Updated: April 30, 2026: Original article in 2020. This year is 2026, which is a leap year, and Vassa starts on July 30th (plus or minus a day due to different traditions). Quick Chart for Leap Years (When Vesak and Vassa are Late) Other Years: 2020 (2-year leap year) 2023 (3-year leap year) 2026 (3-year leap year) 2028 (2-year leap year) 2031 (3-year leap year) 2034 (3-year leap year) Introduction There seems to be confusion about when Vesak or Vassa is this year (2026). This year is a special year and Vassa starts the day after the full moon day at the end of July.

Summary Easy to support does not mean that the monk can take care of himself. Easy to support means that the monk is content with the four requisites he is provided with. Although it is easier to support a monk who uses money, the monk is being supported with unallowable gifts and encouraged to break the Buddha’s rules. Introduction: The Metta Sutta brings up the term Subharo, which means easy to support. But the same sutta also says that the monk should not do anything that the wise would criticize.

Summary: In Buddhism, “Killing” is defined by the technical mechanics of the mind, not by social laws. The unwholesome Kamma is complete only if Five Factors are present: Presence: A Living Being. Perception: Knowing it is alive. Intention: A mind bent on killing. Effort: Making the attack. Result: The being dies. If all five are met, the precept killing (pāṇātipāta) is broken. This rule applies equally to Self-Defense, Euthanasia, and Abortion—Kamma judges the intention to destroy life, not the justification for doing so.

Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal or tax advice. Individual situations vary; consult a qualified professional for guidance. Summary Unless one has a vow of poverty and an “agent of the order” (which means one does not take money or even personal allowable requisites), then there are many tax laws to abide to. Under U.S. law, many donations given to monks function as taxable income, even when offered as allowable requsiites. The key distinction is not Vinaya intention, but whether the support is regular, role-based, and relied upon for livelihood. Similar principles may also apply in countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom.

Picture of pabbajja novice ordination in Pa Auk (8th April 2014) Updated January 1, 2026 Summary: If you are looking to ordain at places that have Theravāda Buddhism and follow vinaya (places that don’t touch money), and you believe in the Commentaries and Abhidhamma and want to meditate, you have two choices: Pa-Auk and Na-Uyana. There is a new place in Thailand as well. If you don’t believe in the Commentaries and Abhidhamma, you are best off at a Thai Forest Monastery such as Ajahn Chah (Mahanikaya) or Ajahn Maha Boowa (Dhammayut) monasteries. Both traditions have a presence in the West and in Thailand. There are other places that I might recommend too. I will mention them later.

What’s New? Updated December 29, 2025. Version 2.0 Released with multiple formats for download and updated texts with fixed mistakes. PTS Books are legally available for free non-commercial download azw3, epub, mobi, and pdf for all four nikāyas at the bottom of the page. Jump to Download Links Legal Information The Pali Text Society has made its Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma books available for non-commercial use since 2013. The Sutta books have been extracted from the Buddhadust Website which is still considered as “work in progress.” However, the work was good enough to reformat as eBooks in its current state.

The Buddha said to Rāhula in the Ambaṭṭhika Rāhulovāda Sutta: Evameva kho, Rāhula, yassa kassaci sampajānamusāvāde natthi lajjā, nāhaṁ tassa kiñci pāpaṁ akaraṇīyanti vadāmi. For one who has no shame in deliberate lying, I say there is no evil that person cannot do. The Elephant’s Trunk The Buddha explained that an elephant always protects its trunk. The trunk is the last thing it will risk. But in ancient times, when elephants were trained for war, they were made to charge fully, without holding back, even exposing the trunk. Once that happens, there is no limit to what the elephant can destroy.

Tiptkata Pali Reader A new beautiful app written in Flutter for all Desktops and Mobile Devices. Download: Download: (Windows Store) (Mac OS Store) (Flathub Store) TPR-AppImage sudo apt install libfuse2 libsqlite3-dev (Android Store) (iOS Store) What is new? 2.7.7+107 Now supports ePitaka extension will all texts translated. Build 85+ Release — May 2025 for Linux AppImage, Android, and Windows:

Download Android App Download iOS App Update November 25, 2025 with video and summary. First published September 2021. Summary: This is an announcement of the iOS and Android Buddhist Sun App, created to help monastics and lay yogis know the correct times according to GPS position and day of the year. The app includes the following features: Solar Noon Dawn times Uposatha Days Moons GPS map Countdown Timer Notifications for upcoming Uposatha Days Recently, I made this mobile app to help me know when Solar Noon is approaching or has passed.

Key Points A monk may only ask for his needs if he receives pavāraṇā (invitation). Clear invitations—especially phrases like “any time” or “ever”—create ongoing permission. Invitations are not binding; they simply allow the monk to ask. Renewing the invitation often helps the monk feel comfortable and avoids misunderstandings. Introduction In the Theravāda Vinaya tradition for monks who do not use money, many lay supporters are not familiar with how invitations work1. Several Vinaya rules prevent a monk from asking for his needs unless he is given pavāraṇā (invitation).