Quoting the Buddha is a popular internet pastime. However, quotes out of context aren’t much help to anyone, so here’s a brief commentary on the Buddha’s supposed charter for non-dogmatic free enquiry, the ‘Kalama Sutta’ (AN 3.65)…
Quoting the Buddha is a popular internet pastime. However, quotes out of context aren’t much help to anyone, so here’s a brief commentary on two frequently quoted verses from the Dhammapada (1: 19-20)…
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The Noble Search sutta offers some excellent Dhamma lessons and also mentions a few incidents in the Buddha’s life that are found nowhere else in the Sutta Pitaka.
In the Maha-mangala Sutta, the Buddha describes the ‘greatest blessings’ in life and how to attain them. According to the Buddha, there are 38 ‘greatest blessings’ – not the shallow and changeable blessings of luck and fortune but blessings which are of genuine and lasting importance. By making the effort to obtain these blessings, we can create our own good fortune and move gradually closer to the supreme blessing of Nibbana. This is the main purpose and objective of the Mangala Sutta…
Once the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyas in Nigrodha Park at Kapilavatthu. There, Mahanama the Sakyan approached the Blessed One. Having approached and paid respect to the Blessed One, he sat aside. Then, seated aside, Mahanama the Sakyan said thus to the Blessed One…
In this post I list a number of motivations for giving that the Buddha discussed and ranked according to their kammic potential. I explain in brief why Theravada Buddhists believe that skilful giving benefits the giver more than the receiver, and why the Sangha of the Buddha’s Noble Disciples are considered the most worthy recipients.
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Many people attracted to the Buddha’s teachings on impermanence and suffering nevertheless have a problem with his teachings on kamma and rebirth and are quick to reject them as outmoded metaphysical ideas, either cultural baggage or interpellations intended to placate his less-sophisticated followers. Here I attempt to show that such doubts are based on misunderstandings and that kamma and rebirth are in fact verifiable through meditation…
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Nibbana is the ultimate goal of the Buddha’s teachings. Among Theravadins it’s generally accepted that nibbana is beyond words and the Buddha himself appears reluctant to give us a detailed description. Nevertheless, in this post I suggest that contemplating what the scriptures say about nibbana serves to reminds us what the ultimate spiritual goal is and can motivate us to strive harder in attaining it…
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The Sabbasava Sutta provides a comprehensive practice for transcending suffering. There are seven aspects to this practice, all of which the Buddha advises us to develop if we’re to achieve the ultimate goal. In this post I offer a brief description of each aspect and why they should be developed…
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