensive, wouldn't it?

[clw_uk]

hi sean, to own the whole canon would be expensive yes


i would strongly advise you however to get as much of the sutta nikaya as you can, these will greatly help your study

the translations available

Majjhima Nikaya
Samyutta Nikaya
Digha Nikaya

http://www.amazon.com/Middle-Length-Dis ... 086171072X

The Anguttara Nikaya is in the process of being translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi and should be out sometime in the near future

for all the rest that isnt available to buy you can use www.accesstoinsight.org (these have the Nikayas i just mentioned but they dont have all of the suttas and the translations in the print books are better IMO)

Metta

[Ngawang Drolma.]

Craig, what's your opinion on this? I've never heard of the author. The price is good and I could use something concise.

[clw_uk]

Hi Drolma


Ive never heard of it but i found a reference to it here

An Analysis of the Pali Canon, Russell Webb, ed. (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1975). An indispensable "roadmap" and outline of the Pali canon. Contains an excellent index listing suttas by name.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/index.html

right at the bottom of the page

As i said ive never heard of it but it sounds quite useful, quite cheap as well

Metta

[Ngawang Drolma.]

Thanks!

[mikenz66]

My local library system does not carry Bhikkhu Bodhi's IN THE BUDDHA'S WORDS, but it does carry THE CONNECTED DISCOURSES OF THE BUDDHA and THE MIDDLE LENGTH DISCOURSES OF THE BUDDHA. Would you recommend either of those, or should I just buy IN THE BUDDHA'S WORDS?

In the Buddha's words is inexpensive and in my opinion gives an excellent overview of the Buddha's teachings, since the selected Suttas are arranged into an exposition of the Buddh'as teachings, ranging from straightforward advice about living a good life to complex matters such as dependent origination.
You can read the first chapter as a PDF and read a very useful review here:
http://wisdompubs.org/Pages/display.las ... n=&image=1

I'd read that then start on Bhikkhu Bodhi's talks on the Majjhima Nikaya. Actually, that's what I did do...

Mike