buddhamma @monkGotama

Practising Silence (a Zen story, retold by Raj Arumugam) 1 Four disciplined monks sat in the room with a single oil lamp to provide light They remained still and silent for that was their practice 2 The oil lamp flickered; it was time to refill the lamp with some oil…

The moment of beauty (A zen tale, retold by Raj Arumugam) 1 Two monks Kenji and Kaito were walking down the river Kenji saw some wild geese flying in the sky; he saw the reeds, the blue he saw the moment of beauty 2 Kenji called out to his companion but just then Kaito knelt…

Aoto and the bird (A zen tale - original) 1 Aoto was walking heavy with all his learning importance and self He saw a bird on a branch, and he said: That bird knows nothing 2 Suddenly the bird took off and all of Aoto's learning importance and self disappeared he was as free…

Moving to a new town (A zen tale re-told by Raj Arumugam) A man went to a town some distance off from his own, hoping to move there. How is this town? I'd like to move here he asked Riku the innkeeper How's your old town? asked Riku Oh the neighbours are noisy there's plenty…

Pasenadi becomes a lay follower SERIES: King Pasenadi and the Buddha (6of6) How is this come to be? Master Gotama is but young in years and I hear he has found Enlightenment when but thirty-five and just after five years newly come into going forth How can it be that one so…

Pasenadi meets the Buddha SERIES: King Pasenadi and the Buddha (5of6) King Pasenadi of Kosala went now to see the Buddha and after the courtesies and formalities the King sat at one side 1 And Pasenadi had a question: Does Master Gotama claim to have found the supreme full…

Mallika helps Pasenadi see the Dhamma SERIES: King Pasenadi and the Buddha (4of6) “Dear ones who endear themselves bring sorrow and lamentation pain, grief and despair”* 1 And after Queen Mallika had listened to Nalijangha’s report about his visit to the Buddha, she went to…

Nalijangha returns from the Buddha SERIES: King Pasenadi and the Buddha (3of6) 1 Indeed it is so, said Nalijangha to Queen Mallika returning after he had seen and spoken with the Buddha Nalijangha said to the Queen: It is what the Buddha said: “Dear ones who endear themselves…

PASENADI asks MALLIKA: Why would he say that? SERIES: King Pasenadi and the Buddha (2of6) It is often that those whom one holds dear, those one loves become the cause of our pain and sorrow 1 What is this I hear? said King Pasenadi to his Queen Mallika The Teacher you revere…

The Grieving Father Goes to the Buddha SERIES: King Pasenadi and the Buddha (Part1of6) The Buddha,with the Sangha, stayed in Jeta’s Grove at Savathi, capital of Kosala. The Buddha had come here after his stay at Rajagaha, capital of Magadha, ruled by King Bimbisara. King…

THE BUDDHA ARRIVES at SAVATTHI 1 And so the Buddha starting from Rajagaha and passing through Vesali arrived at Savatthi on the invitation of Anāthapiṇḍika whose name is Sudatta There the Buddha stayed in Jeta’s Grove now a monastery suitably built by Anāthapiṇḍika for the…

Teaching the Young Bhikkus We have read of the tale of the The Partridge’s Holy Life; or The partridge, the monkey and the elephant. But what was the occasion when the Buddha narrated the tale, and then highlighted lessons from it for the bhikkus? It happened in this manner… 1…

The partridge’s holy life; or The partridge, monkey and the elephant A group of six bhikkus, without any consideration for other bhikkus, had taken up lodgings prepared by lay people. The Buddha used this occasion to speak of a story of former times, and to teach the group a…

The Tailor Who tried to Build a Shelter 1 From Rajagaha the Buddha travelled by stages to Vesali and, stopping there, he stayed in in the Hall with the Pointed Roof, in the Great Wood There was much movement here and in the surroundings as people built shelters for the Sangha;…

He knows me; I am defeated (Part 1 of 2 Parts) 1 But the Buddha knew it was Mara when Mara the Evil One appeared before him in the guise of a terrifying Naga And Mara heard even as a huge Naga what he had to know 2 A recluse of restraint and one who has renounced all, lives in…

Mara as a huge royal naga (Part 1 of 2 Parts) Anāthapiṇḍika whose name is Sudatta had met the Buddha for the first time in Rajagaha. He had invited the Buddha and the Sangha to reside in Savatthi, especially during the rainy season, and he went back there to make the necessary…

Sudatta buys and transforms Prince Jeda’s Park Anāthapiṇḍika acquires and prepares Jeta’s Grove (3of3parts) Anāthapiṇḍika whose name is Sudatta resolved that he would buy Prince Jeta’s park in Savatthi and transform it into a monastery in which the Buddha and his bhikkus…

Sudatta acquires Prince Jeda’s Park Anāthapiṇḍika acquires and prepares Jeta’s Grove (2of3parts) Returning to Savatthi Anāthapiṇḍika whose name is Sudatta set about on his work to prepare a place of retreat for the Buddha and the bhikkus for the rainy season 1 First, he had…