Rael Buddhism

Numbered Discourse 8.25 with Mahanama At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans (in old India), near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery. Then, Mahanama the Sakyan went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Sir, how is a lay follower defined?” Buddha replied: “Mahanama, when you’ve gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sangha (community of Buddha's disciples), you’re considered to be a lay follower.” “But how is an ethical lay follower defined?” “When a lay follower doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants, they’re considered to be an ethical lay follower.” Buddha continued: “But how do we define a lay follower who is practicing to benefit themselves, not others?” “A lay follower is accomplished in faith, but doesn’t encourage others to do the same.  They’re accomplished in ethical conduct, but don’t encourage others to do the same.  The...

Numbered Discourse 5.88 Senior Monks (Sometime ago in India, Buddha said this:) “Monks, a senior monk who has five qualities is acting for the detriment and suffering of the people, against the people, for the harm, detriment, and suffering of of gods and humans. What are the five qualities? They are long standing and have long gone forth. They’re well-known, famous, with a large following that includes both laypeople and renunciates. They receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and comprehending them theoretically. But they have wrong view and distorted perspective. They draw many people away from the true t...

Numbered Discourse 5.33 With Uggaha At one time in old India, the Buddha was staying near Bhaddiya, in Jatiya Wood. Then Uggaha, Mendaka’s grandson, went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,  “Sir, may the Buddha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me, together with three other monks.”  The Buddha consented with silence.  Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Uggaha got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Uggaha’s home, where he sat on the seat spread out. Afterward, Uggaha served and satisfied the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Uggaha sat down to one side, and said to him,  “Sir, these girls of mine will be going to their husbands’ families. May the Buddha please advise and...

Numbered Discourse 5.58 The Licchavi Youths Sometime ago in old India, at one time the Buddha was staying near Vesali, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesali for alms. Then after the meal, on his return from almsround, he plunged deep into the Great Wood and sat at the root of a tree for the day’s seclusion meditation. Now at that time, several Licchavi youths took strung bows and, escorted by a pack of hounds, were going for a walk in the Great Wood when they saw the Buddha seated at the root of a tree. When they saw him, they put down their strung bows, tied their hounds up to one side, and went up to him. They bowed and silently paid homage to the Buddha with joined palms. Now at that time Mahanama the Licchavi was going for a walk in the Great Wood when he saw those Licchavi youths silently paying homage to the Buddha with joined palms. Seeing this, he went up to the Buddha, bowe...

Numbered Discourses 8.54 With Dighajanu At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Koliyans, where they have a town named Kakkarapatta. Then, one of the lay person named Dighajanu the Koliyan went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha: “Sir, we are laypeople who enjoy sensual pleasures and living at home with our children. We use sandalwood imported from Kasi, we wear garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and we accept gold and currency. May the Buddha please teach us the Dhamma in a way that leads to our welfare and happiness in this present life and in future lives.” “Byagghapajja, these four skills lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in this present life. What  are the four skills? Skills in business, preservation, good friendship, and balanced finances.  And what is the skill in job or business?  It’s when a gentleman earns a living by means such as farming, trade, raising cattle, archery, government service, business...

Numbered Discourse 2.1 Mistakes Sometime ago in old India. I heard this story: Once, the Buddha was staying near Savatthi, in Jeta’s Grove at Anathapindika’s monastery.  He gathered the monks and said, “Monks!” “Yes, Sir,” they answered. Then, the Buddha shared this teaching: “There are two kinds of mistakes you should be aware of. What are they?  Mistakes with consequences in this life, and Mistakes tied to future lives. Let’s talk about the first kind— the Mistakes with consequences in this life. Imagine you see a criminal, who has done bad thing such as stealing or killing, caught by the authorities. They’re punished harshly: whipped, beaten, or worse—hands or feet cut off, ears or nose removed, or even gruesome tortures like being burned, impaled, being put into jail, or executed with capital punishment. You think to yourself, ‘If I did something like that, the same result could happen to me.’ That fear stops you from stealing or harming others.  That’s what I me...

Numbered Discourse 4.61 Suitable Actions (Sometime ago in old India, when Buddha stay near Savathi.) Then, the householder Anathapindika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: “Householder, these four things, which are likable, desirable, and agreeable are hard to get in the world.  What are the four things?  The first thing is the wish:       ‘May wealth come to me by legitimate means!’ The second thing, having got wealth by legitimate means, is the wish:       ‘May fame come to me, together with my family and teachers.’ The third thing, having got wealth and fame, is the wish:       ‘May I live long, keeping alive for a long time!’ The fourth thing, having got wealth, fame, and long life, is the wish:       ‘When my body breaks up, after death, may I be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm!’ These are the four things, which are likable, desirable, and ...

Numbered Discourse 3.61 Other Religion Beliefs Sometime ago in old India, Buddha said this: “Monks, these three religion beliefs—as pursued, pressed, and grilled by the wise —when taken to their conclusion, end with inaction.  What are the three religion beliefs? There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: ‘Everything this individual experiences—pleasurable, painful, or neutral—is because of past deeds.’ There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: ‘Everything this individual experiences—pleasurable, painful, or neutral—is because of God Almighty’s creation.’ There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: ‘Everything this individual experiences—pleasurable, painful, or neutral—has no cause or reason.’ Regarding this, I went up to the ascetics and brahmins whose view is that everything that is experienced is because of past deeds,  and I said to them: ‘Is it really true that this is the venerables’ view?’...

Numbered Discourse 3.51: Two Brahmins Sometime ago in India, There are two old brahmins—elderly and senior, who were advanced in years and had reached the final stage of life, a hundred and twenty years old—went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha: “We brahmins, worthy Gotama, are old, elderly and senior, we’re advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; we’re a hundred and twenty years old. And we haven’t done what is good and skillful, nor have we made a shelter from fear. Advise us, worthy Gotama, instruct us! It will be for our lasting welfare and happiness.” Buddha replied: “Indeed, brahmins, you’re old, elderly and senior. And you haven’t done what is good and skillful, nor have you made a shelter from fear. This world is led onward by old age, sickness, and death. But restraint here by way of body, speech, and mind is the shelter, protection, is...

Numbered Discourse 3.29 Blind Discourse. Sometime ago in India, Buddha said this: “These three people are found in the world.  What are the three people?  They are The blind person, the one-eyed person, and the two-eyed person. Who is the blind person?  It’s someone who doesn’t have the kind of vision that’s needed to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth they’ve already acquired. Nor do they have the kind of vision that’s needed to know the difference between qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, and those on the side of dark and bright.  This is called a blind person. Who is the person with one eye?  It’s someone who has the kind of vision that’s needed to acquire more wealth and to increase the wealth they’ve already acquired. But they don’t have the kind of vision that’s needed to know the difference between qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and supe...

Numbered Discourse 3.19 A Businessman Sometime ago in old India, Buddha said this: Monks, a businessman who has three characters is unable to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth they’ve already acquired.  What are the three characters?  It’s when a businessman doesn’t carefully focus on their business activity in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon. A businessman who has these three characters is unable to acquire more wealth or to increase the wealth they’ve already acquired. In the same way, a monk who has three characters is unable to acquire more skillful characters or to increase the skillful characters they’ve already acquired.  What are the three characters? It’s when a monk doesn’t carefully focus on the samadhi features in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon. A monk who has these three characters is unable to acquire more skillful characters or to increase the skillful characters...

Three Types of People: Which One Are You? Numbered Discourses 3.13, Hopes This is said by Buddha: “These three people are found in the world.  What are the three people?  The hopeless, the hopeful, and the one who has done away with hope.  And what, monks, is a hopeless person?  It’s when a person is reborn in a low family—a family of corpse-workers, bamboo-workers, hunters, chariot-makers, or scavengers—poor, with little to eat or drink, where life is tough, and food and shelter are hard to find. And they’re ugly, unsightly, deformed, sickly—one-eyed, crippled, lame, or half-paralyzed. They don’t get to have food, drink, clothes, and vehicles; garlands, fragrances, and makeup; or bed, house, and lighting.  They hear this: ‘They say the aristocrats have anointed the aristocrat named so-and-so as king.’ It never occurs to them: ‘Oh, when will the aristocrats anoint me too as king?’  This is called a hopeless person. And what, monks, is a hopeful person?...

Numbered Discourse 2.33, The Chapter on the Peaceful Mind. At one time, Buddha said this in old India. “Monks, I say that these two people cannot easily be repaid.  What are the two people?  Mother and father. You would not have done enough to repay your mother and father even if you were to carry your mother around on one shoulder and your father on the other, and if you lived like this for a hundred years, and if you were to anoint, massage, bathe, and rub them; and even if they were to defecate and urinate right there. Even if you were to establish your mother and father as supreme monarchs of this human world, abounding in the seven treasures, you would still not have done enough to repay them.  Why is that?  Parents are very helpful to their children: they raise them, nurture them, and show them the world. But you have done enough, more than enough, to repay them if you encourage, settle, and ground unfaithful parents in faith,  unethical parents in et...

Buddha's Wisdom: Higher Value of Generosity Lead to Higher Heavens Numbered Discourse 7.52, Super Benefit of Giving in Buddhism. At one time in old India, the Buddha was staying near Campa on the banks of the Gaggara Lotus Pond. Then several lay followers of Campa went to Venerable Sariputta, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,  “Sir, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard a Dhamma talk from the Buddha. It would be good if we got to hear a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.” “Well then, friends, come on the next sabbath day. Hopefully you’ll get to hear a Dhamma talk from the Buddha.” “Yes, sir” they replied.  Then, they rose from their seats, bowed to Sariputta, and respectfully circled him before leaving. Then on the next sabbath the lay followers of Campa goes and meet Venerable Sariputta, bowed, and stood to one side. After that, they went together with Sariputta to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.  Sariputta said to the Buddha: “Sir, could it be that...

Guarding the Mind: Teachings on Moral Conduct (Karma) : Wisdom from the Buddha. Numbered discourses 3.109, Not protected At one time, in India, then the householder Anthapindika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.  The Buddha said to him: “Householder, when the mind is unprotected, bodily actions, speech actions, and mind actions are unprotected.  When bodily actions, speech actions, and mind actions are unprotected, then the bodily actions, speech actions, and mind actions smell stinky. When bodily actions, speech actions, and mind actions smell stinky, then the bodily actions, speech actions, and mind actions become rotten.  Someone whose bodily actions, speech actions, and mind actions are rotten, they will not have a good death. Just as when a peak-roofed house is poorly roofed:  The peak of the roof is unprotected, the roof beams are unprotected, the walls are unprotected.  The peak of the roof… the roof beams… the wa...

The Five Kinds of Loss and Accomplishment in Life and Afterlife,  Numbered Discourse 5.130, Being Accomplished. This is said by Buddha: “Monks, there are these five kinds of losses.  Which kinds of five losses?  Loss of relatives,  Loss of wealth,  Loss through disease,  Loss in terms of virtue,  Loss in terms of views.  It’s not by reason of loss of relatives, loss of wealth, or loss through disease that beings—with the break-up of the body, after death—reappear in the plane of deprivation, the bad destination, the lower realms, in hell.  However, It’s by reason of loss in terms of virtue and loss in terms of views that beings—with the break-up of the body, after death—reappear in the plane of deprivation, the bad destination, the lower realms, in hell. These are the five kinds of loss. “There are these five ways of being accomplished.  Which five?  Being accomplished in terms of relatives,  Being accomplished in terms of weal...

Buddha Teaching on Result of Bad Actions in life, Numbered Discourse 8.40 This what Buddha said:  “Monks, the killing of living creatures, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm. The minimum result it leads to for a human being is a short lifespan. Stealing, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm. The minimum result it leads to for a human being is loss of wealth. Sexual misconduct, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm. The minimum result it leads to for a human being with many enemies, rivalry and enmity. Lying, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm. The minimum result it leads to for a human being is false accusations. Divisive speech, when cultivated, developed, and practiced, leads to hell, the animal realm, or the ghost realm. The minimum result it leads...

Wealth, Debt-Free, and Ethical Conduct: Buddha's Guide to Happiness for Laypeople, Numerical Discourses 4.62 At one time, the lay follower Anathapindika went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down.  The Buddha said: “Householder, these four kinds of happiness can be earned by a layperson who enjoys senses pleasures of lay life, depending on time and occasion.  What are four kinds of happiness?  The happiness of seeking wealth, using wealth, without debt, and blamelessness.  And what is the happiness of seeking wealth?  It’s when a respectable gentleman seeking to legitimately earned and honestly gained wealth; by his own efforts and skills, accumulate using his own hands, earned by the sweat of his hard working. When he reflects on this, he’s filled his life with pleasure and happiness. This is called ‘the happiness of seeking wealth’.  And what is the happiness of using wealth?  It’s when a respectable gentleman uses his legitimately earned and ...

Three Essential Traits for Success in Business and Monastic Life | Numerical Discourses 3.20 (At one time, Buddha said this:) “Monks, a businessman who has three traits soon acquires great, abundant wealth and become super rich.  What three traits?  It’s when a businessman sees clearly, is persistent tirelessly, and has group of supporters. And how does a businessman see clearly?  It’s when a businessman knows of a product: ‘This product is bought at this price and is selling at this price. With this much investment, it’ll bring this much profit.’ That’s how a businessman sees clearly. And how is a businessman persistent tirelessly?  It’s when a businessman is skilled in buying and selling products. That’s how a businessman is persistent tirelessly. And how does a businessman have group of supporters?  It’s when rich, affluent, and wealthy people or children know of him: ‘This good businessman sees clearly and is pers...

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, escorted by around five hundred lay followers, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. Atha kho anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati pañcamattehi upāsakasatehi parivuto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Then the Buddha said to Venerable Sāriputta: Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṃ sāriputtaṃ āmantesi: “You should know this, Sāriputta, about those white-clothed laypeople whose actions are restrained in the five precepts, and who get four blissful meditations in the present life belonging to the higher mind when they want, without trouble or difficulty. They may, if they wish, declare of themselves: “yaṃ kañci, sāriputta, jāneyyātha gihiṃ odātavasanaṃ pañcasu sikkhāpadesu saṃvutakammantaṃ catunnaṃ ābhicetasikānaṃ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṃ nikāmalābhiṃ akicchalābhiṃ akasiralābhiṃ, so ākaṅkhamāno attanāva attānaṃ byākareyya: ‘I’ve finished with rebirth in hell, the animal realm, and the ghost realm. I’ve f...