The Venerable Bojangles – Fri 7 Feb

‾‾‾‾‾‾Ξ‾‾‾‾‾‾ ‘THE VENERABLE BOJANGLES’ Dhamma talk @Baan Aree with Pandit Bhikkhu Fri. 7th Feb : in English 6-8pm ____Ξ____ Overview: Dharma talk with Pandit Bhikkhu. There’s no charge, no need to reserve, and mats/chairs are provided.   6:00pm gather (coffee shop on site) 6:25 meditation 7:45 dhamma talk, Q&A 8:00 finish (promptly) We’re glad to …

First Friday Dhamma talks

‾‾‾‾‾‾Ξ‾‾‾‾‾‾ AUG/SEPT/OCT First Fridays Dhamma talk @Baan Aree with Pandit Bhikkhu in English 6-8pm ____Ξ____ Overview: Dharma talk with Pandit Bhikkhu. There’s no charge, no need to reserve, and mats/chairs are provided. Friday 2nd August:        MY MIND’S SUCH A SWEET THING Friday 6th September:  RICKY GERVAIS IS WRONG ABOUT RELIGION Friday 4th October …

Meditate, Mondays

MEDITATE, MONDAYS freestyle meditation every week Suk 23 (Asoke), 6:30 – 8:00pm *** temporarily suspended *** _______________________________ Overview: Join a friendly group for meditation every Monday night from 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm in Asok. Brief instructions and tips will be given by either a British monk, a former monastic, or by experienced lay teachers. …

Notes: Self Meditation – talk four in the Eight Steps of Yoga

∇∇∇∇∇ Notes on Talk Four 2015 Dhamma Talk Series Pranayama : Self Meditation Breath meditation is a staple of all contemplative traditions. On the one hand I meet wannabe philosophers who only want to talk about things like non-duality. On the other hand I meet people who want to sit with the breath and attain all …

Bhikkhkuni’s in Thai Media

Here is some news in Thai regarding the ordination of Bhikkhunis (female monks) in Thailand. While many Westerners have a clear cut view, the fact is this is a divisive issue in Thailand, and not at all clear cut. Certain Bangkok English medium writers do not help the issue by presenting it as black and white -an opposition …

Non-duality and Buddhism

A short look at Enlightenment in advance of our event about the Indian sage Ramana Maharshi Saturday. We’ll be asking some of the following questions: The practise of Buddhism is for Enlightenment – spiritual release from suffering. Quite what that is, of course, you won’t know until you experience it directly. But saints and sages …

Does Metta meditation affect the recipients?

Does offering metta meditation actually affect other people? Let our pets decide … ! ____________________________________ Metta meditation, or ‘loving kindness’ meditation is a staple of Buddhism. One arouses the feeling unconditional loving kindness in any way that is expedient, and then ‘offers’ it outwards towards all world beings. Insight meditation (vipassana, yoniso manasikara) makes you …

Before your head splits into seven pieces

Pu came to the temple wanting to make some offerings. She had a ubiquitous yellow bucket. she was well dressed and in her mid 30s. If you want to know, at the time, she owned a small book business. In the temple she kept asking about Karma. – We always know something is up when …

Notes: Fifth event – Long-listed for Enlightenment

〈Δ〉 Notes for talk five in the 2014 dhamma talk series Long-listed for Enlightenment Each week during the Rains Retreat Series of Talks in Bangkok the notes will be published. If anything is mentioned during the session that needs clarification or links for further details, then it will be easily found. We talk about staying in the present …

The Feed Forward Loop

〈Δ〉   WHEN I first encountered Buddhism, it was amazing. The Four Noble Truths seemed like heavenly manna falling to earth. The teachers seemed just as amazing. I was home. I found myself willing to give a lot up in order to pursue Buddhism. I was not a natural meditator, and it was hard work. Ordination as a …

Watching the Mind

When I was a young(er) man my main character was one driven by depression. I was an unhappy kid. Home was oppressive, and the alternative was to ‘go out’. Having lots of friends, but none close, I’d do the rounds, finding different groups of people to hang out with each night. But what I really …

English Breakfast – with Pandit

 How I came to be famous for nearly 2 years. Quite often I do a radio or TV show – mostly journalists fishing for something of novelty, and sticking a mic in my face for a few minutes, and then disappearing forever. I don’t often hear anything back except for an occasional comment from a …

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 …