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...

Middle Length Discourse 54 With Potaliya the Householder So I have heard. At one time (in old India), the Buddha was staying in the land of the Anguttarapans, near the town of theirs named Apana. Then, the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Apana for alms. He wandered for alms in Apana. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to a certain forest grove for the day’s meditation. Having plunged deep into it, he sat at the root of a certain tree to meditate. Potaliya the householder also approached that forest grove while going for a walk. He was well dressed in sarong and cloak, with umbrella and sandals. Having plunged deep into it, he went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he stood to one side, and the Buddha said to him,       “There are seats, householder. Please sit if you wish.” When he said this, Potaliya was angry and upset. Thinking...

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...

Linked Discourse 2.6 With Angel Kamada Sometime ago in old India, at Savatthi. Standing to one side, the Angel Kamada said to the Buddha,       “It’s too hard, Blessed One! It’s just too hard!” Buddha said to the Angel:      “They do it even though it’s hard,”      “the stable trainees with ethics, and samadhi.      For one who has entered the homeless life,      contentment brings happiness.” Angel Kamada replied:      “Such contentment, Blessed One, is hard to find.” Buddha said to the Angel:      “They find it even though it’s hard,”      “those who love peace of mind;      whose minds love to meditate      day and night.” Angel Kamada replied:      “But it’s hard, Blessed One, to immerse this mind in samadhi.” Buddha said to the Angel:      “They become immersed in samadhi      even tho...

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...

Collections of Buddha Discourse 1.9 with Hemavata At one time, in old India, there are two native angels. One is called Satagira and the other is Hemavata. Satagira, the native angel of mount Sata said this:      “Today is the fifteenth day sabbath,”      “a holy night is at hand.      Come now, let us see Gotama,      the Teacher of peerless name.” Hemavata, the native angel of the Himalayas asked:      “Isn’t his mind properly-directed      “impartial toward all creatures?      And aren’t his thoughts under control      when it comes to likes and dislikes?” Satagira said:      “His mind is properly-directed,”      “impartial towards all creatures.      His thoughts are under control      when it comes to his likes and dislikes.” Hemavata asked:      “Doesn’t he not steal?”    ...

Middle Length Discourse 76: With Sandaka. So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambi, in Ghosita’s Monastery. Now at that time the wanderer Sandaka was residing at the cave of the wavy leaf fig tree together with a large assembly of around five hundred wanderers. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Ananda came out of retreat and addressed the monks: “Come, reverends, let’s go to the Devakata Pool to see the cave.” “Yes, reverend,” they replied. Then Ananda together with several monks went to the Devakata Pool. Now at that time, Sandaka and the large assembly of wanderers were sitting together making an uproar, a dreadful racket. They engaged in all kinds of low talk, such as talk about kings, bandits, and chief ministers; talk about armies, threats, and wars; talk about food, drink, clothes, and beds; talk about garlands and fragrances; talk about family, vehicles, villages, towns, cities, and countries; talk about women and heroes; street talk and well talk; ta...