meditation
-
“Whose conquest can’t be undone, whose conquest no one in the world can reach; awakened, his pasture endless, pathless: by what path will you lead him astray? In whom there’s no craving—the sticky ensnarer—to lead him anywhere at all; awakened, his pasture endless, pathless: by what path will you lead him astray? They, the enlightened,…
-
“Don’t associate with lowly qualities. Don’t consort with heedlessness. Don’t associate with wrong views. Don’t busy yourself with the world. Get up! Don’t be heedless. Live the Dhamma well. One who lives the Dhamma sleeps with ease in this world and the next. Live the Dhamma well. Don’t live it badly. One who lives the…
-
“What laughter, why joy,when constantly aflame?Enveloped in darkness,don’t you look for a lamp? Look at the beautified image,a heap of festering wounds, shored up:ill, but the objectof many resolves,where there is nothinglasting or sure. Worn out is this body,a nest of diseases, dissolving.This putrid conglomerationis bound to break up,for life is hemmed in with death.…
-
“Better than if there were thousandsof meaningless words isonemeaningfulwordthat on hearingbrings peace. Better than if there were thousandsof meaningless verses isonemeaningfulline of versethat on hearingbrings peace. And better than chanting hundredsof meaningless verses isoneDhamma-sayingthat on hearingbrings peace. Greater in battlethan the man who would conquera thousand-thousand men,is he who would conquerjust one—himself. Better to conquer…
-
“Better than if there were thousands of meaningless words is one meaningful word that on hearing brings peace. Better than if there were thousands of meaningless verses is one meaningful line of verse that on hearing brings peace. And better than chanting hundreds of meaningless verses is one Dhamma-saying that on hearing brings peace. Greater…
-
The quoted text is from the Dhammapada, an essential scripture in Theravada Buddhism, comprising a collection of verses attributed to the Buddha. These verses are organized into various chapters, each focusing on different ethical and philosophical themes that guide the practitioner towards understanding the nature of mind, phenomena, and the path to enlightenment. The Dhammapada…
-
“Quivering, wavering, hard to guard, to hold in check: the mind. The sage makes it straight–like a fletcher, the shaft of an arrow. Like a fish pulled from its home in the water and thrown on land: this mind flips and flaps about to escape Mara’s sway. Hard to hold down, nimble, alighting wherever it…
-
The Pāli Canon, also known as the Tipitaka, is the foundational scripture of Theravada Buddhism. It is the oldest and most complete collection of Buddhist texts, written in the Pāli language. The Canon is divided into three “baskets” or sections: the Vinaya Pitaka, the Sutta Pitaka, and the Abhidhamma Pitaka. Each of these sections serves…
-
What defines the essence of Buddhism, and how have its teachings diverged into distinct paths? This inquiry seeks to unravel the complexities of the three major schools of Buddhism: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. Each tradition offers unique interpretations and practices, yet they all trace their roots back to the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical…
Daily Reflections 