Studying Buddhism in the Land of Buddha's Birth

This image taken from the following site: http://fakebuddhaquotes.com/chill-homie-you-need-to-let-that-shit-go/

Just posted the following on Facebook in response to a friend's question about staying temporarily at a Buddhist monastery in Kathmandu...hopefully useful to someone out there:

I reckon it might depend on type of Buddhism…if Mahayana then Kopan (in west Kdu Valley run by Tibetan-style Gelugpa sect) regularly has foreign residents and visitors…not sure about short term availability for rooms and advisable to make arrangements before arriving…here is their web link: http://kopanmonastery.com/

More easy logistically, in the tourist ghetto of Thamel, central Kathmandu is the Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre run by the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (under auspices of Kopan Monastery) …web link here: http://www.fpmt-hbmc.org/

Along with Kopan, many Tibetan monasteries in Bauddhanath area in west side of Kathmandu Valley, easiest to go directly there from nearby intl airport…some monasteries have attached guest houses and many lodges in the area…here are links to two institutions in that area that run study academies:

http://www.ryi.org/

http://internationalbuddhistacademy.org/

Another consideration and off the beaten path is Nagi Gompa (nunnery) in the northeast foothills overlooking Kdu Valley… more challenging to get oneself to but perhaps the rewards in views and peace and quiet might be worth it…

Even further afield but with regular bus service and less than 20 km outside the Valley is the village of Pharping with caves visited by luminaries including Padmasambhava (aka, Guru Rinpoche). In that area are several monasteries but not sure how accepting they might be of shorter term visitors unless arranged ahead of arrival.

If interested in Theravada Buddhism, then I recommend a lesser known nunnery and retreat center (donation based) following Mahasi Sayadaw style practices and overseen by a Burmese teacher who speaks English, too. Much quieter with few to no foreign visitors…As far as I know they don’t have a website but contact details can be found at my blog link (including much of above information and more) http://threecupsofroxy.blogspot.com/2014/11/buddhism-in-nepal.html 

If you might be inspired to visit the birthplace of Buddha and other sacred locations in Nepal, then please contact a Himalayan specialist at Neo Horizon Travels. 

Dharmaceutical

Ajahn Brahm coined a new word 'kindfulness', and the usual corny jokes were halfway decent this time around (video link below).
The worthwhile talk inspired me to coin a new word, too -- dharmaceutical.

Of course, this series is not for everyone, but some people might find it valuable.

May all beings (who want happiness) find real happiness.

#Buddha #Dhamma

High Theft (Stop Stealing Food -- yes, you :)

What is more precious than your life, and what loss could be more extreme than the loss of your life? What treasures could possibly compensate that loss?

Life is the most precious thing you have, that any sentient being has. From it, all other things and experiences flow. Thereby, what theft could be more extreme than the theft of what is most precious, the theft of life, any life -- intentionally taking a being's life?

Exhibit A, Stop Stealing Food, the case (an incomplete work-in-progress) for theft-free meals:

The Brahmajāla Sutta -- All-embracing Net of Views (translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi)

SECTION II. THE ANALYSIS OF VIRTUE 1. The Short Section on Virtue (Cūḷasīla)

Having abandoned the destruction of life, the recluse Gotama [Buddha] abstains from the destruction of life. He has laid aside the rod and the sword, and dwells conscientious, full of kindness, compassionate for the welfare of all living beings.

Having abandoned taking what is not given, the recluse Gotama abstains from taking what is not given. Accepting and expecting only what is given, he dwells in honesty and rectitude of heart.

Photo of Andromeda Galaxy taken from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk9bAjpkNJmI7u_PayWmCm9VIcKN5d_2Lyk8AVU7PV5QMHU_RloAHJ1zPr2qSmrHOJl-MPzWNyHF7ELCTlqAPR3-P9s0joYx0DMgB4CPigWn7PSXrFynWfBuJ8zmCGpaS4dq_8s2mjPM/w140-h41-p/1280px-Andromeda_galaxy_Ssc2005-20a1.jpg

Maya Devi Temple, Birthplace of Siddhartha Gotama, later known by the title Buddha, in Lumbini, Nepal. The shrine erected over the birth site is named after Buddha's mother Maya Devi. She died within days of giving birth to Siddhartha.

#Buddha, #veg, #Lumbini, #PrinceOfPeace

"Next-to-no illness, next-to-no-affliction, lightness, strength, and a comfortable abiding"

Thus I have heard. Siddhartha Gautama (aka, Sakyamuni Buddha) offered a straightforward prescription for "...next-to-no illness, next-to-no-affliction, lightness, strength, and a comfortable abiding".

He was not suggesting any extracurricular training and exercises. He was not endorsing an elaborate nutritional program. He gave a direct, concise instruction with far-reaching benefits for health and well-being--by simply doing less of something. 

From the Kitagiri Sutta (translation by Thanisarro Bhikkhu):

Thus I have heard, "I abstain from the night-time meal. As I am abstaining from the night-time meal, I sense next-to-no illness, next-to-no affliction, lightness, strength, and a comfortable abiding. Come now. You too abstain from the night-time meal. As you are abstaining from the night-time meal, you, too, will sense next-to-no illness, next-to-no affliction, lightness, strength, and a comfortable abiding."

Advertisement in Pokhara, Nepal.."FOOD & SNAKES" -- not your everyday combination.
Photo by Alonzo Lyons

There are more attractive restaurant signs, but not 'meany' of them :) Photo by Alonzo Lyons

Depression

To anyone depressed or with a loved one who is facing #depression, there is helpful information out there…maybe this link will assist – and if you have reliable friends (challenging to find as an #expat in a foreign land), then seek them out. Be well. 

#Buddhism

Ultimate Loser

Being called a #loser is actually considered a compliment in #Buddhism. Now isn't that #lovely?

When in Rome...

...there are many types of Romans and Roman behavior. Hopefully, when in Rome, we will do as the wise, kind-hearted Romans (and not the ignorant Romans, not the lewd and lascivious Romans, not the corrupt, mealy-mouthed, haughty Romans)...in the end, may the following light our way...

"No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple." - Dalai Lama

#WhenInRome #Buddhism #DalaiLama

Vegetarian Attack and Counterattack

A friend made the following provocative post to our Buddhist studies group on Facebook:

is there anything holy about vegetarianism? even agriculture kills bugs, snakes, mice, etc. if you eat or wear clothing, most likely, something was killed for you.

this fact freaked maha kassapa out and that is why he left home and became a great disciple of the buddha.

"One day, however, when Pipphali Kassapa was inspecting the fields, it happened that he saw, as if with new eyes, what he had seen so often before. He observed that when his people plowed, many birds gathered and eagerly picked the worms from the furrows. This sight, so common to a farmer, now startled him. It now struck him forcefully that what brought him his wealth, the produce of his fields, was bound up with the suffering of other living beings. His livelihood was purchased with the death of so many worms and other little creatures living in the soil. Thinking about this, he asked one of his laborers: "Who will have to bear the consequences of such an action?" — "You yourself, sir," was the answer."

The following was my reply:

so true...paradoxically, in order for humans to live other beings and living things die...did not Maha Kassapa minimize that by ordaining? i mean, inspiration to be 'holy' worked for him, although that can be a loaded word.
doesn't intention play a vital role regardless of action...knowing the misery that goes into a production of a pound of meat, i choose not to participate...is that misery comparable to say a shovel plowing a field and slicing through an unsuspecting insect that doesn't know it was coming in first place and until then was living an unencumbered existence?
and besides would one excuse the other?
seems a bit incomparable to an animal raised in pathetic conditions suffering a pathetic existence until butchered...in the end it seems mostly just a selfish taste for flesh..."He who, seeking his own happiness, punishes or kills beings who also long for happiness, will not find happiness after his death" --Dhammapada

there is also issue of environmental degradation (meat industry is a leading cause of the following: deforestation, water depletion, ocean dead zones, species extinction) with massive resources poured into livestock industry and overzealous fish harvesting particularly relative to other foodstuff...

Getty Images

#Vegetarian #Buddhism