(Mojocore) Best SNL impressions of Trump's team of criminal incompetents, Zionist warmongers
(The Daily Show)
(DemocracyNow.org) Amy Goodman runs down headlines for July 15, 2026
Showing posts with label Sister. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sister. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Friday, May 1, 2026
Genocidal Israel seizes another Gaza Flotilla
(Times Now World) Athens erupts: Protesters slam Greece over Gaza Flotilla interception | Times Now World
Trump's sister for Gaza, against president
Aloka Peace Walk Dog monk speaks out
(Walk for Peace Fan) They asked about rotten Trump...but they didn't expect this monk's answer
- Aloka the Peace Dog became famous tagging along on the Monks' Peace Walk led by Ven. PaƱƱÄkÄra
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| Put me down. I can walk. I want to walk! |
Trump's Iran disaster: economy destroyed
Trump's sister is against the president
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
How one woman changed Buddhism
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| Sanghamitta Day Celebrations |
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| Sanghamitta and the Bodhi Tree |
Saį¹
ghamittÄ (Sanskrit Saį¹
ghamitrÄ, "Friend of the Sangha") with the nun's name Ven. Ayapali Theri [1], who lived from 282 BC–203 BC [1].
She was a fully enlightened (arhat, arahant) Indian Buddhist nun and the eldest daughter (as recounted in Sri Lankan tradition as recorded in the DÄ«pavaį¹sa) of Indian Buddhist Emperor Ashoka (304 BC–232 BC) with his first wife Queen Devi (302 BCE–242 BCE).
Together with her monastic brother, Ven. Mahinda Thero, she entered the order of Buddhist monastics. The two siblings later went as Buddhist missionaries to the island of Sri Lanka to spread the Dhamma, the teachings of the Buddha, at the request of Sri Lankan King Devanampiya Tissa (250 BC–210 BC), who was a contemporary of King Ashoka.
.jpg)
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| From Emperor Ashoka's India to Sri Lanka |
However, because of the insistence of Ven. Sangamitta herself, he finally agreed. She was sent to Sri Lanka together with several other nuns to start the Buddhist nun's lineage of (Bhikkhuni Sangha or order of fully ordained female Buddhist monastics) at the request of King Tissa.
THERE ARE MANY GREAT WOMEN IN BUDDHISM: Many come to mind like the Buddha's enlightened wife (Bimba Devi, Yasodhara, RÄhulamÄtÄ, Bhadda Kaccana, SubhaddakÄ, and called by many other names to dilute her magnificence and prominence in the Bhikkhuni Sangha, as if she were the "Mary" so often mentioned in Christianity); Ven. MahÄ PajÄpatÄ« Gotami, the Buddha's mother and history's first Buddhist nun; Western German Jewish Buddhist nun Ayya Khema, who restarted full ordination in Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka; Khema Theri, foremost in wisdom; Uppalavanna, foremost in psychic powers; Ven. SundarÄ« Nanda, the Buddha's fully enlightened sister (possibly the same as the "Belle of the Land," the most beautiful Janapada Kalyani); Kwan Yin Bodhisattva, Goddess of Compassion; Prajnaparamita, Goddess of Wisdom (Buddhism's Sophia); the various colored Taras; Ambapali the Wise Courtesan; Ven. Kisa Gotami; Dipa Ma; modern American greats like Tara Brach, Ven. TathÄlokÄ BhikkhunÄ«, Sharon Salzberg, Sylvia Boorstein, Shaila Catherine, Tina Rasmussen; and the many advanced ones like Beth Upton, Sayalay Susila, Sayalay Dipankara, and so on.
Sangha incomplete without women
There she ordained Queen AnulÄ and other women in King Tissa's court at Anuradhapura who desired to be ordained as nuns after Mahinda converted them to Buddhism [2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
After SanghamittÄ’s contribution to the propagation of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and her establishing the BhikkhunÄ« Sangha or Meheini Sasna ("Order of Buddhist Nuns") there, her name became synonymous with "Buddhist Female Monastic Order of TheravÄda Buddhism" that was established Sri Lanka, Burma, China, and Thailand, in particular.
The day she brought the most revered Bodhi tree as a sapling to Sri Lanka and planted it in Anuradhapura, where it still survives, is still celebrated annually on the Full Moon Day of December as Uduvapa Poya or Uposatha Poya and "SanghamittÄ Day" by Sri Lankan TheravÄda Buddhists [3, 5, 7]. More
- Venerable Gotami (video), Dec. 22, 2025; Amber Larson and Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Unknown story of Mahavatar Babaji
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| Great Avatar Father-ji |
Babaji first became recognized through the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda, who devoted a chapter of his Autobiography of a Yogi to Babaji and founded the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), a modern yoga movement with which Babaji is associated [3].
The cave where Babaji met Lahiri Mahasaya, located near Ranikhet, India, is now a tourist attraction and place of pilgrimage [4]: 170.
In popular culture
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| Mahavatar Babaji gazing up |
Songwriter Roger Hodgson of English rock band Supertramp composed a song called "Babaji" in reference to Mahavatar Babaji. This song was recorded and released on their 1977 album Even in the Quietest Moments [7]...
In Book 3 of Conversations with God (1998) by Neale Donald Walsch, it is mentioned that Babaji may at one time have resurrected himself from the dead, like the Jesus (St. Issa) legend [8].
The 2002 film Baba featured a fictional encounter with Mahavatar Babaji [4]: 235, 314. The film was produced by Rajinikanth, a devotee of Babaji [9]. See also this List of Hindu gurus and saints. More
- Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Finland: 'My Brother, Buddhist Monk'
(TH) By hitting the CC (close caption) icon, English subtitles become visible for non-Finnish speakers
My Brother, Buddhist Monk | short documentary
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| We have an ancient Scandinavian Helgo Buddha |
- Dhamma Source, Aug. 1, 2023; Amber Larson, Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Friday, May 10, 2024
The Buddha's sister Sundari Nanda Gotami
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| The Buddha's sister, Princess Sundari Nanda |
The king's other co-wife, Maya's own younger sister, Maha Pajapati Gotami, stepped in to raise the prince as her own. She later had two children, whom she turned over to a nurse so that she could focus on raising the prince.
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| Madonna and child: Mahapajapati Gotami and Siddhattha Gotama |
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| La Madonna i il bambino (Arte Italiano) |
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| The Buddha's biological mother, Queen Maya |
At the time, there were only three people on Earth with the karma to become "world monarchs"(chakravartin rulers): The Buddha, Rahula, and Ananda. If this is true, it suggests they are all related by blood and/or are a cohort frequently reborn together, as we know to be the case with Ananda, who many times was born alongside the Bodhisattva (Bodhisatta, the Buddha as referred to in past lives when he is a "being bent on supreme enlightenment). Ananda was the Buddha's trusty personal attendant for 25 years, who did not have the job for the first 20 years of the Buddha's 45-year ministry as others tried to do it. But then Ananda volunteered and did it better than anyone else had. Moreover, he was well suited not only by her affable personality but by strength of a memory able to memorize all of the sutras he had ever heard. There is a sutra when Rahula is coming of age and starts feeling strong worldly urges, talking about renouncing and returning to royal life to enjoy its pleasures. The Buddha, seeing this as a sign that the time has come to teach him intensively, he takes him aside to give him an earful, so that he awakens with the help of Sariputra as his teacher.
The Buddha's stepmother/aunt, Queen Pajapati
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| I love my life of luxury and privilege. |
(Could it be a coincidence that their names as they have come down to us in history all contain the word "Nanda"? Everyone in Buddhism gets a popular name, not their given name but an appellation, to make them easy to remember. For instance, Prince Siddhartha's cousin and wife by arranged marriage when both were 16, was not "Princess Yashodhara." That's what we call her. Her actual name was Bimba Devi, and when she became a nun, fully enlightened, a fierce debater who could challenge anyone in any place she wandered, she known by many other names as if to conceal or diffuse her greatness -- Bhaddha, Bhaddha Kaccana, Rahula-mata, and so on.)
This focus is on his beautiful sister or half-sister, who also became a nun and also attained enlightenment with his help, just as his adoptive mother did, who became the world's first Buddhist nun.
The Buddha's sister: The Great Teacher Sundari Nanda Gotami
By Rev. Kyoji, Rising Lotus Sangha (revkyoji@gmail.com) Great Teacher Sundari Nanda (risinglotussangha.org), 2022; edited by Dhr. Seven and Ashley Wells, Wisdom Quarterly
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| AI (artificial intelligence) renders Sundari Nanda a Dravidian Indian rather than an Aryan (Iranian from Gandhara) Central Asian as was more likely (Ishy Comar/provided by Rev. Kyoji/Rising Lotus Sangha). |
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| Author Rev. Kyoji (Rising Lotus Sangha) |
Although heartbroken, the king had a second wife, Maha Maya’s younger sister Maha Pajapati Gotami. Some years later, when Queen Pajapati became pregnant and gave birth, there was great joy and hope that this time mother and baby would survive.
Fortunately, both did. King Suddodhana and Queen Pajapati welcomed their daughter Princess Sundari Nanda into the world with elaborate celebrations.
She was raised a princess treated with the utmost deference and respect. She had everything she could ever want and two parents who loved and doted on her.
She was known for being graceful, beautiful, and very well-mannered. As she grew, she very much enjoyed her privileged life and her royal status.
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| I'm leaving Scythia, Channa |
When her brother, Prince Siddhartha, renounced his privilege and left the palace in the middle of the night to become a spiritual wander on a quest to find a solution to the problem of suffering (dukkha) and later, having found it, became the "Enlightened One," the Buddha, her life changed forever.
As the eldest, Prince Siddhartha had been expected to take over as king (Scythian tribal leader) when his father passed. It was considered his birthright and responsibility.
But his leaving had been prophesied as one of two possible destinies if he were to see the real nature of life as full of suffering (old age, sickness, death), which his father for many years worked hard to keep him from seeing exactly so he would choose to stay in the palace.
So when at 29 Siddhartha defied his royal father, family tradition, and the interpretation of the Sage Asita’s words who made the prophecy with other Brahmin seers, it must have confounded his family and broken their hearts.
Siddhartha wandered for years, first committing himself under one yogi (Alara Kalama) then another (Uddaka Ramaputta), learning their samadhi meditation techniques as an ascetic before setting off on his own to find an answer to his central question, which could not be found under these eminent teachers.
Sitting under a pipal tree (Ficus religiosa) for 49 days, finally allowing himself the bliss of samadhi (meditative absorptions known as jhanas) followed by a systematic practice of mindfulness on four things (body, feelings, mind, and mind-objects), at age 35, he experienced a great awakening (maha-bodhi).
He found the answers to the universal problem of suffering and the path-and-practice that results in awakening and end to suffering in this very life.
Sometime after his enlightenment, Siddhartha, who was now regard as "the Buddha," returned to his home (Scythia, Saka, Shakya Land), to one of its three seasonal capitals, all called Kapilavastu.
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| Ven. Rahula, the Buddha, and Ven. Ananda |
His father was aging and ailing. The Buddha wanted to see him and help him before he passed. While visiting, he began talking to everyone who would listen about suffering, the cause of suffering, the end of suffering, and the way to the end of suffering, teaching what he had found.
It is said that his brother Nanda, his cousins, all of the men of the household, and many from Shakya Land (Scythia, Saka) followed him when he again left, leaving behind their privilege and luxuries.
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| Do nuns ever revert to beauty queens? |
When the king passed away, after having realized one or more of the stages of enlightenment thanks to his son, the women of the royal household -- Maha Pajapati, Sundari Nanda, Princess Bimba (Yashodhara), the royal harem, and the female servants and musicians -- were left in the palace without income or protection.
There must have been wealth stored in the palace, but that would not last forever. The women in the surrounding Shakya villages were left without sons or husbands because they, too, had followed Siddhartha and become wandering ascetics under him.
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| Do beauty queens ever become nuns? |
Grief stricken, hungry, needy, and fearful, the Shakya women and children stood outside the palace gates. What else could Queen Pajapati do? She let them in.
This had to be an unsettling time for the princess Sundari Nanda. What had happened to the life she once knew? Now there were many women and children, many mouths to feed, so many who needed her mother’s attention,
In addition, Sundari Nanda and the women had to be more careful as they were now open to attack by neighboring territories (maha-janapadas) and their regional warlords, who by now knew they were left alone and unable to fully defend themselves, although all Scythians/Shakyians were fierce warriors, including the women.
A decision was made. Queen Pajapati went to the Buddha for refuge, as the remaining representative of what was left of Shakyas, but she was turned away.
This did not stop the women. Queen Pajapati and 500 (a figurative not literal number) women shaved their heads like Buddhist monastics, put on saffron robes like wandering ascetics, and set off to find the Buddha to ask him to accept them as disciples the way he had the males, including his own 7-year-old son, Rahula.
Sundari Nanda was among them. She had no choice but to go with her mother, and her aunt Princess Yashodhara (Prince Siddhartha’s former wife).
- I can relate to Sundari Nanda here. As a teenager, I was forced to move from my hometown and state, leaving all of my family and friends, when my mother remarried. I did not go happily. I can imagine that this would have been the case for Sundari Nanda, too. She was having to leave the luxury of the palace and her position in the country to become a spiritual wanderer, sleeping in the forest, in all kinds of weather, and with wild animals, men, and ogres. What would be worse to meet on the road, savage animals or bandits? But what else could she do, where else did she have to go?
Most know the story about how women were finally admitted into the Buddha’s monastic community or Sangha. It was largely due to Maha Pajapati Gotami’s persistence who, with the help and advocacy of Ananda, pleaded the women’s case.
Because females are able to reach enlightenment just as males are (and because the Buddha had previously said his spiritual community would not be complete until it contained four kinds of people, male and female monastics and male and female lay followers), they were welcomed into the Buddha’s Sangha.
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| Burmese novice (samaneri) Phaung Daw Oo Temple (Huggy's pics/flickr.com) |
Even when they were accepted, the Buddha (and the male Sangha) made it difficult. It is said that the women were subjected to eight additional rules (garudhammas), which made it easier for men and harder for women to ordain. Still, they stayed. They worked hard. They practiced harder, or at least everyone else did, but not Sundari Nanda.
- (This is doubtful, as the research of Ayya Tathaaloka (facebook) into the Bhikkhuni Vinaya or "Nun's Code of Discipline," a book of monastic rules and the origin story of each rule).
The legend goes that Sundari Nanda would have none of it. She wanted her old life back, with all its privileges and luxuries. She rebelled against monastic life.
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| Monastics find that beauty is only skin deep |
Using her beauty and charm and her close relationship to the Buddha, she got others to do her chores. She refused to sit in meditation. She hated working or having to go on alms round to eat. Sew robes? She had always had someone to sew her gowns!
She was more interested in making friends than in doing what was asked of her. She felt out of place and at odds with herself. She was unhappy as a nun and wanted to leave the spiritual community even if it was full of her circle of relatives and friends. But where else could she go?
One day the Buddha said he wanted to speak to each of the nuns individually. Sundari Nanda, thinking she was in trouble, evaded the Buddha as long as she could. He was not fooled. He sent the other nuns for her.
She could not be found. He sent attendants for her. Each returned emptyhanded. In the end, he went and found her himself. Instead of berating or lecturing her, he filled her ears with the most pleasant words: telling her all the good things about her.
He encouraged her and built her up. Then he spoke to her of impermanence and the way to end suffering (dukkha, disappointment) in a way that spoke deeply to her. She was changed in that moment and became enlightened soon after.
Sundari Nanda came to be known throughout the nun's community as foremost in meditation. She was compassionate and taught many other women. She was remembered as a positive influence in her community.
- This point reminds me of how I felt with the rug taken out from under me when my mother announced that we were going to move 350 miles and forever be away from our family, friends, and the life we once had. The feeling in the gut when life changes on a dime, that’s part of what anicca (impermanence, transience, constant change) means. I felt the same on the day my mother passed. I felt the same when I was going through a divorce. We have two choices at these times. grasp, resist, rebel, and be miserable or acknowledge, open to the experience, and move forward. Neither is easy.
- As a mother of daughters, I can also relate to Maha Pajapati. In leaving her home and the comforts of Kapilavastu, she was taking Sundari Nanda and the other women and children to safety. Leaving something we love almost always has tradeoffs. Change is inevitable about successfully navigating it involves compromise. Children cannot be expected to understand adult decisions. It’s our job as adults to act like adults and make the changes necessary for the health and welfare of the family.
Sundari Nanda’s story speaks to us about how we resist practice. We do not like all the self-discipline it takes. We know meditation practice can positively affect our lives. We’re afraid of what will change. We see it as losing things rather than building a more peaceful existence. When we can finally open ourselves, nirvana becomes possible. Isn’t that it?
Finally, this story speaks to me as a Zen teacher and priestess. The Buddha met Sundari Nanda Gotami where she was. He encouraged her. He did no harm. These are the Three Tenets of Teaching my current teacher is passing onto me as well, and I practice to uphold them.
What did Sundari Nanda’s story say to you?
COMMENTS
- Shinjin (Shuso) Feb. 29. Recalling that in Sunday's dharma talk you mentioned the way Buddha spoke to Sundari reminded you of Unbuntu. Sundari Nanda's story reminds me to take the sacred pause when I'm feeling the resistence or noticing that someone else is. And that kind words work wonders.
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| Ayya Tathaaloka and the Buddhist nuns of the Alliance for Bhikkhunis (bhikkhuni.net) |
(WQ) Women are found throughout the history of Buddhism. They have not been removed even if people act as if the Sangha only means the "Order of Monks." There was an equally significant "Order of Nuns." The monastic Sangha means both.
The special significance of the world is the Noble Sangha refers to the "community (monastic and nonmonastic) of enlightened practitioners," not to merely to people in robes, though there is much overlap. TO BE CONTINUED IN PART II
Sunday, April 9, 2023
Buddhist Women at the Time of the Buddha
Hellmuth Hecker, Sister Khema (trans.) © 1994; Amber Larson (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly
The following stories, written in German by Hellmuth Hecker, have been
translated from the German Buddhist magazine Wissen and Wandel, XVIII
3 (1972), XXLI 1/2 (1976).
Bhikkhuni Sujata's Verses of Final KnowledgeWhile every effort has been made by the translator, Sister Vajira, to conform to the original writing, some changes had to be made for the sake of clarity.
The stories of the famous Buddhist nuns Bhadda Kundalakesa and Patacara have been enlarged and filled in.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to the Australian monk Ven. Khantipalo for his assistance in improving the style and content of this narrative.
His new translations of verses of the Therigatha and the Dhammapada from the original Pali language have helped to make these stories come alive.
It is hoped that this booklet will serve as an inspiration to all those who are endeavoring to tread in the Buddha's footsteps.
- Sister Khema, Wat Buddha Dhamma, Wisemans Ferry, N.S.W. 2255, Australia, Jan. 1982
- Hellmuth Hecker (dailynews.lk/line/hellmuth-hecker)
With subtle veils adorned,
Garlands and sandalwood bedecked,
Covered all over with ornaments,
Surrounded by my servants,
Taking with us food and drink,
Eatables of many kinds,
Setting off from the house,
To the forest grove we took it all.Having enjoyed and sported there,
We turned our feet to home
But on the way I saw and entered
Near Saketa, a monastery.
Seeing the Light of the World
I drew near, bowed to him;
Out of compassion the All-Seeing One
Then taught me Dharma there.Hearing the words of the Great Sage,
I penetrated Truth:
The Dharma passionless,
I touched the Dharma of Deathlessness.
When the True Dharma had been known,
I went forth to the homeless life [as a nun];
The three True Knowledges are attained,
Not empty are the Buddha's Teachings!(Therigatha 145-150) Verses of the Elder nuns. More
CONTENTS
- Foreword
- Abbreviations
- The Verses of Final Knowledge of Bhikkhuni Sujata
- Queen Mallika
- What Cannot Be Got: The Buddha's Words to King Pasenadi on Queen Mallika's Death
- Khema of Great Wisdom
- Bhadda Kundalakesa, the Former Jain Ascetic
- Kisagotami, the Mother with the Dead Child
- Sona, With Many Children
- Nanda, the Half-sister of the Awakened One
- Queen Samavati
- Patacara, Preserver of the Vinaya
Abbreviations of Source References
A .... Anguttara Nikaya
D .... Digha Nikaya
Dhp .... Dhammapada
M .... Majjhima Nikaya
S .... Samyutta Nikaya
Sn .... Sutta Nipata
Thag .... Theragatha
Thig .... Therigatha
Pac. .... Pacittiya (Vinaya)
J. .... Jataka
Ud. .... Udana
Mil. .... MilindapaƱha
Jtm. .... Jatakamala
Bu. .... Buddhavamsa
Divy..... Divyavadana
Ap. .... Apadana
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
SUTRA: Final words of the Buddha (DN 16)
Sister Vajira and Francis Story (trans), Maha-Parinibbana Sutta: "Last Days of the Buddha" (DN 16 PTS: D ii 72), 1998; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Welfare of the Wandering Ascetic Order
"Very well, venerable sir." And Ven. Ananda did as requested and informed the Blessed One: "The monastic community is assembled, venerable sir. Let the Blessed One do as he wishes."
The Blessed One rose from his seat, went to the hall, took the seat prepared for him, and addressed those gathered:
"Seven conditions leading to welfare shall I set forth, meditators. Listen and pay heed to what I shall say."
"Indeed, venerable sir."
- so long as they assemble frequently and in large numbers
- [so long as they] meet and disperse peacefully and attend to the affairs of the Monastic Community (Sangha) in concord
- so long as they appoint no new rules, and do not abolish the existing ones, but proceed in accordance with the Code of Training (Vinaya) laid down
- so long as they show respect, honor, esteem, and veneration towards the elder meditators, those of long standing, long gone forth [as monastics], the fathers and leaders of the Monastic Community, and think it worthwhile to listen to them
- so long as they do not come under the power of the craving that leads to fresh becoming [rebirth]
- so long as they cherish the forest depths for their dwellings
- so long as they establish themselves in mindfulness so that virtuous meditators of the Monastic Order who have not come yet might do so, and those already come might live in peace.
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| Siddhartha dwelled in the forest to awaken. |
7. "Seven further conditions leading to welfare shall I set forth, meditators. Listen and pay heed to what I shall say."
"Indeed, venerable sir."
"The growth of the Monastic Community to be expected, not its decline, meditators,
- so long as they do not delight in, are not pleased with, and are not fond of activities,
- talk,
- sleep, and
- company [socializing]
- so long as they do not harbor and do not come under the spell of harmful desires
- have no bad friends, associates, or companions
- and so long as they do not stop halfway on account of some trifling achievement,
Seven Good Qualities [6]
8. "Seven further conditions leading to welfare shall I set forth, meditators. Listen and pay heed to what I shall say."
"Indeed, venerable sir."
"The growth of the Monastic Community is to be expected, not their decline, meditators,
- so long as they have faith [confidence, saddha]
- so long as they have moral dread
- and fear of misconduct,
- are proficient in learning,
- resolute,
- mindful,
- and wise.
Seven Factors of Enlightenment [7]
9. "Seven further conditions leading to welfare shall I set forth, medtiators. Listen and pay heed to what I shall say."
"Indeed, venerable sir."
"The growth of the Monastic Community is to be expected, not their decline, meditators, so long as they cultivate the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, that is:
- mindfulness,
- investigation of phenomena,
- energy,
- bliss,
- tranquility,
- concentration, and
- equanimity.
Seven Perceptions
10. "Seven further conditions leading to welfare shall I set forth, meditators. Listen and pay heed to what I shall say."
"Indeed, venerable sir."
"The growth of the Monastic Community is to be expected, not their decline, meditators, so long as they cultivate the
- perception of impermanence,
- of egolessness [the impersonal nature of all things, particularly the Five Aggregates clung to as self],
- of (the body's) impurity,
- of (the body's) wretchedness,
- of relinquishment,
- of dispassion,
- and of cessation.
Six Conditions to be Remembered [8]
11. "Six further conditions leading to welfare shall I set forth, meditators. Listen and pay heed to what I shall say."
"Indeed, venerable sir."
"The growth of the Monastic Community is to be expected, not their decline, meditators,
- so long as they attend on each other with loving kindness in deed,
- word,
- and thought, both openly and in private
- so long as in respect of what they receive as due offerings, even the contents of their alms bowls they do not make use of without sharing them with virtuous fellow members of the community
- so long as, in company with their companions, they train themselves, openly and in private, in the rules of conduct (Patimokkha and Vinaya), which are complete and perfect, spotless and pure, liberating, praised by the wise, uninfluenced (by mundane concerns), and favorable to concentration [coherence] of mind
- and in company with their companions, preserve, openly and in private, the insight [vipassana] that is noble and liberating, and leads one who acts upon it to the utter destruction of suffering.
Counsel to the Wandering Ascetics
12. And the Blessed One, dwelling in Rajagaha, on the hill called Vultures' Peak, often gave counsel to the meditators:
"Such and such is virtue; such and such is concentration; and such and such is wisdom. [9]
"Great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of concentration [coherence, samadhi] when it is fully developed by virtuous conduct (sila); great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of wisdom when it is fully developed by concentration (samma-samadhi).
"Utterly freed from the taints [10] of lust, becoming, and ignorance is the mind (heart) that is fully developed in wisdom." More
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