Members Bios - please contribute yours

[Kilaya Ciriello]

I remember my first encounter with the Buddha's teachings so vividly. It was the Fire Sermon, which I found within a larger compilation of wisdom teachings from across many traditions. It was a short quote but it grabbed me so strongly. After I had read this huge tome of wisdom quotations I realized that only the quotations from the Buddha were really meaningful to me. I went online to look for more from the Buddha, this was in 2004 at the net's infancy, but I found the accesstoinsight website and started printing out sutras. I still have those original 10+ sutras that I printed then and carried around with me for a while.

Since then I have undertaken spiritual practice across a wide range of wisdom traditions but have always come back to the Pali Canon to gauge my progress. So many times I have felt so good about my spiritual progress using other tradition methods only to go back to the Pali Canon to realize, once again, that I know nothing and am nobody! Lol. What a relief!

My love for the Buddha's original teachings has only grown through all my study and practice in other traditions and I found this forum as some way to celebrate those teachings with others who feel the same. It's not the same as living with such people but I'm grateful for the possibility of sangha-connections anyway I can get them.

I am an author who writes about spiritual texts and ideas. I am currently working on book that compares the teachings of Socrates (as depicted by Plato) with philosophical teachings from India (including a chapter comparing his philosophy with the Buddha's). The similarities are really shocking to see for a spiritual seeker like myself, educated in the US and taught Plato at a young age in a way that completely ignored the profound spiritual principles found there.

May all beings be released from ignorance and suffering!

[DNS]

Welcome to DW!

☸

[Sam Vara]

Welcome to Dhamma Wheel.

[Gwi II]

I'll introduce myself using the
"numerical" method (Wanna try
too? Please).


1. Call me Gwi.
2. I'm Buddhist even before this birth (aka since birth).
3. I actually studied Buddhism at the age of 21 (2015);
When high school only ordinary understanding (too early
to understand Dhammo).
4. I learned about Buddhism on the internet and then
a few weeks later (in short), I thought, "Is it possible
that lay people can become holy? In other religions,
'ordained teachers' are almost certainly the most holy."
On the same day (as I recall), I immediately got the story
of minister Santati.
5. After reading minister Santati's story, I realized that
even lay people can attain "high perfection (Arahat)".


* from the beginning i learned from (source)
Theravādas (stay 'til the end of the world 'forever'
[if anyone asks why, I can shake the world (for
Buddhist or nonbuddhidt) with only 1 statement!])



6. Then I thought, "Where did this story come from?"
After thinking, I concluded, "From the religious teacher
(bhikkhu)."
7. "Where do the bhikkhus know the Teachings?"
After I thought about it, I immediately answered,
"The scriptures!" I immediately remembered, when
I was in high school I had downloaded a lot of
scriptures in PDF--having read it once--I was confused.
8. I started reading scripture with the thought,
"No matter what it said, I only BELIEVE MY CONCLUDE."
9. In short, I started from "Jātakaṃ tales (random choice)".
10. While reading Jātakaṃ tales, I thought,
"I'm reading a novel?"


* When I was in high school my friend
recommended me to read the complete
story of The Buddho on Wikipedia (I have
read it and still have the story in print form)



11. After a while, I chose SN I. After reading it, I thought,
"I'm reading a poem? Previously (like) reading a novel,
now poem, am I in the wrong book?" I focus on the
Jātakaṃ tales until it's finished. So, I moved to SN
(it says it is recommended to beginners even though
there are other options).
12. People are very interested in heavenly stories,
I saw there was a story about the "heavenly king
(Sakko Dewanamindo)", I deliberately read it from
the beginning, Sakka's story was at the end.
13. After a few weeks, it comes to the chapter
dealing with Sakka's story (I still haven't got an
understanding of what the Buddha's Teachings
are all about).
14. While reading Sakka's story, I still didn't get anything
"heavenly", but when I tried to turn to the previous page,
thinking, "Maybe I missed something," that's which this
thought occurred to me: "THE BUDDHO, YEAH CAN
SPONTANEOUSLY MAKE POEMS!" Because I love
poetry, GREAT FAITH WAS UP TO ME!
15. After finishing reading SN I, "Now which book should
I read?" (I'm interesting in DN [funny Mahābrahmā story in
there]). I emphasize, finish the first SN until the final volume.


* Mahābrahmā is a good being



Note: I'll write the sequel later.

[Gwi II]

Gwi ... Buddhist ... since birth
... I love poetry

(Final Part):

16. While reading SN II, when it was about to finish
(as I recall, it was already 9:00 p.m.), I stood near the
drawer for keeping the scriptures, I read briefly, and
suddenly at the end of one Suttaṃ, it was narrated:
"A bhikkhu heard The Buddho was reciting the
Paṭiccasamuppādaṃ so The Buddho addressed the
Paṭiccasamuppādaṃ, 'Did you hear the Paṭiccasamuppādaṃ
what I mentioned?' "Yes," was answered. The Buddho
asked the bhikkhu who was standing to memorize it (I was
reading while standing). So, I was surprised and thought,
"I must memorize it (as if The Buddho were talking to me)."
17. SN IV really makes me dizzy; after SN V
(Mahāparinibbānasuttaṃ really touched my heart),
I moved to DN (very entertained, I laughed a lot).
Then move to MN, and so on.
18. Then I re-read, starting with SN while moving on
to other (one time for books that have not been read;
one time back to SN). During a woman's pregnancy, I
also understood when I returned to SN II, "This is the
essence of Buddha's Teachings: the Four Noble Truths.
NO OTHER RELIGION CAN TEACH THIS TEACHING."
19. As time went on, I started meditating. After two
or three years (breathing meditation) because I didn't
think there was much progress, I moved on to meditation
on light, candle, colors, earth, water, wind, 32 Aspects,
space, and then back to breathing meditation.
20. After reading The Great Chronicle of Buddhas
(Ānāpānasati not recommended for householders),
I moved on to the 32 Aspects, determined: "As long as
I have not attained jhānaṃ, I will not move on to any other
object (primary meditation)."


* Before the advent of Buddhism, the subject of
earth meditation was the easiest. However, after
the advent of Buddhism, the 32 Aspects meditation
was the easiest (all meditation subjects were difficult;
but the 32 Aspects was the easiest among others
[suitable for many people and easier]).



21. In 2020 I have started many big things: (a) I will
no longer change the subject of meditation, (b) fasting
regularly, (c) memorizing scriptures, (d) reading scriptures
every day, and (e) making it mandatory for myself to
fast (at least) 7 weeks (+ 1 week), from Vesākhapūjā.
22. One year later I decided to do "vassaṃ fast" every
year and fast 7 weeks (starting from Vesākhapūjā), I
don't play the internet (8 weeks); next year off the
internet every once a week.
23. In 2023 I studied Kathāvatthu (3 months/more
[1/2 pages per day]) and as a result I got two great
benefits: (a) now I able to destroy the stupid views
of others, with one strike or two or three times and
(b) increased (more) analytical knowledge.
24. I am a student who excels in analysis (faith and
wisdom), I can analyze scriptures (all religions),
Commentaries, law/politics, languages, and various
kinds of very complicated cases (I have written 4 books).
25. Venerable Vaṅgīso mahāthero is my
favorite bhikkhu (because I love poetry),
but all the ancient theras were great especially
Venerable Sāriputto mahāthero.


* Only madmen, fools, etc. do not like
Venerable Sāriputto mahāthero; likewise,
only low-knowledge people dislike
Venerable Buddhaghoso mahāthero
(no being can dispute this) or because
they don't know his "works".



26. Subhakiṇhā's brahmā realm is my target
even though I know the possibility of reaching
brahmā realm (for me) is very low (according
to Aṭṭhakathā, Tāvatiṃsā is the most beautiful
[read: at least choose Tāvatiṃsā; at least!]).
27. If I born in heaven, these five things will
be my hopes: (a) have a long, beautiful, colorful
and shining hair, (b) beautiful blue eyes, (c) a small
nose; not too sharp like this life, (d) have a big university
that can fly, I will teach Buddhism, and (e) have crooked
(only one), long, and beautiful crooked (foolish hopes of
worldly people ((´∀`*))ヶﾗヶﾗ).
28. Since middle school I have wanted to have a small
Vihāraṃ/Cetiyaṃ; since reading the Jātakaṃ tales I
want to give a big dānaṃ (I'm not a rich person). If I
have Cetiyaṃ, I will make a "Thūpo" out of gold bricks
with the wish, "May my skin remain as yellow (complexion)
as it is now, if possible will be more beautiful." The contents
of the relics are bhikkhu who are experts in the Vinayo or
from the family line.
29. I have three targets in this life, regarding
Buddha's Teachings: (a) at least have a Vinayo
expert bhikkhu whom I regularly visit and learn
the Vinayo from the bhikkhu, (b) recite scriptures
in front of The Buddha's Thūpo or Bodhi tree, and
(c) have Buddhist school and university, and I teach
there or and teach meditation (if I have jhānaṃ).
30. Dream: to become a Perfect Human (Paccekabuddho)
in the next life. I am now focusing on Viriya/Adhiṭṭhāna
(pāramī) till ded, trying/determined to fulfill the ten small
pāramis. However, I am not interested in Sīla-pāramī coz
it's too easy. (Don't talkin'bout number 30 [I won't reply]).


* I continued to fast for 8 weeks in a row to honor
The Buddho, who fasted 49 days when He attained
Perfect Enlightenment. Hope: (hopefully) I can stand
at the forefront when Buddhism disappears (at the age
of 5,000 years); the relics of The Buddho will perform
Yamaka-Pāṭihāriyo (read the Tipiṭaka Encyclopedia).
Memorized Scriptures to honor the Dhammo; "vassaṃ fast"
to honor of Saṅgho. Of course, honoring Tiratana can be do
it in many ways.



Sabba-sattā bhaṽantu sukhitattā

[bpallister]

Thank you for the bio Gwi. You are a very Inspirational and a great power of example.

[Woodcarver]

Hello everyone!

Father of one, machinery operator in Germany, woodcarver/burner by hobby, hence my username! Theravāda resonated me almost from the beginning. I read the Suttas daily, I like chanting, I'm an awful meditator but I try to rectify that.

The discussion about the Abhidhamma convinced me to register, I liked the civility and the informed opinions!

[Sam Vara]

Hello, Woodcarver, and welcome to Dhamma Wheel.

[Ceisiwr]

Hello everyone!

Father of one, machinery operator in Germany, woodcarver/burner by hobby, hence my username! Theravāda resonated me almost from the beginning. I read the Suttas daily, I like chanting, I'm an awful meditator but I try to rectify that.

The discussion about the Abhidhamma convinced me to register, I liked the civility and the informed opinions!

Nice to have you here

[DNS]

Welcome to DW!

☸

[Kittysoftpaws]

Good evening,
I live in Florida, USA and converted to Theravada Buddhism after a decades-long search for the truth. I heard Ajahn Chah’s words on YouTube and they resonated in my heart like strings on an instrument in response to perfect pitch. That was about six years ago. I’m happy to be here.

[Ceisiwr]

Good evening,
I live in Florida, USA and converted to Theravada Buddhism after a decades-long search for the truth. I heard Ajahn Chah’s words on YouTube and they resonated in my heart like strings on an instrument in response to perfect pitch. That was about six years ago. I’m happy to be here.

[SarathW]

Good evening,
I live in Florida, USA and converted to Theravada Buddhism after a decades-long search for the truth. I heard Ajahn Chah’s words on YouTube and they resonated in my heart like strings on an instrument in response to perfect pitch. That was about six years ago. I’m happy to be here.

[Sariputr]

Hello Everyone

i've been knowing in buddha's dhamma in theory and practice for some years now,
hope to have a good time here with kindred spirits to share and help in merit

i'm not a great scholar, but i would say i'm somewhat knowledgeable,
i never enjoyed staying in community for too long,
i would rather search my own individual practice.

i can serve with good word and encouragement,
each needs to find their practice though,
but if i can assist to my humble ability,
hope it helps.