Theragatha 211-12 This highly alliterated poem, attributed to the elder monk Culaka, plays with the prefix su-, which occurs no less than 14 times in these two short stanzas. It has three primary meanings, covered successively through the poem: 1) lovely or well-formed, 2) good, thorough, or well done, and 3) it is often used as a simple intensive prefix, meaning very- or most-. The plaintive call of the peacock, commonplace during the 3 month rainy season retreats undertaken by the … [Read more...]
The Not-Self Strategy
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
This is a revised version of a talk given during the course on Background to Breath Meditation taught by the author at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in February, 1993. Books on Buddhism often state that one of the Buddha’s most basic tenets is that there is no soul or self. Of course, different books qualify this tenet in different ways. Some say that, no, there is no self, but yes there is the moral principle of karma operating beyond death; others say, no, there is no separate … [Read more...]
An Unabashed Enthusiasm for the Here and Now
Christopher Titmuss
Insight: What prompted you to first go off to Asia more than 25 years ago? CT: God knows! When I was a little boy I knew I was going to be a journalist. I understood then that a journalist was somebody who made journeys. So in April 1967 I left London with about $100 and a thumb and headed East. I kept going Eastwards and arrived back in London in May 1977. I think it was a case of never look back. But, of course, the truth of the matter is that there is no going back, no going forwards nor … [Read more...]
Shining the Light of Death on Life: Maranasati Meditation (Part II)
Larry Rosenberg
The first part of this article which appeared in the Spring 1994 issue of Insight ended with this quote from the great Tibetan yogi Milarepa: "In brief, without being mindful of death, whatever Dharma practices you take up will be merely superficial." What was Milarepa suggesting? When we forget about our own death, we may also be more likely to forget the dharma? If we don't recall death we will also lose the wish to train our minds in dharma? In forgetting about death do we become … [Read more...]