Old News Archive: March 1998
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- [18 March 1998] Five suttas from the Samyutta Nikaya:
- Rahogata Sutta (SN 36.11) — Alone. The Buddha explains how the practice of jhana leads to progressive stages of cessation and stillness. Only when the defilements are finally extinguished, however, is true peace and stillness achieved.
- Isidatta Sutta (SN 41.3) — About Isidatta. What is the origin of self-view? The touching story of Ven. Isidatta, a wise young forest monk, who declines his elders' invitation to become a Dhamma teacher, and instead quietly slips off into the forest and disappears.
- Gilana Sutta (SN 41.10) — Sick (Citta the Householder's Last Hours). Citta, on his deathbed, delivers an inspiring teaching on generosity to his friends, his family, and a gathering of devas.
- Talaputa Sutta (SN 42.2) — Talaputa the Actor. Comedians and actors take heed: making people laugh may not always be a particularly commendable occupation, as Talaputa learns.
- Yodhajiva Sutta (SN 42.3) — To Yodhajiva (The Warrior). The Buddha cautions a soldier against expecting a favorable rebirth because of his battlefield heroics.
- [16 March 1998] Three Suttas from the Majjhima Nikaya:
- Sammaditthi Sutta (MN 9) — The Discourse on Right View [Ñanamoli Thera & Bhikkhu Bodhi, trans.]. A long and important discourse by Ven. Sariputta, with separate sections on the wholesome and the unwholesome, nutriment, the Four Noble Truths, the twelve factors of dependent origination, and the taints.
- Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta (MN 63) — The Shorter Instructions to Malunkya. Ven. Malunkyaputta threatens to disrobe unless the Buddha answers all his speculative metaphysical questions. Using the famous simile of a man shot by a poison arrow, the Buddha reminds him that some questions are simply not worth asking.
- Piyajatika Sutta (MN 87) — From One Who Is Dear. King Pasenadi of Kosala figures prominently in many discourses as a devout follower of the Buddha. In this discourse we learn how — thanks to Queen Mallika's astuteness — the king first became favorably disposed toward the Buddha.
- [12 Mar 1998] Another batch from the Samyutta Nikaya... Why abandon desire?
- Cakkhu Sutta (SN 27.1) — The Eye. Why desire connected with the six senses is worth abandoning.
- Rupa Sutta (SN 27.2) — Forms. Why desire connected with the objects of the six senses is worth abandoning.
- Viññana Sutta (SN 27.3) — Consciousness. Why desire connected with consciousness is worth abandoning.
- Phassa Sutta (SN 27.4) — Contact. Why desire connected with contact is worth abandoning.
- Vedana Sutta (SN 27.5) — Feeling. Why desire connected with feelings is worth abandoning.
- Sañña Sutta (SN 27.6) — Perception. Why desire connected with perceptions is worth abandoning.
- Cetana Sutta (SN 27.7) — Intention. Why desire connected with intentions is worth abandoning.
- Tanha Sutta (SN 27.8) — Craving. Why desire connected with craving for sense-objects is worth abandoning.
- Dhatu Sutta (SN 27.9) — Properties. Why desire connected with the six dhatu (elements) is worth abandoning.
- Khandha Sutta (SN 27.10) — Aggregates. Why desire connected with the five khanda (aggregates) is worth abandoning.
- Migajala Sutta (SN 35.63) — To Migajala. Why is true solitude so hard to find? The Buddha explains why, no matter where you go, some of your most annoying companions always seem to be tagging along.
- Chiggala Sutta (SN 56.48) — The Hole. The Buddha's famous simile of the blind sea-turtle, illustrating the precious rarity of this human birth.
- [3 Mar 1998] Another handful from the Samyutta Nikaya:
- Loka Sutta (SN 12.44) — The World. How the world arises and falls according to the law of dependent co-arising.
- Upadana Sutta (SN 12.52) — Clinging. The Buddha uses a marvellous fire simile to describe the nature of clinging.
- Jinna Sutta (SN 16.5) — Old. Ven. Maha Kassapa explains why he continues meditating even though he has long since attained arahantship.
- Pilahaka Sutta (SN 17.5) — The Dung Beetle.
Sigala Sutta (SN 17.8) — The Jackal. Two warnings for those who find themselves delighting in fame and fortune.
- [1 Mar 1998] A little reorganization... Now that the listings of meditation groups and Dhamma centers have moved to DharmaNet
, I've reorganized the website a little bit:
- The "subtitle" of this site is now "Readings in Theravada Buddhism," in keeping with Access to Insight's renewed focus on serving as a library of Theravada texts, especially translations from the Pali canon.
- The "Gateways to Practice" and "Gateways to Study" pages have been consolidated into one page: "Other Theravada Sources." This is where you can learn where to find meditation practice groups, books, Pali language materials, etc., primarily from other websites.
