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Did You Know? Did you know that the rainy season, which is also called vassa, actually starts the day after the full moon, rather than on the full moon day itself? Not many people know this, but why is that? It’s because the full moon day is actually the last day of the lunar month. The new lunar month begins on the day just after the full …
Download OS Symbol Download Link Android Store iOS Store Kind Teleprompter This free teleprompter, with no subscriptions and no ads, follows your spoken voice in real time as you record videos. We don’t collect any of your data. You can read our full Privacy Policy. Simply read your script aloud! The offline voice tracking engine matches …
Privacy Policy for Kind Teleprompter Application: Kind Teleprompter Developer: Bhante Subhuti (AmericanMonk.org) What Data Is Collected? None. Kind Teleprompter does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. All your scripts, recordings, and settings are stored locally on your device. The only information the developer receives is …
Summary The Perfume Chamber is a small enclosed room with flowers and perfumes where the Buddha once dwelled. Today, the Perfume Chamber is duplicated in many monasteries in Sri Lanka. Perfume Chamber at our monastery in Katana, Sri Lanka. Introduction If you look through the Pāḷi texts to find a physical description of the Buddha’s personal …
Updated: April 30, 2026: Original article in 2020. This year is 2026, which is a leap year, and Vassa starts on July 30th (plus or minus a day due to different traditions). Quick Chart for Leap Years (When Vesak and Vassa are Late) Other Years: 2020 (2-year leap year) 2023 (3-year leap year) 2026 (3-year leap year) 2028 (2-year leap year) 2031 …
Summary Easy to support does not mean that the monk can take care of himself. Easy to support means that the monk is content with the four requisites he is provided with. Although it is easier to support a monk who uses money, the monk is being supported with unallowable gifts and encouraged to break the Buddha’s rules. Introduction: The …
Summary: In Buddhism, “Killing” is defined by the technical mechanics of the mind, not by social laws. The unwholesome Kamma is complete only if Five Factors are present: Presence: A Living Being. Perception: Knowing it is alive. Intention: A mind bent on killing. Effort: Making the attack. Result: The being dies. If all five are met, …
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Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal or tax advice. Individual situations vary; consult a qualified professional for guidance. Summary Unless one has a vow of poverty and an “agent of the order” (which means one does not take money or even personal allowable requisites), then there are many …
Picture of pabbajja novice ordination in Pa Auk (8th April 2014) Updated January 1, 2026 Summary: If you are looking to ordain at places that have Theravāda Buddhism and follow vinaya (places that don’t touch money), and you believe in the Commentaries and Abhidhamma and want to meditate, you have two choices: Pa-Auk and Na-Uyana. There is a …
What’s New? Updated December 29, 2025. Version 2.0 Released with multiple formats for download and updated texts with fixed mistakes. PTS Books are legally available for free non-commercial download azw3, epub, mobi, and pdf for all four nikāyas at the bottom of the page. Jump to Download Links Legal Information The Pali Text Society has made …
The Buddha said to Rāhula in the Ambaṭṭhika Rāhulovāda Sutta: Evameva kho, Rāhula, yassa kassaci sampajānamusāvāde natthi lajjā, nāhaṁ tassa kiñci pāpaṁ akaraṇīyanti vadāmi. For one who has no shame in deliberate lying, I say there is no evil that person cannot do. The Elephant’s Trunk The Buddha explained that an elephant always protects its …
Download OS Symbol Download Link Windows Store Mac OS Store Flathub Store Linux AppImage sudo apt install libfuse2 libsqlite3-dev Android Store iOS Store Tipitaka Pāḷi Reader The Ultimate Cross-Platform Pāḷi Reading, AI Search & Translation Suite Tipitaka Pāḷi Reader (TPR) is a modern, feature-packed app designed for monks, scholars, students, …
Download Android App Download iOS App Update November 25, 2025 with video and summary. First published September 2021. Summary: This is an announcement of the iOS and Android Buddhist Sun App, created to help monastics and lay yogis know the correct times according to GPS position and day of the year. The app includes the following features: Solar …
Key Points A monk may only ask for his needs if he receives pavāraṇā (invitation). Clear invitations—especially phrases like “any time” or “ever”—create ongoing permission. Invitations are not binding; they simply allow the monk to ask. Renewing the invitation often helps the monk feel comfortable and avoids misunderstandings. Introduction In the …
Updated October 21, 2025 from the original in 2022. Introduction: Halloween is bad according to Theravāda because it involves dressing up, acting and embodying the costume one is wearing, often involving unwholesome characters. This can lead to a bad destination, and I will explain why. It is like Acting: Acting as a career, generally is not so …
One of the most famous blessings given after a meal donation is from Dhammapada verse 109. It is well known across all traditions and in all countries—Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Dhammapada Pāḷi Verse 109 Abhivādanasīlissa, niccaṃ vuḍḍhāpacāyino, Cattāro dhammā vaḍḍhanti, āyu vaṇṇo sukhaṃ balaṃ. Translation For one who is …
Many people think that the Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya Aṭṭhaṅgika Magga) and the Four Noble Truths (Cattāri Ariya Saccāni) are different. However, the Noble Eightfold Path is actually the Fourth Noble Truth (Magga Sacca) among the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths Dukkha Sacca — The Truth of Suffering Samudaya Sacca — The Truth of the Cause …
I explain the Triple Gem to Westerners who know nothing about Buddhism in an unconventional way. I use an analogy that helps them understand what the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha really mean — through something they already respect: Einstein and the laws of physics. The Buddha — The Discoverer When I talk about the Buddha, I say he’s like a …
Install Buddhist Compass Now How to Make Your Worship More Powerful If you know the direction of Bodh Gaya and align yourself with it when you pray, your devotion naturally becomes stronger. You don’t have to take my word for it—try and see for yourself. Muslims have known this principle for centuries through the practice of facing Mecca (qibla). …
Introduction Many people are interested in learning how they can increase their sitting time. They ask: Bhante, what kind of exercises can I do? What stretches can I do in order to sit longer? Actually, the main reason you can’t sit for long periods is not because of the body. Instead, it’s because you don’t have concentration. The problem is not …
Introduction Quite a few people believe that there is a special purification process that happens during the Pātimokkha recitation meeting done on the full and new moon days. They believe there’s some magical purification going on. While it is true that after the meeting the monks are considered pure, there is nothing magical. Why the Mystery? …
Introduction Many people think that hiri (moral shame) and ottappa (fear of wrongdoing) are too heavy for meditation. However, we will discuss not only why they are good qualities but beautiful ones too. These two mental factors are known as the protectors of the world (lokapāla-dhammā). Why Are They Beautiful? In a previous post and video, I …
What Is the Buddhist Rainy Season? Understanding the Vassa and Kaṭhina Ceremonies Each year, Theravāda Buddhist monks all over the world make a determination to stay in a single monastery for a three month period of the Rainy Season also known as Vassa, or the Rains Retreat. You will hear the term “Vassa” often in this article, so …
What does it technically mean to have a “beautiful mind” in meditation—beyond vague metaphores or mysticism. Defining the Beautiful Mind When modern teachers describe deep samatha (concentration) meditation as “beautiful,” they speak in mystical metaphors. However, real Theravāda Buddhism involves the Abhidhamma. The Abhidhamma is not for scholarly …
Monks Using Uber and Gift Cards: Allowable as a Kappiya Arrangement Summary Are Theravāda monks allowed to use Uber, PickMe, or gift cards? Yes, but only with a proper invitation from a donor or kappiya, in accordance with Vinaya rules. While these services offer convenience, they can reduce meaningful connections with supporters — an important …
Introduction In this post, I introduce some of the key digital projects I’ve been working on to support the study, practice, and expansion of Orthodox Theravāda Buddhism. These tools are designed to make Pāḷi texts more accessible, enhance Buddhist study, and provide practical applications for practicing Buddhist teachings through technology. …
Training the Mind to not notice things: It seems strange that mindfulness would be used to not notice things. However, there’s a famous psychological experiment—one that’s only 1 minute and 21 seconds long—that has surprised people for years. I won’t spoil it for you, but if you haven’t seen it yet, watch it first and let me know how many times …
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Introduction On January 2nd, 2025, I left The International Institute of Theravāda (IIT) . It was something I had planned since late September 2024 and something I had wanted to do within the first few months of first attending in December 2022. I patiently waited for things to change. The main reason I left was that it was just a little too …
Recently, I made a video explaining the common question I get asked in the West. “Do you believe in a creator?” It is a loaded question usually asked by devoted Christians. They are expecting me to say no, but I tell them “Yes”. The real answer is that kamma is the creator. I quote from the stock phrase below: …
Introduction During the month of November, I stayed in Geneva, Florida, at a very small florida buddhist monastery near Orlando —or what you might call a typical small three-bedroom house. Normally, the place is dormant and empty, but I was able to awaken this once-dormant monastery by going for alms, as I did in Kaua’i, ordinations, visitors and …
Introduction A Sayalay is an ordained nun in the Myanmar Theravāda Tradition. It is similar to a sāmaṇerī or 10-precept female novice monk. However, to be respectful to the Theravāda tradition, it is not connected or equal to a sāmaṇerī and it is not a stepping stone for a bhikkhunī ordination. In the Myanmar Theravāda tradition, ordaining as a …
Ven Beralihela Upali Thero made me a pocket and belt today. The story goes like this. I sent him a message asking him about a monk who was wearing rag robes that looked like a Westerner but was actually a native Sinhala monk. He knew about this monk, but not very much. Afterwards, I told him about my lower robe I once kept going for four years and …
Introduction One of the most famous Theravāda dhamma books would be The Dhammapada. It is a book of Buddhist Poetry consisting of 423 verses. It has been translated numerous times in English and might be the most widely translated Buddhist Book in the world. Some of the translated titles are below: The Teachings Of The Buddha Footprint Of The …
Below are two talks based on the Dhammapada verses 49 and 118 The verses 49 yathāpi bhamaro pupphaṃ, vaṇṇagandhamaheṭhayaṃ, paleti rasamādāya, evaṃ gāme munī care. As a bee gathers honey from the flower without injuring its color or fragrance, even so does the sage go on his alms-round in the village. 118 puññañce puriso kayirā, kayirā naṃ …
Introduction My trip to America from April 29th to June 2nd was very fruitful, yet I was very busy. From Sri Lanka, I traveled to Chicago, Boston, Connecticut, and Orlando, Florida. The main reason for traveling was to see my mother and family for Mother’s Day during my break. However, I also wanted to check out two places that might be …
Just a small “monk life” entry: IIT, Sri Lanka, June 23, 20204 Yesterday was the day after the Full Moon Uposatha Day. We didn’t get a lot of food from the village alms round. I went by myself on my usual route, and another monk went by himself on a different route that he sometimes goes to. I’m not sure what happened. …
This video is about alms giving in Sri Lanka, also known as piṇḍapāta. I share my experiences of collecting alms in Sri Lanka and comparing them to alms giving in other countries like Myanmar and Thailand. In Sri Lanka, alms giving is a daily routine for monks. People wait outside their houses with rice and curries, and the monks walk by collecting …
Privacy Policy for My Time Schedule Application: My Time Schedule Developer: Bhante Subhuti (AmericanMonk.org) What Data Is Collected? None. My Time Schedule does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. All schedule and to-do information is stored only on your device. The only information the developer receives is from Google Play …
donor and myself at Golden Market Introduction Going for alms (pindapata) is certainly possible in the USA. There are different methods such as house by house alms, farmer’s market alms, visiting known donor’s houses, and supermarket alms. While house by house can take time to grow faith in a community, supermarkets can be quite easy …
Vesak is a Buddhist holiday that celebrates the Lunar Full Moon Day of May, commemorating the birth of our Bodhisatta, the night he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, and the day Parinibbāna was attained (His Final-Death). This holiday is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world, especially in Theravāda Buddhist countries such as Sri …
This is Ven Indavimala. During my re-ordination in 2007, the ones who were previously ordained got to go first by previous seniority. This is to preserve previous order of seniority to those who lost it before, but the seniority only resides in our year of ordination (if that makes sense). Technically we are all the same monk age in years. We are …
Left: May, 2023, Right: Feb, 2024. Introduction I recently lost about 10 Kg which is over 20 pounds. I’d like to share with you how I gained weight and how I also lost it. It is common for senior monks to gain weight, perhaps due in part to aging, as seniority implies being older. Even though we don’t eat after Solar Noon, gaining …
Recently, I have been making more posts in video format. I share personal stories along with the dhamma. While most of you might be more insterested in monk life than the dhamma, we will still be doing both. This Dhammatalk explores the Dhammapada verse 53 and the different aspects of making merit I think you will like it.
In this talk, I explore many details about the monk’s bowl, how it is made black, the parts of the bowl, and several other things. It should be interesting if you are interested in Theravāda Buddhist monks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_GhgfnptEg&t=2s
AmericanMonk.org has a new free home! I started the process last week and if you are a subscriber who gets this email, the task is 90% complete. There is still some refinement to do. Why Move? Originally, I was using a WordPress framework on a hosting company called NameCheap. While NameCheap sounds like a small company, they are one of the top …
In this talk, I explore the Cūḷakammavibhaṅga Sutta and share the story of reconnecting with my first meditation teacher after nearly two decades. The focus is on the seeds of kamma that we plant continuously through our actions. What kind of seeds are we planting right now? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq7LED3zIJo The Seeds From Long Ago The …
This Dhamma talk discusses the key elements of the Kāladāna Sutta in addition to three personal stories that show how donations can miraculously come back to you. Some of the stories can be found at my website at this particular webpage below with pictures of the original items: https://americanmonk.org/miracle-on-3-or-4-streets/ The video is …
Here is a post with a video link on how I got permission from my parents. In early 2001, when I was in Myanmar, and traveling for 1.5 years, I called my parents and asked them for permission to ordain as a monk. I didn’t get permission at first and then I told them I would never see them again if I didn’t get permission. “If I am …