Most Venerable Bhante Walpola Piyananda's 80th Birthday Celebrating - Collected Essays
Collected Essays of Bhante Walpola Piyananda Celebrating His 80th Birthday. Ven. Walpola Piyananda Nayake Maha Thera has chosen to dedicate his life to sharing the teaching of the Buddha in the Western World, knowing that it has so much wisdom to offer; not an easy task for someone coming from a foreign background. However these articles reflect his ability to make a great impact on the American Community. He has helped many people and monks new to this country in many ways throughout the years, He has helped these monks to establish Dharma Centers in various parts in this country. Venerable Walpola Piyananda is an extraordinary monk and dharma teacher who exemplifies wisdom, compassion and selflessness. He has made a profound impact on numberous individuals and communities worldwide through his teachings and service. On his auspicious 80th birthday, I express my deepest gratitude to Venerable Walpola Piyananda for his remarkable contributions and limitless love. Ven. Walpola Piyananda Maha Thero has been a pioneer in establishing Theravada Buddhism in America and developing knowledge of the Buddha Dhamma through radio and promoting education to uplift the children of his native Sri Lanka. As a Theravada monk, he has manifested a sense of caring with wisdom and compassion by providing hospitable spiritual and physical shelter at his Los Angeles monastery. Bhante, as he is affectionately known, is a teacher with a great breadth of interests spanning from the origins of Buddhism to how Western people could apply the teachings, Dhamma, into their daily life. I have known Bhante since we were students at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)…. This edition of his collected works is an important contribution for Western readers.
Collected Essays of Bhante Walpola Piyananda Celebrating His 80th Birthday. Ven. Walpola Piyananda Nayake Maha Thera has chosen to dedicate his life to sharing the teaching of the Buddha in the Western World, knowing that it has so much wisdom to offer; not an easy task for someone coming from a foreign background. However these articles reflect his ability to make a great impact on the American Community. He has helped many people and monks new to this country in many ways throughout the years, He has helped these monks to establish Dharma Centers in various parts in this country. Venerable Walpola Piyananda is an extraordinary monk and dharma teacher who exemplifies wisdom, compassion and selflessness. He has made a profound impact on numberous individuals and communities worldwide through his teachings and service. On his auspicious 80th birthday, I express my deepest gratitude to Venerable Walpola Piyananda for his remarkable contributions and limitless love. Ven. Walpola Piyananda Maha Thero has been a pioneer in establishing Theravada Buddhism in America and developing knowledge of the Buddha Dhamma through radio and promoting education to uplift the children of his native Sri Lanka. As a Theravada monk, he has manifested a sense of caring with wisdom and compassion by providing hospitable spiritual and physical shelter at his Los Angeles monastery. Bhante, as he is affectionately known, is a teacher with a great breadth of interests spanning from the origins of Buddhism to how Western people could apply the teachings, Dhamma, into their daily life. I have known Bhante since we were students at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)…. This edition of his collected works is an important contribution for Western readers.
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happens when people are blinded by anger and delusion. According
to western psychology there are two types of characteristics that
people with disturbed mental states exhibit. The first being the sadistic
character where one derives pleasure from inflicting pain and suffering
on others and the second being the masochistic character where one
derives pleasure from inflicting pain and suffering on themselves. So,
if a person gains pleasure by humiliating and causing pain to another
then that person should take the time to reflect on their actions and
the sorry state of mind that prompted their behavior, and they should
seek help from a psychiatrist. I don’t know for sure if this person who
called me is indeed Nimalka Manamperi from Louisiana, USA as she
claims to be, but I’ve decided that this incident would be a good topic
for a future Dhamma sermon where I can discuss the merits and the
extent to which a person could practice meditation of ‘loving-kindness’
(Mettābhāvanā).
The Buddha addressed this type of human behavior, which
occurred commonly 2500 years ago just as it does now. So, on the
one hand, while this might seem to be an insurmountable world-wide
problem, it can be dealt with on an individual level in society; what we
need to do is look first at ourselves, one by one.
But before we go into the details of dealing with situations
such as these, let me say a few words about approaching Buddhism for
what it is. In the U.S. and Europe, where most people were not “born
Buddhist”, the attraction to Buddhism usually starts with meditation.
People read about the benefits of meditation, how to practice it, and
what may happen if you practice. They tend to equate Buddhism with
meditation. Meditation is an integral part of Buddhism. Buddhism
includes meditation a practice that will enable us to reach a level of selfunderstanding
so that we may lead a happier and more fulfilling life.
This program requires understanding, behavior, and mental training,
we could call this program: meditation.
Let’s see what the Suttas say about this problem as it applies to
the circumstances of this story, in which the monks of the temple were
berated, insulted, cursed, and threatened. On the most basic level, this
problem and its solution are addressed by four verses in the first chapter
of the most popular Buddhist text, the Dhammapada which states:
“Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief,
they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a
person speaks or acts, suffering follows them like the
cart wheel that follows the foot of the ox.
Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief,
they are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind a person
speaks or acts, happiness follows them like their never
departing shadow.
That one abused me, struck me, overpowered me, or
robbed me. Those who harbor such thoughts do not
still their hatred.
They abused me, struck me, overpowered me, or robbed
me. Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their
hatred.”
In these four short verses, we receive some understanding of
how our minds work, we are taught some behavior modification, which
implies a mental practice necessary to instill this lesson in us.
This might be enough to help us deal with the diatribe of that
anger filled lady. However the Buddha did discuss these matters in
further detail. He understood that full understanding requires more
explanation and practical training.
The Buddhist fundamental guide to the path for a happier and
more peaceful life is called the Noble Eightfold Path.
Right Understanding
Right Thought
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Meditation
One well-known sutta presents a five-fold approach to dealing
with unwholesome thoughts, thus helping us improve our understanding
(or perspective) and thought (or orientation). It is totally practical, as
valid today as 2600 years ago and what I taught at the Prime Minister’s
house. It is the Vitakkasanthana Sutta, found in the Majjhima Nikaya
section of the suttas, Sutta #20. Here are the five techniques with an
explanation and example.
The first we could call “Thought displacement”. This
simply means that attention should be diverted from the unwanted
unwholesome thought and given to another thought. For example,
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