This brief anthology of excerpts from the Pali texts on the subject of teaching the dhamma are offered as a modest contribution to the contemporary debate on how the teachings of the Buddha are transmitted. As we can see, the word "dhamma" in these passages seems to refer to a very carefully crafted curriculum of teachings, and that there was a great concern that this body of material be accurately and precisely communicated from teacher to student. The realization in personal experience … [Read more...]
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Cutting the Stream: The Shorter Discourse on the Cowherd (Majjhima 34)
October 13, 2015This verse comes at the end of the Shorter Discourse on the Cowherd (Majjhima Nikāya 34), where the Buddha develops the simile of a herd of cows getting safely across the ford of a raging river. The strong old bulls plunge straight in and show the way to the others—these are likened to the arahants who make their way across the flood of death to the safety of the further shore. The other members of the herd also make their way across according to their capabilities, from the heifers and young … [Read more...]
The Distortions of the Mind: Aṅguttara Nikāya 4:49
October 13, 2015These verses from the Numerical Discourses give the traditional list of the vipallāsas. This Pali word is sometimes translated as “perversions” of the mind; but I find this language too strong and prefer the expression “distortions” of the mind. The term is composed of a prefix (vi-) which carries the sense of division, separation or removal; another prefix (pari-) meaning around, or complete (as in our related word peri-meter); and a verb (-as) which can be taken as meaning “to throw.” … [Read more...]
The Visuddhi Magga on the Brahma-Vihāras
October 9, 2015The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness
October 7, 2015Most practitioners of insight meditation are familiar with the four foundations of mindfulness, and know that the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (M 10; D 22), the Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness is the cornerstone of the vipassanā [insight meditation] tradition. The first foundation, mindfulness of the body, has to do with bringing awareness, attention, or focus to breathing and to bodily sensations. The second foundation of mindfulness, mindfulness of feeling, involves noticing the affect … [Read more...]
Understanding the Hindrances
October 6, 2015Advice to a Dying Man
October 6, 2015Advice to a Dying Man: Anāthapindikovāda Sutta (Majjhima Nikāya, 143) This systematic exploration of the phenomenal field of human experience is a powerful exercise in non-attachment. No need to wait until lying on your death bed to undertake it. Put aside an hour, find a quiet place, and try working through this map of the inner landscape, step by step. On one occasion the householder Anāthapindika was afflicted, suffering, and gravely ill. The venerable Sāriputta dressed, and taking his … [Read more...]
Meditation on the Elements (Majjhima Nikaya 62)
September 15, 2015Mindfulness of Breathing: Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118)
September 15, 2015Understanding Key Terms developed: bhāvitā This word is simply the causative form of the verb "to be," and thus means "causing to be," from which we get "development." It is a word used often for meditation in general, and for certain kinds of meditation in particular, such as the development of loving kindness (mettā-bhāvanā). cultivated: bahulākatā Used often beside development as a synonym, this term literally meant something that is done (kata) a lot (bahuli). The way we … [Read more...]
Truth
August 25, 2015This sort of structured discourse found in the Pali literature can seem like linguistic sleight-of-hand, but when one examines it closely and works with it in experience it shows itself to be an insightful and practical guide for finding one’s way among the tangle of views and opinions passing for truth in our world. We cannot help but base much of our belief on insubstantial grounds, but we can avoid the pitfall of regarding our knowledge as definitively true until we have verified it directly. … [Read more...]