List Of All Posts

Here is a list of all of my posts. Now you are able to see everything at a glance in one page. For now, it is text only with thumbnails turned off. There are quite a few posts. Enjoy… if you have the time.

202320222021
  • December 26th Happy Boxing Day
    What to do when someone "gives" anger? Today is Boxing...
  • December 19th Accused Of Being Psychic
    Accused of Being Psychic A brief video describing this story has been added to this post below. The longer story is below that. I think it was in 2003 or 2004 when I was at Pa-Auk Meditation Center...
  • December 4th Monk Towels and Soap
    Very few people from the West know about what the monks use for their bath towels and their bathing soap. ...
  • November 28th What is an Overturned Bowl?
    We have seen many Facebook selfies of politically active monks with their bowls turned upside down. What does this mean and is that...
  • November 23rd How To Memorize Pāḷi by Rote Method
    This video explains both passive and aggressive methods for memorizing Pāḷi with the Rote Method....
  • November 16th Today I Saved A Cockroach
    Today I saved an upside down cockroach in my...
  • November 13th Memorizing The Noble Eightfold Path
    To help with Buddhist literacy, I made a basic video that helps people memorize The Noble Eightfold Path in English. ...
  • November 10th Toothpaste In A Gated Community
    Today, a monk came up to me with his hand inside his shoulder bag and handed me a new tube of Meswak. ...
  • November 3rd Suttanta Versus Abhidhamma Rivers
    If I were to describe a river based on Suttanta values and again in terms of Abhidhamma and commentary values, they both will become very...
  • October 27th How Long Do Monk’s Robes Last?
    It is quite common in Myanmar to offer robes at the end of the Rainy Season (vassa) in a ceremony called Kaṭhina. How long do monk’s robes last? A monk normally has a set of three robes; a...
  • October 17th The Monastery Murder Massacre
    The Monastery Murder Massacre that happened in Vesālī during the time of The Buddha is not well known among lay...
  • October 6th Basic Pali Terms for Dhamma
    I have made a list of the most basic Pāḷi terms which will help you in your Theravāda Buddhist Readings and listening to Dhamma...
  • September 28th Only In The West, Only In Asia
    Most Westerners do not like the ancient commentaries or the Abhidhamma. Here is a...
  • September 18th Pa-Auk Vaccination 2021
    Pa-Auk finally vaccinated 2000 of its residents across its branch monasteries with a privately sponsored SinoPharm vaccine....
  • September 13th Buddhist Sun App
    If you are a monk, nun or a practicing yogi who has vowed to not eat after Noon, you will benefit from this...
  • September 11th Remembering 9/11
    I once had a job interview at Merrill Lynch in The World Financial Center which was connected to The World Trade Center by a sky...
  • September 9th Are Theravada Bhikkhuni Ordinations Valid?
    There is not much written in English explaining why bhikkhuni ordinations are rejected by the Theravada Community of...
  • September 5th Did The Buddha Know Einstein’s Theory?
    The Mass–energy equivalence is one of the most famous physics equations known to the general population. Did the Buddha know this beforehand? We all know this formula as the explanation for how...
  • August 19th The Most Basic Pali Chants to Learn
    The most basic and essential chants for beginning lay people should know are listed in order of...
  • August 9th Free Buddha Pictures
    Sometimes it is difficult to find free Buddha pictures. Even when Google shows you “free pictures,” sometimes, they require an account or were not really free in the first place. As a...
  • July 24th When Does Rainy Season Start?
    Does the Buddhist Rainy Season start on the Full Moon Day or the day after? Find out...
  • July 3rd The Buddha’s Intermittent Fasting
    When I describe my Buddhist monk diet, they give a nod and say "Intermittent Fasting... It's...
  • June 27th Super Quarantine Inside Pa-Auk
    Recently, I went to the Dr. This article is not about going out. Instead this article is about coming back and staying on...
  • June 21st Can Monks Get Married?
    Although it is appalling that the Catholic church allows its priests to continue in the order even after such admissions of guilt for sexual acts, the Buddhism is...
  • June 11th Why 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 somewhere where it can be viewed easily. ...
  • March 22nd Pa-Auk Lockdown #2
    Recently, I have been getting a few messages wishing me safety and wellbeing with the current news floating around the world about events in Myanmar. I can assure you that our lives have not changed...
  • February 22nd A Buddhist Monk’s Prayers For The Old And Sick
    Could I say a prayer for someone with cancer? I can, and have, but there was more to say about what I could do for...
  • February 16th Time for Balance
    I made a quick video of Venerable Maṇi Sāra who can supposedly balance unbelievable things.. I saw him, picked up a rock and asked him to show me if it was real. Yup. It is...
  • February 7th How I Got My Name
    Exactly twenty years ago today (February 7, 2001), I followed through with my decision to ordain with lifelong intentions. Although I am only 14 vassa because of a re-ordination ceremony, this day...
  • January 28th Pa-Auk Forest Monastery and Pa-Auk Sayadaw Shared Names
    Did the Pa-Auk Sayadaw name his monastery after himself to immortalize his name? Is this an ego trip? What is the...
2020
  • December 25th As Long As You Stand On The Road
    A happy Hawai'ian Christmas story from...
  • December 17th The Real Buddha Statues
    There are many features that make the Buddha a Buddha besides the iconic drooping earlobes. From time to time, I see statues of the Buddha that are just not...
  • December 8th Have You Eaten Yet?
    In 1993, I visited China with five lucky School of Technology students at my University. Before going, I asked around for some cool things to say and “Chī le ma?” or “Have you...
  • December 6th Mawlamyine Pa-Auk Kitchen 2014
    I thought it would be cool to show Yogi Brahm the Pa-Auk kitchen and let him capture how the meals are made for 1200 yogis each day....
  • November 26th Thanks and Giving
    On November 24, I helped make a nice breakfast and lunch for Pa-Auk Forest Monastery, Pyin Oo Lwin. I organized 28 monks including myself to...
  • November 19th Ajahn Brahmavamso’s Dark Jhāna
    Many people believe that Ajahn Brahmavamso teaches the same meditation method as The Vissuddhimagga , but they are very different. Read...
  • October 25th 7 Lockdown Suggestions From A Monk
    These days, the lockdowns are in full swing. The question is, “What do you do with your time?” Perhaps you are out of work, or retired like my parents. What do you do? As a monk,...
  • October 6th Turning 50
    Today I turned fifty years of age. A few months ago, I was really happy about it but then as health problems piled up a few weeks ago (which ended up being a 2.5 week allergic reaction), I was...
  • October 1st Rice Soup in Buddhist Culture?
    Rice soup is most popularly known as Congee (Kahn-Jee). However in the Buddhist world, it is referred to as yāgu in the Pāḷi Language....
  • September 10th Monk Life and Natural Dyeing
    Here are pictures about the natural dyeing process. The monks boil the ironwood tree bark chips for a long time (days). When a drop of dye is dropped in a glass of water, a ball will form and sink to...
  • September 4th Where to Ordain?
    The short answer is: If you are looking for 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...
  • August 17th A Great Day, 2019
    A small story from Kaua'i on the simple...
  • August 10th Tipiṭaka Pāḷi Projector (unsupported)
    New Free and Open Source Pali Reading Software is available for download...
  • August 4th The Robes of Theravadan, Mahayanan, Tibetan Monks
    It occured to me that people don’t know one type of Buddhist monk from the other and a post was needed to explain this. First a little bit of history. Theravada is the closest thing as one can...
  • July 31st Why Is Vassa (Rainy Season) Late Sometimes?
    Please note: this was written in 2020 but also applies to 2023. Vassa starts on August 1, 2023. There seems to be confusion about when vassa is this year. This year is a special year and Vassa starts...
  • July 13th Murder He Won’t
    A friend of mine once told me his story about how he had a knife in his hand and was raging with anger. He was going to kill his wife and her new found lover. Below is a short retelling of the story...
  • June 22nd The Swastika
    Today, as I was washing my bowl, I saw a local Myanmar monk with a swastika tattoo on his arm. Was he racist? ...
  • June 18th Monastery-wide Sickness Happens
    While I have said quite a lot to inspire people about life as a monk around the world. I should give you both sides of the story to be fair....
  • May 27th What is a Kuti?
    A kuṭi is a small hut or lodging that a monk lives in and it is one of the basic four requisites: Robes, Food, Lodging, & Medicine. They come in various sizes and qualities and I have prepared a...
  • April 20th The Mantra of Loving-Kindness
    This video is an instruction on how to practice loving-kindness meditation. The simplest way is to repeat the Loving-Kindness phrases (mantras). The discussion goes into the details. I hope you enjoy...
  • April 6th Covid-19 Lockdown @ Pa-Auk
    We recently had a meeting to cover all the basics for social distancing and cutting the monastery off from the outside...
  • March 23rd Walking 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 walking meditation inside the home. Here it is. Like this:Like...
  • March 16th Having Fun At The Pa-Auk Dentist Clinic
    Having Fun At The Pa-Auk Dentist Clinic (Repost/refurbish from June, 2015*) Because dentists are very expensive in America and the Pa-Auk dental clinic has pretty good sanitary conditions (for...
  • March 9th 500+ monks at Pa-Auk Main. Some slippers go missing, but not these.
    500+ monks at paauk main. Some slippers go missing so people mark them with different patterns as a passive way to prevent loss. However, the slippers in the center were not as...
  • March 2nd Sabbe Satta -All Beings
    reposted from https://withmetta.net (2016) . When a Buddhist monk says “sabbe satta,” that is a shorthand for metta practice. “Sabbe satta” means “all beings.” One of my friend’s...
  • February 17th Maymyo Pa-Auk Meals
    At Theravada monasteries there is no eating allowed after Noontime. Here is a look at the meals served at Pa-Auk Maymyo (Pyin Oo...
  • February 7th Anniversary 19: I’m Still Standing
    On Feb 7th, 2001 I took my original ordination with The Most Venerable Pa-Auk Saydawgyi. It was the happiest days of my...
2019
  • December 29th Free PTS Sutta eBooks
    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...
  • December 23rd On The Way Back Home
    On November 4th, I left The States for Sri Lanka, Thailand and of course Myanmar which I now consider a home for...
  • November 20th All in the Family
    I did a brief visit with my parents on the corner of October and November. Although I have stayed separately at my grandmother’s house on the previous last two visits in 2006 and 2008, I had...
  • November 12th Chicago Lao Monastery
    Recently, I had a chance to go to a Lao Monastery in Elgin, Chicago, IL, USA for 12 days....
  • October 8th Leaving Kaua’i On A Jet Plane
    As the rest of the song goes.. "And I don't know when I'll be back again." And so, "This is where the story ends..." or does it?...
  • October 7th Early Monk Pictures
    I recently turned 49 and I found some old pictures of myself that I thought I would share. It is very difficult to get older pictures of myself because it was before the digital picture revolution....
  • September 30th Ian (exVen. Visarada) Visits Kauai
    This past July, I had an old friend named Ian Sloan (previously Venerable Visarada ) visit me in Kauai.  He disrobed after being a monk for 25 years. He disrobed because of a conflict of philosophy...
  • September 12th Why I Ordained Twice
    Many people who have learned that I have re-ordained have asked me why I did it.  It is a long story, but I will try to be...
  • August 17th Most 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.  The answer spans two different videos and they are listed...
  • August 3rd Interview: Monk Meditates for 24 Hours
    I had the chance to interview a monk who meditated for 24 hours straight. The interview is very detailed in the context of the Pa-Auk...
  • July 23rd Meditation or Religious Visas
    New Update and Summary: Myanmar Visas in the USA now only take 4 business days (It used to be of 3 Months). See Religious Visa application for USA Embassy: ...
  • July 6th Conversations With Christians
    Often Christians approach me with an agenda and they try to set me up to fail. However, they are predictable and I know exactly what they will say. I yawn and quote their bible in my...
  • June 25th Pa-Auk Monastery Alms Line in Myanmar
    I had a layperson (probably UKZ) follow me around in the line to show what it was like for a monk to go through the alms food line at Pa-Auk Main Center, Mawlamyine,...
  • June 17th Fighting Anger With Loving-Kindness and No Money
      Recently, I ran into a very angry man who came out of his house yelling at me and coming closer and closer.  Eventually, I won the fight with my two big weapons, loving-kindness and my commitment...
  • May 30th Koral Inspires Me
    Can a family in the West automatically know how alms are given in the East without ever knowing? Read on to find out what inspires...
  • May 8th Kauai Update: Lihue
    I am living in Lihue now and my life has changed. Here is the...
  • March 31st Interview 2
    My friend scheduled another interview with me and recently published it. The video discusses why should monks not touch money? Is there an exchange that takes place with the things you receive? The...
  • March 24th Video Interview About Alms
    Recently, I was interviewed from an old friend who was previously a monk with me in Pa-Auk, Mawlamyine, Myanmar. Nikita was a monk for about one year before disrobing. He asked me about what it is...
  • March 3rd Legal Name Change
    I recently legally changed my name to Bhante Bhikkhu Subhuti. Find out...
  • February 7th 18th Anniversary and Update
    Today is my 18th anniversary from when I first ordained as a monk. I reflect on my time spent in Kauai, Hawaii, the progress, and its value to me....
  • February 1st Should Monks Use Mixing Bowls as Monk Bowls?
    Would using a mixing bowl instead of a traditional monk's alms bowl be more effective as a way to collect alms? This article looks at this...
  • January 21st An Old Kauai Favorite: KKCR Interview
    Here is the link to the 2015 KKCR radio show. We were interviewed on Kauai Community Radio for about one hour instead of the scheduled 20 minutes. We all had fun doing it.  It will give you a...
2018
  • December 31st Fingernail Meditation
    Last week I taught Fingernail Meditation. This is where one uses the fingernail(s) as a subject of meditation. Although this has probably never been taught before by anyone as a standalone meditation...
  • December 24th Miracle On 3 or 4 Streets
    Interested in how the monks survive on Miracles? Read on. Four stories are...
  • November 24th Kauai 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 time there was wonderful.  However things were changing and it was...
  • November 14th Free 10-Day Meditation Course
    I often recommend a free 10-day vipassana meditation course found at https://dhamma.org .  Is it possible that there would be a 10-day meditation retreat that gives you food and lodging for free? ...
  • November 4th Vinaya Comparison of Monastery Allowances
    Below is a chart comparing special allowances by tradition which is useful for making a decision on where to ordain.  If you need an explanation, read further.. Dhammayut Wat Pah Pong Wat Khao...
  • October 22nd Why Are Monk Bowls Black?
    Monk bowls are black because they are fired with sesame oil 5 times to protect it from rusting.  There are two types of bowls allowed; Iron and Clay.  Iron bowls need to be fired 5 times and clay...
  • October 6th How To Pronounce Theravada
    How to Pronounce Theravāda Have you ever wondered if you were pronouncing Theravāda correctly? Read this article to find out how to properly pronounce Theravāda. Most of the resources out on the...
  • October 2nd Free Book: Going For Broke
    Downloads:   Going For Broke: Travelogs On Becoming a Buddhist Monk is a compilation of travel stories.  It is an anonymously written book about a lay person who quit his job in order to travel the...
  • September 30th Abhidhamma Lessons: A Top-Down Approach Using Computer Science
    Free Book:  Abhidhamma Lessons PDF Download Abhidhamma Lessons PDF Here is a book I wrote long ago that relates the Abhidhamma to Computer Science. As a programmer from the nineties, I...
  • September 21st The Seeds From Long Ago
    The Seeds From Long Ago I remember when I first learned how to meditate on my breath some time in 1990, during my university years. Back then, meditation was not so well known. The beat...
  • September 18th Why 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 the robes fully covered when we are in a populated areas (sekhiyā 3)....
  • September 12th Guided 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 elements.  Loving-kindness is also included as usual.  The recording is...
  • September 10th Theravada Buddhism and Sex: The Third Precept on Sexual Misconduct
    The third precept is defined as not having sex without the protector's permission. It is that simple. ...
  • September 5th Results From Collecting Alms In Kauai
      As a Buddhist Monk collecting alms in Kauai, USA for the past 4 months, the results are in.  On Tuesday and Wednesdays as shown on the map above, I collect my food, wishing loving-kindness to...
  • September 2nd MP3 of Princeville Dhamma Talk September 2, 2018
    mp3 Dhamma Talk September 2, 2018 Another mp3 recording of a  happy Guided meditation and discussion at Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii. Expect about 35 minutes discussion, 40 minutes of guided...
  • August 20th Dhamma 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 we would need to move to a smaller amd inferior room.  It was a...
  • August 19th Bhikkhu Subhuti’s Blog has moved!
    Bhikkhu Subhuti’s Blog has moved! The blog at https://Subhuti.withmettanet has moved to https://AmericanMonk.org The new title of the blog is American Monk: Bhante Subhūti   Why change The...
  • August 16th Buddhist Monks’ Robes Information
    Few people realize that the Theravāda monk’s robes are actually a piece of rectangular cloth with no...
  • August 3rd The Secret Teachings of Theravāda
    If there was a book that had all of the Secret Teachings of Theravāda, The Path of Purification (The Visuddhimagga) would be that book. It explains all the good stuff, like how to attain samādhi...
  • July 28th September 11 and Jeremy Glick
    I have a personal story I want to tell you about Jeremy Glick and September 11, 2001.  The short story is that my name is Jeremy Glick and I was a computer...
  • July 12th Is Collecting Alms (Piṇḍapāta) Legal?
    Collecting alms, also known as piṇḍapāta by Theravāda Buddhists, is a legal activity in the USA. There are some restrictions though. I spoke with a lawyer who seemed to know civil liberties...
  • June 25th A Walk In The Gardens
      Hawaii Update #3, June, 2018 It has now been almost 10 weeks on the island.  My life is difficult, but it is very rewarding.  I get a chance to teach all the  people who donate rides and...
  • June 10th The Concept in Breath Meditation
    The Concept in Breath Meditation The concept of the breath as it is used in meditation is not well understood.  We will discuss this matter in this small article. There are many methods concerned...
  • May 25th When To Look At The Light
    Is the light a Nimitta and when should one look at it? When one practices meditation based on the breath, it is possible for the light to come and when that happens and it is stable one can use that...
  • May 17th Kauai Update Part 2
    Aloha! It has been a little over a month since I have been on the island of Kauai.  Things have been going well although my situation is still the same. I am still in a tent at Anini, but I have a...
  • April 22nd Kauai Update
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  • February 17th Acapella Inertia MP3 Audio
    A’capella Inertia Audio Story (free MP3 download) I have decided to make an audio version of this story. I started off by having a computer read this for the purpose of proofreading. Then I started...
  • February 10th A Tale of Love and Samādhi Explained: A’capella Inertia
    A Tale of Love and Samādhi Explained: A’capella Inertia   A little Valentines story for all of you. The topside title is just a description of what the story is generally about. However, the...
  • February 7th 17th Anniversary
    It seems like that time has come up again. Time surely does happen and so does my anniversary. Now it is 17 years! As usual, for the disclaimer, I am only 11 Vassa in official years. But Wow! Now it...
  • January 27th Monk’s Needle Case
    This is a small video on how to make a monk’s needle case from a used up disposable pen. It is one of the 8 requisites of a Buddhist monk. It is mostly intended for monks to view, but lay...
  • January 12th Vegetarianism and Theravada Buddhism
    Vegetarianism and Theravada Buddhism I have been asked to write a little something on vegetarianism and Theravāda Buddhism. I am qualified to be quite objective, and to see both sides of the issue...
2017
  • December 7th Traveling Without a Helper
      When Ven. Devananda and I traveled to Kauai in 2015, we did not have a Kappiya (helper) to buy us food or even pay for our luggage.  One can live without helpers, but it does take some...
  • November 30th Are 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 believing in anything.  We take what we can get. However, here ...
  • October 29th Possessed! A Halloween Special
    There were a few times when I have seen some yogis and or monks go crazy. One time I saw a possession case when I went to a Kandy forest monastery called, Ulpathkandha. It means Sprint Hill...
  • October 21st The Dark Side of Ajahn Mun’s Biography
    Did Ajahn Mun say the Buddha congratulated him on the night he attained arahant? His biography books says it for sure. ...
  • October 10th How to Make a Monk Filter in 3 Minutes
    Here is a quick tip on how to make a filter in just a few minutes. Maybe as fast as one minute. This is useful for monks who want to put filters on their water taps. It is my own invention as far as...
  • October 6th I Finally Did It!
    I Finally Did It! This Rainy Season (Vassa) I was able to learn the Pātimokkha (227 Rules) by heart. It is the first round and it takes me a long time to do it, and there are mistakes. Never the...
  • September 28th How 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 thanks to? Or is it something else? Buddhist monks generally do a...
  • September 15th Racism in Asia, Myanmar, and Monasteries
    Racism in Asia, Myanmar and Monasteries I remember when I came to Sri Lanka, in 2007 and I met a monk who said he was from Slovenia. “Slovenia? What kind of country is that?” I told him that I...
  • September 10th Does The Buddha live in Nibbana
    Does the Buddha Live in Nibbāna? Many people believe that the Buddha is alive and living in some sort of transcendental realm called Nibbāna where he can hear your prayers and eat and drink the...
  • September 2nd Donation to Sangha or Individuals?
    When should you give to Saṅgha? When should you give to individual monks? This is a question that is not addressed very often and it can cause lots of trouble for monks knowingly and unknowingly....
  • August 13th Making A Foot-Rug From Old Robes
    Here is an instructional video on how to make a foot-rug from old and discarded monk’s robes.  If you are a monk, perhaps you will be very interested in this.  I made the video as I was...
  • June 3rd General Update Pre-Vassa 2017
    Update Aug 5:  I am back at Varansi Monastery , Mingaladone as pictured. This is a general update.  There are many sublinks to look at.  Enjoy! I have passed all of my exams and finished my...
  • May 24th Maymo Pa-Auk (Pyin Oo Lwin)
    A Brief Return to Pa-Auk Maymyo (pyin oo lwin). In 2012 I had left my home at Nauyana, Sri Lanka to reconnect with my teacher Pa-Auk Saydawgyi in his spank’in new meditation center. It was built by...
  • March 26th Why Are Most Monasteries Not Allowable?
    Why are most monasteries not allowable for vinaya monks? Today, I was Skyping my parents which is something we do once or twice a month now.  I feel it is good for them to “see” me...
  • March 9th Bowling Down an Alley
    I had the day off from school and went  for alms today in a new area unannounced. I wanted to go down a side street near “shit- mile.”   “Shit-mile” means “8 mile...
  • March 4th Singing With My Bowl
    “Singing With My Bowl” Today, after I Skyped my parents to say hello, I was doing my usual weekend schedule after: Go walking for alms, and then meditate at Swedo Paya (Tooth Relic Pagoda...
  • February 4th Shining The Inner Core
    To receive this by email, sign up at https://subhuti.withmetta.net/subscribe/ Last year, this picture (without the writing) went viral. The viral post seems to makes its rounds from time to time and...
  • January 15th Spoken Metta Mix by One Voice
    This is a spoken English version of the Discourse on Loving-Kindness (Metta Sutta), mixed with the Pāi chanting of One Voice (EkaSara). I like it and I think you will too. Enjoy!  If you get a...
  • January 14th Is it Begging?
    I remember when I saw my grandfather before I left the world behind in 1999 for some travel and perhaps an ordination. He was in the hospital going through the first round of fighting lymphoma...
  • January 9th Inspiration, move me brightly
    Inspiration is like a bright star that shines among the dim.  In Monastic life, there are few monasteries or monks that really inspire people.  Following the vinaya (or rules) inspires people.  It...
2016
  • December 18th 5, 8 and 10 Precepts
    Here is a comparison of 5, 8 and 10 precepts.  The Buddhist who follows five precepts is known as a regular lay Buddhist.  The person who follows 8 precepts is known as a serious Buddhist yogi.  ...
  • December 16th Dhamma Talk in Thailand Loving-kindness Wins
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00t5_a8L9Xg&feature=youtu.be This is a Dhamma Talk I gave at Wat Khao Sanamachai about Kauai, alms and how loving-kindness wins battles.. It is translated into...
  • December 11th Throwing Rice at Weddings and Birds
    Is it OK to feed uncooked rice to the birds? Recently, the subject about feeding animals in my post Sabbe-Satta-Metta was brought up and how it could end up hurting animals in the long run. I...
  • December 5th Buddhism and Abortion
    What do Theravada Buddhists believe in terms of abortion? Much of what has been written are liberal beliefs and overturning what is written down in the texts. They claim “Modern Buddhism” as a...
  • November 13th No TV Huh? Part I
    I remember when I moved into my new place in Old Greenwich, CT. It was a duplex house and I had the bottom floor. I was within a Frisbee throw into the heart of the charming Old Greenwich village.....
  • September 25th Making Helmut Schmidt’s Day
    A Story from 1993 from my college days, before the Internet was around. I remember all the way back in ’93, when I was in college and I had just spent a few weeks in China for an academic...
  • September 16th Lucky-Draw and Devas
      Do you believe in devas? Devas are the Buddhist equivalent to angels. Ok .. Here is the story. I was on alms round two weeks ago and a regular supporter invited us to ask for anything for our...
  • September 2nd Learning to Fly
    Below is a Wrigley’s TV commercial from the 80s which started my lifelong dream to hang-glide and a genuine excuse to get educated.  Whenever I saw this commercial as a child, my jaw was to the...
  • August 26th Make The Best Meditation Seat: The Samadhi-Sausage
    Download Free A4 format PDF Download Free A5 format PDF Tutorial on How to Sit Many times I have given advice to yogis on how to sit properly and I have received raving success. In fact, I asked one...
  • July 18th Kauai Propagation Presentation
    A 2 part Powerpoint presentation about what two monks did in Kauai, Hawaii during June to December 2015. The theme was propagation, but the propagation was done just from being monks who do not touch...
  • July 16th A Different Love Trumps Hate
    This video clip below came my way and I would hate to say that not only is this guy is correct right near the end of his talk, but he is expressing the same thoughts as the Buddha and...
  • July 10th The Coolest Incense Holder
    Here is a sample video and written instructions for making a self-contained incense holder made from a plastic bottle.  It is the coolest incense holder I have ever used. The idea is not mine. An...
  • July 3rd When It Rains It Pours
    I had a really good day going for alms today. When it “rains it pours.” Although it rained today, I am talking about alms donations. I told myself, that if this village does not give (like...
  • June 26th The Benefits of Faith Alms
    The benefits of “Faith piṇḍapata”. This is a term that I learned either in Abhayagiri, Ca, or Wat Pah Nanachat or both. Probably brought to the West from Ajahn Pasanno who is/was the abbot of...
  • May 26th Visit to Varanasi Monastery, Mingaladon
      A Brief Visit to Varanasi Monastery, Mingaladon I had a few more days before I was allowed to arrive at ITBM University (I am there now). Very close by is one of my favorite monasteries in the...
  • May 24th Homeless and Living Out of a Box.
    I remember when I went to America in 2008 with one of my monastic friends named Ven. Visarada. He was an experienced monk and had good ascetic practices. When we went to America, he did not have any...
  • May 8th Why Are The Monks Fighting Over Food?
      I cannot believe that I am writing an article that explains how the monks are fighting over food. It is very awkward to hear isn’t it? On the other hand human nature is human nature. We have...
  • April 13th License to Spill (Myanmar Thingyan, New Year)
    In the eight plus years that I have lived in Myanmar, I have never seen the Thingyan Water Festival festivities happening in the street. I normally spend my time in the monastery and normally, if I...
  • March 21st Pa-Auk Monastery in Mudon
    Kyownpine Pa-Auk Branch Monastery in Mudon, Myanmar. I have moved to Yorgo Sayadaw ‘s new monastery called Kyownpine. The Yorgo Sayadaw read my first ordination transaction 15 years ago and...
  • March 18th Bagan Slideshow
    Here is a video slideshow of my Bagan trip. We had scheduled 8 full days to travel around, and mostly on foot. We had a limited budget and it was a real joy. Basically, the less transportation you...
  • March 18th Kauai Slideshow
    I recently made a Hawaii video slideshow. Here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DjEHWNTHQ0 Like this:Like...
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