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November-December 2004
© 2004

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- [2004.12.29] From the Samyutta Nikaya
  - Kula Sutta (SN 42.9) — Families {S iv 322; CDB ii 1345} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. A questioner challenges the Buddha: "If you're so supportive of familial harmony, then how can you justify accepting alms from poor families in times of famine?"
  - Maniculaka Sutta (SN 42.10) — To Maniculaka {S iv 325; CDB ii 1346} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. A questioner asks the Buddha: "Are monks allowed to use money?"
- [2004.12.28] From the Samyutta Nikaya...
  - Indriya Sutta (SN 35.153) — Faculties {S iv 140; CDB ii 1216; this sutta corresponds to CDB XXXV.154} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. A monk asks the Buddha: "What does it mean to be 'consummate in faculties'"?
  - Kamabhu Sutta (SN 41.6) — With Kamabhu (On the Cessation of Perception & Feeling) {S iv 293; CDB ii 1322} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. Ven. Kamabhu answers a layperson's detailed questions concerning cessation-attainment (nirodha-samapatti), a state of profound — and potentially liberating — concentration that has full mastery of the jhanas as a prerequisite.
  ...and a request:
  - Over the years, a number of texts from Access to Insight have been translated into other languages (French, Spanish, Czech, Russian, and Mandarin, to name a few) and posted elsewhere on the web. I'd now like to put together a list of these websites but, alas, I haven't been keeping track of them. Can you help me? Do you know of any sites that offer non-English (and non-Pali) translations of materials from ATI? If so, I'd be grateful if you'd let me know. Thanks!
- [2004.12.21] 2005 Uposatha calendar
  - The 2005 calendar of uposatha observance days is now available.
- [2004.12.2] From the Samyutta Nikaya...
  - Balisika Sutta (SN 35.189) — The Fisherman {S iv 158; CDB ii 1228; this sutta corresponds to CDB XXXV.230} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How to avoid getting caught, like a fish, on Mara's hooks.
  - Udayin Sutta (SN 35.193) — With Udayin {S iv 166; CDB ii 1232; this sutta corresponds to CDB XXXV.234} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. Since none of the five aggregates can arise on their own, independent of their objects, how can we identify any one of them as "self"?
  - Asivisa Sutta (SN 35.197) — Vipers {S iv 172; CDB ii 1237; this sutta corresponds to CDB XXXV.238} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. The Buddha uses some vivid imagery to illustrate the life-and-death urgency of Dhamma practice.
  - Daruka-khanda Sutta (SN 35.200) — The Log {S iv 179; CDB ii 1241; this sutta corresponds to CDB XXXV.241} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. A lowly cowherd overhears the Buddha speak of the many hazards in the stream to Nibbana. He takes it to heart and soon succeeds in reaching the goal.
  - Avassuta Sutta (SN 35.202) — Soggy {S iv 182; CDB ii 1244} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How to guard your concentration against Mara's onslaughts.
  - Mahaka Sutta (SN 41.4) — About Mahaka {S iv 288; CDB ii 1319} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How one monk misused his psychic powers.
  - Godatta Sutta (SN 41.7) — To Godatta (On Awareness-release) {S iv 295; CDB ii 1325} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. A layperson points out the similarities and differences between several states of concentration.
  ... and from the Theragatha:
  - Thag 11. Sankicca {vv. 597-607} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. A young arahant monk reflects on his life in the wilderness.
- [2004.11.30] From the Samyutta Nikaya
  - Gilana Sutta (SN 35.74) — Ill (1) {S iv 46; CDB ii 1157} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. An ailing monk attains stream-entry when the Buddha engages him in a dialogue about not-self.
  - Gilana Sutta (SN 35.75) — Ill (2) {S iv 47; CDB ii 1159} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. An ailing monk attains arahatship when the Buddha engages him in a dialogue about not-self.
  - Khana Sutta (SN 35.135) — The Opportunity {S iv 126; CDB ii 1207} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. This human realm — neither too pleasurable nor too painful — is the best place to practice Dhamma.
- [2004.11.29] Wings to Awakening — PDF edition
  - Over the coming months you'll be seeing more books and articles from Access to Insight available in Adobe's Portable Document Format, the de facto standard for online books. This will make it easier than ever for you to make high quality print editions of these books.

    To download a PDF edition of a book, just click on the PDF icon. For more info about using PDF files, see "Working with PDF documents".

    To inaugurate this new feature:

    > The Wings to Awakening: An Anthology from the Pali Canon, translated and explained by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Barre, Mass.: Dhamma Dana Publications, 1996).

- [2004.11.28] From the Samyutta Nikaya Thanissaro Bhikkhu has provided translations of all 11 suttas from the Avyakata ("Undeclared") Samyutta. These suttas concern the speculative questions that the Buddha always chose to leave unanswered. The translator has also written a helpful Introduction to this samyutta.
  - Khema Sutta (SN 44.1) — With Khema {S iv 374; CDB ii 1380} Ven. Sister Khema explains to King Pasenadi that questions about the fate of the Tathagata after death are unanswerable because the Tathagata is unfathomable.
  - Anuradha Sutta (SN 44.2) — To Anuradha {S iv 381; CDB ii 1383; this sutta is identical to SN 22.86} Ven. Anuradha learns that if one can't even locate the Tathagata in the present life, how can one ever hope to answer questions about his fate after death?
  - Sariputta-Kotthita Sutta (SN 44.3) — Sariputta and Kotthita (1) {S iv 384; CDB ii 1383} The Buddha takes no position on questions about the fate of the Tathagata after death because each question is bound up in the five khandhas.
  - Sariputta-Kotthita Sutta (SN 44.4) — Sariputta and Kotthita (2) {S iv 386; CDB ii 1384} Questions regarding the fate of the Tathagata do not arise in those who see the aggregates as they actually are.
  - Sariputta-Kotthita Sutta (SN 44.5) — Sariputta and Kotthita (3) {S iv 387; CDB ii 1385} Questions regarding the fate of the Tathagata do not arise in those who have abandoned passion for the aggregates.
  - Sariputta-Kotthita Sutta (SN 44.6) — Sariputta and Kotthita (4) {S iv 388; CDB ii 1386} Questions regarding the fate of the Tathagata do not arise in those who no longer take delight in the aggregates, in clinging, in becoming, or in craving.
  - Moggallana Sutta (SN 44.7) — With Moggallana {S iv 391; CDB ii 1388} The Buddha takes no position on the ten speculative views because he does not identify any of the six senses as "self".
  - Vacchagotta Sutta (SN 44.8) — With Vacchagotta {S iv 395; CDB ii 1390} The Buddha takes no position on the ten speculative views because he does not identify any of the five aggregates as "self".
  - Kutuhalasala Sutta (SN 44.9) — The Debating Hall {S iv 398; CDB ii 1392} The Buddha uses the image of a fire to explain what carries a being over into its next rebirth.
  - Ananda Sutta (SN 44.10) — To Ananda (on Self, No Self, and Not-self) {S iv 400; CDB ii 1393} Why the Buddha did not take a position on the question of whether or not there is a self.
  - Sabhiya Sutta (SN 44.11) — With Sabhiya {S iv 401; CDB ii 1394}. The fate of the Tathagata after death cannot be described because the causes for any worldly description of his fate would have totally ceased.
- [2004.11.26] Heedfulness (two suttas and one essay):
  - Patitthita Sutta (SN 48.56) — Established {S v 232; CDB ii 1698} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. Heedfulness: the cornerstone upon which all other skillful qualities are based.
  - Nandiya Sutta (SN 55.40) — To Nandiya {S v 397; CDB ii 1826} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. On what it means to live with heedfulness.
  - "The Practice in a Word," by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2004; 7k/2pp.) Appamadena sampadetha! — such was the dying Buddha's parting instruction, which has often been translated as "Practice diligently!" But a wider reading in the suttas reveals that that crucial word appamada has a far more nuanced and significant meaning. The Buddha's real message, argues the author, was, "Don't be complacent. Watch out for danger. Protect the mind's good qualities. Don't let your guard down."
- [2004.11.25] From the Samyutta Nikaya
  - Abhisanda Sutta (SN 55.31) — Bonanzas (1) {S v 391; CDB ii 1821} Abhisanda Sutta (SN 55.32) — Bonanzas (2) {S v 391; CDB ii 1822}
    Abhisanda Sutta (SN 55.33) — Bonanzas (3) {S v 392; CDB ii 1822} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.].
    The Buddha describes three variations on the four factors of stream-entry.
- [2004.11.23] Short essays by the late Ven. Nyanaponika Thera
  - Buddhism and the God-idea: Mystics from all the world's great religions have reported extraordinary meditative experiences that theists often attribute to the experience of God itself. But is it necessary to invoke the God-idea to explain these experiences?
  - Courageous Faith: A short reflection on the Buddhist view of faith (saddha).
  - Devotion in Buddhism: On the role of devotion in Buddhist practice.
  - Kamma and its Fruit: An exploration of the subtle nature of kamma, and of the ultimate importance of cultivating wholesome kammic actions so that we may arrive at liberation — the final ending of kamma itself.
  - Seeing Things as They Are: What it means to see things as they really are — namely, in terms of the three characteristics of impermanence, suffering, and not-self.
  - Why End Suffering?: On how the resolve to bring a skillful end to one's own suffering (dukkha) simultaneously works to diminish the suffering of others.
- [2004.11.10] From the Samyutta Nikaya
  - Licchavi Sutta (SN 55.30) — To the Licchavi {S v 389; CDB ii 1821} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. The Buddha instructs the layman Nandaka on the four factors of stream-entry.
- [2004.11.09] From the Samyutta Nikaya
  - Raja Sutta (SN 55.1) — The Emperor {S v 342; CDB ii 1788} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. Which is better: being a world leader, or gaining the four factors of stream-entry?
- [3 Nov 2004] Ten suttas from the Samyutta Nikaya (Okkanta Samyutta) In this samyutta the Buddha explains the kinds of conviction and understanding that are required for the attainment of stream-entry. These short suttas share an identical structure, with each one focusing on a different aspect of experience (including the six senses, the six elements (dhatu), and the five aggregates).
  - Cakkhu Sutta (SN 25.1) — The Eye {S iii 225; CDB i 1004} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of the six senses can lead to stream-entry.
  - Rupa Sutta (SN 25.2) — Forms {S iii 225; CDB i 1004} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of sense objects can lead to stream-entry.
  - Viññana Sutta (SN 25.3) — Consciousness {S iii 226; CDB i 1005} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of sense consciousness can lead to stream-entry.
  - Phassa Sutta (SN 25.4) — Contact {S iii 226; CDB i 1005} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of contact can lead to stream-entry.
  - Vedana Sutta (SN 25.5) — Feeling {S iii 226; CDB i 1005} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of feeling can lead to stream-entry.
  - Sañña Sutta (SN 25.6) — Perception {S iii 227; CDB i 1006} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of perception can lead to stream-entry.
  - Cetana Sutta (SN 25.7) — Intention {S iii 227; CDB i 1006} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of intentions can lead to stream-entry.
  - Tanha Sutta (SN 25.8) — Craving {S iii 227; CDB i 1006} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of craving can lead to stream-entry.
  - Dhatu Sutta (SN 25.9) — Properties {S iii 227; CDB i 1006} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of the six elements (earth, liquid, fire, wind, space, and consciousness) can lead to stream-entry.
  - Khandha Sutta (SN 25.10) — Aggregates {S iii 227; CDB i 1006} [Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans.]. How conviction in, and understanding of, inconstancy of the five aggregates can lead to stream-entry.