𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 & 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

A Bull of a Man - John Powers "Buddha is described as the paragon of masculinity, the “ultimate man”...his extraordinarily beautiful body, his superhuman virility and physical strength, his skill in martial arts, and the effect he has on women who see him. Many Buddhist monks are depicted as young, handsome, and virile, and the greatest challenge to their religious devotion is lustful women propositioning them for sex. Everywhere they go, women are attracted to them, and the monks must remain constantly on guard.”

"That bhikkhu who has crossed the mire, Crushed the thorn of sensual desire, And reached the destruction of delusion Is not perturbed by pleasures and pains." "Just as a mountain of rock, is unwavering, well-settled, so the monk whose delusion is ended, like a mountain, is undisturbed." — Buddha, Udana 3.2 & Udana 3.4

Come now, I'll tell you. Be steadfast. Be firm. Practice even-mindedness, for in a village there's praise & abuse. Ward off any flaw in the heart. Go about calmed & not haughty. High & low things will come up like fire-flames in a forest. Women seduce a sage. May they not seduce you. Abstaining from sexual intercourse, abandoning various sensual pleasures, be unopposed, unattached, to beings moving & still. Drawing the parallel to yourself, neither kill nor get others to kill. Abandoning the wants & greed where people run-of-the-mill are stuck, practice with vision, cross over this hell. Stomach not full, moderate in food, having few wants, not being greedy, always not hankering after desire: one without hankering, is one who's unbound. I'll explain to you sagacity: be like a razor's edge. Pressing tongue against palate, restrain your stomach. Neither be lazy in mind, nor have many thoughts. Be committed to taintlessness, independent, having the holy life as your aim. Train in solitude & the contemplative's task, Solitude is called sagacity. Alone, you truly delight & shine in the ten directions. — Buddha, Nalaka Sutta (Samyutta Nikaya 3.11)

Happy New Year 2024 May the new year brings happiness, peace and harmony everywhere. May the wheel of Dhamma keep spinning for the benefit of all sentient beings.

“It is difficult to be born as human. Difficult is the life of beings. It is difficult to gain the opportunity to hear the true Dhamma. Rare is the appearance of the Buddhas. To avoid all evil, to cultivate wholesome qualities, and to cleanse one’s mind—this is the teaching of the Buddhas.” — Buddha, Dhammapada

Italian Architect Unveils Ambitious Plan for New Buddhist Meditation Center in Nepal Italian architectural studio Stefano Boeri Architetti has unveiled its ambitious design for a meditation center and landscaped gardens at Ramagrama Stupa, a popular Buddhist pilgrimage destination in Nepal. The project was unveiled at Ramagrama Stupa during a grand ceremony that was attended by Buddhist monastics, the prime minister of Nepal, government officials from Nepal and India, and members of the public. “This project represents an extraordinary challenge for us: that of creating a meaningful center for prayer, meditation, and peace in one of the most sacred sites of Buddhism,” said Stefano Boeri Architetti founder Stefano Boeri. (Arch Daily) https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/italian-architect-unveils-ambitious-plan-for-new-buddhist-meditation-center-in-nepal/

The Verses of Arahant Godatta (Thag 14.2) When foolish people undergo happiness, they are overjoyed and intoxicated with pride. When they undergo pain they are deprived in sadness. Not understanding the true nature of this life, those foolish people are depressed by both happiness and pain. Craving sews existences together creating happiness and pain. Those who overcome this craving can live unshaken like a deeply planted stone pillar. They can live without being overjoyed or depressed. No matter if they gain or lose something. No matter if they gain a bad reputation or a good reputation. No matter if they gain blame or praise. No matter if they gain happiness or unhappiness. They are not agitated. They don’t stick to any object just like a drop of water doesn’t stick to a lotus leaf. Those wise, energetic people are happy everywhere. They are unconquered everywhere. Truly pain coming from seclusion is better than the happiness that comes from sensual pleasures. Read Full Sutta

People outside may call us mad to live in the forest like this, sitting like statues. But how do they live? They laugh, they cry, they are so caught up that at times they kill themselves or one another out of greed and hatred. Who are the mad ones? - Ven. Ajahn Chah

The Longmen Grottoes is a beautiful Buddhist site located at Luoyang in Henan Province, China. They were carved between the late 5th and early 8th Centuries CE, primarily during Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties. They feature over 100,000 Buddhist images and statues, including impressive 17m tall Vairocana Buddha. The site was designated as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000.

The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation. —Milarepa

Monastery of Tranquillity and Peace (Jing’an Monastery) in Shanghai. Today, there are around 30 monastics residing at Jing’an Monastery. Monastic supervisor Ven. Yayun (亚蕴) said “We practice monasticism and adhere to the Vinaya as other sangha communities. We rarely go out of the monastery, but many people come to us." Ven. Yayun observes that, in recent years, there has been a strong resurgence of Buddhism in Shanghai, particularly among young people. "People tend to assume that in Buddhism spiritual development and material success are contradictory, since the Buddha attained enlightenment after renouncing his worldly possessions. It is true that Buddhism advocates non-attachment, but it never denounced wealth itself. In fact, without the financial support of the lay community, the Buddhist Dharma would not have spread so far and wide. By donating to the sangha, devotees express piety and accumulate merit. The critical role of merchants in the diffusion of Buddhism is often overlooked.”

The 23rd Korea-China-Japan Buddhist Friendship and Exchange Conference held in Korea. Buddhists of the three countries issued a joint Declaration of the Origin of World Peace based on the Buddha Law and signed an agreement regarding the holding of the next Japanese Convention. http://www.koreanbuddhism.net/bbs/board.php?bo_table=0010

The Absence of an Almighty God in Buddhism Friends, in the serene scope of introspection that Buddhism lays out for seekers, as you all would have noticed, that the concept of an all-powerful, eternal deity finds no ground. This is not out of dismissal but due to the profound principles of Anatta (non-self) and Anicca (impermanence), which form the bedrock of Buddhist philosophy. Buddhism teaches Anatta, the doctrine that there is no unchanging, permanent self or "soul" in living beings (or expand this to include non-living phenomenon as well, having no distinct self as such). It's a direct counter to the notion of a perpetual deity ruling the cosmos, as it asserts that all is subject to change, without exception (Anicca). Anicca further supports this by declaring that all things, without exception, are in a constant state of flux. The idea of an eternal God is contradictory to this fundamental truth of continual transformation that governs the universe i.e. there cannot exist an unchanging, eternal phenomenon as according to Buddhism. Buddhism focuses on the potential for enlightenment within each individual. This potential is not bestowed by an external force but is an intrinsic part of our very fabric, which can be realized through mindfulness and ethical living. The absence of an almighty eternal God in Buddhism is not an oversight but an invitation to take responsibility for our actions and their consequences, fostering a direct relationship with the experience of life and the liberation from suffering. This autonomy empowers individuals to become masters of their destiny, with the Buddhist path offering guidance towards awakening, not through divine grace but through diligent practice and insight. In the light of these teachings, the concept of a singular, eternal and almighty God does not align with The Buddha's message. Buddhism instead calls for a deep understanding of reality as it is, recognizing the impermanent and non-self nature of existence. Thus, Buddhism offers a unique spiritual narrative, one where salvation lies not in divine intervention, but in the realization of Anatta and Anicca, leading to the ultimate freedom of Nirvana. Source: https://x.com/BuddhaBeings/status/1722237607227326818?s=20

India grants US $15 Million to strengthen Buddhist ties with Sri Lanka. The allocation of the funds will contribute to various initiatives, including the construction, renovation of Buddhist monasteries. The grant agreement was formalized on 2 November during a signing ceremony at the president’s house in Colombo, attended by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and India’s finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, as part of her three-day visit to Sri Lanka.

“This grant is specifically allocated to bolster the longstanding Buddhist connections between India and Sri Lanka, underscoring the deep historical and cultural ties that bind these two nations together.”

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/india-grants-us15-million-to-strengthen-buddhist-ties-with-sri-lanka/

Kamma Behind Being Born Ugly and Beautiful “This is the way leading to ugliness...there is the case, where a woman or man is ill-tempered & easily upset; even when lightly criticized, he/she grows offended, provoked, malicious, & resentful; shows annoyance, aversion, & bitterness. Through having adopted & carried out such actions, on the break-up of the body, after death, he/she reappears in the plane of deprivation...If instead he/she comes to the human state, then he/she is ugly wherever reborn." "This is the way leading to beauty...there is the case where a woman or man is not ill-tempered or easily upset; even when heavily criticized, he/she doesn't grow offended, provoked, malicious, or resentful; doesn't show annoyance, aversion, or bitterness. Through having adopted & carried out such actions, on the break-up of the body, after death, he/she reappears in a good destination...If instead he/she comes to the human state, then he/she is beautiful wherever reborn." - Buddha (MN 135 - Full Sutta Here)

Contentment is the Greatest Wealth

Blind is this world because of ignorance, because of not knowing the truth. In pursuit of sensual pleasures, people have no contentment. They don’t know the value of contentment. People are wandering around without any clear direction. From the moment of birth until the moment of death, people all over the world are very busy pursuing sensuality. People’s goals are almost all the same. They want to feel pleasant feelings and to enjoy sensual pleasures. When we know how we are living and what we are living for – that we are slaves to the five aggregates – we will feel ashamed of our lives. It is impossible to completely make an end of suffering without having made the breakthrough to the Four Noble Truths. Our desire for existence is so strong that even existence in one of the woeful realms is deemed better than not existing again at all. The Buddha said, “ ‘Santuṭṭhi paramaṃ dhanaṃ : Contentment is the greatest wealth (Dhammapada Sukhavagga)” The one who knows the value of contentment and practices it has peace of mind.

- Bhikkhu Revata (Bearers of the Burden)

Nerañjara/Nairanjana River (Bihar, India) This is the river where the Buddha bathed (Nairanjana River), and then, accepting milk curds offered by Sujata, he recovered his strength, sat beneath the pippala tree and attained enlightenment. Although the river is shallow, it has water flowing all year around, even in the dry season. A ridge of hills lies across the river, and in the middle of the ridge is a spot where the Buddha once stayed, named Nigrodharama. The remains of Lady Sujata’s house are also nearby. "Thus have I heard. At one time the Lord was staying at Uruvela, beside the river Nerañjara at the foot of the Bodhi Tree, having just realized full enlightenment. At that time the Lord sat cross-legged for seven days experiencing the bliss of liberation. Then, at the end of those seven days, the Lord emerged from that concentration and gave well-reasoned attention during the first watch of the night to dependent arising..." Udana 1.1 - Bodhi Sutta: The Bodhi Tree

Meditation on Dukkha - Ven. Luang Por Sumedho And what is dukkha? Dukkha is existential anguish. Even when you’ve got everything, when life is beautiful, when there’s absolutely no problem – you have a good marriage, good children, wealth, respect, everything you could want – there’s still this existential anguish that goes through all human beings. For instance, one time a man came to me at my monastery and said: ‘I’ve got to talk to you.’ I took him to our reception room where he told me that he was miserable and depressed but didn’t know what was wrong. ‘Well what’s the matter?’ I asked. ‘Have you any particular problems that you’re facing?’ He replied: ‘No. I’m just depressed.’ ‘Are you married?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ ‘You had a fight with your wife?’ ‘No, no, no. I have a very good wife. No problems with her.’ ‘Your children? Are they being naughty?’ ‘No, no. I’ve got good children.’ ‘You’re in debt?’ ‘No, no debt.’ ‘You’ve been laid off work. You’re on the dole?’ ‘No. I’ve a good job, I like my job. I don’t know what’s wrong. I’m really depressed and I don’t know why.’ Existential anguish. The anguish of being alive in this condition and not understanding why. This is something we can recognize in our own lives. The second Noble Truth is the realization that dukkha is something that arises. It’s not an ultimate truth. It‘s a Noble Truth but not ultimate truth. That’s different. We’re not saying: ‘Everything is misery.’ Instead, we begin to look at our limitations, the things that we’re attached to that in fact we bind ourselves to. Our teacher in Thailand, Ajahn Chah, was wonderful at making us endure what we didn’t want to endure. He used to take me to some of those awful festivals where you have to sit up all night and listen to loudspeaker systems, with monks giving talks all night long and blaring sounds. I found it very unpleasant to the ear – really irritating – and I’d get a lot of anger. I couldn’t understand the language very well in those days and there would be all this talking and laughing and everybody having a good time, but not me! And that would make me angry. How dare they have a good time when I’m so miserable? I would sit there and I’d feel very critical. Ajahn Chah knew that I had a lot of pride and that I wasn’t going to give up easily on things. He forced me to keep enduring. And I began to see my conceit. I started thinking about my anger and how it would be directed outwards. How I’d start hating Ajahn Chah, or the other people. Then I’d think: ‘Are they doing anything really very bad to me? Is there anything wrong here? It’s just that I don’t like it the way it is, that’s all that’s wrong. I want to be somewhere else; I don’t want to be here. But actually they’re all right, they’re not doing anything wrong. Everything’s all right but me, I’m making that scene in my mind because I want to be somewhere else. I want to go to sleep. I don’t want to be here. I don’t like that and I don’t want it.’ So I would endure; and it turned out I could endure anything. https://www.abhayagiri.org/media/books/Ajahn%20Sumedho%20Volume%205%20-%20The%20Wheel%20of%20Truth.pdf

Spread of Buddhism from India to Asia And when the Wheel of the Dhamma had been set in motion by the Blessed One, the earth-dwelling devas raised a cry: “At Baraṇasi, in the Deer Park at Isipatana, this unsurpassed Wheel of the Dhamma has been set in motion by the Blessed One, which cannot be stopped by any ascetic or brahmin or deva or Mara or Brahma or by anyone in the world." Thus at that moment, at that instant, at that second, the cry spread as far as the brahma world, and this ten thousandfold world system shook, quaked, and trembled, and an immeasurable glorious radiance appeared in the world surpassing the divine majesty of the devas. (SN 56.11 - Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta)

The Psychic Powers of Ven. Arahant Mahā Moggallāna (Thag 20.1) I have mastered my psychic powers. In an instant, I can clone myself a hundred thousand times. I can use my psychic power as I wish. In an instant, can know the thousand-fold world system. He is equal to Mahā Brahma, possessing supernormal powers. He possesses the knowledge of seeing the passing away and rebirth of beings. He also sees the gods at the appropriate time. Using psychic powers, the peak of the great mountain Meru was touched by a monk, and in India, the country called Pubba Videha, that land where people sleep on the ground, was touched by that monk. I am that monk. Living with a well-developed mind, bearing his final body, my Great Teacher, the Buddha, instructed me to do that task. Using psychic powers, with a big toe, I shook the Vejayanta Palace of the God Sakka and made the gods tremble. I am the monk who did that task. The Buddha’s instruction has been respectfully followed by me. The Buddha’s path has been fully followed by me. I lowered the heavy load of defilements. I rooted out the fetters of existence. About ten thousand gods have gathered here. They are very glorious, and possessed of psychic powers. They all have come from the world of the brahma Purohita. With joined palms they are standing worshiping Arahant Mogallāna respectfully. https://suttafriends.org/sutta/thag20-1/

Buddha coming down from Tāvatiṃsa deva realm after having spent the rains retreat there in order to teach the Dhamma to his mother and devas. The town that he descended to was Sankasa, and he descended right to the gates of the city. The place where the Buddha first stepped onto the earth later became known as the "acalacetiya," or in ordinary terms a "Buddha's footprint." This is one place, according to the legend, where a Buddha's footprint was made. Before the Buddha's descent, Lord Sakka/Indra, king of the Devas, conjured up three stairways for the purpose: a gold stairway, a silver stairway and a jewel stairway. The gold stairway, for the devas, was on the right. The silver stairway, on the left, was for the Brahmas. The jewel stairway, in the center, was for the Buddha. The top of each of the stairways rested on the summit of Mount Sumeru, while the foot of the stairways rested at the city gates of Sankasa.