Pariyatti

A Journey into Buddhism by Elizabeth J. A. Harris."The themes of the talks are rooted in my journey, as a Christian, into Buddhism. In the mid-1980s I felt the need to ’let go’ of my own religious conditioning to enter the world of another

Deconstructing Constructions: The Role of Saṅkhārā in the Buddha’s Discourses

Feb 26th, 2024

Deconstructing Constructions: The Role of Saṅkhārā in the Buddha’s Discourses by Bhikkhu Bodhi.In this paper I intend to explore the Pāli term saṅkhārā, one of the pivotal concepts in the Buddha’s discourses. The Pāli word has such a rich g

Your Best Friend

Jan 27th, 2024

Your Best Friend: And Other Essays by M. B. Werapitiya."To understand ourselves, we must live with ourselves and know all about ourselves. The mind for that matter is flickering, fickle, difficult to guard and control and flutters like a fis

Part 6 - Expanding Into New Frontiers by Bhikkhu Bodhi

Sep 23rd, 2023

Part 6 - Expanding Into New Frontiers from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi.Mindfulness has traveled a long way from its homeland innortheast India. It has journeyed to the island of Sri Lanka, the

Part 5 - Clear Comprehension by Bhikkhu Bodhi

Sep 16th, 2023

Part 5 - Clear Comprehension from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi.While I said just before that clear comprehension plays a moreprominent role in the contemplation of experiential phenomena,the re

Part 4 - What the Suttas Say by Bhikkhu Bodhi

Sep 9th, 2023

Part 4 - What the Suttas Say from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi.Nevertheless, despite my reservations about the use of “bare attention” as an alternative expression for sati, if we consider how mindfulness is

Part 3 - Mindfulness and Bare Attention by Bhikkhu Bodhi

Sep 2nd, 2023

Part 3 - Mindfulness and Bare Attention from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi.Many commentators who teach and practice in the contemporary vipassana movement have sought to convey the experiential flavor of mind

Part 2 - The Meaning of Sati by Bhikkhu Bodhi

Aug 26th, 2023

Part 2 - The Meaning of Sati from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi.A problem in hermeneutics, with intimate bearings on the actualpractice of meditation, concerns the exact meaning of the wordsati both in gene

Part 1 - Mindfulness in the Buddhist Path by Bhikkhu Bodhi

Aug 16th, 2023

Part 1 - Mindfulness in the Buddhist Path from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi.The entry of systematic mindfulness practice into the fields of stress reduction and psychotherapy has dramatically altered modern medicine’

Sangha at the Crossroads

May 20th, 2023

Sangha at the Crossroads by Bhikkhu Bodhi"In this article I want to focus on one particular constituency of Buddhists in present day Sri Lanka, the Bhikkhu Sangha, the Order of Monks. I intend to examine, though briefly, the problems it face

The Changing Face of Buddhism

May 13th, 2023

The Changing Face of Buddhism by Bhikkhu Bodhi"If Buddhism is failing to penetrate deep into the hearts of those who profess it as their faith, we have to ask ourselves why, and to ask what can be done to reverse present trends. I would like

A Buddhist Approach to Economic and Social Development

May 6th, 2023

A Buddhist Approach to Economic and Social Development by Bhikkhu Bodhi"The notion of economic and social development has today become the rallying call of politicians, business leaders, and policy planners clear across the globe. This notio

A Buddhist Social Ethic for the New Century

Apr 29th, 2023

A Buddhist Social Ethic for the New Century by Bhikkhu Bodhi"In Theravada Buddhist circles during the past few decades a debate has repeatedly erupted over the question whether or not jhāna is necessary to attain the “paths and fruits,” that

The Jhānas and the Lay Disciple According to the Pāli Suttas

Apr 21st, 2023

The Jhānas and the Lay Disciple According to the Pāli Suttas by Bhikkhu Bodhi."In Theravada Buddhist circles during the past few decades adebate has repeatedly erupted over the question whether or notjhāna is necessary to attain the

A Lifetime Doing Nothing (Story 98 excerpt)

Apr 15th, 2023

Story 98 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie.There is an old story about a young seeker who asks theabbot of a nearby monastery for guidance on how to becomeenlightened. The abbot declines his request but

A Lifetime Doing Nothing (Story 97 excerpt)

Apr 12th, 2023

Story 97 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie.How long will it take to be enlightened? This is such a firstworldquestion. We want the truth and we want it now,to paraphrase Jim Morrison. There is no answer

A Lifetime Doing Nothing (Story 96 excerpt)

Apr 8th, 2023

Story 96 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie.My teacher in India eventually attracted so many students thathe began to appoint assistants to lead retreats on their own.I began assisting him in 1996 and soo

A Lifetime Doing Nothing (Story 95 excerpt)

Apr 5th, 2023

Story 95 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie.Doing non-doing is a long path and is not alwaysstraightforward. To understand what you need to do andwhy and how is relatively easy, and in this regard I hope

A Lifetime Doing Nothing (Story 94 excerpt)

Apr 1st, 2023

Story 94 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie.With the death of a loved one, a grieving period is important, asis understanding how the mind works and how doing nothingwith clear comprehension does not elim

A Lifetime Doing Nothing (Story 93 excerpt)

Mar 29th, 2023

Story 93 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie.According to Thoreau, “The mass of men lead lives of quietdesperation.” I think when people read this, they focus on theword “quiet” as the problematic one in t

A Lifetime Doing Nothing (Story 92 excerpt)

Mar 25th, 2023

Story 92 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie.In the center of Igatpuri village is a street market. Vendors sitat stalls and sell their produce. Because every vendor sits inthe same location, everyone knows

A Lifetime Doing Nothing (Story 91 excerpt)

Mar 22nd, 2023

Story 91 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie.We needn't pause to figure out our next step in life. Life,real life, is there in the pause, in the quagmire of conflictingchoices. We then choose one route and

A Lifetime Doing Nothing (Story 90 excerpt)

Mar 18th, 2023

Story 90 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie.Most everyone is possessed by their possessions. I know peoplewho are owned by their pets. I know others who build heatedgarages for their prized automobiles. M

A Lifetime Doing Nothing (Story 89 excerpt)

Mar 15th, 2023

Story 89 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie.I remember a Sayadaw (respected teacher) who lived in aremote monastery in upper Burma in the vicinity of SagaingHills. He was elderly and blind and very much l

A Lifetime Doing Nothing (Story 88 excerpt)

Mar 11th, 2023

Story 88 from 'A Lifetime Doing Nothing' by Ian McCrorie.I volunteered with Mother Theresa at her Sisters of Charitypalliative care hostel in Calcutta. My service was to help withthe lunch meal as well as a certain un