As well as the refuges and precepts, you can also chant the tiratana vandana:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuJmXFAgc-c

Thanks Bhante.

I will use the first video to correct my pronunciation of aspirated and retroflex consonants, among others.

Happy Birthday!

Sylvester, There are these five strings of sensuality. Which five? Forms cognizable via the eye—agreeable, pleasing, charming, endearing, fostering desire, enticing; sounds cognizable via the ear… aromas cognizable via the nose… flavors cognizable via the tongue… tactile sensations cognizable via th...

For those with knowledge of Thailand, I'm interested to know how seriously he is likely to be taken.

Would this be considered a breach of pācittiya 8?

Looks interesting. From the blurb: Controversially, The Buddha Pill argues that personal change effected by these spiritual practices can vary widely from one individual to another, and that peace and compassion may not always be the end result. And from the review: The authors also discussed the da...

I think you are right. Moment to moment practice is the foundation for meditation. Right view, action, speech ect are important to watch out for. Your day to day meditation experience is very similar to mine, Alex. Have you ever been on retreat? At least for me, my meditation experience changes for ...

I see, thank you both. Looks pretty comfortable

What is the polite posture?

Happy Birthday!

Buddhism is a religion and inside this religion there is a spiritual path that leads to total cessation of suffering -) I like this definition. I would describe the practice of Dhamma as a spiritual path - which could also be used to describe the teachings of other Samaṇas and Brahmins like Jesus, ...

Kim, I guess both the Pali Canon and the Agamas could've come from the same early school, so we cannot be sure that they can be taken as confirming the correct transmission. Or do we know otherwise? So, the Pali Nikayas are a Sthaviravada --> Theravada transmission, with a few textual differences i...

What does this have to do with Buddhism being a religion? I think its okay to call Buddhism that as long as one understands the fundamentally empirical nature of the 'religion'. However, when most say the word religion they assume that it is making claims that are not verifiable (at least not in th...

Happy Birthday!