The Challenge to the Sangha in the 21st Century

Aug 4, 2008 | Articles

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, Speech Lanka Daily News, July 19, 2006 The Sangha — the order of fully ordained monks and nuns — is the visible representation of the Buddha in the world; for twenty-five centuries, it has sustained the continuity of the Dharma among humankind; by...

The Problem of Conflict

Aug 4, 2008 | Articles

It is one of the bitterest ironies of human life that although virtually all human beings cherish a desire to live in peace, we continually find ourselves embroiled in conflict, pitted against others in relationships marred by tension, distrust or open hostility. This...

The Three Essentials of Practice

Aug 4, 2008 | Articles

As it is written in the Maha Prajna Sutra, it is necessary: 1. To concentrate our mind on the cognition of enlightment (the perfect wisdom) 2. To focus on the thought of great compassion; and 3. To learn the skillful means of emptiness (the universal reality behind...

The Five and Eight Precepts

Aug 4, 2008 | Articles

The Five Precepts The Buddha’s teaching is not a system of salvation by faith but a path to enlightenment and liberation from suffering. The path unfolds in three main stages: moral discipline (sila), concentration (samadhi), and wisdom (pañña). These three...

Giving Thanks Without Forgetting Others

Aug 4, 2008 | Articles

A Discourse on Thanksgiving Weekend given by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi I dedicate this essay to the memory of my closest friend, Ven. Bhikkhu Sumedha, who expired in Sri Lanka on Dec. 21, 2006, minutes after I finished writing it. I dedicate it to him as a true monk and...