Old News Archive: May 1997
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- [28 May 97] Link added:
- Buddhist Retreat Centre (Ixopo, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa)
- [23 May 97] A talk by Ajaan Lee:
- Visakha Puja (1956)
- [19 May 97] Suttas added and indexed — Happy Vesak!
- The Khuddakapatha, a short book from the Khuddaka Nikaya, whose nine short passages may have been designed as a primer for novice monks and nuns. It includes many essential texts that are chanted to this day by laypeople and monastics around the world of Theravada Buddhism.
- The Snake (Uraga Sutta, Sn 1.1). One who advances far along the path sheds unwholesome states of mind, as a snake sheds its dried up old skin
- A Rhinoceros (Khaggavisana Sutta, Sn 1.3). On the value of living the solitary wandering life of a forest monk.
- Victory (Vijaya Sutta, Sn 1.11). Reflecting on the unattractiveness of the body as a way to gain insight.
- The Going Forth (Pabbaja Sutta, Sn 3.1). King Bimbisara, struck by the young Buddha's radiant demeanor, follows him to the mountains to discover who he is and whence he comes.
- The Cave of the Body (Guhatthaka Sutta, Sn 4.2). Those who remain attached to the body and sensuality will have difficulty freeing themselves from further becoming.
- Pasura (Pasura Sutta, Sn 4.8). The Buddha discourages Pasura from trying to engage in a dispute with him, since the Buddha no longer grasps at opinions.
- Quickly (Tuvataka Sutta, Sn 4.14). A description of the qualities of the ideal monk. The Buddha sets for us here a high standard of conduct, a valuable point of reference against which we can assess our own commitment to the Dhamma.
- Upasiva's Questions (Upasiva-manava-puccha, Sn 5.6). Q: Upon what support should one rely in order to cross over the flood? A: Abandoning sensual pleasures.
- Hemaka's Question (Hemakava-manava-puccha, Sn 5.8). Q: What is the Dhamma that demolishes craving and gets beyond entanglement in the world? A: Dispel passion and desire for all that is seen, heard, felt, & cognized.
- Kappa's Question (Kappa-manava-puccha, Sn 5.10). Q: What is the island one can stand on so that one is not swept away by the flood of aging and death? A: Having nothing, clinging to no thing, Unbinding.
- [15 May 97] Suttas added and indexed:
- Some new passages from the Itivuttaka, describing various qualities of those who have reached the goal: Iti 52-3 and Iti 56-61
- The Observance (Ud 5.5) — in which is found the Buddha's famous line, "Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma & Discipline has a single taste: that of release."
- Therigatha (Verses of the Elder Nuns) and Theragatha (Verses of the Elder Monks) — many new verses have been added.
- [9 May 97] Suttas added and indexed:
- Bhikkhuni Sutta: The Nun (AN 4.159). Ven. Ananda teaches a nun that, although craving can be used to overcome craving, and conceit to overcome conceit, the same principle does not hold for sexual intercourse.
- Maranassati Sutta: Mindfulness of Death (1) and (2) (AN 6.19 & 20). Death could come at any time. Are you ready?
- Aggivacchagotta Sutta: To Vacchagotta on Fire (MN 72). The Buddha explains to a wanderer that he does not hold any speculative views. Using the simile of an extinguished fire he illustrates the destiny of the liberated being.
- [8 May 97]: Link added:
- Mexican Center of Theravada Buddhism (Veracruz, Mexico)
- [7 May 97]: Sutta anthologies are now available.
- The sutta files (English translations) are now also available as anthologies, to make it easier to download many of them at once. I had to reorganize the sutta file hierearchy considerably in order to do this, so some of your bookmarks to the suttas may need to be updated. I apologize for any inconvenience.
- [6 May 97]: Link added:
- Dhammananda Vihara — Theravada Buddhist Society of America (Half Moon Bay, CA)
