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He who, having traversed this miry, perilous,
and delusive round of existence,
who has crossed over, and reached the other shore,
who is meditative, calm, free from doubt,
and, clinging to nothing, has attained to nibbāna:
him do I call a holy one. (Dpd 414)
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The Buddha and His Legacy
“Fortunate is the arising of Buddhas. Fortunate is the teaching of the true Dharma. Fortunate is the harmony of the saṅgha. The practice of those…
Following the Path
The Path leads to nirvana, to awakening, to the end of all suffering, to escape from the round of rebirth. Before that, the path leads…
Embarking on the Path
This, last week’s post and some yet to come are chapters of a text I am preparing in conjunction with a class I teach periodically…
Introduction to Early Buddhist Ethics
Refraining from every evil, Accomplishing good, Purifying the mind, This is Teaching of Buddhas. (Dhammapāda 183) Seeing the complete awakening while seated in meditation as…
Refraining from Every Evil (5/5)
This is the Teaching of the Buddhas In conclusion of the preceding posts on this topic, both the gradual instruction and the Noble Eightfold Path…
Refraining from Every Evil (4/5)
Purifying the mind Well-makers direct the water; Fletchers bend the arrow; carpenters bend a log of wood; Good people fashion themselves. (Dhammapāda 145) Our actions,…
Refraining from every evil (3/5)
Accomplishing good Go your way, monks, for the benefit of the many: for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for…
Refraining from every evil (2/5)
(commentary on Dhammapāda, 183) This mind of mine went formerly wandering about as it liked, as it listed, as it pleased; but I shall now…
Refraining from Every Evil (1/5)
(commentary on Dhammapāda, 183) Refraining from every evil, Accomplishing good, Purifying the mind, This is Teaching of the Buddhas. (Dhammapāda 183) Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ kusalassa upasampadā…
What is Believable? (6/6)
For five episodes we have been considering ways in which we might respond to a Buddhist teaching that we initially find unacceptable in some way…
What is Believable? (5/6)
After looking at the relative nature of truth as we accept a thesis, we trace the problem of finding a thesis unbelievable back to its…
What is Believable? (4/6)
Series Index Some Buddhist teachings are unbelievable to some Buddhists. This section discusses the first of three strategies for reconciling this eventuality, short of simply…
What is Believable? (3/6)
Series Index We have seen that certain Buddhist teachings are unbelievable for many moderns. Today we consider the practical consequences of simply rejecting them while…
What is Believable? (2/6)
Series Index Last week I promised to consider five strategies for coming to terms with Buddhist teachings (rebirth, for instance) that are found problematic for…
What is Believable? (1/6)
Series Index This is the first of a six-part series on coming to terms with Buddhist teaching, particularly where it seems to conflict with common…