2005-12-13 — New translations from the Majjhima Nikaya

• MN 27: Cula-hatthipadopama Sutta — The Shorter Elephant Footprint Simile {M i 175} [Thanissaro]. At what point do you know for sure that the Buddha's awakening was genuine?
• MN 59: Bahuvedaniya Sutta — The Many Kinds of Feeling {M i 396} [Thanissaro]. The Buddha discusses the range of possible pleasures and joys, and concludes by advocating a pleasure that goes beyond feeling.
• MN 70: Kitagiri Sutta — At Kitagiri {M i 473} [Thanissaro]. A discourse on the importance of conviction in the Buddhist path. Not only is conviction a prerequisite for listening to the Buddha's teachings with respect, but — as is shown by the unusual discussion here categorizing the types of noble disciples — it can underlie the practice all the way to the Deathless.

On vedana (feeling): new translations from the Samyutta Nikaya

• SN 36.22: Atthasata (Atthasatapariyaya) Sutta — One Hundred Eight Feelings {S iv 231; CDB ii 1280} [Thanissaro]. A summary and enumeration of the different ways that the Buddha has analyzed feeling (hint: 3x6x6=108).
• SN 36.23: Bhikkhu Sutta — To a Certain Bhikkhu {S iv 232; CDB ii 1281} [Thanissaro]. A discussion of the ways that feeling must be understood in order to gain freedom from attachment to feeling. Includes an interesting reference to craving as an unskillful "path of practice."
• SN 48.38: Vibhanga Sutta — An Analysis (Of the Feeling Faculties) {S v 211; CDB ii 1682} [Thanissaro].
  SN 48.39: Katthopama Sutta — The Fire-stick {S v 211; CDB ii 1682} [Thanissaro]. Two suttas on the Buddha's five-fold classification of feelings.

2005-12-10 — Pali language study aids

• John Kelly's Answer Key to Warder's Introduction to Pali is now available in a convenient PDF format for printing.
• "Pali Verb Conjugation and Noun/Pronoun Declension Tables", by Bhikkhu Nyanatusita. In these meticulously organized one- and two-page printouts, Bhikkhu Nyanatusita has condensed a huge amount of helpful grammatical information. Useful for Pali students of all levels. They are available only in PDF format:
  • Noun Declensions (1 page, small print)
  • Noun Declensions (2 pages, normal size print)
  • Pronoun Declensions
  • Verb Conjugation
  • Verb Conjugation & Pronoun Declension Tables
• With these new additions, it seemed fitting to reorganize and streamline ATI's links to Pali language study aids to make it easier to find all things Pali.

2005-12-08 — New translations from the Samyutta Nikaya

• SN 22.58: Buddha Sutta — Awakened {S iii 65; CDB i 900} [Thanissaro]. Some schools of Buddhism teach that there is a qualitative difference between the liberation of a Buddha and that of an arahant disciple — namely, that a Buddha awakens to one level of truth, whereas an arahant awakens to another. This sutta shows that the Buddha saw the distinction in different terms.
• SN 48.53: Sekha Sutta — The Learner {S v 229; CDB ii 1696} [Thanissaro]. How can one tell if one is a "learner" (sekha; one who has attained to at least stream-entry, but not yet full arahantship) or an arahant?
• SN 56.42: Papata Sutta — The Drop-off {S v 448; CDB ii 1865} [Thanissaro]. The Buddha reminds an anxious monk who stands with him at the brink of a high cliff that there are some dangers far more worrisome than this precipice.
• SN 56.46: Andhakara Sutta — Darkness {S v 454; CDB ii 1870} [Thanissaro]. A monk ponders the darkness of deep space and asks the Buddha: "Is there any darkness more frightening than this?" The Buddha assures him that yes, there certainly is.
• SN 56.44: Kuta Sutta — Gabled {S v 452; CDB ii 1868} [Thanissaro]. Practicing Dhamma is like building a house: you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. You just can't do it the other way round.
• SN 56.45: Vala Sutta — Horsehair {S v 453; CDB ii 1869} [Thanissaro]. It's easy to admire the skill required to master a sport or a feat of manual dexterity. But even more difficult is the skill required to master the four noble truths.

New translation of the Saccavibhanga Sutta

• MN 141: Saccavibhanga Sutta — Discourse on The Analysis of the Truths {M iii 248} [Thanissaro]. Ven. Sariputta gives a detailed elaboration on the Buddha's teaching of the Four Noble Truths.

2005-12-07 — On Love and Death

Buddhism and Death  
by M. O'C. Walshe (Buddhist Publication Society "Wheel" No. 261; 1978; 56k/15pp.)

In this short essay the author outlines the meaning of death from the Theravada Buddhist perspective, touching on questions of vital concern to every student of Buddhism: What is death? What is rebirth? Why do we fear death? What happens upon the death of an arahant? How can awareness of death best be integrated into one's meditation practice?

Nothing Higher to Live For: A Buddhist View of Romantic Love  
by Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano (Buddhist Publication Society Bodhi Leaves No. 124; 1991; 26k/7pp.)

Romantic love, by its very nature, is inevitably entangled in unskillful states of mind. To whatever degree it springs from attachment, passion, or a hunger to fill one's own inner emptiness — to that degree will it heap suffering upon all involved. This short essay explores how the Dhamma can teach us what it might mean to truly love, free of attachment and fear.

2005-12-05 — 2006 calendar of uposatha days

Interested in ratcheting up your meditation practice a notch? Why not try observing the uposatha days? On these days lay practitioners observe the eight precepts and devote a little extra time to Dhamma study and meditation. Whether you observe them each week, once a month on full-moon days, or only sporadically as your interest and schedule allow, you may find — as countless practicing Buddhists have discovered ever since the time of the Buddha himself — that they are immensely helpful in energizing and deepening your Dhamma practice. To help you plan ahead, here's the 2006 Calendar of Uposatha Days.

2005-12-01 — One's state of mind at death: new translations from the Samyutta Nikaya

• SN 55.21: Mahanama Sutta — To Mahanama (1) {S v 369; CDB ii 1808} [Thanissaro].
• SN 55.22: Mahanama Sutta — To Mahanama (2) {S v 371; CDB ii 1809} [Thanissaro].
  Sometimes it is said that the last moment of consciousness is all-important in determining one's rebirth, but these suttas show that well-developed virtues in the mind can override even a muddled mind-state at death.