Our Real Home

Today I have brought nothing of material substance to offer you, only the Dhamma, the teachings of the Lord Buddha. You should understand that even the Buddha himself, with his great store of accumulated virtue, could not avoid physical death. When he reached old age he ceded his body and let go of the heavy burden. Now you too must learn to be satisfied with the many years you've already depended on the body. You should feel that it's enough.

Like household utensils that you've had for a long time - cups, saucers, plates and so on - when you first had them they were clean and shining, but now after using them for so long, they're starting to wear out. Some are already broken, some have disappeared, and those that are left are wearing out, they have no stable form. And it's their nature to be that way.

Your body is the same... it's been continually changing from the day you were born, through childhood and youth, until now it's reached old age. You must accept this. The Buddha said that conditions, whether internal, bodily conditions or external conditions, are not self, their nature is to change. Contemplate this truth clearly.

- Ajahn Chah -

Benefits of Contentment

BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES FOR HUMAN DIGNITY By Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda

One day a King approached the Buddha and asked a question. “When I look at your disciples I can see serenity, cheerfulness and a very radiant complexion in them. I have also heard that they take only one meal a day, but I really cannot understand how they maintain this lifestyle”. The Buddha gave a beautiful answer. “My disciples do not regret what they might have done in the past but to continue to do more and more meritorious deeds. It is not be repenting, praying and worshiping but by doing some service to others that people can overcome the mistakes that they might have done in the past. My disciples never worry about their future. They are satisfied with whatever they receive, and thereby maintain contentment. They would never say that this or that is not enough for them. That is their way of life. Therefore they are able to maintain a state of serenity, cheerfulness and a good complexion as a result of that contentment”.

From model to nun

Barkha Madan, an Indian model and actress became a Buddhist nun in 2012. 

Vinaya 1:20

Go forth O bhikkhus, for the good of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, benefit, and happiness of gods and men.

Let not two go by one way. Preach, O bhikkhus, the Dhamma excellent in the beginning, excellent in the middle, excellent in the end both in the spirit and in the letter. Proclaim the holy life altogether perfect and pure ~ Vinaya 1:20

Why Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta in this order.

"A beginner who starts on the path has to work. You are being taught to reach the stage that is without "I" (anattā), and when there is no "I" there is no doer. But if we say there is no "I" in the beginning, you could become confused and think you do not need to work. You must first understand, "Well, I have to take steps on the path."A time will come when you understand, "There is a path but there is nobody to walk over it, there are only steps being taken on the path." That stage has to come naturally. If the "I" is still there in you and you try to impose a feeling that the "I" is not there, it is not helpful.“That is why the Buddha’s teaching is to work first with anicca. When you get established in anicca, then dukkha will naturally become clear to you, and you will understand that however pleasant a feeling may be it passes away. If you develop attachment to it you will become miserable. So misery is inherent in even the most pleasant experience. Understanding of dukkha becomes more and more predominant once you are established in anicca.“When you are established in anicca and dukkha, then the third stage—an understanding of anattā—develops, and you think, "What is this phenomenon? Where is ‘I’? Things are just happening, there is just a flow of mind and matter interacting." When the "I" dissolves at the experiential level it is helpful. An imposed conception of anattā will not help. That is why the Buddha never advised us to start with anattā. Start with anicca, then dukkha will follow, and anattā will develop." 

~ S.N.Goenka

What Buddhism says about money and meaning

by CHRIS TAYLOR, Reuters, Aug. 27, 2015 NEW YORK, USA -- Buddhism, which holds that wealth is temporary and no path to happiness, might not sound like the best source for money wisdom. Not so, says Ethan Nichtern, the prominent Buddhist teacher, who has written a new book, The Road Home, on self-awareness and spiritual seeking. Money is unavoidable and it is people’s attitude to it that causes worry and stress, Mr. Nichtern says, who discusses here how money fits into a spiritual approach to the world. Can we escape our connection to money – or should we? We need to have some kind of system for measuring how we consume, produce and share. So there will always be money in any complex society. And any human who wants to pay the rent has to learn the rules of budgeting. But it’s not just a necessary evil. Money can also be spiritual or divine, by powering whatever positive activity you want to engage in.

Buddhist Greek life comes to campus

by Caitlynne Leary, The Daily Aztec, August 26, 2015 San Diego, CA (USA) -- For the first time, a Buddhist fraternity and sorority are coming to the San Diego State campus. This year, the Delta Beta Theta sorority and Delta Beta Tau fraternity are in the process of becoming chartered Greek organizations. Jeff Zlotnik, co-founder of the Dharma Bum Buddhist Temple in San Diego, and Abby Cervantes, a student of the temple, are establishing the new organizations on campus. They will spend the semester gathering members and gauging campus interest. This semester they plan to begin meeting weekly to meditate and discuss Buddhism. Soon, they will formally request to join the Greek community.

Kalyanamitta