At Ariyasom Villa recently I commented that when you are in a traffic jam, you might remember that you are part of the traffic also. It’s not just everyone else who is making your day bad, you too are contributing to their traffic jam. In the same way, usually people who come to the events …
Author Archives: littlebang
Ajahn Amaro at Baan Aree
Ajahn Amaro, Abbot of Wat Amaravati temple in the UK since the departure of Luang Phor Sumedho, will give a talk in English at the excellent Baan Aree (Ari BTS) on Saturday 22nd June. Ajahn Amaro is a gifted teacher and leader, which is why he was the natural figure to take on the European …
Essentials of Buddhism
__________________________________ ESSENTIALS OF THAI BUDDHISM Dhamma Talk, and Meditation in Real English Kindly hosted by The Indus Restaurant Sukhumvit 26 (Phrom Phong BTS) __________________________________ While you are here in Thailand explore a little about the Buddhist culture and teachings in a quiet, air-conditioned, and informal atmosphere. The talks aim to be light, informative, and easy …
Mental management, body healing
June 2013 we meet to discuss the topic of meditation and healing. Specifically, with all the current crop of magazines sporting outrageous claims of meditation being the key to health, healing everything from headaches to cancer we need to ask how much of a connection there really is. On the one hand we can measure …
“I Shall Please” – the placebo effect
“The placebo effect is the measurable, observable, or felt improvement in health or behavior not attributable to a medication or invasive treatment that has been administered“ Here’s the question – meditation groups, prahnic breathing, Qi Kong, Tai Chi and yoga groups all advertise their courses in terms of health benefits, but is this real and …
Invisible Gorillas and Anecdotal Evidence
Next week we will have our Cappuccino Club meeting on the topic of meditation and health. While the topic is current for us, it seems a good time to reflect on what is good science, and what is anecdotal evidence. First, take a look at this short clip: There is an excellent book called The …
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Forest Meditation – Thursday 20th June
Teachings from the Forest Weekly Meditation Session – we’ll be joined this week by two Bhikkhus (monks) from the International Forest Monastery in NE Thailand. _______________________ Thursday 20th June 6:30-8:15 pm _______________________ Bhikkhus Punnyo and Anando will join us at Ariaysom for our meditation session – if you have any questions for them there should …
Entrance to Insight
___________________ Monthly – see Calendar for dates Entrance to Insight at Ariyasom Villa, Suk Soi 1 ___________________ New monthly meeting with a short talk and instructions on how to get a meditation practise going. The aim is to provide repeated instructions and encouragement especially to those new to meditation, and a forum for others to join …
Can Anyone Go to Heaven, if they Just be Good?
A well known book ‘Anyone Can Go to Heaven, Just be Good‘ published in Malaysia, suggests exactly what it’s title suggests. According to Buddhism, what happens after you die depends on how you have lived your life. Live in a good, bright and wholesome way, and you will rise ‘up’ to heavenly realms. Do bad …
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Little Bangkok Video Channel
It has been in my mind for a long while to learn video editing. The idea came originally after a Sayadaw U Jotika talk which I thought, should be enhanced in some ways, and published. Particularly, I wanted to add subtitles in several languages, and also some slides illustrating what he is talking about – …
Cappuccino Club – Meditation and the Body
Continuing our aim to bring Buddhism, dhamma, mindfulness and meditation to Bangkok in English :- _____________________________________ Saturday 8th June Topic: Meditation and the Body _____________________________________ At Ariyasom Villa, Sukhumvit Soi 1 free of charge, no reservation required ‘Cappuccino Club’ Eschewing the usual Dhamma Talk format, sometimes we like to meet for a more open discussion of …
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Report – Bhikkhuni Ani Thoying visit
In May 2013 we invited Bhikkhuni Ani Choying to stay with us, at the ever supportive Ariyasom Villa and Restaurant in Sukhumvit 1, Bangkok. I had met her at Bodhi Hearts sanctuary in Penang where we were both holing up for a while as we planned out our next steps. For me it was getting …
Meet and Eat
Monday May 27th ANNAPURNA restaurant Come to Meet and Eat at our favourite Indian Vegetarian Restaurant, with Pandit Bhikkhu. Food is low cost, and good. We have the restaurant to ourselves. It’s quiet and air-con! Non-veg food can also be ordered from the Annapurna menu (veg menu is separate menu and kitchen). You don’t have to know …
Interview with Bhikkhuni Dhammananda
In 2007 myself and Buddhist teacher David Holmes interviewed Bhikkhuni Dhammananda, Thailand’s leading ordained Buddhist nun. This was just before she gave a talk for our group. Since then little has changed, except that her temple has grown somewhat, and there have been more ordinations of women, especially in the US. Since the interview was …
Bhikkhuni Ordination in Buddhism
Next week we will be hosting in Bangkok a UK/US lady who has ordained as a Bhikkhuni, a female monk, in the Tibetan tradition. You will have 2 chances to come and meet with her, in a formal setting, and in an informal format with our ‘Cappuccino Club’. Coincidentally this week has seen a couple …
Dharma Diet
Recently I was talking to a man from Chicago who was eating lunch. He asked about how monks don’t eat after midday. I mentioned that these days, I actually do a fair bit of fasting – the so-called 5/2 fast where while 5 days a week you eat what you like, 2 days a week …
Cappuccino Club – Sunday May 12th
Continuing our aim to bring Buddhism, dhamma, mindfulness and meditation to Bangkok in English :- _____________________________________ Sunday 12th May Cappuccino Club meets with special guest Bhikkhuni Ani Choying Topic: Bhikkhuni ordination in the ancient and modern era _____________________________________ At Ariyasom Villa, Sukhumvit Soi 1 free of charge, no reservation required ‘Cappuccino Club’ Eschewing the usual …
Bhikkhuni Ani Choying – Lessons from the Mountain
Continuing our aim to bring Buddhism, dhamma, mindfulness and meditation to Bangkok in English :- __________________________ Thursday evening 9th May Bhikkhuni Ani Choying Lessons from the Mountain __________________________ We will welcome Bhikkhuni Ani Choying in Bangkok for a few days. It is a special chance to meet with ordained women in Buddhism, which traditionally has …
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Report: Songkran Day
April 15th 2013 saw our first attempt to hold a proper Buddhist ceremony. There is a current trend in Buddhism to strip away all cultural aspects of Buddhism that might appear to be animistic or ritualistic, and get to the ‘bare bones’ that is purely meditation. This ‘atheistic’ approach is popular, especially in modern psychology, …
A.K.Warder – Indian Buddhism
Following is a short review of one Buddhism’s classic texts from 1970, Indian Buddhism, by A.K. Warder. I have seen this book around for many years, and have seen many references to it from various scholars. The prompt to actually read it at this point came mostly from the fact that the book is a …