Buddhist Cosmology

Renowned scholar Dr.W. Randolph, who in his recent research Buddhist Cosmology writes that ‘The Buddha refused to answer these questions because they were vain and had no significance for salvation. All of the proposed alternatives are rejected by tradition as false or heretical. The scholastic difficulties inherent in apparent corollaries of these positions shed additional light on the implications of these cosmological questions.’

However, denying the importance of these cosmic speculations could "not prevent his followers from accepting the general cosmological beliefs of their time, modified by conclusions drawn from his specific moral and religions teachings" says Encylopeadia Britanica. It further states that the cosmic phenomenon of creation, destruction and recreations are inevitable process ! Nothing is of permanent nature or transcendental within the scope of the concept called "realm of desire", wherein gods, human being and other impermanence creatures are nothing but embodiment of impermanence.

Q&A - Goenkaji

Question: My body has become quite frail. You said to follow the advice of the doctor, so I had three surgeries for my cancer. Now I do not want to undergo another surgical procedure. This disease is not going to leave me. What should I do?

Goenkaji: I say get freed from the diseases of the mind. Then you will see that no matter what the situation is, you are always in a positive state of mind. There is a pain somewhere in the body, but your mind is free from pain, and you shall not let the mind get agitated. Then you have understood the Dhamma! Because of the accumulated kammas of this life or of a past life, some kind of disease has manifested in the body, but now if you are established in Dhamma, then there is no agitation. And oh how intense the pain as one approaches closer to death! Only those who are dying understand their own pain, no one else can. But even with so much pain, many meditators pass away with a smile on their face and without any sedative drugs or painkillers as they are developed in the Dhamma. Oh how can cancer affect such persons? If an illness comes then we will try and treat it, but if the doctor says this is beyond any treatment, then we have our own remedy. We shall not allow our minds to get agitated; we shall not lose our equanimity

Removing Annoyance

"Bhikkhus, there are these five ways of removing annoyance, by which annoyance can be entirely removed by a bhikkhu when it arises in him. What are the five?

Vanijja Sutta: Wrong Livelihood

What is Wrong Livelihood?


"Monks, a lay follower should not engage in five types of business. Which five? Business in weapons, business in human beings, business in meat, business in intoxicants, and business in poison.


"These are the five types of business that a lay follower should not engage in." 

Interfaith

His Holiness the Dalai Lama lighting a candle at the tomb of Mother Teresa as the sisters sing hymns of praise during his visit to the Missionaries of Charity's Mother House in Kolkata, West Bengal, India on January 12, 2015. (Photo by Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL)

Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity with Kindness

A Forum on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer Issues
Reported by Mettānandī

“There’s nothing in the early Buddhist scriptures suggesting that homosexuality is sexual misconduct”, said Āyasmā Kumāra Bhikkhu from Sāsanārakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS) in a forum on “Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity with Kindness” held on July 6th 2014 in Samādhi Vihāra, Shah Alam.

About 130 people attended the forum organised by KL Buddhist Mental Health Association (BMHA), Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (BMSM) and Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM).

The forum on “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ)” issues
featured 5 panellists, namely Āyasmā Kumāra Bhikkhu from SBS; Dr Keng Shian Ling, clinical psychologist and assistant professor in National
University of Singapore (NUS); Ms Jellene Eva, human rights activist working with Justice for Sisters; Mr Pang Khee Teik, co-founder of Seksualiti Merdeka; and Ms Angela M. Kuga Thas, co-founder of Knowledge and Rights with
Young People Through Safer Spaces (KRYSS). The forum moderator was Dr Phang Cheng Kar, president of BMHA who is a consultant psychiatrist in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Indriya-vibhanga Sutta

"Monks, there are these five faculties. Which five? 
The faculty of confidence (saddha), the faculty of energy (viriya), the faculty of mindfulness (sati), the faculty of concentration (samadhi), the faculty of wisdom (panna).”