10 Misconceptions about Buddhism (#5)

Buddhism: Philosophy or Religion?

In Asian religious traditions, religion—with its myths, magic, and miracles—goes hand in hand with philosophy. MAY 29, 2014

This article is the fifth in the Tricycle blog series 10 Misconceptions about Buddhism with scholars Robert E. Buswell Jr. and Donald S. Lopez Jr. 

Saṅkhittadesita Sutta : CONCISE TEACHING AN 8.63

translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Translator's note: This discourse is important in that it explicitly refers to the practice of the four frames of reference (the four foundations of mindfulness) as a form of concentration practice, mastered in terms of the levels of jhana.

'Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One: "It would be good if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief so that, having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone in seclusion: heedful, ardent, & resolute."

Ruwanwelisaya Stupa

Ruwanweli Maha Seya රුවන්වැලිසෑය
Ruwanwelisaya Location in Sri Lanka

Ruwanwelisaya Chedi in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

The Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa in Sri Lanka, considered a marvel for its architectural qualities and sacred to many Buddhists all over the world.^[1] It was built by King Dutugemunu c. 140 B.C., who became lord of all Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola King Elara, was defeated. It is also known as Mahathupa, Swarnamali Chaitya, Suvarnamali Mahaceti (in Pali) and Rathnamali Dagaba.

This is one of the Solosmasthana (the 16 places of veneration) and the Atamasthana (the 8 places of veneration in the ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura). The stupa is one of the world's tallest monuments, standing at 103 m (338 ft) and with a circumference of 290 m (951 ft).^[2] The Kaunghmudaw Pagoda in Sagaing, Myanmar is modeled after this stupa.^[3]

The stupa was an ancient ruin in the 19th century. After fundraising efforts by Sinhalese bhikkhu, the stupa was renovated in the early 20th century.^[4] The Ruwanveli Seya Restoration Society was founded in 1902 and the final crowning of the stupa took place on 17 June 1940.^[4]

The largest Stupa after Ruwanwelisaya was build in was the Kotmale Mahaweli Maha Seya. This stupa took 33 years and 3 months to complete.

https://www.facebook.com/methmaga/videos/680670245280829/

A Challenge to Buddhists

BY BHIKKHU BODHI| SEPTEMBER 1, 2007

Each morning, I check out a number of Internet news reports and commentaries on websites ranging from the BBC to Truthout. Reading about current events strongly reinforces for me the acuity of the Buddha’s words: “The world is grounded upon suffering.” Almost daily I am awed by the enormity of the suffering that assails human beings on every continent, and even more by the hard truth that so much of this suffering springs not from the vicissitudes of impersonal nature but from the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion raging in the human heart.

Dhammapada 251

There's no fire like that of lust,
No grasping like that of hate,
No snare like that of delusion,
No river like that of craving.
~ Dhammapada 251 (Gil Fronsdal)

WAS THE BUDDHA A ‘PERFECTIONIST’?

“By definition, a ‘perfectionist’ is someone who likes to accomplish something perfectly, and finds it difficult to accept anything less than flawless.

“No, the Buddha was not a ‘perfectionist’. He did not have any illusions about perfection. He truly understood the world and was very clear about imperfections in life.

“However, the Buddha taught a way to the perfection of morality, mentality, and wisdom – one which He termed the “Noble Path” (Pāli, ‘Ariyamagga’) to purification. Anyone who journeys along that Path can achieve eradication of defilements and attain perfect freedom from ‘Dukkha’.

“The Buddha took a long time to reach that perfection Himself. Thereafter, He was distinguished as ‘Vijja-carana sampanno’ – One who had perfect knowledge of the world and with faultless conduct – ‘the Perfect One’.”

– Excerpt from a Q&A Session with Nalanda founder Bro Tan.

Vassa, Pavarana and Kathina