On Wednesday 25th March Sayadaw U Jotika will be making a second public appearance here in Bangkok. Some notes from one of the attendees at Sayadaw U Jotika’s previous talk here: Calming things down: “Get things ‘inside’ yourself calmed down, then the outside calms down.” E.G. No need to send one’s mind out towards wars …
Author Archives: Pandit
Anecdote from Meditation Retreat
A handwritten note from the meditation retreat last January: I LOVE the ‘mindfulness eating’. It presented me with a curious incident with a carrot. I’ve had some really lousy cooked carrots in my past … so I stared down an innocent, rather beautifully fashioned small bit of carrot … imposing my opinion on it. I thought …
Sayadaw U Jotika Visit
The talk that was given in the event below is available for download DMG are announcing that Sayadaw U Jotika, one of the most highly respected of the Burmese monks today, will be speaking at Bodhgaya Hall: Wednesday 25th March Bodhgaya Hall, Amarin Tower, level 22 2pm – 4 pm Talk will be in English …
When Carma drops a hint
When we watched The Secret recently, some of the discussion hovered around Karma; discussion hampered by the fact that no one really knows what Karma is or how it works. Sometimes though, Karma can drop you a hint … in this case that perhaps it is time to slow down : Driver wakes up in …
WBU Forum: April 09
Programme : WBU SUNDAY FORUM Topic : The Vessantara Jataka Date & Time : April 5, 2552(2009), 12:00 – 13.30 : P.M. Speaker : Dr. Somboon Duangsamosorn About the Topic : The Vessantara Jataka The Vessantara Jataka is a well known story from the Buddhist canon, that part of the Tipitaka (one of the Three …
The Law of Attraction
Saturday’s movie – The Secret – has seen a lot of success in recent times. Aside from adding a steep irony to the title, the movie has been tailored for the masses. Cheesy ? yes. Marketed (successfully) for the American pulp fiction market? yes. A little low on peer reviewed research? Don’t even ask. But …
What is Shambhala?
Lots of activity this month. Dr Craig Warren Smith, whose previous lecture at Cula University was well received by many of us, will be introducing the Shambhala approach to Buddhism March 25th. Shambhala International grew from the teachings of Chgyam Trungpa, based in the Tibetan Lineage. What is Shambhala? A Lecture in Chulalongkorn University’s Series …
Kathmandu Meditation
Khun Morakot, a Thai lady fluent in English and experienced in meditation, will lead her monthly session at Kathmandu Books shop, Silom area. She has experience in a number of meditation lineages, and especially the use of meditation (or just counselling) for cancer patients in the hospitals. The room only fits about 10 to 12 …
Invite – Frank’s Ordination
Happily we can announce that our good friend Frank (photo below in case you need reminding) will be “Going Forth from home to homelessness” as the suttas put it. He will be ordaining as a Bhikkhu (monk). All the Little Bangkok Sangha is invited – in fact Frank has handed out lot of invitations but …
Ajahn Wimoak Workshop – Date change!
Thai monk Phra Ajahn Wimoak, who leads a meditation workshop on Sukhumvit Soi 1 on the last weekend of each month, has switched the English and Thai programs so that the English version will be on Saturday 28th – so that we can all attend Frank’s ordination on the Sunday (more news about the ordination soon… …
Extra Special: Abhidhamma
On Thursday 2nd April the World Fellowship of Buddhists will hold a special Abhidhamma class in English with reknowned teacher Ajahn Sujin. She has been one of Thailand’s leading lights in the field of Buddhism, especially Abhidhamma, for over 50 years. Though retired these days we occasionally get the chance to meet and listen to her …
Course in Jainism
For one month, from the 22nd April, those with a month to spare, and a driving interest in Indian thought and traditions, there is a course coming up in Mahidol University that is free of charge, exploring the Jain tradition. Buddhism and Jainism have a lot in common as they are two branches of the same Sramana …
Shambhala Training 1
The Shambhala group is arranging the first ever official training series in Thailand. The training usually involves a number of meetings (levels, modules) and this first one will be led by Dr Craig Warren Smith. A number of us met him at Culalongkorn University where he was invited by Dr Soraj and presented a lucid and …
Hitchhikers guide to Buddhism
To get somewhere you can buy a car, and drive there. You have to buy a whole car – just the wheels, or just the engine is no good. In the same way most meditation lineages (not to mention religions) ask you to buy their philosophy so that you can practice in the ‘right’ way. …
Dhamma Talk with Jeff Oliver
Tuesday 17th March: Dhamma Talk with Jeff Oliver Jeff should be known to many of you already, after leading a dhamma talk and one day workshop for us last year. He was a monk for some years with the hugely respected Sayadaw U Janaka in Myanmar. These days, though a layman, he leads somewhat of …
Robin Hood Analysed
Whatever your view of psychology, like it or not, it has entered the mainstream of public consciousness. Only after studying the subject does it become clear just have far academic terms, phrases and concepts from Freud, Yung and others have filtered down into the common understanding of the ‘self’. Listening to Dhamma talks by masters …
The Secret Saturday 14th
(Added: A look at the Law of Attraction blog…) Secret Saturdays are unusual … but in this case we will be showing the movie ‘The Secret’ on Saturday 14thMarch at the Tai Pan Hotel. We’ll stick to our usual format: Meet anywhere between 11:30 to 12:30 for the buffet lunch at the Tai Pan Hotel, …
What is Next for Me?
Upcoming talk : Debbie, who many of you have met already, will be giving a talk in Bangkok on Thursday 5th March – should prove very interesting, as both the speakers have a lot of experience in developing spiritual aspects in a large variety of ways. Debbie herself is a Life Coach, which is a role …
Cula University Lecture
Dr Soraj announces another lecture at Culalongkorn University, not far from Siam Square. He always invites very interesting and well qualified speakers, so this event comes highly recommended if you are free on Friday March 20th in the afternoon. It is always best to phone ahead on the day to check there have been no …
Samsara Sucks
Buddhism has a clear take on the world. Ultimately, it sucks. There are of course, lots of beautiful things in the world, and lots of beautiful qualities and states of mind that are worthy of being developed; but when you boil it all down, the world sucks and cannot provide lasting peace or happiness. It is a …