On one occasion the Buddha was asked, “Do all of Master Gotama’s disciples attain Nibbāna or do some not attain it?” The Buddha responded, “Some do, brahman, and some do not.” “Why is that, Master Gotama, since there is Nibbāna, and the way leading to it, and Master Gotama as guide?” The Buddha responded to [...]
Archive for the ‘Bhikkhu Nānamoli’ Category
Don’t Get Lost
Posted in Bhikkhu Nānamoli, Life of Buddha, Pāli Canon on August 7, 2010 | 4 Comments »
Buddha at the Gate
Posted in Bhikkhu Nānamoli, Disciples of the Buddha, Life of Buddha, Pāli Canon on August 4, 2010 | 1 Comment »
On one occassion, Uttiya went to the Buddha and sat down at one side. He asked a serious of questions concerning the earth, the soul and the body, and life after death for Perfect Ones. To each of his questions the Buddha responded, “That is not answered by me, Uttiya.” Then Uttiya asked, “Master Gotama, [...]
Silent Buddha
Posted in Bhikkhu Nānamoli, Disciples of the Buddha, Life of Buddha, Pāli Canon on July 30, 2010 | 3 Comments »
On one occassion, the wanderer Vacchagotta approached the Buddha. He asked, “How is it, Master Gotama, does self exist?” The Buddha did not speak. Vacchagotta went on, “How is it, then, Master Gotama, does self not exist?” Again, the Buddha did not speak. Vacchagotta got up from his seat and went away. Ānanda then approached [...]
Thank you, Ānanda…
Posted in Bhikkhu Nānamoli, Disciples of the Buddha, Pāli Canon on July 20, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Thank you, Ānanda, for letting the weeping women present at the Blessed One’s funeral be the first ones to salute his remains. Thank you, Ānanda, for arguing on behalf of Mahāpajāpatī and the other women, for helping the Buddha to see that they too should be given the going forth, that they were one in [...]
Mettā Sutta, Summer Break
Posted in Bhikkhu Nānamoli, Life of Buddha, Pāli Canon on June 25, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Hello! Thank you for reading With(out) Bounds! I will take a short break from posting over the next couple of weeks. But please come back in mid-July when I will be back up and posting regularly! (Roughly, check back around July 15th.) I look forward to continuing this journey through the Buddha’s life and eventually [...]
From Buddha to Dogma?
Posted in Bhikkhu Nānamoli, Life of Buddha, Pāli Canon on June 22, 2010 | 2 Comments »
After the Buddha attained final Nibbāna, a council of five hundred bhikkhus convened to recite the Dhamma and the Discipline. It was at this council that the Pāli Canon first took shape. But it also seems that something else happened – a subtle transition from a flexible practice to a dogmatic one. After the Dhamma [...]
Struggling to Turn the Wheel
Posted in Bhikkhu Nānamoli, Decision to Teach, Life of Buddha, Pāli Canon on June 18, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Before Turning the Wheel of Dharma and delivering the teaching on the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha had to convince the five ascetics who attended him prior to his enlightenment that he was worth listening to. While approaching the Deer Park at Isipatana, the five ascetics saw the Buddha. Still wary of the Buddha’s supposed [...]
Up Until the Last Breath
Posted in Bhikkhu Nānamoli, Life of Buddha, Pāli Canon on June 17, 2010 | 2 Comments »
The Buddha taught the Dhamma up until his last breath. In pain and discomfort, mostly likely from eating spoiled hog’s mincemeat, the Buddha went to the sāla tree grove at the turn into Kusinārā. A couch was made ready for him. He lay down in the lion’s sleeping pose as the miraculous blossoms on the [...]
When Words Bring Unexpected Fruits
Posted in Bhikkhu Nānamoli, Life of Buddha, Pāli Canon on June 12, 2010 | 1 Comment »
The Blessed One was once living at Vesālī. While there, he instructed the bhikkhus on contemplating loathsomeness of the body. He commended contemplation of loathsomeness and the maintenance of it in being. After instructing the bhikkhus in this way, the Blessed One went on a half-month retreat and was not to be disturbed by anyone [...]
Confronting Māra in Old Age
Posted in Bhikkhu Nānamoli, Life of Buddha, Pāli Canon on June 9, 2010 | 4 Comments »
Thirty-seven years or so after the Enlightenment, when the Buddha was seventy-two years old, when the Sangha was well developed, thriving, and flourishing, Devadatta (the Buddha’s first cousin) made several attempts to take over the Sangha and end the Buddha’s life. Troubling events such as these would be expected for the Buddha, given his influence [...]
