Books

by Āyasmā Aggacitta

REBIRTH IS UNCERTAIN
How one dies will determine his future destiny. We may say that in general, how one dies largely depends on how one has lived. Nevertheless, there is no certainty that an ordinary person who has tried to live a pious and moral life will be reborn in a favourable realm of existence, or that a murderer will take rebirth in one of the woeful states.

In order to foster understanding, memorization and penetration of the Buddha’s teachings, most of the chants contained in this book are recited in Pāli and English line by line in an alternating manner. In this way, over time the chanter becomes increasingly familiar with the phrases and underlying meaning contained therein, whereby a vocabulary of important Dhamma phrases and Buddha quotes grows in the mind of the reciter.

by Āyasmā Ariyadhammika

Actions of Arahants are usually said to be merely functional (kiriya), and the term “kamma” is normally not used in reference to Arahants’ actions. But is such a distinction warranted? This study looks into this topic from the perspective of the discourses and offers insights into the question of whether an Arahant’s actions should be called kamma, kiriya (functional), both, or neither.

by Āyasmā Aggacitta

Anatta, the concept of not-self, can be very confusing. We say: Nothing belongs to me; ‘not mine, not me, not my self’; all the mental defilements are just external visitors who come in and defile the mind. Then where does self-responsibility come in? If there’s no one there, who will reap the consequences of one’s actions?

by Āyasmā Aggacitta

Theravāda orthodoxy may not pick on or shoo away a non-Theravāda bhikṣuṇī, but it would certainly cause anyone who advocates the revival of the Theravāda Bhikkhunī Saṅgha to ask, “Why Pick-shoo-me?”

by Āyasmā Aggacitta

BUDDHISTS are often told to take refuge in the Triple Gem, and many believe that they actually do.

This book is available in English and Chinese.

by Āyasmā Aggacitta

Killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and taking intoxicants are universally censurable. One who does these things is considered immoral while one who abstains from them, morally virtuous;and they are karmically responsible for their actions-whether or not they have undertaken the precepts. Nonetheless, undertaking the precepts can help reinforce kindly dispositions and change unkindly ones.

This book is available in English and Chinese.

by Āyasmā Aggacitta

Practitioners walking the spiritual path to awakening are often confused as to which meditation method is really correct.

This book is available in English and Chinese.