History

Uposatha sutta, Udana 5.5

Just as the great ocean contains many precious substances, various precious substances... so also this Dhamma and Discipline contains many precious things, various precious things, such as these: the four foundations of mindfulness, the four right endeavors, the four bases for successful accomplishment, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven enlightenment factors, and the Noble Eightfold Path."

Let’s feed the mind more than the body

Tan Ajaan: Actually in the practice, we do not have to study a lot. It mostly depends on our own meditation. But if he practises and gets stuck on samādhi or has a problem, he can come to ask for help. Teaching is not that difficult. In the early days foreigners stayed with Luangpor Chah who didn’t speak English, but they were still able to learn from him just by watching him and following his example.

What does silence offer ? Ajahn Brahm

Dhammapada 100

Though a thousand speeches
are made of meaningless lines,
better the single meaningful line
by hearing which one is at peace.

Devote more time and effort to your practice

“…The first level is called samatha-bhāvanā, the meditation for peace of mind, for calm, for tranquility, for stillness–just knowing without any thinking. When the mind enters that stage, it will experience peace and happiness that is greater than any kind of happiness.

Itivuttaka 98

"There are these two kinds of gifts: a gift of material things & a gift of the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: a gift of the Dhamma.
There are these two kinds of sharing: sharing of material things & sharing of the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: sharing of the Dhamma. There are these two kinds of assistance: assistance with material things & assistance with the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: help with the Dhamma." 

The harm of sexual desire

“…The Buddha taught monks to visit the cemetery in order to overcome their attachment to the body, to cut off their desire to avoid aging, sickness, and death, and to correct sexual desire that views the body as beautiful. Upon seeing the condition of a corpse, sexual desire will not arise.

During the time of the Buddha there was a monk who struggled with sexual desire. It so happened that a prostitute, famed for her stunning beauty, died, and so the Buddha sent this monk to contemplate her dead body.

Itivuttaka 107

"Monks, brahmans & householders are very helpful to you, as they provide you with the requisites of robes, alms food, lodgings, & medical requisites for the sick. And you, monks, are very helpful to brahmans & householders, as you teach them the Dhamma admirable in the beginning, admirable in the middle, admirable in the end; as you expound the holy life both in letter & meaning, entirely complete, surpassingly pure. In this way the holy life is lived in mutual dependence, for the purpose of crossing over the flood, for making a right end to stress." 

Buddhism: From India to Abroad

NewsGram, April 3, 2016

New Delhi, India -- Buddhism is a way of finding peace within oneself. It is a religion that helps us to find the happiness and contentment we seek. Buddhists develop inner peace, kindness and wisdom through their daily practice; and then share their experience with others bringing real benefit to this world.

They try not to harm others and to live peacefully and gently, working towards the ultimate goal of pure and lasting happiness for all living beings.Buddhism was spread by the third and the most powerful Mauryan emperor Ashoka.

After the battle of Kalinga, Ashoka felt immense grief due to the huge loss of lives during the war and thus decided to follow the path of Buddhism.After this, he began to implement Buddhist principles in the administration of his kingdom and named the new code of conduct ‘Dhamma’. Here, in order to inform everyone about his new political and ruling philosophy, he got edicts (proclamation) inscribed on stone pillars and placed them throughout his kingdom, which are present even today.

Udana 5.5, Uposatha Sutta

"Just as the great ocean gradually shelves, slopes, and inclines, and there is no sudden precipice, so also in this Dhamma and Discipline there is a gradual training, a gradual course, a gradual progression, and there is no sudden penetration to final knowledge."

Thinking analytically concerning your practice

“…This is what you will have to do. First you must develop the four iddhiphāda: chanda, viriya, citta, vimaṁsā. Chanda means having to like what you do. If you like to meditate, then you will have the heart/ the mind to put in the time and effort which is viriya. And you will have devotion (citta); you will devote all your time to this practice and you will think analytically to figure out what is making you move forward, and what is holding you back (vimaṁsā).

Dhammapada 73-74

The fool seeks undeserved reputation, precedence among monks, authority over monasteries, and honor among householders.

"Let both laymen and monks think that it was done by me. In every work, great and small, let them follow me" — such is the ambition of the fool; thus his desire and pride increase.

The Precepts aren’t Hard, by Ajahn Chah

Posted on 12 April 2016 by Buddhism Now

The Buddha taught that looking after the precepts isn’t hard if you look after yourself. If any forms of harm are about to arise by way of your bodily actions or speech, then if mindfulness is in place, you’ll recognize them. You’ll have a sense of right and wrong. This is how you look after your precepts. Your body and speech depend on you. This is the first step.

Metta ~ Buddhaghosa, Visuddhimagga 9.93

Metta is characterized here as promoting the aspect of welfare. 
Its function is to prefer welfare. It is manifested as the removal of annoyance. Its proximate cause is seeing lovableness in beings. It succeeds when it makes ill will subside, and it fails when it produces (selfish) affection. 

The Joy of Effort Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Indonesia Theravada Sangha 2nd annual Tipitaka chanting in Borobudur.

Wonderful news, Rejoicing!

Indonesia Theravada Sangha are getting ready for their 2nd annual Tipitaka chanting in Borobudur. At Borobudur, hundreds of Buddhist monks and thousands of lay people will join together for the second time on 15 - 17 July 2016 to do the Tipitaka Chanting and Asalha Mahapuja 2560/2016.