Because moral conduct is based on objective principles and determined according to natural laws, Buddhist practitioners require courage and honesty to acknowledge and face the truth. Continue reading
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Screwing Up Mindfully
Life in the Saffron Forest: Chapter 8
The long account I gave in the previous section was simply to make it clear to the readers that the term bprayoke, referring to a level of Pali studies, literally means a passage of Pali text, which the examination committee uses to test the examinee. If he can translate it correctly he thus achieves a level of Pali studies. Continue reading
Escaping the Conditioning Influences of Society
If people are to live together in peace—even just two people—there must be boundaries and an ability to regulate behaviour. When many people live together there is a requirement for rules or agreements about behaviour, of what should be done and what should be avoided, in order to bring about harmony and welfare for each individual. Continue reading
Transcendent Right View
Right view conforming to transcendence stems from wise reflection, which plays an essential role. Generally speaking, the behaviour of unawakened persons is dictated by values instilled by society, for example to abstain from specific kinds of bad behaviour and to perform specific kinds of good actions, according to model teachings, instructions, transmissions, and edicts. Whenever unawakened persons do not fall under the sway of such socially instilled values, they fall subject to craving (taṇhā), which today is referred to as ‘emotions.’ Wise reflection helps to free a person from the influence of social values and from the enslavement by mental defilement, and it engenders a freedom of behaviour guided by wisdom. In sum, when a person thinks or acts without the presence of wise reflection, if he does not succumb to external social values then he falls under the power of his own craving. When one possesses transcendent right view, however, one is truly liberated from the influence and power of society.
From chapter 19 of Buddhadhamma, on the path factors of wisdom, by Venerable Phra Payutto
Righteous Governance
From the perspective of a state or nation, Buddhism recognizes these important aspects of material wealth: poverty is a form of suffering, poverty and deprivation are crucial causes for crime and wrongdoing in society (as is the related factor of greed), and it is the responsibility of the state or of political leaders to care for and allocate funds to the poor and to ensure that there are no destitute people in the country. Continue reading
Life in the Saffron Forest: Chapter 7
I mentioned in an earlier chapter that every novice and monk who is ordained must study a formal religious instruction (nak tam) or study Pali, or both. Of course it is possible to be ordained and to not study at all, but this is not in line with the objectives of an ‘ordination for learning’ (buat rian). The expression ‘ordination for learning’ implies that there is work to be done after the ordination ceremony. Continue reading
New book ‘The Buddhist Teachings on Faith and Confidence’ available on the publications page.
Life in the Saffron Forest: Chapter 6
Allow me to give a short explanation of the monks’ discipline:
A person who is ordained in the Buddhist religion is obliged to observe the code of discipline (vinaya)—the two hundred and twenty-seven rules. The monks must observe a great number of rules, more than the legal clauses issued by Thailand’s fourteenth prime minister, Thanin Kraivichian. Continue reading
Posted in Life in the Saffron Forest, Moral Conduct
Tagged Moral Conduct, Sathienpong Wanapok, Thai Buddhism
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Paisahn Sanchai
Loy Kratong
In November of 1971 a very strange thing began to happen to Mr. Paisahn Sanchai of Lamphun province, Thailand. After feeling exceptionally tired and going to sleep he had the first of many recurring ‘visions’ (nimitta). Continue reading
Sayādaw U Jotika
Sayadaw U Jotika
Earlier this year it was a tremendous joy to find out that Venerable Sayādaw U Jotika happened to be spending one month in Bangkok and that the quiet residence which his lay-supporters had organized for him to stay was coincidentally in the same condominium building as mine. How remarkable in a city of ten million inhabitants! Continue reading