Tag: Dharma

  • Kalaapa update

    In an earlier post about jhaana – absorption, I mentioned kalaapa. There is a reference to kalaapa in “Abhidhammatha Sangaha: A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma” by Ven. Aacariya Anuruddha and translated by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi with commentary by Ven. Sayadaw U Silananda and Ven Rewatadhamma. You can also read about kalaapa here: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khin/wheel231.html and do…

  • Lower Fetter – Adherence to Rules and Observances (Sa.myojana Siilabattapaaramaasa)

    There are ten sa.myojana – fetters binding beings to sa.msaara – the round of rebirths. The first stage of bodhi-enlightenment is sotapanna-stream entry. This stage is marked by the elimination of the first three fetters with one of these being siilabattapaaramaasa – the fetter of clinging to rules and observances. The other two lower fetters…

  • Venerable Ñāṇavīra, Notes on the Dhamma

    While I was in Sri Lanka and browsing bookshelves at the Buddhist Publication Society and the Buddhist Cultural Centre I found some books by Venerable Ñāṇavīra.  He was mentioned during online discussions back in the early 1990s. I didn’t know much about him or his writings at that time. I did notice that some people seemed…

  • Why I chose to not ordain

    This answer to this question is complex and difficult to explain. This posting is personal and will not cover all the issues that are relevant to all people. I write from the perspective of a middle-aged male raised in Australia. I received a couple of queries about this question and this prompted me to write…

  • Well-taught Noble Disciple

    In the suttas, the well-taught noble disciple (sutavaa ariyasaavaka) is often contrasted with the un-taught worldling (assutavaa puthujjana). It is useful for us to consider how a well-taught noble disciple behaves in body, speech and mind and then try to emulate that behaviour in daily life.  Majjhima Nikaya M46 Mahaadhammasamaadaana Sutta [มหาธรรมสมาทานสูตร] [Sister Upalavanna English…

  • Six principles of cordiality and a seven-point test for stream-entry

    Majjhima Nikaya M48 Kosambiya Sutta [โกสัมพิยสูตร] [translation by Sister Upalavanna] I paraphrased this sutta using Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi and Ven. Nanamoli’s English translation. Six principles of cordiality that create love and respect and conduce to cohesion, to non-dispute, to concord, and to unity. 1.  Maintain bodily acts of loving-kindness both in public and private towards…

  • Advantages of hearing the Dharma or thinking on the Dharma even when suffering great pain

    A6.56 Phagguna Sutta [Piya Tan’s translation as a PDF] paraphrased by MK from The Book of the Gradual Sayings (Anguttara Nikaaya) vol. 4, translated by F.L. Woodward [translation by Sister Upalavanna] [ผัคคุณสูตร] Ven. Phagguna is very sick and is visited by the Blessed One and Ven. Aananda. The sutta says that Ven. Phagguna was already…

  • Listening to the Dhamma can suppress the hindrances

    Sa.myuttanikaaya S46.38 Without Hindrances (อาวรณานีวรณสูตร นิวรณ์ ๕ เป็นอุปกิเลสของจิต) When bhikkhus, a noble disciple listens to the Dhamma with eager ears, attending to it as a matter of vital concern, directing the whole mind to it, on that occasion the five hindrances are not present in him; on that occasion the seven factors of enlightenment go…

  • Benefits from regular observance of eight precepts

    A10.47 Sakya Sutta (The Sakyans and the Eight Precepts) paraphrased from The Book of the Gradual Sayings (Anguttara Nikaaya) vol. 2, translated by F.L. Woodward by MK.   [Thanissaro Bhikkhu‘s translation] [Sister Upalavanna’s translation] [สักกสูตร] The Blessed One asks some Sakyans at Kapilavatthu whether they practice the eight precepts every Uposatha Day. [The Sakyans are a…

  • If you pentetratively study the Dharma but die confused….

    [Sotaanugata sutta paraphrased from The from The Book of the Gradual Sayings (Anguttara Nikaaya) vol. 2 (Anguttara Nikaaya) vol. 2, translated by F.L. Woodward.  This is an old translation. I am looking forward to the forthcoming new translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi of the entire Anguttara Nikaaya. So many good suttas in the Anguttara Nikaaya!  The…