〈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 …
Category Archives: Monk Notes:
The People Who Matter
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 …
Monk Note: Stand and Deliver…
Here is one response that answers a lot of questions: Is it Good? This is one of my Abbot’s usual replies when people ask him if they should do something. To be sure, usually they are trying to access some divine portent when asking him if they should open this business, or move to that …
Monk Note: Dr Holly and I
Personal note from Pandit Cittasamvaro Bhikkhu A note on the final four years of Dr Holly Dugan’s lifein Bangkok. It is not quite a full obituary, but her sister promised to fill in some of Holly’s earlier life for us when she gets chance. ____ ” ____ Yesterday we finished the funeral ceremonies for Dr …
Q and A with a Monk
A bunch of schoolkids in the UK sent in some questions about being a monk and about Buddhism. Here are the Qs and As: Do you have contact with your family? Not really – they don’t like my choice! But within Buddhism maintaining contact and relationship with your family is considered to be very important. …
Monk note: Phowa retreat with HHPCR
(in the blogging spirit, I will post up some personal notes once a month or so … I originally thought to keep this blogsite completely impersonal, but my intentions are impermanent like everything else) Phowa Retreat with His Holiness Phakchok Rinpoche This last week I was in Malaysia, having kindly been invited by Jarunee and Ram to join the special …
Note on this year’s Talks:
This year’s personal note on the Dhamma Talk Series: Phra Cittasamvaro Each year I run a series of Talks in Bangkok, in English, for the international community. This happens in the Rains retreat – which runs roughly from July to September each year depending on the lunar calendar. During this period monks are not permitted …
Turning 40
Wed 27th May: Phra Cittasamvaro – Personal musings on turning the big 40 … I don’t have a lot. I live in a room 4 meters by 3 meters, with a small attached bathroom. The water is clean and the room quarantined from insects and other nasties by working mosquito screens. There is no glass …