Search found 809 matches
- Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:54 pm
- Forum: Sīla
- Topic: Television non-watchers - have you noticed positive effects?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 10822
Re: Television non-watchers - have you noticed positive effects?
I have noticed very positive effects from avoiding entertainments, including television programming. From my point of view,most of the programming is just rubbish. It is difficult enough to get the mind to settle, and to find the space and peace needed for a good meditation sit. I have found that by...
- Fri Apr 28, 2017 2:35 am
- Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
- Topic: Samatha & Vipassanā
- Replies: 42
- Views: 10454
Re: Samatha & Vipassanā
There is a history of vipassana as a "stand alone" technique that arose out of colonial Burma, and many people find benefit in this approach. There are also approaches that emphasize calming / tranquility meditation as a stand alone practice.... Actually, in my experience, Burmese "v...
- Thu Apr 27, 2017 11:52 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
- Topic: Samatha & Vipassanā
- Replies: 42
- Views: 10454
Re: Samatha & Vipassanā
It can be helpful to view samatha and vipassana as qualities of meditation or samadhi, rather than separate methods or techniques. It has been said that samatha supports the cultivation of vipassana, just as elements of vipassana support the cultivation of samatha. Put simply, the calming of samatha...
- Thu Apr 13, 2017 11:15 am
- Forum: Sīla
- Topic: Support in following the 8 precepts
- Replies: 17
- Views: 6694
Re: Support in following the 8 precepts
My aspiration over the last couple of years has been to follow the 8 precepts perfectly, but I find it difficult without the support or camaraderie of anyone else. But because they run so counter to mainstream society, it'd be great to have a "support group" of sorts. Any suggestions? I t...
- Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:48 am
- Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
- Topic: How to handle a beggar want to stay in your temple?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 10989
Re: How to handle a beggar want to stay in your temple?
Part of compassion entails wisdom. As David mentioned, an abbot and a wat can be a resource center for people that arrive and need shelter and food. The abbot can determine if there are resources in the community such as family services, addiction services and shelters that are trained and equipped ...
- Thu Apr 13, 2017 10:38 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: the great vegetarian debate
- Replies: 5693
- Views: 975468
Re: Is fishing breaking the precept?
I agree with Ven. Pesala's response. I like to keep in mind that the precepts are, literally, training rules. They are not laws or ordinances, that entail a punishment for their "breaking," or violation. You can't break a training rule, but you can examine the quality of the intention, and...
- Sat Feb 11, 2017 11:00 am
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: Killing Rats
- Replies: 77
- Views: 15904
Re: Killing Rats
HI Bhante: Your suggestion is the best one, but using these traps ( I bought two of them) resulted in no catches. I learned that the mice might be smarter than me. I used peanut butter as bait ( the leading online suggestion) but the mice did not go for it. Maybe the sticky rice is the key. I know t...
- Fri Feb 10, 2017 6:37 pm
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: Killing Rats
- Replies: 77
- Views: 15904
Re: Killing Rats
I haven't been on DW for a while, and visited via a link from another site. I saw this topic and, with thoughts of kamma and goodwill, thought I'd post a suggestion. Since taking an anagarika ordination, I gave up most all of my stuff, and live in a former derelict house that sold for the price of a...
- Thu Nov 03, 2016 1:24 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Metta Training: Wat Phleng
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3622
Re: Metta Training: Wat Phleng
Thanks for the note, Bhante and glad to hear from you and trust you are well. Ajahn Chatchai does not speak much English, at all, but he does have lay disciples at Wat Phleng (including a lovely, helpful man named Vira who was impossibly kind to me) who translates. Ajahn Chatchai is very willing to ...
- Mon Aug 29, 2016 11:40 pm
- Forum: Wellness, Diet & Fitness
- Topic: Why one meal a day?
- Replies: 705
- Views: 365158
- Sat Jun 25, 2016 3:52 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Metta Training: Wat Phleng
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3622
Re: Metta Training: Wat Phleng
Many thanks, Ven. Dhammanando. Your post gave me a real sense of what to expect, and the directions in Thai will be invaluable. I've been in many a Thai taxi or tuk-tuk with a decent English language map, and spent the afternoon with the driver driving lost. By the way, I saw that you are to be in C...
- Sat Jun 25, 2016 12:54 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Metta Training: Wat Phleng
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3622
Metta Training: Wat Phleng
I am to be in Bangkok next week, and wish to visit Wat Phleng and Ajahn Chatchai for his Metta practice. Has anyone been to Wat Phleng, and is there a English speaking contact at the Wat that anyone knows? I am comfortable just showing up, but if anyone has a contact there, or experiences there, I'd...
- Tue Feb 16, 2016 3:04 am
- Forum: Shrine Room
- Topic: Lord Avebury, RIP
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4473
Re: Lord Avebury, RIP
What an interesting and admirable life he lived. Yes, may his rebirth earned be a fortunate one. Too few people like him on this planet.
- Tue Feb 16, 2016 12:28 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Wat Dhammakaya
- Replies: 942
- Views: 397217
Re: Wat Dhammakaya
I'm seeing some guys in robes...not sure if they're acting like monks. The Buddha did counsel kings and rulers of various types, but there's never been a suggestion that he lead a riot, or took a political position. It seems he always took a Dhammic position, and suggested that rulers implement the ...
- Tue Feb 09, 2016 3:58 pm
- Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
- Topic: Monastery Recommendations?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2145
Re: Monastery Recommendations?
Plasticman, I can recommend http://www.templeretreatthailand.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; It's in Fang, Chiang Mai, Thailand. A dynamic young Abbot; he is fluent in English, and is a community organizer and Pal...