Old News Archive: July-August 1999

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[26 July 1999] "What's the difference between versions 1.0 and 2.0 of the Handful of Leaves CD-ROM?"
A number of people have been asking me this question lately. To quote from the "Occasionally asked questions about the CD-ROM ": Version 2.0 will be very similar to version 1.0, but it will contain at least 100 more suttas (including the complete text of the Itivuttaka), several dozen additional articles and books, expanded indexes, plus hundreds of corrections and improvements that should make the CD even easier to use.
[12 July 1999] From the Samyutta Nikaya:
- Sakalika Sutta (SN 1.38) — The Stone Sliver. After an attempt on his life, the Buddha shows by example how to handle pain.
- Sakalika Sutta (SN 4.13) — The Stone Sliver. Mara taunts the Buddha as the latter is resting after an attempt on his life.
- Anuruddha Sutta (SN 9.6) — Anuruddha. One of Ven. Anuruddha's consorts from a previous life, when he lived in the heaven of the Thirty-three, visits him and invites him back.
- Ayoniso-manasikara Sutta (SN 9.11) — Inappropriate Attention. Food for thought for a monk being gnawed by his thoughts.
- Gandhatthena Sutta (SN 9.14) — The Thief of a Scent. Ever thought you'd like to have a guardian angel, someone to warn you whenever you were about to do wrong? Here's one who offers a lesson in being meticulous and self-reliant.
- Alavaka Sutta (SN 10.12) — To the Alavaka Yakkha. A yakkha challenges the Buddha with riddles and threatens him: "If you can't answer me, I will possess your mind or rip open your heart or, grabbing you by the feet, hurl you across the Ganges."
[4 July 1999] From the Anguttara Nikaya:
- Ajivaka Sutta (AN 3.72) — To the Fatalists' Student. Ven. Ananda gives a skillful answer to the questions, "Whose teaching is right? Whose practice is right?"
[2 July 1999] From the Anguttara Nikaya:
- Vaccha Sutta (AN 3.57) — To Vaccha (on Generosity). Every act of generosity is meritorious, but some are more so than others.
- Katuviya Sutta (AN 3.126) — Putrid. The Buddha chastises a heedless monk: "Monk, monk, don't let yourself putrefy! On one who lets himself putrefy & stink with the stench of carrion, there's no way that flies won't swarm & attack!"
- Kuta Sutta (AN 3.105) — The Peak of the Roof. When the mind is protected, all one's actions — and their results — are protected as well. When it's not, they get soggy & rot.
- Vanijja Sutta (AN 4.79) — Trade. One reason why some people succeed and others fail in their trades.