I’m trying to find the source of a sutta cited by, I believe, Ajahn Amaro in one of his dhamma desanas—or it might have been a dhamma desana by Luang Por Sumedho, Ajahn Passano, et al., so I’m not totally sure it was Ajahn Amaro, but it seems his “style.”
It’s the story in which Ananda makes a remark (an incorrect observation, as he often does) that when the Tathagata eats, he likely does not even taste the flavors of the food he eats. “Not so, Ananda!” the Buddha said (as I recall). The Buddha then goes on to briefly “lend” to Ananda the experience of what the Tathagata tastes when he eats, and—predictably—Ananda is quite blown away.
Does anyone happen to know from which sutta this story is drawn? I’d like to read and quote the original for a dharma class I’m working up. Much thanks.
I had an idea to do voluntary work as an English Language Assistant at Cambodian Buddhist temples here in Sydney. I wrote to two temples (I found them in the BuddhaNet World Directory), saying that “I am a Theravadin Buddhist wishing to help to rebuild Buddhism in Cambodia in any way I can (I spread the Dhamma on the InterNet and would like to have a Cambodian Buddhist penpal one day). I English tutored a Cambodian lady once in 1994 at the Buddhist Library near the city where they had a memorial written by Ven Maha Ghosananda. I heard that he passed away. I have some profound material in English about him. I am very interested in learning more about his teachings.”
The temples are 1½ hours on the train but maybe I could organise it so I visit both in the same day. Wish me luck!
Do you think Thai temples might be interested too in English tutoring?
Unfortunately the volunteer job hasn’t eventuated yet. I rang the lady on Vesak whilst I was sitting in the garden. She said she’d have more time soon (her colleague has been away) to work on trying to set up students and send me an email when something happens.
I had my disability pension review. My psychiatrist said I have Bipolar I. My prognosis is fair (> 2 years). The employment agency last July said voluntary work.
I’m getting better! Today I had an Alexander Technique lesson and found a way to pick up something off the floor for the first time in many years. I also feel more confident about my mobility. I’ve walked about 15 miles this week and was less “regimented”. I’m saving a fortune not running a car.
Here’s an excerpt from an interesting article I ran across today:
“The results were showing that when the volunteers placed the interests of others before their own, the generosity activated a primitive part of the brain that usually lights up in response to food or sex. Altruism, the experiment suggested, was not a superior moral faculty that suppresses basic selfish urges but rather was basic to the brain, hard-wired and pleasurable.”
Sakula says “anjali” at the end of her posts (did I give you that idea in our chatroom years ago?). In Buddhism holding palms together is to show respect whereas in Christianity it means prayer. After listening to the audio of this text:
Prayer and Devotion by Ajahn Munindo – the audio is called Prayerful Practice
I had the idea today to do an hour’s metta meditation with hands in anjali. I found that I was saying the metta phrases with feeling and making up my own phrases. Reflecting on what difference my practice could make in the so-called external world and letting go of praying for events that I knew would have already happened and facing an uncertain future, I think my bleak carefully ordered cosmos of materialism (see BPS Wheel 275) will start to break up. I look forward to my next meditation.
I’m wondering if it would be possible - feasable - for lay teachers from Abhayagiri to work with distant groups. Kind of a distance learning and advisor network. If anyone thinks this may be something worth exploring I’d love to hear from you.
Reading your post raised my spirits. What lovely news! I hope your volunteer work at the center gives you satisfaction. It certainly will be good karma.
Sounds like a right and fortunate fit indeed. Sending you best wishes right now (don’t duck) for getting placed and if not, for finding the volunteer job where you and those you work with, might blossom.
“He generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts his intent for the maintenance, non-confusion, increase, plenitude, development, & culmination of skillful qualities that have arisen: This, monks, is called right effort.”
antony272b2 - 31 January 2007 04:47 PM
. . . I had an interview for volunteer work yesterday. This was arranged after I heard that not only was there a Computer InterNet Tutoring center near a train station but that it also was an Adult Migrant English Service center as well (I have experience as a volunteer English Language assistant). There is lots of options and variety. They also help children with homework. I said I didn’t have much experience with children. Then I remembered volunteering as a Buddhist Scripture Teacher in primary schools. My interviewer replied “Are you a Buddhist?”, then added “I’m a Buddhist”. She is an Australian that married a Laotian Buddhist. She said she hadn’t heard of Ajahn Chah and I mentioned that Ajahn Chah spoke Lao. She was very equanimous to have met another Buddhist, until I asked “Voluntary work is good karma isn’t it?” Her face lit up and she said it was wonderful karma and that people have found paid jobs after volunteering.
Thanks for listening. When I have good news it is vital to be able to share the joy with Dhamma friends. Wish me luck that it will continue to work out.
I just wanted to share some good news I had for me.
I had an interview for volunteer work yesterday. This was arranged after I heard that not only was there a Computer InterNet Tutoring center near a train station but that it also was an Adult Migrant English Service center as well (I have experience as a volunteer English Language assistant). There is lots of options and variety. They also help children with homework. I said I didn’t have much experience with children. Then I remembered volunteering as a Buddhist Scripture Teacher in primary schools. My interviewer replied “Are you a Buddhist?”, then added “I’m a Buddhist”. She is an Australian that married a Laotian Buddhist. She said she hadn’t heard of Ajahn Chah and I mentioned that Ajahn Chah spoke Lao. She was very equanimous to have met another Buddhist, until I asked “Voluntary work is good karma isn’t it?” Her face lit up and she said it was wonderful karma and that people have found paid jobs after volunteering.
Thanks for listening. When I have good news it is vital to be able to share the joy with Dhamma friends. Wish me luck that it will continue to work out.
Hi friends . . . I am asking for a bit of help following the Upasika renewal day on April 15th. I need a ride to one of the Bay Area airports following our day together at Abhayagiri, as I am traveling from Portland to Abhayagiri for the weekend, but then flying from the Bay Area to Florida either on Sunday night or Monday morning. The timing of my flight depends on which airport I can get to, and when I can get there. Even a ride to a BART station would be good enough for either SFO or OAK. If anyone is going all of the way to San Jose, I could fly out of there as well!
This is a place for general Dhamma discussion. Share you experiences, ask questions, anything that doesn’t already have a topic and probably doesn’t really need its own thread. From here, should any thread receive a large number of responses then the administrators may seperate it out to its own topic.
I had a laugh a couple of weeks ago. I was preparing to start my 5pm
meditation when my Dad knocked on the door of my room. He wanted me to make
some bolognese sauce (my speciality). I joined him in the kitchen to check
the ingredients. He wanted to go to the grocery store to get some tomato
paste so I’d have to wait 20 minutes. I said “I want to do my meditation.”
He replied “How long will that take?”
