Dhamma USA

UWest Pali Society

UWest Pali Society is committed to promoting Theravada Pali tradition both academically and ritually. We welcome all the UWest community members to join us and feel good with us. Individuals outside the UWest community can be included with the invitation from the members.

The objectives of the UWest Pali Society would be:

1. Pali Sutta Reading & Translation (Free):
Here we read & translate selected original Pali suttas and discuss the key Pali terms leading to further discussions. We invite all those like-minded faculty, staff and students to join us and learn research and share the experience.

2. Pali Learning (Free):

We are more than happy to introduce Pali language to those who are interested. We teach Pali language from the very beginning to advanced level.

3. Online Pali Group (Free):

We have already started an online Pali teaching program. Those who are interested in joining, please contact admin@dhammausa.com

3. Guest Speeches (Free):

We organize monthly guest speeches by eminent scholars and visiting Buddhist monks to propagate and promote Pali Language and Literature.

Meetings (Spring 2017):

Day: Tuesday
Time: 4.30 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.
Class Room: AD 215
University of the West

1409 Walnut Grove Ave

Rosemead

CA 91770

www.uwest.edu

www.dhammausa.com

Day: Every other Saturday
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Lankarama Buddhist Institute

398 Giano Ave

La Puente

CA 91744

www.dhammausa.com

Please bring our class book Vandana: A Book for Buddhist Chanting to the class for chanting practice.

Officers:

1. Academic Advisers

Dr. Jane Iwamura

janei@uwest.edu

Dr. Miroj Shakya
mirojs@uwest.edu

2. President

Ven. Sumitta dhammaus15@gmail.com

admin@dhammausa.com

3. Vice President

Joyce Tan

joycettan@yahoo.com

4. Secretary

Ellen Gervasi

ellen.gervasi@my.uwest.edu

5. Treasurer

Christopher Johnson (Kris)

christopherj@null.net

Dear Dhamma friends, we cordially invite you & family to attend Vesak Celebration at Lankarama Buddhist Institute. Vesak is a thrice-blessed day where it commemorates three major events in the life of The Blessed One; His Birth, Enlightenment & Passing Away on full moon day of May. Please join us to celebrate our annual Vesak Festival on Sunday, May 14th 2017.

Analayo's latest book:
Early Buddhist Meditation Studies

https://smile.amazon.com/Early-Buddhist-Meditation-Studies-1/dp/1540410501/ref=pd_lutyp_simh_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1540410501&pd_rd_r=52HQZE5S3QQJ1XNT2DWR&pd_rd_w=0BP1E&pd_rd_wg=Civ1M&psc=1&refRID=52HQZE5S3QQJ1XNT2DWR

Q.
Two questions:

During the metta meditation, the part about "May I be well, happy, and healthy" doesn't seem natural to me. I guess my spiritual understanding and religious conditioning thus far has been about "blessing and serving others". So it feels like I'm being selfish when I'm hyper-focusing on me. I understand the concept that we have to be well to give to others, but still it doesn't feel right for some reason...

Secondly, when we send metta to ourselves first, then to this state, country, world, universe, etc... it implies separation of oneself from others. My belief has always been we are just One. Everything is within oneself, and that it's the same energy manifesting in all these beings.

So how do I wrap my head around this one?!

A.
Interesting questions. If you feel comfortable with the way you think, please do so. No worries. In Buddhist Metta practices this technique is mostly followed. So to begin with yourself and then go to others. You have to start with somewhere. So, it is easier to begin with the most comfortable zone. that is oneself. It is important to purify oneself first to start having metta to oneself. without having metta to oneself it is not practical to do it for others. universal love means love to all including oneself. no harm to oneself no harm to all sentient beings.

Response from the participant:

Thank you for the explanation. It helps me to understand it better 😊 And yes, universal love is one of the ultimate goals 🌺

Q.
I Have a question about the following 2 words: Vipassanādhura &
Vipassanā Dhura

Do they have different meanings? Thanks

A.
There are 2 practices in Buddhism called:
1. Gantha dhura
2. Vipassanā dhura

Gantha dhura - Dhamma learning, preaching, researching, teaching, writing etc.

Vipassanā dhura - Dhamma practising, meditating.

These are two different paths but both have significant values. GD is important for the propagation and preservation of the Dhamma for the benefit of the many. VD is vital for the self purification and self realization and final attainment of Nibbāna. It is even more hellpful and valuable if someone has the balance between both.

Hope you understood. Please feel free to ask if you need any more clarification.

May all beings be well & happy & healthy!

Q&A

Q. Why do I get pain in my head whenever I start practising Dhamma?

A. Causes can be many depending on the circumstances. I remember King Bimbisara's story now. Possible reason for your headache can be your past relatives. Please transfer merits to them. My advise is to you is that you may start with Mettā and or Ānāpānasati Meditation.

Three Day Retreat on Anapanasati

@ UBEF, California

April 21-23, 2017

conducted by bhante Buddharakkhita from Malaysia.

UWest Pali Society

cordially invites you all to attend an interactive Dhamma Talk on

"Stress Management & Relaxation through Understanding:

A Buddhist Perspective"

by Bhante Ananda from India.

Here is the flyer for details:

More info on Bhante Ananda and socio religious engagements:

Biographical Information

Born in North Karnataka in 1967, Venerable Bhikkhu Ananda took ordination as a Buddhist monk under the Most Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita, one of the foremost Buddhist scholars in the world and founder of the Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore, in 1986. Even during childhood he showed in interest in philosophical thinking and meditation.

Ven. Bhikkhu Ananda is the General Secretary of Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore and its branches. In 1987 he became secretary of Maha Bodhi Society and under the compassionate guidance of Ven. Acharya Buddharakkhita became involved in its many programs, both spiritual and social. He is one of the main teachers at the Mahabodhi Monastic Institute, the largest Theravada monastic school in India. He conducts Sutta, Pali and Abhidhamma classes, gives discourses and leads meditation retreats in India and abroad.

Since 1998 Ven. Bhikkhu Ananda has been traveling yearly to Europe bringing the precious teaching of the Buddha. Hundreds of people have been reached through meditation retreats and talks, including at universities and schools. High interest in these programs has enabled him to establish Mahabodhi groups and associations in Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland, Spain and Austria.

For decades Ven. Bhikkhu Ananda has been deeply involved in Maha Bodhi Society’s important social services through educational programs, meditation guidance and medical services, developing hospitals and clinics. With the kind help of generous donors at home and abroad, Maha Bodhi Society has been directly involved in establishing schools and hostels in Bangalore, Mysore and Diyun providing quality education for underprivileged children. Additionally, there are elder homes in Tawang and Tripura for disabled and frail seniors with no family support. Sponsorships are sought to assist the needy in these projects. Six hospitals and clinics have been built over the years treating patients without regard for their ability to pay. These have addressed serious issues like burn cases and providing artificial limbs.

Currently he is involved in developing projects including The Bhavagan Buddha University of Pali and Theravada Buddhism, the Mahabodhi Karuna Medical Center (rehab hospital nearly unique in India) and leading regular meditation retreats at the Mahabodhi Center.

For more information on Ven. Bhikkhu Ananda’s work and activities and those of Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore please visit www.mahabodhi.info.

Lankarama Buddhist Institute

398 Giano Ave

CA 91744

Lankarama Buddhist Institute celebrated the New Year event with the participation of many devotees and friends on the beautiful evening April 16, 2017. The event was attended by Maha Sangha members presided by the abbot venerable Aluthnuwara Sumanatissa Nayaka Thero and the gathering included different communities representing Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Myanmar. The traditional Sinhala & Hindu New Year is celebrated in Sri Lanka in the month of April to mark the astrological transition from Pisces to Aries completing the full circle. The inbetween time is considered neutral (nonagata) and the folks used to go to their local temples to get the blessing to ward off any evil effects of the planetary signs. In fact, the same festival is celebrated in different manners in most of the South and South East Asian countries.

The editor of this article has some vivid memories of his childhood with regard to the Sinhala & Hindu New Year in Sri Lanka. It is festival season and all Sri Lankan schools and many other government offices are closed on the New Year Days allowing children, parents, family members, relatives and friends to colorwash their homes, buy new clothes and prepare traditional desserts. Kids have the best time with so much fun with new clothes and folk games which are very traditional. Firing crackers is how we communicate with the community about various auspicious times to start different New Year functions. Cuckoo Bird's awesome singing and the captivating Erabadu flowers are some of the signs that the nature uses to remind the dawn of the New Year.

Some of the most meaningful practices during this season is the families visiting their temples to respect the Sangha to be blessed and then visiting their relatives and friends with gifts and traditional sweets. New Year is used as a very refreshing time to start new with no enmities with others. The family members, relatives and friends forgive each other of all their past mistakes and differences and seeing the traditional bowing to the parents, elder siblings, senior relatives etc. is a remarkable reflection of the rich cultural and religious upbringing. Everyone in the family helps clean the house and parents are given the highest priority and respect during this time. All traditional but funloving practices to kickstart their New Year with new clothes, new sweets, family gathering, games etc. reflect the New Year of its indispensable part of people's life and a rich cultural heritage that they belong to.

This awesome cultural and traditional practices occur in many different parts of India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia as well. South East Asian countries call it Songkran or traditional water festival which is almost similar to the colorful Holi festival in India.

It is so wonderful to see the immigrant population trying to preserve their age-old tradition in tact even if they are in small number away from their motherland. Here in USA, we can witness the amalgamation of all the cultures in the world thanks to the dedicated elders and the clergy of the respective communities. The Sri Lankan community does celebrate their cultural and religious events such as Independence Day in February, New Year in April, Vesak in May, Poson in June, Vassana Program in August, Kathina in November and many other national events mostly with their local Buddhist temples, non-profit organizations or their respective Sri Lankan Embassies, High Commissions or Consular Offices. This is a wonderful practice to expose their own cultural heritage for the benefit of their children who were not born in Sri Lanka and also for their own spiritual and religious upbringing. This is surely the case with many other immigrants from different parts of the world. USA is one mini-world in that sense reflecting a great unity in diversity along with a vast cultural treasure ideally existing in harmony and peaceful manner.

Some of the images covering the New Year - 2017 celebration at Lankarama Buddhist Institute:

More photos of Lankarama Buddhist Institute can be accessed in Dhamma USA Facebook Page. Video clips of the event and some other events of the Institute are available in Dhamma US YouTube Channel.

It is the duty of every Buddhist to pay homage to the Buddha before the commencement of any Buddhist recital. The following sentences in Pali should be recited thrice and only after that does one take refuge in the Triple Gem. This is done only as a mark of respect for the great virtues and wisdom of the Buddha in order to gain confidence, devotion and inspiration in the Buddha. However paying homage in front of a Buddha image or statue does not mean that we worship that idol. It is only a means for us contemplate to contemplate on the great of virtues of the Buddha. We respect and and be grateful to those noble qualities of our Teacher. The greatest respect or homage or salutation to the Buddha, Dhamma or Sangha is to follow the noble Path.

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā sambuddhassa

(Honour to Him,

the Blessed One,

the Worthy One,

the Fully Enlightened One.)

May all beings be well and happy!!!

Sadhu! Sadhu!! Sadhu!!!