I've never heard about that "destroying ones ego" is the goal of buddhist practice (seems to me one of the big misunderstanding in the west about buddhist practice) and I wouldn't advice it. It's about knowing yourself, doing wholesome things and abstaining from the unwholesome. You need t...

:namaste: Congratulations on your coming ordination. Just curious, but which monastery would you be joining? Thank you friend Pilgrim :anjali: well that's still a rather long way still to go until then ;) but I'll be living in one of the Forest Sangha monasteries in England (I'd like to keep it a b...

Marthas Vineyard - "Old Beach Road"
you might notice that this really is Bhante Sujato playing the guitar ... well a former lay incarnation

great song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jbNtT3veeQ

I share my playlist here... somewhat over 100 talks (but also documentaries or other stuff that I found interesting about and around dhamma). You might find something of interest for you
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 47CCC1BB0B

Thank you for "Upping" Walkart :) I'm very happy that I've found a seemingly very reliable and caring couple with a rather huge house and garden. I guess "my" cat sibblings will have a great Life there, greater than I could have ever granted to them. May I highjack this thread fo...

12 years ago I left Wat Nanachat due to difficulties with letting go of old habits and identities (most often build around habits). Then I could really see and feel what "dying" means in a monastic context. Very very difficult. Just one year later I did regret leaving the monastery and it ...

Jayantha, I have heard other accomplished Bhikkhus talk about how important it was to visualize their teachers during moments of doubt, one mentioning that he would think of Ajahn Chah when he would have fears and doubts about remaining in robes. You alluded to this in your post, and it may be that...

Dear Jayanta, I feel with you and know exactly what you are going through.

This too will pass. "Let the tears run dry" and then you wonder "where did this doubt come from?".

What a marvelous coincidence I just thought today about opening up a thread dedicated to talks as well

Here's on for starters I found today on the tube:
"Winning and Losing" - Ajahn Amaro - June 2014 Thailand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ViJICSVHVU

Ideally, that's what would happen. But I don't think it will in this case because Buddhism is too closely intertwined with many people's nationality, culture, family, sense of identity, ego, etc. There will be no cutting of the Gordian knot here. :goodpost: Ajahn Sumedho is backing Jack Kornfields ...

Kevin Griffin
Track: "Ajahn Chah"
Record: "Laughing Buddha"

great record!

I suppose the only valuable protecting comes through practicing and investigating ones own mind. How is the chanting of protective verses - or better: believing this protects me effictively from harm, poverty etc. - different from superstitious believes? Same applies to the protective tattoos in Tha...

pilgrim wrote:http://www.sukhihotu.com/buddha-statues-and-images.html

wonderful

especially the more humanlike looking gandhara rupas

As far as I know it depends on the various differnt calendars different schools of theravada use plus the differences that happen through geographical matters. Personally I guess there is no right or wrong date. Every date is good for contemplation. I use the forest sangha calendar just to get over ...