You can find many of Mahasi Sayadaw's books on my website.

http://www.aimwell.org/Books/Mahasi/mahasi.html

Download the PDF files for printing hard copies.

Starting a Mahasi meditation centre in the Philippines would be good. There
doesn't seem to be a single Theravāda Buddhist centre in the Philippines.

With metta

Bhikkhu Pesala

Venerable Monks,

I have a question about metta practice that I hope you can help me with.

When practicing metta, do my phrases ("May you be well, May you be happy, etc.)
influence or have an unconcious effect on the person they are directed towards?

I am trying to understand the difference between metta practice when compared
with (for instance) Christian prayer when one seeks to directly influence a
situation by praying for someone.

I hope my question makes sense and that you will be able to help me clarify my
understanding of metta practice.

Metta to all,
Thomas

Venerable Bhantes,

In AN 6. 120-139 Bhallikaadi Sutta, I read the following Pali passage:

Chahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannaagato Bhalliko gahapati, sudatto gahapati
Anaathapi.n.diko, Citto gahapati macchikaasa.n.diko, Hatthako aa.lavako,
Mahaanaamo sakko, Uggo gahapati vesaaliko, Uggato gahapati, Suuro amba.t.tho,
Jiivako komaarabhacco, Nakulapitaa gahapati, Tavaka.n.niko gahapati, Puura.no
gahapati, Isidatto gahapati, Sandhaano gahapati, Vicayo gahapati, Vijayamaahiko
gahapati, Me.n.dako gahapati, Vase.t.tho upaasako, Ari.t.tho upaasako, Saaraggo
upaasako, tathaagate ni.t.thangato amataddaso amata.m sacchikatvaa iriyati.
Katamehi chahi? Buddhe aveccappasaadena, dhamme aveccappasaadena, sanghe
aveccappasaadena, ariyena siilena, ariyena ~naa.nena, ariyaaya vimuttiyaa. Imehi
kho, bhikkhave, chahi dhammehi samannaagato saaraggo upaasako tathaagate
ni.t.thangato amataddaso amata.m sacchikatvaa iriyatii ti.

--------------------

From the above, I understand that the householders mentioned in the sutta
possessed the following six endowments:

(i) Buddhe aveccappasaadena (unwavering faith in the Buddha),
(ii) dhamme aveccappasaadena (unwavering faith in the Dhamma),
(iii) sanghe aveccappasaadena (unwavering faith in the Sangha),
(iv) ariyena siilena (the virtues of the noble ones),
(v) ariyena ~naa.nena (the knowledge of the noble ones),
(vi) ariyaaya vimuttiyaa (the release or liberation of the noble ones).

I further understand that because of the six endowments, they went to the end or
to the perfection (ni.t.thangato); they had seen the Deathless or Nibbaana
(amataddaso); and they had realized and moved toward the Deathless or Nibbaana
(amata.m sacchikatvaa iriyati).

My question, sir, is whether the householders mentioned in the sutta had become
Arahats?
If not, what does [tathaagate ni.t.thangato amataddaso amata.m sacchikatvaa
iriyatii ti] actually mean?

Respectfully,
Dr Han Tun

Respected Venerables
How kathavatthu has been regarded as part of conical literature?
This book is post-Buddha and it is said that Theravada monks do not do any input
and taking out in the Tipitaka.

Hi,
I have been doing metta meditation for about three years. I really want to know,
can I make someone well, free from suffering and healthy at least some far by
sending metta to that person? Can I make any kind of positive effects on that
person?
Secondly, when a person cultivate metta towards a particular person or a group
can those metta receivers  feel it. Please explain these questions!

metta,
Charith

Venerable Bhantes,

In Abhidhamma, under cetasikas, it is stated that Sabbacitta-saadhaara.na
cetasikas (Essential or Primary Ones) which consist of phassa, vedanaa,
sa~n~naa, cetanaa, ekaggataa, jiivitindriya, and manasikaara, associate
collectively with all cittas.

My question, sir, is do these seven cetasikas also associate with
bhavanga-citta?

I would also be grateful if you would kindly let me know the difference between
citta and vi~n~naa.na.

Respectfully,
Dr Han Tun

Is it possible to be mindful and to think in a purposeful way about something? 
Often, if I note thinking, it disappears, but this is the random thinking that
plays across my mind.  What happens when I have to think about something
purposefully?  For instance, I have to do a math calculation but want to do so
mindfully.  I assume that is possible, but I would like to have a detailed
explanation of how that works.  For instance, in terms of mind moments and the
idea that there can only be one object of attention at any given moment, can
there be mindfulness and (purposeful) thinking at the same time, or do
mindfulness and thinking occur in successive mind moments?

Alan

Don't try to ride two horses at once.

Solving a maths problem, or most other worldly problems requires skill in
dealing with concepts.

Mindfulness for the purpose of developing insight requires the observation of
realities, leading to realisation of the mental process of thinking as
impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not-self.

Where the second kind of mindfulness can come in useful is when a worldly
problem seems to be insoluable, and so one gets frustrated, anxious, or
confused. Then one can switch to contemplating those mental states to purify the
mind, and thus regain mental composure.

When one ceases to struggle to solve the problem with excessive desire, and the
mind becomes pure again, then the solution may become clear, or perhaps one will
realise that the "problem" really did not to be solved at all as it was just
something that arose from unskilled thinking.

While visiting Burma I was puzzled by large sculptures of spyders, archers, and
other such figures at the temple entrance. I would appreciate an explaination.

Most Respected Dhamma Teachers
My salutation to all the members of the Sangha online.
I humbly request to get me the answer of this Question: Why King Ajatasattu
became the enemy of His own father King Bimbisara? Is there any past lives
accont in the Tipitaka or in any other Buddhist post Tipitaka texts? I will be
glad to get the answer to this question which was put on by one of my Dhamma
friend, so both of us will be happy to recieve the answer.

With lots of Metta Ven. Buddhapala. Bangalore India

Venerable Bhantes,

It is mentioned in the books that there are 84,000 dhammakkhandhas as follows:

Sutta pi.taka = 21,000 dhammakkhandhas
Vinaya pi.taka = 21,000 dhammakkhandhas
Abhidhamma pi.taka = 42,000 dhammakkhandhas

The question is how they are calculated?
What is one dhammakkhandha?
Pali Text Society Dictionary gives the meaning of dhammakkhandha as the (4) main
portions or articles of the Dhamma (siila, samaadhi, pa~n~naa, vimutti). This
definition does not help me to understand the 84,000 dhammakkhandhas.

I would be most grateful if the Venerable Bhantes would kindly let me know how
the dhammakkhandhas are counted?

Respectfully,
Dr Han Tun

most respected teachers, under which skandha would feelings, emotions, be under?
and where do one's preferences, likes and dislikes fit?

----- Original Message -----

From: Khammai Dhammasami

To: SanghaOnline@yahoogroups.com

Cc: rwilliams342@...

Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 7:42 PM

Subject: Re: [SanghaOnline] the five skandhas

 

Like and dislike and emotins such as frustration, anger, love and desire are part of the Sankharakkhanda.

 

Metta

Ven. Dhammasami

On 6 August 2010 03:37, Ashin Acara <ven.acara@gmail.com> wrote:

 

In my opinion all of them are included in vedanakkhanda, the aggregate of feelings.

On 5 August 2010 21:02, twitch v <rwilliams342@student.richmondcc.edu> wrote:

 

most respected teachers, under which skandha would feelings, emotions, be under? and where do one's preferences, likes and dislikes fit?

--
Venerable Dr. Khammai Dhammasami, DPhil (Oxford)
Executive Secretary, International Association of Buddhist Universities (www.iabu.org);
Executive Secretary, Association of Theravada Buddhist Universities (www.atbu.org);
Research Fellow, Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, University of Oxford;
Research Associate, SOAS, University of London &
Abbot, the Oxford Buddha Vihara, UK & Singapore

Venerable Khammai Dhammasami,

Sir, I have posted the following question some time ago.
But I did not yet get an answer.
Therefore, I will be most grateful if you would kindly help me out with my
question.

Question:

It is mentioned in the books that there are 84,000 dhammakkhandhas as follows:

Sutta pi.taka = 21,000 dhammakkhandhas
Vinaya pi.taka = 21,000 dhammakkhandhas
Abhidhamma pi.taka = 42,000 dhammakkhandhas

The question is how they are calculated?
What is one dhammakkhandha?
Pali Text Society Dictionary gives the meaning of dhammakkhandha as the (4) main
portions or articles of the Dhamma (siila, samaadhi, pa~n~naa, vimutti). This
definition does not help me to understand the counting of 84,000
dhammakkhandhas.

----------

I would be most grateful if you would kindly let me know how the dhammakkhandhas
are counted.

Respectfully,
Dr Han Tun

Dear sayardaws,

I recently received the "gar-htar" which is to be recited before taking the
exams, and it is helpful for students. I want to know what each word means in
Burmese(or in english). I feel that reciting the "gar-htar" without knowing the
real meaning of it is pointless.
Can you please translate for me in burmese or in english?

"Day war nan    Nan da nor    Day waw
Day wa     Day way na   Nain da nor
Way da     Di nay hta     Way day na
Way di      Way day na   Way di nor"

thank you very much