Old News Archive: March 2005

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(2005-03-30) From the Therigatha Commentary...

Therigatha Commentary (ThigA X.1) — Skinny Gotami and the Mustard Seed [Olendzki]. In this famous parable a mother, blinded by grief over her dead son, asks the Buddha for medicine to cure her son's condition. The Buddha's cure works better than she could ever have imagined.

...and from the Samyutta Nikaya

Donapaka Sutta (SN 3.13) — King Pasenadi Goes on a Diet {S i 81; CDB i 176} [Andrew Olendzki]. With the Buddha's help, King Pasenadi learns to use mindfulness to control his tendency to overeat.
Pabbatopama Sutta (SN 3.25) — Irresistible Force (excerpt) {S i 100; CDB i 192} [Andrew Olendzki]. One of the Buddha's most famous images illustrating the brevity of life and the urgency of Dhamma practice.
Soma Sutta (SN 5.2) — Mara Meets His Match (excerpt) {S i 129; CDB i 222} [Andrew Olendzki]. Can women achieve Awakening? Ven. Sister Soma conquers this misguided question with ease.
Andhakavinda Sutta (SN 6.13) — Let the Wilderness Serve! (excerpt) {S i 154; CDB i 248} [Andrew Olendzki]. The Brahma Sahampati offers up verses of praise for the Buddha, who sits meditating alone in the wilderness.
Udaya Sutta (SN 7.12) — Breaking the Cycle (excerpt) {S i 173; CDB i 268} [Andrew Olendzki]. In delightfully alliterative Pali verse, the Buddha tells how, without true wisdom, the cycle of death and re-becoming are doomed to drone on and on and on.
Gandhatthena Sutta (SN 9.14) — The Thief of a Scent (excerpt) {S i 204; CDB i 303} [Andrew Olendzki]. Have you ever wished for a guardian angel to warn you before you do something foolish? Here's one with an important lesson.
Makkata Sutta (SN 47.7) — The Foolish Monkey (excerpt) {S v 148; CDB ii 1633} [Andrew Olendzki]. Keep your mind in its proper territory — the four frames of reference — lest you lose it altogether, like this pitiful monkey stuck in a tar trap.
Bhikkhunupassaya Sutta (SN 47.10) — Directed and Undirected Meditation (excerpt) {S v 154; CDB ii 1638} [Andrew Olendzki]. The Buddha's advice on how a meditator should respond skillfully to distracted states of mind that interfere with concentration.

(2005-03-29) An essay on Jhana

Jhana Not by the Numbers, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2005; 13k/4pp.)
The author recalls how Ajaan Fuang taught meditation to his students: he would give them just enough instruction to stay on-track, but would rarely "certify" them as having attained this or that level of jhana, thereby motivating them to develop self-reliance and ingenuity in their meditation. In the words of Ajaan Fuang: "If I have to explain everything, you'll get used to having things handed to you on a platter. And then what will you do when problems come up in your meditation and you don't have any experience in figuring things out on your own?"

(2005-03-26) From the Theragatha

Kaludayin Thera (Thag 10.1) — Crossing the Rohini (excerpt) {vv. 527-529} [Andrew Olendzki]. A messenger from the Buddha's father urges the Buddha to return home.
Sariputta Thera (Thag 17.2) — Keeping the Wheel Rolling (excerpt) {vv. 991...1014} [Andrew Olendzki]. The arahant Sariputta keeps the wheel of Dhamma rolling as he meditates alone in the wilderness.

(2005-03-24) New translations from the Theragatha...

Ekavihariya Thera (Thag 10.2) — The Lonely Forest Dweller (excerpt) {vv. 537-41; 544-5} [Andrew Olendzki]. King Asoka's younger brother recalls his journey to arahantship in the wilderness.
Udayin Thera (Thag 15.2) — The Blooming Lotus (excerpt) {vv. 700-701} [Andrew Olendzki]. Ven. Udayin illustrates non-clinging by using the timeless image of the lotus blossom.
Angulimala Thera (Thag 16.8) — The Moon Released (excerpt) {vv. 871-873} [Andrew Olendzki]. The arahant Angulimala reflects on his transformation since his youthful days as a wicked bandit.

...and some reflections on pindapat by a Theravada nun

The Food of Kindness
by Ayya Medhanandi (2005; 84k/4pp., illustrated)
A senior ten-precept Theravada nun eloquently reflects on the hardships and joys of the daily pindapat (alms-round). By this ancient monastic tradition the spritual mendicant — the "true beggar" — both receives nourishment from the tangible generosity of others, while at the same time offering others the rare opportunity to practice giving with an open heart. In the words of the author: "I receive and I give back."

(2005-03-23) Biography of Anathapindika

Anathapindika: The Great Benefactor, by Hellmuth Hecker (Buddhist Publication Society "Wheel" Publication No. 334; 1986). Anathapindika was one of the Buddha's chief lay disciples and a generous patron of the monastic Sangha. A wealthy householder, Anathapindika discovered an even richer inner treasure when he attained stream-entry during his first encounter with the Buddha. He lived out his life freely sharing both kinds of wealth: he provided the Buddha and countless other monks with food and shelter, and he taught the Dhamma to others. Drawing on passages from the suttas, this engaging biography — another in the BPS's "Lives of the Disciples" series — tells the inspiring story of an exemplary lay Buddhist.

(2005-03-13) From the Samyutta Nikaya

Kamada Sutta (SN 2.6) — Kamada's Lament {S i 48; CDB i 142} [Andrew Olendzki]. The Buddha reassures a doubting deva that, though the journey to Awakening may indeed be long and hard, it really can be done.
Vepacitti Sutta (SN 11.4) — Calm in the Face of Anger (excerpt) {S i 220; CDB i 321} [Andrew Olendzki]. Sakka, king of the devas, explains to a skeptic how forbearance is the best response to another's anger.

(2005-03-08) New translations from the Theragatha

Culaka Thera (Thag 2.46) — The Call of the Peacocks {vv. 211-212} [Andrew Olendzki]. The beauty of the wilderness; the beauty of a heart that's free.
Sirimanda Thera (Thag 6.13) — Beaten Like a Thief {vv. 447-452} [Andrew Olendzki]. Your last day approaches. Now is no time to be heedless!
Bhuta Thera (Thag 9.1) — No Greater Contentment {vv. 522-526} [Andrew Olendzki]. A mind well-trained is a mind content under all circumstances.
Ananda Thera (Thag 17.3) — Ananda Alone {vv. 1034-36} [Andrew Olendzki]. Tender words from Ananda who, not yet an arahant, still grieves over the Buddha's death.
Talaputa Thera (Thag 19) — Rain of the Deva {v. 1137} [Andrew Olendzki] (excerpt). A monk admonishes himself.

(2005-03-02) Two poems from the Therigatha

Patacara Theri (Thig 6.1) — The Soothing of Grief {vv. 127-132} [Andrew Olendzki]. A mother conquers her grief over her son's death: "As he has come, so has he gone/What is there here to grieve about?"
Maha Pajapati (Gotami) Theri (Thig 6.6) — A Mother's Blessing {vv. 157-162} [Andrew Olendzki]. After attaining arhantship, Pajapati Gotami sings the praises of her stepson — none other than the Buddha himself.