Simple Suttas

In one of my favorite little suttas, the Buddha shows how leading a good life is the key to deep states of meditation and finally to liberation, not the other way around. As with the Eightfold Path, each step can be strengthened by strengthening the … Continue reading One Things Leads to Another

Long ago there was a spiritual teacher named Araka. He was wise and free of lust. He had many students. He taught: “The life of a person is short, miserable, and filled with problems. So a wise person will follow the holy life. After all, … Continue reading Life is Short and Fleeting

Long ago there was a spiritual teacher named Araka. He was wise and free of lust. He had many students. He taught: “The life of a person is short, miserable, and filled with problems. So a wise person will follow the holy life. After all, … Continue reading Life is Short and Fleeting

This tiny little excerpt from a sutta might make a wonderful teaching to memorize and say before you meditate, go to sleep, or get on an airplane. A wise person who is truly free Will always sleep well. They are not corrupted by lust. Their … Continue reading The Heart is Free

This tiny little excerpt from a sutta might make a wonderful teaching to memorize and say before you meditate, go to sleep, or get on an airplane. A wise person who is truly free Will always sleep well. They are not corrupted by lust. Their … Continue reading The Heart is Free

There are many wonderful translations of the metta sutta. I’m not saying this is better than any of the others, but I wanted to try my hand at it, and give it the simple|suttas treatment. To train in goodness, to find peace This is what … Continue reading Metta Sutta Translation

There are many wonderful translations of the metta sutta. I’m not saying this is better than any of the others, but I wanted to try my hand at it, and give it the simple|suttas treatment. To train in goodness, to find peace This is what … Continue reading Metta Sutta Translation

This sutta lays out the main points of Buddhist philosophy in a few simply lines. The beginning of all things cannot be found. You will never find the first cause of beings wandering on snagged by ignorance and imprisoned by desire. Someday the ocean will … Continue reading Dog on a Leash

This sutta lays out the main points of Buddhist philosophy in a few simply lines. The beginning of all things cannot be found. You will never find the first cause of beings wandering on snagged by ignorance and imprisoned by desire. Someday the ocean will … Continue reading Dog on a Leash

The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta is said to be the first teaching given by the Buddha to the 5 ascetics. It lays out the whole of the teaching in the clearest possible way. This is the Truth of Suffering: birth is suffering, old age is suffering, sickness … Continue reading Set Rolling the Wheel of Truth