Inner Journey

  When We Feel Insulted: A Buddhist & Vedāntic Reflection A Dhamma Talk with Pali & Sanskrit References and Live Links — Prepared by: Chamila Randeniya Contents Introduction (Traffic Anecdote) The Buddhist Lens: Dependent Origination The Vedāntic Lens: The Unstained Self Everyday Life with a Smile Practices for Freedom Guided Reflection Closing: Returning to the Traffic Story Supplementary Texts Bibliography (Online Links) Introduction Dear Dhamma Friends, Let us begin with a simple story. One morning, I was driving to a gathering. I was running a little late, so I slowed down as I approached a traffic light. The driver behind me suddenly leaned on the horn — not a polite little beep, but a long, loud, impatient blast...

  Impermanence and Not-Self in Buddhism A Dhamma Talk with Pali References & Live Links Prepared by: Chamila Randeniya Contents Introduction   The Analogy of the Flower The Human Life Parallel   The Impermanence of Mind From Impermanence to Not-Self   The Arahat’s Vision   A Reflection for Us   Supplementary Texts (Pali & English) Bibliography (Online Links) Dear Dhamma Friends, Today let us reflect together on the Buddha’s teaching of impermanence ( anicca ) and how it leads to the realization of not-self ( anattā ). The Analogy of the Flower Think of a flower. At first, there is a bud . After some time, it blossoms into a flower . Later still, it becomes a withered flower . Are these three the same entity? The Buddha would guide us to see that they are not. Each stage arises due to conditions. When those conditions change, the appearance changes. The bud ceases, a...

  Seeing as It Truly Is: Insights from the Bāhiya Sutta A Dhamma Talk with Pali References & Live Links Prepared by: Chamila Randeniya Contents Introduction The Structure of Sense Experience in Early Buddhism Eye, Form, and Consciousness From Contact to Concept In the Seen, Only the Seen Comparison with Vedānta Non-Dualism Implications for Buddhist Practice Conclusion Supplementary Texts (Pali & English) References Dear Dhamma Friends, Let us begin with a simple experience: seeing a flower. Imagine looking at a beautiful flower in a garden. For most of us, the mind immediately labels it: “This is a flower. I like it. It belongs to me.” Thoughts, feelings, and memories attach themselves to that experience. Desire or aversion may arise. In short, the moment of direct experience becomes a momentum of conceptualization and clinging. The Buddha’s teaching to Bāhiya ( Udāna 1.10 ) helps us see this process clearly:...

  Mind Momentum and Freedom in Buddhism A Dhamma Talk with Pali References & Live Links Prepared by: Chamila Randeniya Contents     Introduction     Ignorance and the Illusion of Self     The Arahat’s Experience     The Ending of Momentum     Supplementary Texts (Pali & English)     Bibliography (Online Links) Dear Dhamma Friends, Today let us reflect together on the idea of mind momentum in Buddhism, and how it touches our daily life. First, think about momentum in physics. Momentum is what keeps an object moving. It is defined as mass multiplied by velocity. If you push a ball, it keeps rolling because of its momentum. In a similar way, the mind also has a momentum. This is the stream of consciousness that continues moment after moment, life after life ( SN 15.1 ) . But unlike physical momentum, the momentum of the mind is n...