To protect their new-born son, the Bodhisatta, the King and Queen build an iron house and keep him in it. On coming of age, though, he realises he is not safe from old age and death and proclaims 24 verses which culimate in the following famous verses.
BWV 016: The Priority of Truth
The Bodhisatta’s teaching to the man-eating King, which eventually persuades him to give up his evil habit.
Why the Buddha Suffered
A new text and translation of a section of the Apadāna, together with its commentary, explaining why the Buddha suffered in his last life.
BWV 015: Merits follow one to the Next World
A rich merchant dies after living like a pauper. The Buddha explains that in a previous life he had given alms to a Paccekabuddha, and so in this life he became rich; however, he regreted it later, so he couldn’t enjoy it.
BWV 014: Four Well-Said Verses
Some verses that were taught to the Bodhisatta by a brāhman who had heard them from the Buddha Kassapa. He is rewarded with a thousand coins for each of the verses.
Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi: Recollecting Ven. Bhikkhu Sumedha
On the occasion of the official launch of the Bhikkhu Sumedha Trust in December 2011, Bhikkhu Bodhi wrote this recollection of the monk he described as his closest friend.
BWV 013: Four Things to Cultivate
The yakkha Ālavaka asked the Buddha various questions on the spiritual life, and this verse is part of the answer.
BWV 012: Ten Things that should be Done
The Bodhisatta, when he was King Janasandha, explained ten courses of action which, when not done, bring about regret in the future.
Ajahn Brahm meets Ven. Ñāṇavimala
I only recently found out that Ajahn Brahm had met the great German monk Ven. Ñāṇavimala so when I met Ajahn recently I asked him to write down his impressions.
BWV 011: Various Dangers
BWV 010: Six Faults
A god comes and asks the Buddha various questions, including one about how many faults there are.
BWV 009: Four Things not to be Done
BWV 008: The Wise attain Fame
These are the Buddha’s words at the conclusion of the instruction given to the young man Sigāla.
BWV 007: The Right Uses of Wealth
The Householder Anāthapiṇḍika receives instruction on the right ways to make use of the wealth that has been righteously obtained.
The Buddhas’ Disciplinary Advice
This is the short advice taught by the Buddhas who do not teach the full Disciplinary Code (Pātimokkha), which as a rule of thumb it is nevertheless hard to beat.
BWV 006: A Wise Man’s Duties
The Buddha explains the five duties which, when fulfilled, lead to prosperity and not to decline.
BWV 005: Four Ways to spend one’s Wealth
The Buddha gives instructions to the young man Sigāla on the four kinds of friends, and then tells him how to keep them.
BWV 004: Eight things Leading to Prosperity
Revision of the Materials on Mindfulness on ABT
I have just completed what turned out to be a major revision of the materials on Mindfulness on the Ancient Buddhist Texts website.
