The Buddha used to criticise the extreme asceticism (Duskara-carya). In Dhammapada sutra, the Buddha taught: “Not going naked, nor matted hair, nor filth, nor fasting, not sleeping on bare earth, no penance on heels, nor…
The life of a monk may look simple but in fact, it is full of hardships and challenges. At Ba Vang Pagoda, bhikshus adopt the practice of cultivating themselves in the forest. They must overcome…
2020 – The world is facing a difficult time that we will never forget. Even if you are rich or poor, old or young, your life may have changed drastically because of COVID-19, the disease…
While the spread of the coronavirus disease is very high and not any specific vaccine for it has been available, a question arises to many people: When will the COVID-19 outbreak completely end? Fortunately, over…
Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh, the Abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda is one of the most influential Vietnamese Buddhist monks in modern times with hundreds of thousands of followers in many countries. Looking at what…
Becoming an ascetic is a great decision of life which takes a lot of courage and determination. Though the path that Shakyamuni Buddha guided us fills with challenges, it is the noblest path worth embarking…
The Buddha praised eight precepts in the Uposatha Sutra (translated from the Pali by Ñanavara Thera and Bhikkhu Kantasilo, 1996): the Uposatha observance as follows: “Bhikkhus. Uposatha is comprised of eight factors which the Ariyan…
Ratana Sutra: The Jewel Discourse translated from the Pali by Piyadassi Thera © 1999 Translator’s Introduction The occasion for this discourse, in brief, according to the commentary, is as follows: The city of Vesali was…
In the sutra of Anguttara Nikaya, the Buddha taught His Disciples about five kinds of dwellers. Do you know which one is the best out of the five kinds? Forest—the green lung of the earth—plays…
The practice of almsgiving is an ancient and noble tradition in Buddhism. It is one of the most important practices for Monks and Nuns to create spiritual bonds with sentient beings through alms round—seeking offerings…