Bhaddekaratta

In the Middle Length sayings, one of the few parts of the Pali Canon most Western Buddhists actually do get exposed to, there is a very interesting and beautiful triage of suttas which circle around the following stanza uttered by the Buddha:
Atītaṃ nānvāgameyya, nappaṭikaṅkhe anāgataṃ;
Yadatītaṃ pahīnaṃ taṃ, appattañca anāgataṃ.
Paccuppannañca yo dhammaṃ, tattha tattha vipassati;
Asaṃhīraṃ asaṃkuppaṃ, [...]

Read Full Post »

Samatha (or ???) Vipassana

The question whether to practise samatha or vipassana comes up again and again. 
 In the early days of the Burmese Vipassana movement long debates were waged on which approach would be the correct one (samatha || vipassana, that is).
 This question seems like a non-question. The Buddhas emphasis on the importance on samatha is clear while his whole [...]

Read Full Post »

Search Highlights 2008

While the number of drafted articles grows i just wanted to thank everyone for 2008 and wish all of you a blessed 2009.
Thought i might share with you some of the topics people were looking for in 2008 and, in their search, touched this blog. I hope that at least some of their [...]

Read Full Post »