Happiness and unhappiness lie within our own minds. They are not dependent on our external circumstances, but on how we react to these circumstances. Two people may have the same experience, but one will react by feeling happy, and the other by feeling unhappy. Meditation helps us to cultivate the happy responses and reduce the unhappy ones.  It gives us the courage to withstand life's inevitable difficulties without disturbing our peace of mind. Sabbe dhamma nalam abhinivesaya All phenomena should NOT be clung to as "My Self", "Mine" or "I". At Savatthi. As he was sitting to one side, King Pasenadi Kosala said to the Blessed One: "Just now, lord, while I was alone in seclusion, this train o

By Mahasi Sayadaw The following is a talk by the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita U Sobhana given to his disciples on their induction into Vipassana Meditation at Sasana Yeiktha Meditation Centre, Rangoon, Burma. It was translated from the Burmese by U Nyi Nyi ) The practice of Vipassana or Insight Meditation is the effort made by the meditator to understand correctly the nature of the psycho-physical phenomena taking place in his own body. Physical phenomena are the things or objects which one clearly perceives around one. The whole of one's body that one clearly perceives constitutes a group of material qualities (rupa). Psychical or mental phenomena are acts of consciousness or aware

The Kalama Sutta teaches us not to put our faith blindly on an authority or teachers. How then do we find our Kalyanamitta = spiritual friends? The Thana Sutta provides us good guidelines by observing 4 traits: Only after a long period, not short period; by one who is attentive, not by one who is inattentive: by one who is discerning, not by one who is not discerning can we observe the 4 traits. 1. It's through discussion (speech) that a person's discernment may be known. - From the way this person raises an issue, from the way he applies (his reasoning, from the "way he addresses a question) he dull, not discern? It's through dealing with a person that his purity may be known. 2. It's throu

Extract from Daily Buddhist Devotions by Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Panatipata Veramani Sikkhapadam Samadiyami I voluntarily undertake the precept of abstaining from killing Adinnadana Veramani Sikkhapadam Sammadiyami I voluntarily undertake the precept of abstaining from stealing Kamesu Micchacara Veramani Sikkhapadam Samadiyami I voluntarily undertake the precept of abstaining from sexual misconduct Musavada Veramani Sikkapadam Samadiyami I voluntarily undertake the precept of abstaining from lying Suramerayamajjapamadatthana Veramani Sikkapadam Sammadiyami I voluntarily undertake the precept of abstaining from liquor, alcohol drinks or intoxicants that be-cloud the mind The Five Precept

By Brother H. Johnson In life, you have good and bad days; some things are favorable, while others are unfavorable. You get a large bonus or can’t find a parking place. You are sometimes lucky and at other times luckless. Your friend “touches” the numbers regularly; you never have won. There are also people whom you have heard of who are born wealthy and some who lose their fortunes. Health changes between well and sickness. Natural disasters kill thousands, but leave some untouched. Why? Since the beginning these things have been going on. It was the same when Buddha lived; but he gave an explanation called the Dhamma. If you learn this Dhamma, then you will understand the worlds as unstabl

Once the Buddha was staying in a town in northern India called Kesaputta where the Kalama clan lived.  The Kalamas visited the Buddha and asked him: “There are some holy men and priests, Venerable Sir, who come and claim that only their teaching is right and condemn the teachings of others. Then some other holy men and priests came to Kesaputta; and they, in turn, claim that their teaching is right and others wrong.  As a result, doubt has come to us.  Which of these holy men and priests spoke the truth?” The  Buddha replied: “It is proper to doubt in things that are doubtful.  Come, O Kalamas:” 1) Do not believe anything based on revelation 2) Do not believe anything through tradition han

For all Buddhists/ taking refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha is the first and most elemental act on the Buddha's path to freedom. Buddham Seranan Gacchami The Buddha is the ideal of spiritual perfect ion, and the Teacher of true path to attain it. By taking refuge in the Buddha (Buddha Seranan Gacchami), you take that ideal as your teacher. You also pledge not to seek false spiritual ideals. Dhammam Seranan Gacchami The Dhamma is the true path to spiritual perfection, and the essence of that perfect truth. By taking refuge in the Dhamma (Dhammam Seranan Gacchami), you take that truth as your goal . You also pledge to avoid wayward paths and false teachings. Sangham Seranan Gacchami The

“With this light brightly burning, dispelling all darkness,  we worship the fully enlightened Buddha, Light of the Triple World. By offering this light, may our path be free from darkness and may our hearts and mind be always bright and pure.” “With this fragrance incense we worship the Exalted One who is worthy of respect and honor. By offering this fragrance to the Tathagata, may the perfume of virtue spread always and everywhere.” “By offering this water, fresh clean and cool, may the minds of all beings be washed of impurities.” “We offer these flowers , fresh, beautiful and fragrant at the Buddha’s lotus-like feet.  By offering these flowers may we realize the truth of impermanence that

"Do not dwell in the past. Do not dream of the future. Concentrate the mind on the present moment" "Peace comes from within, do not seek from without" "There are only 2 mistakes one can make along the road of Truth : Not going alI the way and not starting" "The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart." "All that we are is the result of what we have thought... What we think, we become" "We practice meditation in order to see ourselves as we truely are and life as it truly is." "You cannot travel the path until you become the path" "Conquer the angry man with Love, conquer the ill-natured with Goodness, Conquer the miser with Generosity, conquer the Iiar with Truth" "

By Phrakhru Udom Dhammavithes, UBT Abbot Where there is a religion there is a creator. Then, there are messengers, priests, organized institutions such as temples, churches and mosques and many types of prayers, processions and pujas etc. Religion, according to the Oxford Dictionary, means “belief in the existence of a supernatural ruling power, the creator and controller of the Universe, who has given to man a spiritual nature which continues to exist after the death of the body”. Whatever religious belief religion creates, it is a desire for happiness. Once we attach ourselves to happiness, there is fear, namely that it can cease. So people bow down to God, or many gods, and people have fe

The Insight meditation by Ajahn Chah "Try to be mindful and let things take their natural course. Then your mind will become still In any surroundings, like a clear forest pool. All kinds of wonderful, rare animals will come to drink at the pool and you will clearly SH the nature of all things. You will see many strong and wonderful things come and go; but you will be still This is the happiness of the Buddha"..........Ajahn Chah The Simple Path Traditionally the Eightfold Path is taught with eight steps such as Right Understanding , Right Speech, Right Concentration and so forth. But the true Eightfold Path is within us - two eyes, two ears, two nostrils,a tongue and a body. These eight doo

By K. Sri Dhammanand a 14th March, 1991, Buddhist Vihara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Those who be have in God would pray to him for help and protection when they experience fear,sorrow or disturbances. Many Buddhists ask to whom they could turn when confronted with the thoughts of fear, insecurity and helplessness. Under such circumstances,we can turn our minds to the Buddha and seek solace through him. When Buddhists visualize the supreme qualities of the Buddha - his great victories, serenity and sacredness, and calm demeanor, their minds will be calmed and their confidence will grow. It is through calming their minds and focusing on this power that they are in a position to understand the