If this precept means literally anything which amuses you other than meditation, it's very severe. Even the internet could be in it. The eight precepts were designed to support people to do intensive practice, if somebody wants to go on a retreat and surf the internet for entertainment then it's no...

Looking at Theravada, Insight/Vipassana meditation centres in SA there appear to be quite a few http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.ph ... -sectarian

I just cannot comprehend this portion, Sir. I shall be extremely grateful if this is elaborated. It sounds to me like you feel you have to fight and overcome the hindrances, this give the hindrances a power and importance they don't deserve, you might be able to suppress them for a while but when t...

sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā — "all saṅkhāras (conditioned things) are impermanent" sabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā — "all saṅkhāras are unsatisfactory" sabbe dhammā anattā — "all dharmas (conditioned or unconditioned things) are not self" [8] The question is why Sankhara is not Anatta? Why Dhamma is not Anicca and...

This guy is on the money in my opinion. I think it's important to be clear about the difference between mindfulness exercises which are intended to establish mindfulness, and mindfulness itself which when established is an effortless quality of mind. Unfortunately traditional Burmese teachers don't ...

No. I am able to go into rapture when I meditate and such thoughts do not disturb me as long as I am meditating. Quite obviously, as a house holder, I cannot devote unlimited time to meditation. Also, beyond a certain time, the rapture results in body/mind fatigue. 2. The carnal mental frame takes ...

Some threads here discuss about whether everything is due to karma. But everything is due to cause and conditions. Are the two things the same thing? No. Everything that arises does so according to causes and conditions, it's a law of nature. Kamma arises from the intention behind the action execut...

If there is the assumption that there is nothing after death, then there is no suffering beyond our demise, thus for secular Buddhists who deny rebirth, the question becomes why not suicide? Surely any answers such as 'I like being alive' are counter to the Buddhist principles of non-attachment and...

I note there are some Zen practices that almost thrive on being able to sit in various scenarios without noise being a distraction (Shikantaza for example). Does Theravadin practice demand silence in order for it to be effective whether Vipassana or Samatha? A quiet environment can be helpful, part...

I've been to Shwe Oo Min four times, though it appears to include "Forest" in it's title semi regularly it's definately not a forest centre. It's a collection of large dormitory buildings surrounded by villages and fields. It's a standard Burmese city centre but maybe with a more than usual cultivat...

I am familiar with two Dhammayut monateries in Nong wua so, both branches from Lungta Maha Boowa. Wat Dun Tao with Luang Por Boonmee http://www.buddha.sg/htm/people/boonmee.htm Wat Poo Song Ko with Luang Por Vanchai http://www.happywat.com/index.php/all-temple/item/wat-phu-sangkho.html The latter is...

Anyone ever visit this center before in Yangon or affiliate sites? I have heard good things about this venerable teacher, Sayadaw U Tejaniya, and considering the hardcore, diligent Dhamma that is practiced in Burma, I'm assuming there will be little room for corruption and false teachings. http://a...

Hello. Just wondering if anyone knows the current situation with getting a meditation visa in Myanmar. What is the best country to obtain it, how often does it need to be renewed, and what is the cost etc? The last two times I got mine in the Bangkok consulate with no problems, it's worth paying a ...

JamesTheGiant wrote: ↑Mon Nov 05, 2018 5:58 pm Do dhammayutta monasteries do it different? I don't know. :anjali:

I ordained in a Dhammayut forest monastery for 3 months, it was a little less strict than western Ajahn Chah monasteries in some ways but more rustic.

Yes I remember that book being very dishonest. He gave the impression that he was there for years, and when I found out he was only there for a month or two I thought he was deceptive and shallow. Bad book. It was a long time ago that I read it but that's not really my recollection. I didn't really...