The Theravada School is one tradition of at least eighteen lineages that developed from the teachings of the single Buddha. Each of these schools differed
Tag: laity
Buddhism and Celibacy
The Vinaya Discipline exists to put an end to the agency of human desire. Greed is desire, hatred is desire and delusion is desire. All desire is
Bhikkhus and Politics
In ancient days, according to the records of history, the welfare of the nation and the welfare of the religion were regarded as synonymous terms by the laity as well as by the Sangha. The divorce of religion from the nation was an idea introduced into the minds of the Sinhalese by invaders from the West, who belonged to an alien faith. It was a convenient instrument of astute policy to enable them to keep the people in subjugation in order to rule the country as they pleased.
Nama-Rupa: The Mind-Body Essence of Buddhism
The Buddha explained that physical existence is ‘nama-rupa’, or ‘mind-body’. This analysis is found in the received Chain of Dependent Origination (specifically in the 4th link which is conditioned by consciousness [mind], and which in turn conditions the sixfold sense-base [body]).
Breaking Through at the Point of Contact
All legitimate Chinese Ch’an practitioners access the empty mind ground from varying socio-economic conditions that boil down to two distinct positions in life; either that
Like the Soil of the Earth is the Soil of the Heart
The Buddha said: Headman, just like that field with good soil are my monks and nuns. To them I preach the Doctrine, beautiful in its
