List of 17 Defilements

from the Book of the Fives of Buddhism… 1) lust 2) hatred 3) delusion 4) anger 5) hostility 6) denigration 7) insolence 8) envy 9) miserliness 10) deceitfulness 11) craftiness 12) obstinacy 13) vehemence 14) conceit 15) arrogance 16) intoxication 17) heedlessness

Snakes

This is one of the few protective charms mentioned in the Pali Canon and specifically allowed by the Buddha for monks to use (another charm, also allowed to the monks, is contained in DN 32). Note that the power of the charm is said to come, not from the words, but from the mind of goodwill… Continue reading Snakes

Restraint

“Bhikkhus, there are these four strivings. What four? Striving by restraint, striving by abandonment, striving by development, and striving by protection. (1) “And what, bhikkhus, is striving by restraint? Here, having seen a form with the eye, a bhikkhu does not grasp its marks and features. Since, if he left the eye faculty unrestrained, bad… Continue reading Restraint

The Goldsmith

“Bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu is devoted to the higher mind, from time to time he should give attention to three marks. (1) From time to time he should give attention to the mark of concentration; (2) from time to time to the mark of exertion; and (3) fromtime to time to the mark of equanimity.… Continue reading The Goldsmith

Anger

“Bhikkhus, there are these two qualities. What two? Anger and hostility.“Bhikkhus, there are these two qualities. What two? Denigration and insolence.“Bhikkhus, there are these two qualities. What two? Envy and miserliness.“Bhikkhus, there are these two qualities. What two? Deceitfulness and craftiness.“Bhikkhus, there are these two qualities. What two? Moral shamelessness and moral recklessness.These are the… Continue reading Anger

A Warrior

“Bhikkhus, possessing three factors, a warrior is worthy of a king, an accessory of a king, and reckoned a factor of kingship. What three? Here, a warrior is a long distance shooter, a sharp-shooter, and one who splits a great body. Possessing these three factors a warrior is worthy of a king, an accessory of… Continue reading A Warrior

Authorities

translated from the Pali by Bhikku Bodhi “Bhikkus, there are these three authorities. What three? Oneself as one’s authority, the world as one’s authority, and the Dhamma as one’s authority. “And what, bhikkus, is oneself as one’s authority? Here, having gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree, or to… Continue reading Authorities

Delicate

translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi “Bhikkhus, I was delicately nurtured, most delicately nurtured, extremely delicately nurtured. At my father’s residence lotus ponds were made just for my enjoyment: in one of them blue lotuses bloomed, in another red lotuses, and in a third white lotuses. I used no sandalwood unless it came from… Continue reading Delicate

Kesi

To Kesi the Horse-trainer Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (mostly) Then Kesi the horse-trainer went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to him: “You, Kesi, are a trained man, a trainer of tamable horses. And how… Continue reading Kesi