Not by silence
does someone confused
& unknowing
turn into a sage.

~Dhammapada, Chapter 16 'The Judge', Verse 11. Translation by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
~A full translation of the Dhammapada is available at www.dhammatalks.org ... See more

Warm greetings Everyone,

Hope this finds you well. Thought to pass along a short ovada for the internet, just in case. Wishing all the blessings of Dhamma practice.

With metta,

~Bhante Joe

With Samanera Ananda from Quebec at the Canada Kuti. Samanera Ananda is now one of three Canadian monastics at the monastery. He has his own community in British Columbia, but is visiting Sri Lanka for a period. Very nice to have him. ... See more

Warm greetings Everyone,

Have posted a new page on Dhamma-Vinaya Patipada with forest carika routes.

http://www.dhammavinayapatipada.com/forest-carika-tudong-routes/

This page contains gpx data for forest carika routes in Sri Lanka. Any monks who might like to try the routes are welcome to download the data and use it on their app if choice. It is also possible to use the data to make printable maps. A link is given on the page. ... See more

On pindapata from the Canada Kuti. The villagers have been very lovely and kind with the new pindapata route.

But whoever puts aside
both merit & evil and,
living the chaste life,
judiciously
goes through the world:
he’s called a monk.

~Dhammapada, Chapter 16 'The Judge', Verse 10. Translation by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
~A full translation of the Dhammapada is available at www.dhammatalks.org ... See more

Homage and respect to the Vinaya
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

On the full and new moon days, Theravada monks traditionally gather together for a recitation of the monastic rules. This past Thursday was the 8th of 8 Uposathas in the rainy season. Thought to do a short post on the Vinaya...

Nissaggiya Pacittiya 1: "When a bhikkhu has finished his robe and the frame is dismantled (his kaṭhina privileges are ended), he is to keep extra robe-cloth ten days at most. Beyond that, it is to be forfeited and confessed."

"just as the ocean is stable and does not overstep its tideline; in the same way my disciples do not — even for the sake of their lives — overstep the training rules I have formulated for them... " [2]

1. Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. The Buddhist Monastic Code 1. The full text of the BMC is available at www.dhammatalks.org
2. Uposatha Sutta. Ud 5.5. Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. The full translation as available at www.accesstoinsight.org ... See more

Thank you for this teaching, Than Por 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Warm greetings Everyone,

Hope you're keeping well. Thought to pass along a short Dhamma discussion for the internet, just in case. Wishing all the blessings of Dhamma practice.

With metta,

~Bhante Joe ... See more

Begging from others
doesn’t mean one’s a monk.
As long as one follows
householders’ ways,
one is no monk at all.

~Dhammapada, Chapter 16 'The Judge', Verse 9. Translation by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
~A full translation of the Dhammapada is available at www.dhammatalks.org ... See more

Thank you for this teaching, Luang Por 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽.

Warm greetings Everyone,

Hope that you're having a great day. Thought to pass along a short ovada for the internet, just in case. Wishing all the blessings of Dhamma practice.

With metta,

~Bhante Joe ... See more

After some time was able to get out in the forest behind the kuti. A beautiful area.

The laity observe the proceedings.

The monks assemble to clear the old simas. Perhaps around 100 monks assembled.

Bhikkhus help to lay out the lines for the monastery's new sima. To create a new sima, first the old one must be removed. Sri Lanka has a long. Buddhist history. Therefore, it is difficult to know where old simas may be. For this reason, traditionally ba statement is recited which is seen to remove any old simas within an arm's length of the assembled monks. To make sure all of the area is covered, a grid pattern is sometimes laid. Monks occupy a 'square' and the group progressively moves forward to clear new areas. ... See more

But whoever tunes out
the dissonance
of his evil qualities
–large or small–
in every way
by bringing evil to consonance:
he’s called a contemplative.

~Dhammapada, Chapter 16 'The Judge', Verse 8. Translation by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
~A full translation of the Dhammapada is available at www.dhammatalks.org ... See more

Thank you for this teaching, Luang Pu 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Warm greetings Everyone,

Hope that you're having a great day. Thought to pass along a short Dhamma discussion for the internet, just in case. Wishing all the blessings of Dhamma practice.

With metta,

~Bhante Joe ... See more

A new sima going up at the monastery. Tomorrow, about 100 monks are scheduled to come to perform the Vinaya procedure which will create the sima.

Heading over to the main monastery. In the Sri Lankan forest tradition, solitary kutis are sometimes attached to a larger conventional monastery. Monks can travel to and from to get supplies, Meet fellow monks, etc. This seems to be a tradition that was present in ancient times as well. Nearby ruins of ancient monasteries seems to have many cave kutis in the surrounding area as well. ... See more

Thank you for this teaching, Luang Por 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽.

Warm greetings Everyone,

Hope that you're having a great day. Thought to pass along a short ovada for the internet, just in case. Wishing you all the blessings of Dhamma practice.

With metta,

~Bhante Joe ... See more

With a new dog companion. This fellow was a puppy at the monastery last year. He's taken to following me on walks.

Taking a look at maps in the the library. The monastery was recently given a set of 1 to 50 000 scale maps. These maps are quite detailed and often show footpaths.

Taking a look at maps in the the library. The monastery was recently given a set of 1 to 50 000 scale maps. These maps are quite detailed and often show footpaths.

Not by suave conversation
or lotus-like coloring
does an envious, miserly cheat
become an exemplary man.

But one in whom this is
cut through
up-rooted
wiped out–
he’s called exemplary,
his aversion disgorged,
intelligent.

~Dhammapada, Chapter 16 'The Judge', Verse 5 & 6. Translation by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
~A full translation of the Dhammapada is available at www.dhammatalks.org ... See more

Homage and respect to the Vinaya
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

On the full and new moon days, Theravada monks traditionally gather together for a recitation of the monastic rules. This past Thursday was the 6th of 8 Uposathas in the rainy season. This full moon marked the end of the standard vassa retreat. Thought to do a short post on the Vinaya...

"In case a seat is not sufficiently secluded to lend itself (to sexual intercourse) but sufficiently so to address lewd words to a woman, should any bhikkhu sit in private, alone with a woman on such a seat, so that a female lay follower whose word can be trusted, having seen (them), might describe it as constituting either of two cases—entailing communal meetings or confession—then the bhikkhu, acknowledging having sat (there), may be dealt with in line with either of the two cases—entailing communal meetings or confession—or he may be dealt with in line with whichever case the female lay follower whose word can be trusted described. This case too is indefinite."

"just as the ocean is stable and does not overstep its tideline; in the same way my disciples do not — even for the sake of their lives — overstep the training rules I have formulated for them... " [2]

1. Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. The Buddhist Monastic Code 1. The full text of the BMC is available at www.dhammatalks.org
2. Uposatha Sutta. Ud 5.5. Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. The full translation as available at www.accesstoinsight.org ... See more

Thank you for this teaching, Luang Por 🙏🏽🙏🏽 🙏🏽

Warm greetings Everyone,

Hope that you're having a great day. Just thought to pass along a short Dhamma discussion for the internet, just in case. Wishing all the blessings of Dhamma practice.

With metta,

~Bhante Joe ... See more

This full moon marked the rainy season retreat. Monks are now free to wander.

On the way back from a visit to the Canada Kuti. A beautiful path through the forest.

A nice mix of rain and sun.

A head of gray hairs
doesn’t mean one’s an elder.
Advanced in years,
one’s called an old fool.

But one in whom there is
truth, restraint,
rectitude, gentleness,
self-control–
he’s called an elder,
his impurities disgorged,
enlightened.

~Dhammapada, Chapter 16 'The Judge', Verse 4 & 5. Translation by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
~A full translation of the Dhammapada is available at www.dhammatalks.org ... See more

Thank you for this teaching, Luang Por 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Warm greetings Everyone,

Hope that you're having a great day. Thought to pass along a short ovada for the internet, just in case. Wishing all the blessings of Dhamma practice.

With metta,

~Bhante Joe ... See more

Recieving new robes on the weekend. Kanishka Mahatthaya, Savithri Nona, and her husband came all the way from Colombo and made the climb to the kuti offer the robes. A special set of robes, offered by both Sri Lankans and Canadians. A blessing to have a new set to ward off cold, heat, and the touch of insects. Wishing anumodana. ... See more

Simply talking a lot
doesn’t maintain the Dhamma.
Whoever
–although he’s heard next to nothing–
sees Dhamma through his body,
is not heedless of Dhamma:
he’s one who maintains the Dhamma.

~Dhammapada, Chapter 16 'The Judge', Verse 2. Translation by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
~A full translation of the Dhammapada is available at www.dhammatalks.org ... See more

Thank you for this teaching, Luang Por 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽.

Warm greetings Everyone,

Hope that you're having a great day. Thought to pass along a short Dhamma discussion for the internet, just in case. Wishing all the blessings of Dhamma practice.

With metta,

~Bhante Joe ... See more