Pali Alphabet

Vowels:

a ā i ī u ū e o

Consonants:

k kh g gh ṅ

c ch j jh ñ

ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ

t th d dh n

p ph b bh m

y r l v s h ḷ ṃ

Combination of consonants and vowels:

ka kā ki kī ku kū ke ko kaṃ

kha khā khi khī khu khū khe kho khaṃ

ga gā gi gī gu gū ge go gaṃ

gha ghā ghi ghī ghu ghū ghe gho ghaṃ

ṅa ṅā ṅi ṅī ṅu ṅū ṅe ṅo ṅaṃ

ca cā ci cī cu cū ce co caṃ

cha chā chi chī chu chū che cho chaṃ

ja jā ji jī ju jū je jo jaṃ

jha jhā jhi jhī jhu jhū jhe jho jhaṃ

ña ñā ñi ñī ñu ñū ñe ño ñaṃ

ṭa ṭā ṭi ṭī ṭu ṭū ṭe ṭo ṭaṃ

ṭha ṭhā ṭhi ṭhī ṭhu ṭhū ṭhe ṭho ṭhaṃ

ḍa ḍā ḍi ḍī ḍu ḍū ḍe ḍo ḍaṃ

ṇa ṇā ṇi ṇī ṇu ṇū ṇe ṇo ṇaṃ

ta tā ti tī tu tū te to taṃ

tha thā thi thī thu thū the tho thaṃ

da dā di dī du dū de do daṃ

dha dhā dhi dhī dhu dhū dhe dho dhaṃ

na nā ni nī nu nū ne no naṃ

pa pā pi pī pu pū pe po paṃ

pha phā phi phī phu phū phe pho phaṃ

ba bā bi bī bu bū be bo baṃ

bha bhā bhi bhī bhu bhū bhe bho bhaṃ

ma mā mi mī mu mū me mo maṃ

ya yā yi yī yu yū ye yo yaṃ

ra rā ri rī ru rū re ro raṃ

la lā li lī lu lū le lo laṃ

va vā vi vī vu vū ve vo vaṃ

sa sā si sī su sū se so saṃ

ha hā hi hī hu hū he ho haṃ

ḷa ḷā ḷi ḷī ḷu ḷū ḷe ḷo ḷaṃ

The Path leading to the Cessation of Suffering
(Dukkha nirodha gamini patipada ariya sacca)

This is a wonderful commentary of the Fourth Noble Truth which we can find in the Tipitaka itself. The explanation is done by none other than the Buddha's first disciple, Venerable Sariputta, who is famed as the foremost among his disciples in terms of discernment. This sutta also can be called a savaka bhasita (preached by the disciples) yet included into the category of Buddha dhamma for it is originally approval of the content by the Buddha himself. Hope this will of some use to those learners of Buddhist doctrine.

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu!!!
=============

"And what is the Noble Truth of the Path leading to the cessation of suffering?
It is this Noble Eightfold Path itself, namely:

right understanding
right thought
right speech
right action
right livelihood
right effort
right mindfulness
right concentration.

"What is right understanding?

It is this

knowledge of suffering,
knowledge of the arising of suffering,
knowledge of the cessation of suffering,
knowledge of the path leading to the cessation of suffering — this is called right understanding.

"What is right thought?

Thought of renunciation,
thought of goodwill,
thought of not harming — this is called right thought.

"What is right speech?

Abstention from false speech,
abstention from tale-bearing,
abstention from harsh (abusive) speech,
abstention from idle chatter (gossip), this is called right speech.

"What is right action?

Abstention from killing,
abstention from stealing,
abstention from illicit sexual indulgence, this is called right action.

"What is right livelihood?

Herein (in this dispensation) the ariyan disciple

avoiding wrong livelihood,
makes his living by right livelihood, this is called right livelihood.

"What is right effort?

Herein a monk

puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to prevent the arising of evil, of unwholesome thoughts that have not yet arisen;
puts forth will... (as before) to banish the evil, unwholesome thoughts that have already arisen;
puts forth will... to develop wholesome thoughts that have not yet arisen; and
puts forth will, strives, stirs up energy, strengthens his mind, exerts himself to maintain, to preserve, increase, to bring them to maturity, development, and to complete the wholesome thoughts that have arisen. This is called right effort.

"What is right mindfulness?

Herein a monk lives practicing body contemplation on the body, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it), having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of the body).
He lives practicing feeling-contemplation on the feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of feelings).
He lives practicing mind-contemplation on the mind, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of the mind).
He lives practicing mind-object contemplation on the mind objects, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful (of it) having overcome covetousness and dejection concerning the world (of mental objects). This is called right mindfulness.

"And what is right concentration?

Herein a monk aloof from sense desires, aloof from unwholesome thoughts, attains to and abides in the first meditative absorption (jhana) which is detachment-born and accompanied by applied thought, sustained thought, joy, and bliss.
By allaying applied and sustained thought he attains to, and abides in the second jhana which is inner tranquillity, which is unification (of the mind), devoid of applied and sustained thought, and which has joy and bliss.
By detachment from joy he dwells in equanimity, mindful, and with clear comprehension and enjoys bliss in body, and attains to and abides in the third jhana which the noble ones (ariyas) call: 'Dwelling in equanimity, mindfulness, and bliss.'
By giving up of bliss and suffering, by the disappearance already of joy and sorrow, he attains to, and abides in the fourth jhana, which is neither suffering nor bliss, and which is the purity of equanimity-mindfulness. This is called right concentration.

"This is called the Noble Truth of the Path leading to the cessation of suffering.

Reference: Saccavibhanga sutta (Ven. Piyadassi's translation)

Here is wishing you all Sinhala & Hindu friends who celebrate New Year, a very happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year 2017. May you, your parents, spouse, children, siblings, relatives, friends and all other near and dear ones be well, happy & healthy!

Sinhala & Hindu New Year - 2017

Lankarama Buddhist Institute

La Puente - CA 91744

Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara

920 N Summit Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

Dharmavijaya Buddhist Vihara

1847 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019

Traditional Sinhala Alut Avurudu Ceremony

Different parts of the world celebrate New Year in a different way, in some countries; the time of celebration also differs. New Year in Sinhalese or Sri Lanka, popularly called Aluth Avurudu, is observed on the 13th and 14^th of April every year.

It is a solar festival that begins as the Sun enters to the zodiac of Aries or Mesha. Interestingly this celebration takes place at the spring and mother Nature showers all her blessings to the Sinhalese during the period, signifying the beginning of the New and the end of the old.

A number of customs and traditional beliefs are associated with the New year celebrations in the country. The Sinhalese are influenced by astrological faiths and perform several religious practices during this time. In villages, several women gather and play drums to announce the advent of the New Year.

The customs begin with Nonagathe that starts few hours before the New Year rolls in and you are supposed to perform the rituals with a pure mind. People visit to temples, donate food and clothes to the poor and pray for a prosperous year ahead. Traditionally, people take the Holy Bath before the sun sets on the last day, with the herbal mixture called “Nanu” replacing the soap. They believe that this purifies their bodies as well as the soul and they are able to welcome the New Year with an auspicious mind.

Many Sinhalese clean their houses before the New year comes just to wash away the evils of the previous year. after completion, the holy Saffron water is sprinkled in the house for purification. “Kolam” or special decorative designs are drawn with white rice flour or coconut for auspicious reasons. Among the other customs people light fires, and prepare the traditional milk rice for family members. Milk is considered to be auspicious for them and brings prosperity if spills over the pot.

The housewives cook traditional meals like hath maluwa or a curry with 7 different flavors. Several sweets are prepared for the entire family. the head of the household prepares the traditional pot with 5 mango leaves and one coconut, popularly known as the “mangalam kumbam”. All the members of the family have lunch together to celebrate the arrival of the New year. they eat the traditional food like small oil cakes called kaung or crispy light sweetmeats called the kokis.

The young members touch the feet of the elders to seek blessings. They also offer betel to the elders to show their gratitude and respect towards them. some local Srilankans play games called “Guddu” with friends and family members as a part of the tradition of bringing good luck. It is considered to be the best time to start off with a new business as well as wedding ceremonies. People also follow the tradition of gifting clothes to the loved ones as a token of love and affection. These customs seem to have glued the people belonging to the Sinhalese community together promoting harmony and brotherhood.

Sinhalese people who live outside Sri Lanka also celebrate the festival in their own way with an attempt to introduce their children the very traditional and strong heritage of their ancestors. Interestingly, both the Sinhalese and Tamils celebrate their traditional New Year on consecutive days and hence it is popularly called Sinhala & Hindu New Year, which is more meaningful today as there is more need for the small and beautiful South Asian island to be in harmony and united in brotherhood.

DhammaUS sincerely wishes all Sinhala & Hindu friends a very happy, prosperous and peaceful New Year 2017.

Two Factors for the Survival of Dhamma

"“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā saddhammassa ṭhitiyā asammosāya anantaradhānāya saṃvattanti. Katame dve? Sunikkhittañca padabyañjanaṃ attho ca sunīto. Sunikkhittassa, bhikkhave, padabyañjanassa atthopi sunayo hoti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā saddhammassa ṭhitiyā asammosāya anantaradhānāya saṃvattantī”ti."

A.N. 1.2.21, Adhikaranavagga

"There are two things, O monks, which make the Truth-based Dhamma endure for a long time, without any distortion and without (fear of) eclipse. Which two? Proper placement of words and their natural interpretation. Words properly placed help also in their natural interpretation."

Buddha Metteyya (Maitreya in Skt) The future Buddha, the fifth Buddha of this kappa

(Bhadda Kappa, the auspicious aeon)

After the disappearance of the teaching of the Buddha Gotama, there will arise another Buddha, Metteyya (Pali) is regarded as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. No definite number of years is given for the period between the Buddha Gotama and the Buddha Metteyya.

According to the Cakkavatti Sīhanāda Sutta, he will be born, when human beings will live to an age of eighty thousand years.

It is stated that in the very distant future the continent of Jambudīpa (India) will be a powerful and prosperous one. Vārānasi will be a royal city called Ketumatī.

There will arise a king called Sankha, a wheel-turning monarch. The king, will live in the fairy palace where once dwelt King Mahāpanadā, but later he will give the palace away and will himself become a follower of Metteyya Buddha.

According to the Anāgatavamsa the Buddha Metteyya will arise ten million years later, in this auspicious world cycle, in the future, there will be an Awakened One named Metteyya, a fully-enlightened Buddha.

He will be endowed with wisdom and conduct, a Knower of the worlds, an incomparable Trainer of men to be tamed, a Teacher of gods and humans, enlightened and blessed. He will teach the Dhamma in the spirit and in the letter, and proclaim the holy life in its fullness and purity. He will be attended by a company of thousands of monks.

*The Anāgatavamsa is a poem of 142 verses, a history of the ten future Buddhas. It is written by Kassapa of Cola. It can be dated to the end of the fourth or the beginning of the fifth century.

One named Ajita will be born, Metteyya, of great power, incomparable. He will be born in a brahman family, with great wealth and possessions.

At that time, Metteyya’s mother will be named Brahmavatī, his father Subrahma will be the head priest of king Sankha. Four palaces will have come into being for Ajita. Candamukhī will be his wife. Brahmavaddhana will be his son. He will live in a household for eight thousand years.The women will marry at the age of five hundred.

On one occasion he will go to a park for pleasure to amuse himself. Seeing the danger in sensual pleasures and being wise in accordance with the nature of Bodhisattvas, he will see the four signs: an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a happy wanderer.

Having sympathy for all beings, he will go forth seeking the supreme state of peace and accompanied by a fourfold army, at the head of which will be eighty-four thousand brahmins and eighty four thousand Khattiya maidens.

Among his followers will be Isidatta and Pūrana, two brothers, Jātimitta, Vijaya, Suddhika and Suddhanā, Sangha and Sanghā, Saddhara, Sudatta, Yasavatī and Visākhā, each with eighty four thousand companions. Together they will leave the household and arrive on the same day at the Nāga tree (The Nāga tree will be the awakening tree for that Blessed One).

He will go to the garden Nāgavana and there he will set in motion the incomparable Wheel of the Doctrine. The Buddha’s lifetime will be 80,000 years. Then, in the midst of the venerable order of disciples who will have done what should be done, that Conqueror will blaze out like a mass of fire, and be extinguished. His Teaching will remain for 180,000 years.

After the Enlightenment the Buddha will preach in Nāgavana and King Sankha will, later, ordain himself under him. After the Buddha's death, his teachings will continue for one hundred and eighty thousand years. At the present time the future Buddha is living in the Tusita deva-world.

*Our DhammaUS editor here wants to share a bit of a background of the Future Buddhas while wishing that near & dear ones, family & friends, all the readers and will meet the Enlightenment One in the future birth, ordain under Him and achieve the supreme bliss of Nibanna under His guidance. May this noble objective and wish come true! May all beings be well & happy & healthy! Sādhu! Sādhu! Sādhu!

References:

The Anāgatavamsa is a poem of 142 verses, a history of the ten future Buddhas. It is written by Kassapa of Cola, it can be dated to the end of the fourth or the beginning of the fifth century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitreya
https://dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Metteyya
http://www.maithri.com/links/articles/metteyya.htm
http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/me_mu/metteyya.htm

Special Guest Lecture on Buddhism in Northwest China

by Dr. Du Doucheng

at University of the West

April 4, 2017

Dr. Doucheng is a specialist on Dunhuang Caves and his enlightening lecture on the subject (English translation by Mandy) was very helpful to all our Buddhism in China students. Dr. Darui Long, the faculty specialist on Chinese Buddhism at UWest also attended the event along with the Faculty, Staff and Students of UWest Community. This Guest Lecture was organized in line with the "Common Ground Program" (a unique week long program showcasing various events at the university every semester) and our UWest Pali Society students decided to skip our weekly meeting to attend this event. Thank you all for organizing the event.

Viewing Workshop at UWest

1409 Walnut Grove Ave,

Rosemead, CA 91770

Jenniffer and Hannah have contributed towards this great event here at the University of the West to expose the community to a very traditional way of viewing. It was such a fun and we had a great time learning after Jenniffer's step by step instructions. The workshop was attended by many faculty, staff and students including Jeanette (Registrar), Vanessa (Dean of Student Affairs), April (Director of Student Development and Academic Advisor), Eddie (Student Conduct Officer) etc. This was an awesome practice of our age old traditions and can be used as a wonderful community practice in many levels. The outcome of the event which took place for several days in line with the Common Ground program at the UWest, would be showcased as a Community Event. Thank you Jenniffer & Hannah and all those who helped, organized, participated and observed.

Interfaith Conference on Love & Service

Ebell Theater, Santa Ana

Passing Away of a noble Sangha Member.

The Chief Prelate (Mahanayaka) of the Amarapura Nikaya most Ven. Aggamaha Pandita Davuldena Gnanissara Thero passed away this morning (3rd April). The Mahanayaka Thero was 102 years old at the time of death. (Mahanayaka (also spelled as Maha Nayaka, Maha Nayake) theros are high-ranking Buddhist monks who oversees and regulates the Buddhist clergy in Theravada Buddhist countries. The title Maha Nayaka translates to English as 'Great Leader' and it is considered to be a very important position held by a monk in a Theravada Buddhist country. It is usually bestowed upon the senior Buddhist monks who are appointed as the chief prelates of monastic fraternities known as Nikayas.)

He was such a great monk who was respected by many for his noble mission as a virtuous, educated Buddhist monk. His   service to the Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka was irreplaceable, He was well versed in Buddha Dhamma, Pali, Sanskrit and Sinhala and has written a number of books apart from leading a noble life as a role model. It would be a great loss to the Sri Lankan Buddha Sasana in particular and to the world Buddha Sasana in general. Sri Lanka needs more monks like this to uplift the spiritual and religious values of the country to make it a blessed country with Peace and Co-existence. 

May the great Maha Nayaka Thero attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana! 

May Sri Lanka find more great Sangha members like him! 

May the Buddha Sasana shine and blossom to make our world a land of Peace, Tolerance and Non-violence!