In this article, I study selected Buddhist perspectives on time. After surveying discourse references to specific times, kāla or samaya, as a way of introducing my topic, I turn to the idea of a moment, khaṇa, and the doctrine of momentariness. Then I study the three time periods in relation to vedanā, feeling tone, and proceed to the two occurrences of vedanā in the standard exposition of dependent arising, paṭicca samuppāda. Besides serving as the condition for the possible arising of craving, … [Read more...]
Bhikkhu Anālayo
Food and Insight
In this article, I continue to explore the topic of mindful eating, broached in the previous issue of this journal, from the viewpoint of its potential to arouse insight. I begin by contrasting King Pasenadi’s tendency to overeat with the exemplary way the Buddha took his meals. Then I explore the distinction between worldly and unworldly feeling tones and survey passages relevant to the topic of fasting. In the final part of the article I turn to the insight potential of mindful eating. Eating … [Read more...]
The Influxes and Mindful Eating
In this article, I study one of the methods for countering the influxes in relation to mindful eating. Instructions on proper partaking of food lead me to argue that the employment of mindfulness in contemporary healthcare settings to improve physical and mental health has an antecedent in early Buddhism. The Influxes In previous articles in this journal, I studied the three types of feeling (vedanā) and their relation to the underlying tendencies (anusaya). In what follows, I take up the … [Read more...]
The Underlying Tendencies
In this article, I study the concept of the underlying tendencies and their relation to the three types of feeling in particular. Based on this I explore how meditation practice can help to counter the influence of the three underlying tendencies that trigger unwholesome reactions to the three type of feelings. The Underlying Tendencies In three previous articles in this journal, I referred to the relationship drawn in the Shorter Discourse with Questions and Answers, … [Read more...]
The Challenge of Pain
This is the last of three articles following up topics discussed in the course of the Vedanā Symposium convened by Martine Batchelor and held at BCBS from 13 to 16 July 2017. In two previous issues of the Insight Journal I studied aspects of neutral and pleasant feelings; in what follows I turn to painful feelings. Wishing for Liberation For an appreciation of the challenge posed by painful feelings, the Shorter Discourse with Questions and Answers, the Cūḷavedalla-sutta (MN 44), offers … [Read more...]
The Potential of Pleasant Feelings
In this article I continue following up topics discussed in the course of the Vedanā Symposium convened by Martine Batchelor and held at BCBS from 13 to 16 July 2017. Whereas in the last issue of the Insight Journal I studied selected passages from the Pāli discourses relevant to an appreciation of neutral feelings, in what fol-lows I turn to pleasant type of feelings. The Buddha’s Asceticism For an appreciation of the distinct attitude in early Buddhist thought towards pleasant feelings, … [Read more...]
What About Neutral Feelings?
At the Vedana Symposium organized by Martine Batchelor and held at BCBS from 13 to 16 July 2017, the nature of neutral feeling was one of several topics discussed. See Mu Soeng's overview of all the presentations here. In this article, I follow up the discussion, in particular the question of whether the early discourses recognize neutral feelings as a distinct category on their own. “Feeling” has become the standard rendering of the Pali term vedana. In spite of what the English term … [Read more...]
Death Contemplation
Insight Journal: Bhante, what is contemplation of death, and how do we practice with it? Bhikkhu Anālayo: In the Anguttura-nikāya and the Ekottarika-āgama (the Chinese parallel), the Buddha checks to see how some monks are doing recollection of death, and he finds that they are doing it in a way that he does not consider to be sufficiently diligent. These monks say things like they might pass away in a couple of days, and before that they should really practice. The Buddha tells them that is … [Read more...]
The Nibbāna Interview
Register and learn more about Bhikkhu Anālayo's upcoming online lecture series on The Nibbāna Sermons. Insight Journal: Bhante, you’ve done a number of online programs over the years. How have you chosen what topics to cover, and why now choose to work with Ven. Ñāṇananda’s Nibbāna Sermons? Bhikkhu Anālayo: My primary consideration is trying to make an academic understanding of Buddhism available to a wider audience. I realized that my own writings were rather academic and inaccessible. So I … [Read more...]
Vedanā Part 2: Addressing Views and Clinging at the Source
This is Part 2 of a two-part interview on Vedanā with Bhikkhu Anālayo. Read Part 1 of the Vedanā interview here. IJ: How does the craving that arises in dependence on vedanā lead to the view-forming process? And how can that process be worked with or transcended? BhA: Psychologists call it the Myside Bias, which means that I always assume that my views are correct and others’ are wrong. Any information that comes in I manipulate in such a way that it confirms that my views are right and … [Read more...]
