Life Stage

Retirement

The third quarter — the traditional householder's turn toward practice. The forest-dweller stage.

Knowledge3

Sites2

Teachings1

Products0

Knowledge

Pilgrims approaching the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya

Practices

Pilgrimage — The Outer Practice

In the Mahaparinibbana Sutta, the Buddha himself names the four places of pilgrimage: where he was born, where he awakened, where he first taught, and where he attained parinirvana. The original outer practice.

Portrait of Mahasi Sayadaw, founder of the modern noting method of vipassana

PracticesTheravada

Vipassana — Insight Meditation

The practice of seeing the three marks of existence — impermanence, suffering, non-self — directly in moment-to-moment experience. The Buddha's central method.

Gandharan stone sculpture of a seated Buddha in meditation, 3rd century

Practices

Samatha — Calm Abiding

The practice of cultivating tranquility and one-pointed concentration. The companion to vipassana — the two yoked together carry the dharma.

Sacred Sites

nepal core

Lumbini

The Birth.

india arc

Bodh Gaya

The Enlightenment.

Teachings

dhammapada

The Dhammapada in Daily Life — Episode 09

The ninth episode. The Dhammapada's arithmetic of consequence.

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Beginning8 Deepening Practice7 Dying4 Family Practice6 Grief3 Householder5 Illness3