Category: Dharma

  • Right Livelihood

    Buddhist literature doesn’t say much about right livelihood compared with other factors of the path to liberation. Right livelihood is the third factor of the Eightfold Noble Path (8FNP) having an ethical character. The other two ethical factors come before it in sequence so any livelihood that is not in conformity with the first two…

  • What did Buddha think about gods?

    I post here an edited version of a my response to a question on Quora. That was my first and possibly my last time on Quora. I was browsing the site and found this question “What did the Buddha think about gods?” and read may incorrect and misleading answers by other readers. My response is…

  • Gotama Buddha was not vegetarian

    Many people believe that Buddhists are vegetarian by default. This belief may stem from the notion that Buddhists do not support killing living beings including humans, animals, fish, birds or insects. While the five precepts for lay Buddhists encourage lay followers to refrain from taking life, there is no prohibition for eating flesh or fish. The…

  • Family and friends, philosophical materialism, equanimity and other divine abidings

    I have observed that on meeting family and friends after many months or years overseas can be a “culture shock” for both myself and them. After a few months of being together, we familiarise ourselves with each other and to some extent accept that we have different values and life styles. There is no need for…

  • Four Kinds of Persons Adorn the Saṅgha

    Here is a discourse from the Anguttara Nikaya (translated by Bhante Bhikkhu Bodhi) that explains how the word “Saṅgha” refers to more than just the community of monks.AN 4.7 They Adorn “Bhikkhus, these four kinds of persons who are competent, disciplined, self-confident, learned, experts on the Dhamma, practicing  in accordance with the Dhamma, adorn the…

  • Book Review of The Kosambi Intrigue

    the kosambi intrigue by Susan Carol StoneMy rating: 3 of 5 stars The Kosambi Intrigue is a rare historical fiction set during the lifetime of the Blessed One Gotama Buddha about 2500 years ago in India. The novel is set during the early period of the Blessed One’s 55 year teaching career and uses the…

  • Ageing and death – urgently practice the Dhamma

    There have been a few disasters happening recently. I have been feeling a bit low on energy for spiritual practice while being distracted by worldly matters. I noticed some friends were also struggling. It is timely to develop a sense of urgency for Dhamma practice.   SN3.25 The Simile of the Mountain in the Kosalasa.myuttaThe…

  • Bojjha’nga – Seven Factors of Awakening

    This is one of my favourite themes in the suttas. The Bojjha’nga show a progression of dependence in various wholesome states arising from attending to bhikkhus who are accomplished in virtue, concentration, wisdom, liberation, knowledge and vision of liberation.  I believe it is also possible to do this in our imaginations in a virtual way.…

  • Upgrading Your Uposatha Observance: five then eight and beyond

    The Dhamma is internally consistent and truthful. It is amazingly complete and flawless.  It is possible to take almost any aspect of the Dhamma and see relations with most other aspects of the Dhamma. Some people misunderstand precepts and think that more is better. Thus someone practicing ten precepts might be considered more virtuous than…

  • Buddhava.msa – 25 Samaasambuddha

    While I was staying at Na Uyana Aranya in Sri Lanka in the first half of 2010, I read the English translation of the Buddhava.msa by …. and published by the Pali Text Society.  This book really needs a lot of editing and possibly a completely new translation. Despite imperfections in the book, I am grateful…