Kammathana | Dhamma Blog - Dharma Thai Buddhism Portal

The Last Post (for a while…)
And what a ride it’s been! I started this blog less than 9 months ago, soon after the WA bhikkhuni ordination. It filled a need that I had felt, for a way of communicating that was more direct and contemporary. And it seems to have filled a need for others, too: 226 000 views, and […]
A Further Note on Monastery Constitutions
In continuing my occasional series on Monastery constitutions and the legal/Vinaya issues involved, I’d like to take a short look at one recently revised constitution, that of Vimutti Monastery in New Zealand. Vimutti is governed under the legal framework of the Auckland Theravada Buddhist Association. The ATBA has been an active presence for many years, […]
An Even Swifter Pair
Dear and beloved bloggists, There’s been some discussion here on samatha/vipassana, sparked in part by my post on A Swift Pair of Messengers a few days ago. This is, of course, one of the old Theravadin family arguments. I’d like to congratulate the posters so far on their civil and engaging responses. The spark behind […]
A Swift Pair of Messengers
I’ve just finished revising and publishing my first book, A Swift Pair of Messengers. You can find it online here. At the moment it’s just in html format; in the next few days I’ll be supplying print-on-demand, pdf, and scribd versions. I originally wrote this while staying at Sukhavana in Ipoh, Malaysia. At that time, […]
Who Owns a Monastery in the Mulasarvastivada Vinaya?
Schopen’s discussion on ownership in the Mulasarvastivada Vinaya is much more detailed, and I cannot hope to do it justice here. Here is Schopen’s own summary of his findings. As he emphasizes, it is difficult to draw definite conclusions without much more study, yet the findings in this summary are all securely attested in the […]

Lighting up the dark corners

“When the Light is Dim, it isn’t easy to see the old spider webs in the corners of the room”.
“But when the Light is Bright, you can see them clearly, …

Wrong views can be a useful tool

Wrong views can be a useful tool – Asubha Bhavana, Anatta can be used to reduce clinging but must also ultimately be let go of if we are to attain Enlightenment

Seeking Peace and Happiness through Meditation

There is nothing wrong with being happy or having peace, and Meditation is most certainly a method which can bring both of these things to us.
But the pursuit of peace or happiness through Meditation (Samadhi) should not be the goal.. such would be an obstacle……..

Phenomena which occur in Jhana

One thing i would like to mention about the nimittas, sounds and other tingling and inspiring experiences found in Jhana meditation, is the fact that they are hypnotic and induce “sukha” (pleasurable vedhana/sensation
although most western practitioners dont find anything negative about pleasurable experiences (experiences actually are not pleasurable onr unpleasurable.. they are just experiences – it is our creation of mental formations (Sangkhara) and subsequent vedhana which arise (becoming) when our sanya and vinyana (perception and conscious awareness) of these things come into contact with the object (experience)…

Attachments, Cravings, Desires – Kilesas

Kilesas are cravings, attachments and desires. Aversions also come under the classification of craving/desire – this is due to the fact that when we think “oh no i dont ever want to see that person again – i dont like him/her”, then we are still craving for something – Craving for the opposite of what we are having to experience; craving to “not see’ “not encounter” things we are averse to.

Kammathana 40

The forty kammathana methods of Mindful contemplation and applied practise as taught by the Buddhs Sakyamuni as the path to self Enlightenment

4 Sathipatanas – mp3 teaching

The Four Sathipatana – an mp 3 teaching from Pra Ajarn Maha Bua to download and listen to

Using Vipassana to deal with depression

Using Dhamma to deal with Depression;
You should practise Anapanasathi (contemplation of breath) along with vedhananupassana (contemplation of mood and sensation) and Cittanupassana (contemplation of mental state).This means that you should meditate daily by focusing on your breath going in and out, rising and falling – try to focus on the little wisp of wind on the tip of your nose as it goes in and out and notice whether the breathing is slow, fast, or whatever (but don’t feel you have to force it slower; just notice it. Whilst doing this, you should begin to watch your feelings and emotional state. Am I happy? am i Sad? am i stressed? am i just neutral?…

Satipathana Sutta

SATIPATTHANA SUTTA
Kayanupassana-is observing the body, its movements, its impermanence, its non-self nature.
vedhananupassana is observing the feelings and sensations of pleasure displeasure and neutrality
Cittanupassana is observing the mind, and Dhammanupassana is observing all phenomena

Kayanupassana Sathipatana

The Buddha taught the four Sathipatanas in his Sutta thereof as the path to Enlighten oneself with.

Sunday Talks
Keeping with an established tradition, Amaravati Buddhist Monastery will be offering Sunday afternoon Dhamma talks during the traditional three-month ‘rains retreat’ which runs from the full moon of July to the full moon of October. The talks will take place every Sunday beginning on August 1 and continuing through until October 17. […]
Amaravati Kitchen Closed
Please note that the main kitchen here at the monastery will be closed from Monday, August 9 through Friday, August 20. People are encouraged to bring already or easily prepared food for the meal-offering. Limited kitchen facilities will be available at the Retreat Centre kitchen. […]
Looking Ahead: News From Amaravati (Summer Edition)
Looking Ahead is a quarterly bulletin of news and upcoming events at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. This is the second edition, covering events relevant to this summer. […]
Looking Ahead: News From Amaravati (Spring Edition)
Looking Ahead is a bulletin of news and upcoming events at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. This is the first edition. We plan to publish four issues a year: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. […]
Saturday Evening Dhamma Talks
On Saturday evenings members of the Sangha will often offer a Dhamma Talk after the evening puja, which begins at 7.30 p.m. As always, everyone is most welcome to attend. […]
Siladhara Pabbajja
On Sunday, 28th March, Sister Tisara (Anagarika Miriam) and Sister Manita (Anagarika Soledad) received pabbajja and were welcomed into the Siladhara Sangha at a ceremony in the Temple at Amaravati. The sisters put together a slideshow of images of the event, which can be viewed here. […]

The Kalama Sutta (AN 3.65)
The Kālāma Sutta (a condensed version from translations by Vens. Bodhi, Thanissaro, Soma and Buddhadāsa) Anguttara Nikāya 3.65 Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Buddha was wandering on tour among the Kosalans with a large community of monks when he arrived at a town of the Kālāmas named Kesaputta. The Kālāmas of Kesaputta had heard it said, “The asce […]
Abhayagiri Monastery
Mangala Chapter Fifteen: War in Heaven
Author's Note This story is intended to be both a partner to the novel ‘The Pilgrim Kamanita,’ written by Karl Gjellerup in 1906, and a tale that stands on its own. There is no need to have read the earlier book in order to make sense of this one, however, should you wish to go to the source from which many of the characters and scenes of this tale hav […]
Abhayagiri Monastery
Das Vergnügen an Dana (auf Deutsch)
Reflexionen zum Thema Großzügigkeit von Ajahn Pasanno, Seniormönch des Klosters Abhayagiri im Redwood Valley, Kalifornien “Immer wenn ich über mich selbst nachdenke, fange ich an mich deprimiert zu fühlen”, sagte einmal Ajahn Sumedho, der Seniormönch des Klosters Amaravati in England. Wenn Dana - Großzügigkeit, Geben, Teilen - ins Zentrum unseres Lebens r […]
Abhayagiri Monastery
The Challenge of the Future - by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
I will begin with some questions: If Buddhism is to be successfully transplanted in the U.S., does it need a monastic Sangha as its cornerstone? Must there be a monastic Sangha at all, or is Buddhist monasticism an outdated institution? Can the teachings flow entirely through a “lay Sangha,” through lay teachers and communities of lay practitioners? If monas […]
Abhayagiri Monastery
Why I walk
Why I walk The trail uphill past the bell-tower through the madrone and manzanita scrub four-wheel drives can climb it but today isn't about getting there or getting the work over and done with… Sure it's not easy to live without achievement and keep heading uphill but it carries a because that maybe the deer would pick up with those ears that […]
Abhayagiri Monastery

Bhikkhu Ordination and Farewell to Ajahn Amaro
Abhayagiri Monastery residents, Sāmaneras Kovilo and Pamutto, will be requesting the Upasampada, or higher ordination, taking on the training as a bhikkhu. The ceremony is scheduled to take place here at the monastery, up in the forest on the ordination platform, on Sunday, July 18. It will take place in the afternoon, beginning sometime between 3 pm and 6 […]
Abhayagiri Monastery
July Community Work Day
Come help us maintain Abhayagiri's trail network on Saturday, July 10. See this article for more details. Following the usual Community Work Day format, we will have two work periods, and you are very welcome to come and help out with either one or both of them. The first period is from 7:30 am - 11:00 am, then we break for the meal, and resume the acti […]
Abhayagiri Monastery
Monks’ Utility Building Opening Ceremony
After over a year of construction, the Monks' Utility Building is finished. Abhayagiri Monastery will hold the opening ceremony for our new building on Sunday, July 4. The celebrations will begin with an early meal offering at 10:45 am, which will allow everyone time to get up to the Monks' Utility Building for the 1:30 pm opening ceremony. The ev […]
Abhayagiri Monastery
Abhayagiri Monks Visiting the Northwest:
Good beginnings and strong foundations--these are often encouraged as we embark on a spiritual journey or a new period of practice. It's in this spirit that a large group of monks from Abhayagiri will be traveling up to the Pacific Northwest for four days. They are coming to visit and bless the newly established Pacific Hermitage in the Columbia River […]
Abhayagiri Monastery
Farewell to Ajahn Amaro
Farewell to Ajahn Amaro As described in a previous article, Ajahn Amaro plans to move to Amaravati Monastery in England before the beginning of this year’s rains retreat. Ajahn Amaro will replace Ajahn Sumedho as abbot after the rains. Many people have formed heartfelt connections with Ajahn Amaro during the twenty years since he began visiting California, […]
Abhayagiri Monastery

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Lighting up the dark corners

Wrong views can be a useful tool

Seeking Peace and Happiness through Meditation

Phenomena which occur in Jhana

Attachments, Cravings, Desires – Kilesas

Kammathana 40

4 Sathipatanas – mp3 teaching

Using Vipassana to deal with depression

Satipathana Sutta

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