Yellow Robe - A Real Buddhist's Journal

21. What is Meditation
(Practice/Meditation)

(BY BHIKKHU PESALA) The word meditation in Pali is 'bhāvanā,' and it has a much broader meaning. It means 'mental culture,' and includes all efforts to develop the spiritual side of life. Practising ...

22. Online Resources of Patimokkha
(Practice/The Patimokkha)

Internet Resources: The Buddhist Monastic Code, Volume I: The Patimokkha Training Rules Translated and Explained, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. This book provides an in-depth examination of each of ...

23. The Patimokkha for Bhikkhuni
(Practice/The Patimokkha)

... the two Communities, see The Buddhist Monastic Code, volume II, chapter 23. In the following translation, I have marked the correspondences between the bhikkhus' and bhikkhunis' rules in brackets. Where ...

24. What are the Five Precepts and How to Take it
(Practice/The Five Precepts)

... Buddhist monks in Burma who never drink alcohol in their lives live up to eighty, ninety, or even a hundred years old in average. On the other hand, the statistic of how long those who drink wine live ...

25. How to Take the Triple Refuge
(Practice/The Triple Refugee)

Introduction Taking refuge in the Triple Gem is the first step to become a Buddhist. Before you decide to take refuge in the Triple Gem, you should read Triple Gem, and get fully acquainted with what ...

26. What is the Triple Gem?
(Practice/The Triple Refugee)

... twice in book form. Now that a group of people who feel that the book would be beneficial to Buddhists at large have pooled their resources and asked permission to print it a third time, I have decided ...

27. Advanced Dhamma References
(Credits/References)

... Nikaya - Bhikkhu Bodhi (Boston: Wisdom Publications 2000) Great Disciples of the Buddha - Nyanaponika Thera and Hellmuth Hecker (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society 1997) Visuddhimagga: The Path of ...

28. Advices for Practice
(Teachings/General)

... become a Buddhist. How do I do that?" However, we recommend this article. [The Triple Refuge (ti-sarana)] 3. We advice to abstain from participating excessively on the Internet discussion forum, ...

29. What is Dependant Origination
(Teachings/Dependant Originations)

... variety of beliefs is due to ignorance of the real nibbāna. Even among Buddhists some hold that nibbāna is an abode or a sort of paradise and there are many arguments about it. All these show how hard ...

30. The Teaching of Non-Self
(Teachings/Non-Self)

... concept of no soul and non-self. Among the general mass who profess themselves to be Buddhists, there are many who normally believe in the existence of a soul or a living entity, even though they have ...

31. The Burden of the Five Aggregates
(Teachings/The Five Aggregates)

... to arise. Outside the relam of Buddhist teaching there was the belief that the five aggregates constitute self. Another belief, however, asserts that the five aggregates are not self, but self exists as ...

32. Intermediate Dhamma References
(Credits/References)

... (Seattle: Buddhist Publication Society Pariyatti Editions 1991) Kathavatthu - Points of Controversy - Shwe Zan Aung & Mrs. Rhys Davids (Oxford: The Pali Text Society 2001)  ...

33. The Dhamma is a Raft
(Teachings/General)

... be like a raft, you should let go even of [skillful] qualities, to say nothing of those that are not." As Buddhists, letting go of the skillful qualities is perhaps, the hardest thing. However, we should ...

34. How to Deal with Fames, Honors, and Gains
(Teachings/Fames, Honors, and Gains)

In Buddhism, we strive to keep the purity of our hearts from the corruptions of the world, and this is part of the Buddhist's life. The Buddha taught in the Samyutta Nikaya, The Hook On another ...

35. What Caused Love and Hatred
(Teachings/Love and Hatred)

Love and Hatred - SAKKA'S QUESTION (SAKKAPAÑHA SUTTA) BY MAHASI SAYADAW In Buddhist literature, Sakka is the name given to the king of the gods (devas) and pañha means question. So the Sakkapañha Sutta ...

36. What are the Eight Individuals
(Teachings/The Eight Individuals)

  The Buddha taught in the Uposatha Sutta, "And furthermore, just as the ocean is the abode of such mighty beings as whales, whale-eaters, and whale-eater-eaters; asuras, nagas, and gandhabbas, and ...

37. Do I have to become a vegetarian if I become a Buddhist?
(FAQs/General Buddhism)

No. You do not have to become a vegetarian if you become a Buddhist. However, many Buddhists who follow the Buddha's doctrine find meat-eating disgusting. The Buddha taught his disciples, If a bhikkhu ...

38. Basic Dhamma References
(Credits/References)

... The Path of Purification - Bhikkhu Nanamoli (Seattle: Buddhist Publication Society Pariyatti Editions 1991) Kathavatthu - Points of Controversy - Shwe Zan Aung & Mrs. Rhys Davids (Oxford: The Pali Text ...

39. What is Nibbana
(Teachings/Nibbana)

... "The Debate of King Milinda" in which I abridged the translation of the Milinda Pañha. The Milinda Pañha is an ancient Pali book compiled in the form of a dialogue between a Buddhist Sage, Nagasena, and ...

40. An Explanation of Rebirth
(Teachings/Rebirth)

BY BHIKKHU PESALA What is Rebirth Buddhists believe in life after death, and this is an important motivation for them to be careful about their actions, speech, and thoughts in this life. Whatever ...