Search found 4318 matches

by Bhikkhu Pesala
Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:26 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Where Are the Ven's Robes?
Replies: 10
Views: 2810

Re: Where Are the Ven's Robes?

No one should criticise the Venerable unless they have walked a thousand miles in his shoes, or wearing the robes. According to the Vinaya rule, it is allowable to obey kings. Even if it is an offence, it is a minor one, and a personal choice that one can make. As a young monk, I remember meeting th...
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Tue Jan 18, 2011 5:45 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Why are we?
Replies: 26
Views: 3849

Re: Why are we?

Some questions have no direct answer. The root cause is ignorance and the proximate cause is craving. The Simile of the Poisoned Arrow is helpful here. "It's just as if a man were wounded with an arrow thickly smeared with poison. His friends & companions, kinsmen & relatives would prov...
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:35 pm
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Hello, this is my first post here
Replies: 11
Views: 2081

Re: Hello, this is my first post here

I could not find "Soma" in the PTS dictionary, but assume that somanassa (happiness, mental ease) has some relation to it.

Somā Therī was a well-known nun.

I know the word Soma from Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World."
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Sun Jan 09, 2011 7:30 pm
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Vipassana: conceptual or non-conceptual?
Replies: 92
Views: 18887

Re: Vipassana: conceptual or non-conceptual?

Which techique involves perceiving the feelings of others? This is the first I've heard. The relevant section is in the Satipatthāna Sutta iti ajjhattaṃ vā vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati, bahiddhā vā vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati, ajjhattabahiddhā vā vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati. "Thus h...
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:50 pm
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Vipassana: conceptual or non-conceptual?
Replies: 92
Views: 18887

Re: Vipassana: conceptual or non-conceptual?

In the Visuddhimagga, the 32 parts of the body and the ten types of corpses (asubha) Tranquillity Meditation (Samatha), and so too is mindfulness of respiration (ānāpānassati). These methods are all included in the Satipatthāna Suttas, and are methods for the Samatha-Vipassanā Yānika — one who pract...
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Sat Jan 08, 2011 4:27 pm
Forum: Wellness, Diet & Fitness
Topic: Fisherman pants
Replies: 11
Views: 5451

Re: Fisherman pants

bodom wrote:Bhante

Fisherman pants are popular among meditators as they are very light and thin.
:lol:
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:54 am
Forum: Wellness, Diet & Fitness
Topic: Fisherman pants
Replies: 11
Views: 5451

Re: Fisherman pants

Maybe its time to give up fishing and make a greater commitment to Buddhism?
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Wed Jan 05, 2011 8:48 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The Buddha's Parinibbāna
Replies: 1
Views: 839

The Buddha's Parinibbāna

Yesterday or thereabouts is the anniversary of the Buddha's parinibbāna. Traditionally, in Theravāda countries, this event is commemorated on Vesak, but the Pāli texts indicate that the event actually took place in this month, most probably during the new moon. 9. When this was said, the Blessed One...
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:41 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The story of Brahmadatta and Prince Dighavu
Replies: 5
Views: 1337

Re: The story of Brahmadatta and Prince Dighavu

The Kosambi Jātaka story was told to the quarrelling monks at Kosambi, urging them to practise forbearance. The full account is in the Vinaya text, but I haven't been able to find it online.
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:21 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Future Buddha
Replies: 28
Views: 5962

Re: Future Buddha

I didn't misinterpret anything. I am just saying that in fact it is bad advice not to practise if you want to meet Metteyya Buddha.
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Tue Jan 04, 2011 8:43 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Future Buddha
Replies: 28
Views: 5962

Re: Future Buddha

As Ajahn Chah said if you want to see the future Buddha Metteyya just dont practice. You'll be around long enough to meet him. In fact, this is bad advice. It is somewhat like saying, “Don't bother to look after your health and wealth because you will get old and sick whatever you do.” If you don't...
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:40 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Why teaching fear?
Replies: 44
Views: 6264

Re: Why teaching fear?

In one way there should be teaching of fear. "If you do evil deeds, speak evil words, and think evil thoughts, you will be reborn in the lower realms or in hell." This kind of fear of evil consequences of evil kamma is called ottappa in Pali. In another way there should be teaching of fear...
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:22 am
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: IMS,Ajahn Chah, Mahasi Sayadaw,Ba Khin & Goenka, Kornfield
Replies: 28
Views: 12657

Re: IMS,Ajahn Chah, Mahasi Sayadaw,Ba Khin & Goenka, Kornfield

“If you open a center and have more than one lineage teaching there, it will be the work of Mara, and it will be the undoing of the dharma.” Goenka’s teacher U Ba Khin believed this. Wow! Maintaining the authentic tradition is one thing, but “the work of Māra” to teach more than one tradition in a ...
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:07 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: What is this?
Replies: 3
Views: 999

Re: What is this?

What does it mean with observing objects of insight meditation? All mental and physical phenomena are valid objects for insight meditation. When the stage of knowledge of dissolution is reached the object known and the mind that knows it both disappear in very rapid succession. Whereas at earlier s...
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Sun Jan 02, 2011 9:04 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Access to Insight Bulk Download
Replies: 22
Views: 4783

Re: Access to Insight Bulk Download

Offline versions can be useful if your internet connection goes down, or if a web site goes offline, or if you're on the move.

My own website is available in ZIP or EXE formats from the Home Page. That is not quite up-to-date at the moment. I am still in the process of updating my books.