Dhamma talksDeath and the Life Continuum (Bhavaṅga)
Dhamma Talk August 27, 2026 at Katana, Sri Lanka We are going to talk about two topics today: death and the life continuum, which …
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Teaching
Dhamma talks
TeachingAre Vinaya Monks Easy to Support?
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 …
TeachingWhat is Killing? The First Precept
Summary: In Buddhism, “Killing” is defined by the technical mechanics of the mind, not by social laws. The unwholesome …
Interesting thingsFree PTS Sutta eBooks
What’s New? Updated December 29, 2025. Version 2.0 Released with multiple formats for download and updated texts with fixed …
TeachingHow to Invite and Support a Monk: Vinaya Rules Explained
Key Points A monk may only ask for his needs if he receives pavāraṇā (invitation). Clear invitations—especially phrases like “any …
TeachingWhy Is Halloween Bad According to Theravada Buddhism?
Updated October 21, 2025 from the original in 2022. Introduction: Halloween is bad according to Theravāda because it involves …
TeachingThe Famous Buddhist Blessing for Food
One of the most famous blessings given after a meal donation is from Dhammapada verse 109. It is well known across all traditions …
TeachingA Short Message About The Eightfold Noble Path
Many people think that the Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya Aṭṭhaṅgika Magga) and the Four Noble Truths (Cattāri Ariya Saccāni) are …
TeachingTriple Gem and Einstein
I explain the Triple Gem to Westerners who know nothing about Buddhism in an unconventional way. I use an analogy that helps them …
TeachingIs Shame Good For Meditation?
Introduction Many people think that hiri (moral shame) and ottappa (fear of wrongdoing) are too heavy for meditation. However, we …
TeachingThe Beautiful Mind in Meditation?
What does it technically mean to have a “beautiful mind” in meditation—beyond vague metaphores or mysticism. Defining the …
TeachingChoosing Your Awareness With Selective Attention
Training the Mind to not notice things: It seems strange that mindfulness would be used to not notice things. However, there’s a …
Interesting thingsDoes Buddhism Have A Creator
Recently, I made a video explaining the common question I get asked in the West. “Do you believe in a creator?” It is …
TeachingWhat Is An Ordained Sayalay?
Introduction A Sayalay is an ordained nun in the Myanmar Theravāda Tradition. It is similar to a sāmaṇerī or 10-precept female …
TeachingAbout The Dhammapada
Introduction One of the most famous Theravāda dhamma books would be The Dhammapada. It is a book of Buddhist Poetry consisting of …
TeachingAbout Alms In Sri Lanka
This video is about alms giving in Sri Lanka, also known as piṇḍapāta. I share my experiences of collecting alms in Sri Lanka and …
TeachingWhat Is Buddhist Vesak?
Vesak is a Buddhist holiday that celebrates the Lunar Full Moon Day of May, commemorating the birth of our Bodhisatta, the night …
TeachingHow to Lose Weight as a Buddhist Monk
Left: May, 2023, Right: Feb, 2024. Introduction I recently lost about 10 Kg which is over 20 pounds. I’d like to share with …
TeachingMaking Garlands of Merit
Recently, I have been making more posts in video format. I share personal stories along with the dhamma. While most of you might …
TeachingA Talk On The Monk's Bowl
In this talk, I explore many details about the monk’s bowl, how it is made black, the parts of the bowl, and several other …
TeachingPlanting Wisdom: Reflections on the Cūḷakammavibhaṅga Sutta and a Meditation Journey
In this talk, I explore the Cūḷakammavibhaṅga Sutta and share the story of reconnecting with my first meditation teacher after …
Dhamma talksThree Stories Of Loving-kindness
There are three stories of loving-kindness told in the video posted below. The first story is from Kaua’i, Hawai’i, …
TeachingWhat Does Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa Mean?
Introduction: Today we will have a short and brief introduction into the meaning of “Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato …
Interesting thingsHow The Buddha's Teachings Saved Japan
Introduction: There was a moment in world history where the Buddha’s teachings greatly affected world diplomacy during the …
Dhamma talksThe Most Common Dhammapāda Chants
CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=190448 The most popular Buddhist book is the Dhammapada which …
Monk lifeThe Order of Monks: How Seniority Shapes the Buddhist Monastic Life
monks seated for the patimokkha recitation in Pa-Auk Mawlamyine Introduction One of the things that you may notice when you visit …
TeachingBuddhism and Lists
Buddha by Numbers Introduction The Buddhist teachings are often organized by various lists. Various matrices of interlinked lists …
Dhamma talksWhat is Theravada Buddhism?
Monk at The Bodhi Tree located at International Institute of Theravāda Theravada (Theravāda) is one of the major branches of …
Interesting thingsAbout Piṇḍapāta: Why Do Monks Go For Alms in a Village?
Alms Tray and Cambodia Monk’s Full Bowl Introduction: This article explains the essence of piṇḍapāta (alms) and why we go …
TeachingWhat does AI think of Loving-Kindness? Here is a poem.
ai generated art for this post I asked openai chatGPT to write a buddhist poem on loving-kindness in the style of Dr. Seuss. This …
MoralityHow To Be Human and Higher
Sunrise behind clouds, free public domain CC0 image. Many people want to go to Heaven or at least be born in human worlds but …
Dhamma talksBuddhism: What Happens After Death?
https://unsplash.com/photos/j3R9C-Xqe1w Warning: This is a long but clear and interesting religious post on what happens after …
Monk lifeOnly The Best For Buddha
6 Color Buddhist Flag Yesterday, on Vesak, I was invited to go with Sayadaw Kumarabhivamsa, the Tipitaka Sayadaw and one more …
MoralityStay Away From the Fools and Associate with the Wise
Sattigumba and Pupphaka Asevanā ca bālānaṃ, paṇḍitānañca sevanā; Pūjā ca pūjaneyyānaṃ etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ. Avoid the Fools and …
Dhamma talksHappy Boxing Day
Robin Hutton cc-nc-sa https://www.flickr.com/photos/robinhutton/35838229270 What to do when someone “gives” anger? …
Dhamma talksOnly In The West, Only In Asia
Only In The West, Only In Asia Different Cultures, Different Views Many Westerners don’t understand or appreciate the old …
Dhamma talksDid The Buddha Know Einstein's Theory?
Einstein formula on blackboard see this [link for …
TeachingThe Most Basic Pali Chants to Learn
Myanmar Pali Script (credit at bottom link.. cc-sa-attrib) There are many different Pāḷi chants to learn, yet I wanted to list …
TeachingCan Monks Get Married?
cc0 picture Recently, there have been some instances in the news of monks who have been accused of rape or consensual sex. One …
Dhamma talksWhy Do Monasteries Have Skeletons?
If you go to a Theravada Buddhist forest monastery in Asia, you are likely to find a full skeleton or parts of a skeleton …
Dhamma talksA Buddhist Monk's Prayers For The Old And Sick
India 2011 Can Buddhist Monks Pray For The Old And Sick? Recently, a life long friend of the family has been diagnosed with lung …
Dhamma talksThe Real Buddha Statues
What qualities make up the real Buddha Statues? There are certain qualities of a Buddha that makes one instantly recognizable …
MeditationAjahn Brahm's Dark Jhāna
Does Ajahn Brahm Jhāna Have a Nimitta? Ajahn Brahm (“Ajahn Brahmavamso”) teaches about a samādhi nimitta. However, …
Dhamma talksWalking Meditation Inside The Home
There are many people who are inside their homes, so I thought it would be good to make a small 10 minute video on how to do basic …
Interesting thingsChicago Lao Monastery
Recently, I had a chance to go to a Lao Monastery in Elgin, Chicago, IL, USA for 12 days. I usually avoid American Theravada …
Monk lifeMost Important Buddhist Lesson Learned and Taught
A little while ago, I was asked what was the most important lesson learned and what was the most important thing that I taught. …
Interesting thingsKauai Monk Update 3
Kauai Update #3 I have moved from the Botanical Gardens recently. I was able to stay there for 5 months and the majority of the …
BookAbhidhamma Lessons: A Top-Down Approach Using Computer Science
Free Book: Abhidhamma Lessons PDF Abhidhamma Lessons Here is a book I wrote long ago that relates the Abhidhamma to Computer …
TeachingWhy do monks have one shoulder exposed sometimes and both shoulders covered other times?
Why do monks have one shoulder exposed sometimes and both shoulders covered other times? There is a very small rule about having …
Dhamma talksGuided Four Elements and Loving-Kindness September 9th, 2018
Here is a dhamma talk with a very brief instruction for Four Elements. It is not complete, but gives a small taste of four …
KauaiDhamma Talk Princeville August 19 2018
With only 5 minutes left before we were supposed to start, the security guard told us that someone else had the room booked and …
TeachingVegetarianism and Theravada Buddhism
Vegetarianism and Theravāda Buddhism I have been asked to write a little something on vegetarianism and Theravāda Buddhism. I am …
Monk lifeInspire Means To Leave Facebook
Inspire Means To Leave Facebook Much of what I write about is related to stories that happen to me that would charge me up and …
TeachingAre You A Buddhist
Are You A Buddhist? Introduction Being a Buddhist is quite open because if you believe in certain aspects it is better than not …
TeachingThe Dark Side of Ajahn Mun's Biography
Ajahn Mun dark Did Ajahn Mun say the Buddha congratulated him on the night he attained arahant? His biography books says it for …
Interesting thingsHow Do Monks Say Grace Before Eating?
How Do Monks Say Grace Before Eating? Do Theravāda monks say anything before they eat? Do they give thanks? Who do they say …
TeachingDoes The Buddha live in Nibbana
The Buddha in the clouds Does the Buddha Live in Nibbāna? Many people believe that the Buddha is alive and living in some sort of …
MoralityBuddhism and Abortion
What do Theravada Buddhists believe in terms of abortion? Much of what has been written are liberal beliefs and overturning what …