Dhamma Wheel

I don't know the OP's life story, and while it seems irrelevant to the post, I think a lot of people are bringing it up out of compassion. I fully encourage anyone's wish to ordain—even if it means leaving your family—but it should be done in the right way: Debts settled, divorces finalized, ownersh...

How can the dhamma be closed on the planet? Has this ever happened before? The Dhamma is open, but monasteries are closed. There's no rush, though. Do your best to practice now in whatever conditions you're in, then when things re-open you'll be ready to go. Have you tried 8 precepts before ? That ...

That sounds like solid advice I will do that. I’m ready to leave and begin this journey where can I go. I’m in Canada. In southern Ontario. Have wheels can drive. Have $$$ for flights. No criminal record. Passport. I ask about location/nationality because visa issues tend to complicate things. Plus...

Check out the Ordination and Monastic life section of the forum, there's a bunch of different posts. Also, where do you live? The general advice is to spend some time, weeks to months, at a monastery so you can see if it's a good fit.

Lots of layers here. Do you mean leaving their dwelling and going out to attend a rally for instance? Or addressing a congregation in the monastery? On Facebook? On online forums? When asked about the issue or spontaneously stating an opinion? It's a quite the onion. Generally speaking, I say monast...

It boggles my mind because if I were to die and be reborn again as human and experience suffering again, the suffering I experienced in my previous life seems to be rather gone as if I never experienced it before. This general amnesia seems to be part of the process. Then again, like Ceisiwr said, ...

Like Nicolas said, it's normal that you'll lose weight by changing your dietary habits. Just monitor it without worry too much just yet. And are you feeling hunger pangs as well? The Buddha never said to eat so little that you become skin and bones. He advised to eat so that you will stay healthy. I...

Is there a reliable way to contact this monk? I may be able to help.

That's the one! So it was the Vinaya. Thank you

I can't remember if this is a sutta or if it's from the Vinaya—or if I just heard a monk talk about it—but basically the story goes that a king killed a rival king and queen, but he didn't know they had a son. That son eventually grew up and, seeking revenge on the king, became close to him. He had ...

What's most difficult for you? Hunger pangs or the temptation of being around food?

The Buddha jokes in the discourses, but only to drive home a serious point. He doesn't laugh, but he did smile a couple times. “Singing is regarded as wailing in the training of the noble one. Dancing is regarded as madness. Too much laughter, showing the teeth, is regarded as childish. So break off...

Suffering and the Noble Truth of Suffering were never the same thing. The Noble Truth of suffering is the comprehension of suffering; it's when you see and understand the truth of suffering.

Also that text is very dubious, so careful drawing conclusions from it.

B.

Also, see if you can bring one or more of them along with you when you go on a short retreat. I did with one of my friends and she loved it. Doesn't hurt to try, and if they turn you down, no worries.

Basically the Buddha was saying it was foolish for the Niganthas to think they could burn off past evil karma by simply practicing painful austerities--especially if the pain they were experiencing was due to present karma. That is, when you choose in the present to stand in one place all day long a...