1. Ever Vivid

    9
    The
    Night
    Of nothingness
    Appeared ever vivid in my arms
    And as you laughed I felt no harm
    For the sun rose never before its time
    And if you ask why I cry
    It is the joy of
    Knowing
    Silence
    Before
    I die

    ~Silent Lotus

  2. Everything is impermanent

    Comment

    All conditioned things are impermanent. When one see this in Wisdom, then one becomes dispassionate towards the painful.

    Sayings of the Buddha
    ~Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda

    sparkling pink flower

  3. The highest gift

    Comment

    The gift of Truth excels all other gifts.

    Sayings of the Buddha
    ~Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda

    Buddha

  4. An artificial tree being carried round by a happy crowd in celebration of a charity, during the days of Myanmar Kings

    Comment
    An artificial tree being carried round by a happy crowd in celebration of a charity, during the days of Myanmar Kings

    An artificial tree being carried round by a happy crowd in celebration of a charity, during the days of Myanmar Kings

    65. An artificial tree being carried round by a happy crowd in celebration of a charity, during the days of Myanmar Kings

    In the days of the Myanmar Kings, the rulers were just administrators and most of the ministers also dispensed justice well. Officers under their control were also prevented from doing any injustice or wrong. The people were law abiding and until not very long ago rains were regular, and even in dry zones agricultural land could be cultivated with success. Textiles, consumer goods and fancy goods were not imported into this country from foreign places in these days as at present. Consequently there was no drainage of the country’s resources to foreign lands. Paddy, rice and oil were produced in profusion and there was more than enough for local consumption. Scarcity of thefts and robberies kept the people happy and contented. They celebrated pagoda festivals and other charitable functions, and used to go round with an artificial tree laden with native cakes, sweet meats and fruits, such as plantains and coconuts, in a carefree and joyous mood of charitable display.

    THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF BUDDHISM
    by ASHIN JANAKA BHIVAMSA (Aggamahapandita)
    Artist: U Ba Kyi | Link to this post

  5. Take Heart…

    Comment

    Ananda and grandma

    TAKE HEART
    But also
    take comfort, healing, rest and love
    Leave sorrow
    amongst the rocks and woods who most of the time
    are far stronger
    better able to handle such loads
    Take courage
    But also,
    take honesty, courtesy, empathy and patience
    Leave doubt
    amidst the deep ocean waters
    watch it sink there
    until you cannot cling to it any longer
    Take faith
    but leave with an open mind, an open hand, open arms
    Take whatever you need to make it through
    leave what keeps you from going on
    Tears only go so far
    Fear only holds so long
    Though your feet may bleed and your hands, tremble
    Take deep compassion for the suffering of another
    and journey on

    ~by Jennifer Edwards

  6. Doing what you know is right

    Comment

    That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong. ~William J. H. Boetcker

    A-mountain-reflection

  7. Dedication prayers

    Comment

    Flower-water-droplets

    Through the virtues I have collected
    By practising the stages of the path,
    May all living beings find the opportunity
    To practise in the same way.

    May everyone experience
    The happiness of humans and gods,
    And quickly attain enlightenment,
    So that samsara is finally extinguished.

    Source: kadampa.org
    Compiled from traditional sources by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

     

  8. A language spoken by heart

    Comment

    Friendship is a language spoken by heart…
    Not written on paper, nor given by pledge…
    It is a promise renewed every time we keep in touch…

    Care is the sweetest form of love.
    When someone says ‘take care’ it really
    means that you will stay in their hearts.
    So take Care of yourself always.

    ~sms modified

     

  9. To bring true happiness to one’s family

    Comment

    To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him. ~Buddha

    Buddha and monks

  10. Stone inscriptions of King Mindon

    Comment
    Stone inscriptions of King Mindon

    Stone inscriptions of King Mindon

    64. Stone inscriptions of King Mindon

    King Mindon, who founded the city and the palace of Mandalay, was a great supporter of the Buddhist religion. He used to confer titles upon, and offer the four necessities of monks to venerable monks distinguished for their learning in the Scriptures. He built huge monasteries in the eastern part of the city and donated them for occupation by large numbers of monks.
    He was not satisfied with such measures taken by him in support of the religion. He, therefore, had the Scriptures of the Buddha inscribed on stone slabs under the direct supervision of Maha Theras who were the most learned of the lot of ecclesiastical dignitaries on whom titles had been conferred for proficiency in the Scriptures. With reference to this act of having the Scriptures inscribed on stone slabs, King Mindon is known today as the “Royal Convener of the Fifth Buddhist Council”.

    THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF BUDDHISM
    by ASHIN JANAKA BHIVAMSA (Aggamahapandita)
    Artist: U Ba Kyi | Link to this post


Live & Die for Buddhism

candle

Khmer Tipitaka 1 – 110

 ព្រះត្រៃបិដក

ព្រះត្រៃបិដក ប្រែថា កញ្រ្ចែង ឬ ល្អី​ ៣ សម្រាប់ដាក់ផ្ទុកពាក្យពេចន៍នៃព្រះសម្មាសម្ពុទ្ធ

The Tipitaka or Pali canon, is the collection of primary Pali language texts which form the doctrinal foundation of Theravada Buddhism. The three divisions of the Tipitaka are: Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka.

Maha Ghosananda

Maha Ghosananda

Supreme Patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism (5/23/1913 - 3/12/07). Forever in my heart...

Samdech Chuon Nath

My reflection

វចនានុក្រមសម្តេចសង្ឃ ជួន ណាត
Desktop version

Listen to Khmer literature and Dhamma talk by His Holiness Jotannano Chuon Nath, Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia Buddhism.

Shantidevas’ Bodhisattva vows

My reflection

Should anyone wish to ridicule me and make me an object of jest and scorn why should I possibly care if I have dedicated myself to others?

Let them do as they wish with me so long as it does not harm them. May no one who encounters me ever have an insignificant contact.

Regardless whether those whom I meet respond towards me with anger or faith, may the mere fact of our meeting contribute to the fulfilment of their wishes.

May the slander, harm and all forms of abuse that anyone should direct towards me act as a cause of their enlightenment.

As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, so the wise are not shaken by blame and praise. As a deep lake is clear and calm, so the wise become tranquil after they listened to the truth…

Good people walk on regardless of what happens to them. Good people do not babble on about their desires. Whether touched by happiness or by sorrow, the wise never appear elated or depressed. ~The Dhammapada

Hermit of Tbeng Mountain

Sachjang Phnom Tbeng សច្ចំ​​ ភ្នំត្បែង is a very long and interesting story written by Mr. Chhea Sokoan, read by Jendhamuni Sos. You can click on the links below to listen. Part 1 | Part 2

Beauty in nature

A beautiful object has no intrinsic quality that is good for the mind, nor an ugly object any intrinsic power to harm it. Beautiful and ugly are just projections of the mind. The ability to cause happiness or suffering is not a property of the outer object itself. For example, the sight of a particular individual can cause happiness to one person and suffering to another. It is the mind that attributes such qualities to the perceived object. — Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Nature is loved by what is best in us. The sky, the mountain, the tree, the animal, give us a delight in and for themselves. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Our journey for peace
begins today and every day.
Each step is a prayer,
Each step is a meditation,
Each step will build a bridge.

—​​​ Maha Ghosananda