About this Website
:D Welcome!
This website was made for the purpose of sharing information with all laypeople about Buddha, his teachings or the Dhamma and related books/articles from renown buddhist monks and nuns. Regardless of the religion or belief you have, this is generally intended for laypeople who are either interested or just plain curious about Buddhism. It is however advised that other sources of information be also searched and studied in order to further understand and gain more knowledge about the topics.
Note that “Buddha” pointed out (refer to Kalama Sutta No. 65:10 as example) that his teachings should not be just accepted with blind faith, but may also be subjected to scrutiny and validation before abiding.
Furthermore, mere reading information gains only intellectual knowledge. Therefore, the actual practice and experience are much more important for growth. (Refer to Anguttara Nikaya 11.12 for further readings.)
The Menu item topics are not generally logical in arrangement. However, you may start by inquiring about the founder of Buddhism, his life story, and the profound teachings he imparted not only to humans, but also to deities. In this connection, click your mouse button on the link The Buddha, His Life & Teachings. When you are through reading press ⇦ key to go back to the main Menu. When you are through reading you may return to the main Menu and further proceed on the next topic, click on the link Good Questions and Good Answers for basic information and guide on Buddhism. After you are through reading, you may return to the main Menu and click the link A Call for Both Wisdom and Compassion as your next topic to read. You may then proceed the same process as before and continue with the other topics as you like. The main Menu includes Gratitude in the Buddha's Teaching which is an essay about gratitude which is a very important teaching to reflect and one of the primary ingredients to happiness. A very crucial teaching on how to address an unquiet or agitated mind is available at Menu topic About Silent Mind with its question and answer format discussions. Another very important primary guide for starting Buddhism is The Laity Practice Menu topic. It is an article discussing the role of a layperson in Buddhism, and offers proper guide in practicing the Dhamma. A link for Pali-English Dictionary topic is included below the Menu; it’s main purpose is to help you know the meaning of some Pali words which may be mentioned in the other topic discussions. (Note that this portable dictionary is not meant to provide all Pali words and definitions; for Pali words not recognized by this online dictionary, you will have to look from other sources.) The next link in the main Menu is Buddhism, Health and Disease; it thoroughly discusses the Buddhist contribution to holistic approach on health, disease, and healing. You may choose to proceed on the Concept of Equality in Theravada Buddhism as the next subject of discussion for reading; it discusses salient points about the concept of equality in Buddhism that is more humanistic as compared with the Western concept of human (individual) rights. Also, a link that will provide you very concise and clear explanation of the Message of the Buddha is included below the Menu.
I deliberately had labeled some Menu with different title and you may realize it once you click it's link; however, it's subject matter can still be found (when you scan over the written discussions) and relevant.
Another note is that some Menu links may not readily open the intended website right away; you have to press ⇦ key to go back to main Menu and try back one or two more times again because their site may be busy or the connection is slow.
A word of caution: There may be comments by an author monk which could be highly provocative to the reader. For example, refer to page nos. 310 and 311 of the book "A Map of the Journey". Statements such as “Whether it is good or not good, hings happen to us because we deserve it.” and “We are getting it because we want it.” are not pleasing to readers considering all the sufferings that we experience in life; some sufferings are results of our kamma while others are part of our process. Please note that not all authors were properly equipped in translating, explaining the subject matters in proper context and English language. It is hoped that any poor communication by any author or by myself would be forgiven and that the learning of compassion and wisdom would be given more importance.
In selecting Menu: If you want to read more themes on Buddhism, click on Essential Themes of Buddhist Lectures; for finding the meaning of happiness you may want to click on What is Happiness?; if you want to read about meditation topics click on Types of Meditation: Concentration and Insight; Living Meditation, Living Insight; How to Meditate; Metta Bhavana; Just be Good; Skillful Desires; Practical Vipassana; Dealing with Memories; Anicca, Dukkha, and Anatta; and A Map of the Journey.
Menu topics pertaining to core of Buddhism and which should not be missed when making selections for reading are The Four Noble Truths; The Noble Eightfold Path (for attainment of Enlightenment or Awakening); and The Path to Nibbana (discussions on - how is Nibbana to be attained and the stages of development of its practitioner).
Other Menu topics are to be read studied as well, but do not forget to give importance to A Call for Both Wisdom and Compassion; The Four Sublime States; Buddhism and the God-idea; Humans, Devas and Brahmas; The Story of Kisa Gotami; Studying the Suttas; Aspects of Reality; Towards Theory of Mental Illness; About Peace - Mind; The Middle Way Within; Two Paths to Knowledge; Buddhist Approaches to Present-day Problems (relevance of Buddhism in modern times); Dhamma and Non-duality (discusses the distinct and different approach of Theravada vipassana meditation from non-dualistic contemplative tradition of Mahayana Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta).
This website provides the reader some extras such as title links to movies related to Buddhism, and also title links to soft instrumental type music (which you can open and listen while reading a book or article). Some very good subject discussions may be watched and listened at How Meditation Helped Kids that were Trapped Inside a Flooded Cave, The Kalama Sutta, Impermanence: Everything Will Be Alright, The Four Noble Truths, Four Key Characteristics about Buddhism, The Middle Way, Dependent Origination, and Anatta and the Five Aggregates.
May you gain something truly worth from opening and using this website whether they be primarily for reading or just plain curiosity, and/or for playing/downloading movies or music.
Metta,
RLM