Pariyatti

Support for a worthwhile service

News — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:23:00 GMT

Pariyatti's annual fundraising campaign is underway to raise $70,000. To date, challenge donations of $35,000 have been matched by gifts totalling $19,000. If you value our nonprofit services, please consider making a contribution now. Your support is essential. With a gift of $100 or more, you'll receive a discount of 20% off all titles for one year. Donations of any amount can be made online, by check, or by phone. We will send a receipt for your records; your donation is tax-deductible in accordance with U.S. tax regulations.

Do you wonder why Pariyatti needs financial support to continue operations? The book-selling side of Pariyatti is the most visible, but it is only one of the services we provide. We also publish, import, distribute (for Buddhist Publication Society, Pali Text Society, and Vipassana Research Institute), and keep more than 1,000 titles in stock. None of these activities is "profitable" in the conventional sense, but is no less worthwhile.

December Podcast from Pariyatti

News — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:22:00 GMT

This month's podcast is an 82-minute talk by S.N. Goenka, followed by Q&A, given August 4, 2002, at the Helen Hills Hills Chapel at Smith College, Northampton, MA. This and previous podcasts can be seen, heard, and downloaded here.

New book of talks by Paul Fleischman published

News — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:21:00 GMT

A new book by Paul R. Fleischman, M.D. entitled An Ancient Path, is now available. Featured are public talks on Vipassana meditation given to medical professionals or academics in Europe and America in 2007. Dr. Fleischman practiced psychiatry for 30 years, is the author of several books and articles (including Karma and Chaos and Cultivating Inner Peace), and is a long-time Vipassana practitioner and teacher. 192 pages, $10.95

Along the Path: The Meditator's Companion to the Buddha's Land

News — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:20:00 GMT

New from Pariyatti Press! Along the Path: The Meditator's Companion to the Buddha's Land is a comprehensive, practical, and inspiring guide for those traveling to the sacred sites of the Buddha's life. Charming drawings and detailed maps are provided throughout the book's 424 pages. This guide offers a rich anthology of deeply inspiring stories relating to each of the sites, detailed descriptions, insider information on what to see, and tips on transportation, accommodation, and local cuisine. Spirited narratives from experienced travelers are interspersed throughout the book. The first chapter covers the basics of planning your trip, arrival, and suggested intineraries for a pilgrimage; subsequent chapters are organized by region, beginning with The Middle Land, or Majjhima Desa. Authors Kory Goldberg and Michelle Decary draw on their abundant personal experiences and those of fellow practitioners on the path. Available from Pariyatti or local booksellers. ISBN 978-1-928706-56-4, $21.95

Greetings and Good Wishes

News — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:19:00 GMT

It's not too late to place your holiday orders online or by telephone (360.978.4998). We are shipping orders through Monday, December 21 and will resume again on January 4. You can place orders and make year-end donations via our website while we're doing inventory and spending time with family. Gift ideas include two newly published books, gift certificates, art cards, or a Pariyatti membership.

Best wishes from all of us at Pariyatti!
Luke Carl Eric Jill Julie

November Podcast from Pariyatti

News — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:19:00 GMT

This month's podcast is a 14-minute video called Time to Breathe. Students of a primary school in the UK visit the Dhamma Dipa meditation center to learn to observe their respiration (anapana). Includes interviews with children, their parents, and the teachers. This and previous podcasts can be seen, heard, or downloaded here.

Pariyatti publishes new book of talks by Paul Fleischman

News — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:18:00 GMT

Do you value Pariyatti? We value you. Even more we depend on you.

News — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:17:00 GMT

Pariyatti's fall fundraising campaign is underway to match challenge donations of $37,000 and raise an equal amount in support from others who value Pariyatti's uplifting mission. With a gift of $100 or more, members receive a discount of 20 percent off all titles. Donations of any amount can be made online, by check, or by phone. We will send a receipt for your records; your donation is tax-deductible in accordance with U.S. tax regulations.

Cultivating Generosity and Developing Gratitude

News — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:16:00 GMT

These days, the Thanksgiving holiday may evoke thoughts of bargain-hunting more than its original purpose: generously giving, and sharing gratitude.

The Buddha always emphasized the importance of cultivating generosity through giving, usually speaking at length on this topic. Writes Bhikkhu Bodhi in Dāna: The Practice of Giving (BPS, Wheel 367/369), "Only after the audience had begun to appreciate this virtue would he introduce other aspects of his teaching." Giving is seen as "the foundation and seed of spiritual development." (pg.vi) Dāna (generosity) is the first of the ten pāramī (perfections) necessary to develop by aspirants to enlightenment.

Fulfilling the dāna pāramī is influenced by three primary factors. Most important is the volition of the donor, before, during, and after the act of generosity. The highest type of giving is associated with wisdom. It is said that giving lends to "pliancy of the mind, an essential asset in developing concentration and wisdom, the prime requisites of liberation." (pg. 3). The next factor is the purity of the recipient. The worthier the receiver, the greater benefits that will accrue to the donor. The third factor is the gift itself, whether material or immaterial. Dhammadāna, the gift of the noble teaching, is said by the Buddha to excel all other gifts. (Dhammapada 354) Those who expound the Teaching--monks and Dhamma teachers--practice the highest kind of generosity. Donating Dhamma books, or for the printing or translation of such works, is another way of giving the gift of Dhamma.

Susan Elbaum Jootla writes, "Gifts untainted by craving can only be made during a Buddha-sāsana, the period when the teachings of a Buddha are available. So when we give now, during such a time, we should do so with the aim of putting an end to craving. With the end of craving, suffering ceases, and that is liberation." (pg. 15)

Fall Fundraising

News — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:14:00 GMT

Pariyatti's fall fundraising efforts are underway with a matching gift challenge to raise $35,000 and an equal amount in support from people who value Pariyatti's uplifting mission. With a gift of $100 or more, members receive a discount of 20 percent off all titles. Donations of any amount can be made online, by check or by phone. Your donation is tax deductible and we'll send a receipt for your records.

October Podcast from Pariyatti

News — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:13:00 GMT

This month's podcast takes us to Kresge Auditorium in Boston, Mass., where S.N. Goenka discusses Vipassana meditation. This program is 79 minutes long, including the Q&A session that follows the talk. It was recorded July 31, 2002, near the end of his North American tour. This and previous podcasts can be heard or downloaded here.

About the Pali Canon or Tipitaka

News — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:11:00 GMT

The Pāli Canon descends from an august tradition. Within three months of the Buddha's maha-parinibbāna, a council was convened. It consisted of 500 learned disciples who had attained the highest state of sainthood, arahant-phala. To prevent the Buddha's words from being distorted intentionally or unintentionally, they formed the First Council with a view to preserving the teaching in its pristine purity. Their express purpose was to collect and arrange the Buddha's voluminous teachings, which they organized into what is now commonly known as the Tipiṭaka.

The Tipiṭaka (which means, literally, "three baskets") is a vast record, containing in modern script more than 24 million characters in over forty printed volumes. It is arranged in three divisions: Vinaya Piṭaka, Sutta Piṭaka, and Abhidhamma Piṭaka.

Vinaya Piṭaka contains the rules of conduct for the monastic order.
Sutta Piṭaka is a collection of discourses on various subjects by the Buddha.
Abhidhamma Piṭaka is a compendium of profound teachings elucidating the functioning and interrelationships of mind, mental factors, matter, and all phenomena transcending mundane perception.

The Pāli literature also includes the Aṭṭhakathā (commentaries), Tikā (subcommentaries), and further subcommentaries such as the Anu-Tikā, Madhu-Tikā, etc. The commentarial literature is very extensive, exceeding the Tipiṭaka in length (an outline of the Tipitaka is available here).

During all the centuries following the first Council and up to the present day, continuous and consistent efforts have been made to preserve the Buddha's teaching. Periodic councils of learned monks have been convened to systematically review the Tipiṭaka. The first councils conducted oral reviews. The entire collection was committed to writing for the first time during the Fourth Council, held in Sri Lanka three decades before the Christian Era.

The most recent review, the Sixth Council, or Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyana, was held in 1954 in Rangoon, Burma. Twenty-five hundred learned bhikkhus and scholars from Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, India and other countries participated. By this time the Tipiṭaka and allied literature had been published in several scripts (including Burmese, Sinhalese, Roman, Thai, and Cambodian). The Pali Text Society of London, the Buddhist Publication Society of Sri Lanka and many scholars of high repute and dedication in the West and in the East had by then produced publications containing Buddha's teaching, making a profound contribution to the worldwide awakening to the existence of this rich treasure.

Realizing the importance of the Pāli Canon as an invaluable part of the ancient heritage of India, after the Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyana the Government of India decided to publish the entire Pāli literature in Devanagiri script. Supplementing earlier work at the Nalanda Institute, the Vipassana Research Institute (VRI) in India undertook the monumental task of publishing the entire Pāli Canon and allied commentarial literature.

VRI has taken the Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyana version in Burmese script as the authentic, authoritative version. Pāli scholars from India and other countries, including many learned bhikkhus and research scholars in Burma, assisted in this work, which led to publication of an authentic version of the Tipiṭaka and allied literature in Devanagiri script in printed book form. Now the entire Pāli Tipiṭaka in eleven scripts produced by VRI has been digitally encoded and is available online at www.tipitaka.org.

The above information was edited and condensed from the VRI website.

A useful introductory guide to the Pali Canon is An Analysis of the Pali Canon, published by the Buddhist Publication Society. This small booklet is considered the unsurpassed guide through the Pali Canon for beginning students of Buddha's teaching.

New Book Published by Pariyatti

News — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:09:00 GMT

An Ancient Path, a new book by Paul R. Fleischman, M.D. is at press and will be available in early November. Advance orders can be placed now. Featured are public talks on Vipassana meditation given to medical professionals or academics in Europe and America in 2007. Dr. Fleischman practiced psychiatry for thirty years, is the author of several books and articles (including Karma and Chaos and Cultivating Inner Peace), and is a long-time Vipassana practitioner and teacher.

Podcast from a talk by S.N. Goenka at the University of Quebec

News — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:54:00 GMT

The August podcast features a talk at the University of Quebec, Montreal, QC, by S.N. Goenka on Vipassana meditation. The 90-minute talk was recorded July 26, 2002 during his North American tour. Listen to this and previous podcasts at www.pariyatti.org.

Pariyatti on Facebook

News — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:51:45 GMT

Share and comment on favorite books at Pariyatti's Facebook page, and let others know about Pariyatti's resources.

A recent posting links to an excellent article by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi entited The Case for Study. He writes: "Though the knowledge that frees the mind from bondage emerges only from intuitive insight and not from a mass of doctrinal facts, genuine insight always develops on the basis of a preliminary conceptual grasp of the basic principles essential to right understanding, in the absence of which its growth will inevitably be obstructed."

PTS: Promoting the Study of Classic Pali Texts

News — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:49:28 GMT

For more than one hundred years the Pali Text Society has been publishing texts of the Buddha's teaching--the Pali canon or Tipitaka--and making them available to scholars, students and others. Pali is the name given to the language of the texts of Theravada Buddhism.

The founder, T.W. Rhys Davids, was one of three British civil servants posted to Sri Lanka who, in the course of familiarizing themselves with the culture, literature and language of the country, became interested in Buddhist teachings. European scholars and Sri Lankan monks lent their support to the establishment in 1881 of an organization that would bring out Roman-script editions of the Pali canon. Thus began the Pali Text Society.

Initially the Society compiled, edited, and published a large corpus of Pali literature, as well as commentarial, other texts and histories. Now English translations of many Pali texts are available, along with ancillary works including dictionaries, concordances, books for students of Pali and a journal. PTS aims to keep almost all its publications in print and to produce at least two new books and a volume of its Journal each year.

PTS publishes its books in cloth-covered hardbound volumes. A few of the more popular titles have also been printed in softcover editions, such as The Rhinoceros Horn, the English translation by K.R. Norman of the Sutta-Nipata, Introduction to Pali, by A.K. Warder, and Poems of Early Buddhist Monks and Poems of Early Buddhist Nuns, both translated by K.R. Norman with Mrs. C.A.F. Rhys Davids.

Pariyatti has been the PTS distributor for the Americas since 2000. We import the books from the UK and, because they are in stock, we are able to ship them immediately to individuals, the book trade, libraries, monasteries and schools. Complete sets of the Tipitaka, either in English translation (43 books) or in Pali (57 books), can be ordered and shipped directly to the purchaser from England.

Next month: The three divisions of the Tipitaka

Source of the Video

News — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:36:28 GMT

Bruno Voyer spent some time with the Buddhist Sangha as a young man, and cherished a dream of again being with the monks who dedicate their life to Dhamma. After many years of hard work he traveled to meet his long-time friend, Venerable Jagara, now in Myanmar (Burma).

"Myanmar was a revelation for me, like finding a hidden treasure. It is the cradle of the second Sasana, with Dhamma being present almost everywhere you go, and in the hearts of so many. You can see how a people and culture can be deeply imbued and transformed by over 2,000 years of strong Dhamma presence," said Voyer. In Myanmar, he was given the opportunity to visit places where famous meditators have lived, learned and taught Dhamma, stay with the present-day Sangha community, and learn some of the language and culture.

"Every Dhamma journey to Myanmar has been a transformative experience. I am forever grateful." He hopes to bring back other inspiring testimonies of Dhamma ancestors like the Venerable Webu Sayadaw. Voyer lives in Montreal, Canada. He began practicing Vipassana in 1982 at age 17, with S.N. Goenka.

Films and Photographs Now Online of the Venerable Webu Sayadaw, Meditation Master

News — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:34:00 GMT

Rare film footage of the Most Venerable Webu Sayadaw made its way from Myanmar to Pariyatti this year and can be viewed online or downloaded from our website. Webu Sayadaw (1896-1977) was one of the outstanding Burmese meditation masters of the last century, believed by many to be an arhant, a fully liberated being. He resided at three forest monasteries: in Ingyinbin, the small village in upper Burma where he was born, and also in nearby Shwebo and in Kyaukse, south of Mandalay.

In 1941 Sayagyi U Ba Khin was near Kyaukse and he came to pay his respects. The next day, as U Ba Khin was departing, Webu Sayadaw exhorted him to begin teaching Vipassana, saying "Give the Dhamma. Do not wait." With this strong urging, he began immediately. (In the 50s S.N. Goenka became Sayagyi's student and studied with him for 14 years before leaving to teach in India.)

For the first 57 years of his life, Webu Sayadaw stayed in upper Burma. In 1953 he accepted an invitation from U Ba Khin to visit the newly established International Meditation Center in Yangon, making the first of what would become regular visits to lower Burma to teach and give talks to large audiences. These talks reveal Webu Sayadaw's simplicity, wit, patience and humility (the book The Way to Ultimate Calm includes eight discourses and a chapter on the Dhamma relationship between Webu Sayadaw and U Ba Khin).

The film came to Pariyatti via Bruno Voyer. While in Myanmar last January he was introduced to U Myint Than, the nephew of the kapiya (lay assistant) of the late Webu Sayadaw. U Myint Than was a young boy when he first met Webu Sayadaw. His uncle the kapiya traveled to various places with Webu Sayadaw, and took many pictures and some video footage of him, both in Myanmar and when traveling on pilgrimage to Sri Lanka and India.

Voyer relates: "U Myint Than invited me to his house to show me the old picture albums, which contain many photographs of Webu Sayadaw (including one at the dentist!). Then U Myint Than brought an old reel of film probably dating from the 50s or 60s. He explained that many years ago his uncle got the help of a friend at the local Myanmar television station, which had a 16mm film projector, to convert some of the old film to digital format. I had seen some footage on VCD (video compact disc) and now understood where it had come from. Unfortunately, the 16mm film projector was now broken and so they could not pursue the digital conversion of the remaining old films. Seeing that such treasures were at risk of remaining unknown, I told U Myint Than that there must be a 16mm projector in the West, and someone should be able to convert the rest of the films. He readily thought it a good idea and gave me the reel he felt was most intact."

A Pariyatti volunteer and board member was able to arrange the conversion and then post these videos for all to see. Additional reels of film will, we hope, be brought from Myanmar for conversion, and we may discover new treasures for inspiration.

Pariyatti Now on Facebook

News — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:27:46 GMT

With Pariyatti's new Facebook page it's easy to share and comment on favorite books and let others know about Pariyatti's resources, including the Daily Words of the Buddha email and Treasures. Find it by going to www.facebook.com/Pariyatti

Pariyatti's July Podcast

News — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:26:00 GMT

The July Pariyatti podcast is a talk by S.N. Goenka recorded July 24, 2002, in Ottawa, Canada, at Southam Hall during his tour of North America. Talk followed by Q&A, 69 minutes. This and previous podcasts can be heard or downloaded here.

New books in stock from Buddhist Publication Society

News — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:24:39 GMT

Several new and reprinted titles have arrived at Pariyatti from the BPS, Sri Lanka.

The Anguttara Nikaya Anthology, translated by Ven. Nyanaponika Thera and Bhikkhu Bodhi, contains 154 selected discourses from the Pali Canon.

Sacred Island: A Buddhist Pilgrim's Guide to Sri Lanka, by Ven. S. Dhammika, features lively descriptions and lovely, four-color photographs.

Banner of the Arahants, by Ven. Khantipalo, outlines the development of the Sangha from Buddha's time to the present.

A Thinker's Notebook: Posthumous Papers of a Buddhist Monk, translated Ven. Nyanaponika Thera, are writings of the English scholar-monk Ven. Nanamoli, one of the foremost translators of Pali Buddhist texts into English. His most signal work is the translation of the Visuddhimagga or Path of Purification.

These and all the other new titles can be viewed at www.pariyatti.org on the new titles pages.

A new BPS title, The Manual of Light and the Manual of the Path to Higher Knowledge, by Ledi Sayadaw, went out of stock quickly but more are on the way. You'll be notified as soon as the new shipment arrives if you order it now.

VHS Video Sale

News — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:22:00 GMT

On sale for $5 each while supplies last: VHS videos including Doing Time, Doing Vipassana (in English, Spanish, French or Mandarin); Changing from Inside, Introduction to Vipassana (in Hindi or English) and more.

>>Sale Videos

June Podcast

News — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:20:00 GMT

The June Pariyatti podcast is a 90-minute talk by S.N. Goenka July 20, 2002, at the Cardinal Carter Academy in Toronto, Canada. This and previous podcasts can be heard or downloaded here.

VHS Video Sale

News — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:38:00 GMT

Closeout sale of VHS videos, $5 each.

Selections include: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana (in English, Spanish, French or Mandarin); Changing from Inside, introduction to Vipassana (in Hindi or English) and more.

>>Sale Videos

More MP3 Downloads Added

News — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:36:00 GMT

Additional translations of ten-day Vipassana discourses have become available as MP3 downloads this month, including Afrikaans, Amharic, Greek, Kannada, Nepali, Newari, and Serbo-Croatian. Downloads are a popular format for Pariyatti audio selections, and now you can find most of our audio materials in MP3 format, as well as on CD.

Customers ordering MP3 downloads will receive an email with instructions. This email is generated manually, so there may be a 24-hour delay, longer if you order the download between Thursday evening and Saturday evening.

>>MP3 downloads

Call for Volunteers

News — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:35:00 GMT

Are you skilled at fundraising? Would you like to help raise funds for Pariyatti? During these lean times some supporters are unable to give as they have in the past and, like other nonprofits, we are seeing a decline in contributions. If you are interested in exploring ways to help, please call 360.978.5193 or email info@pariyatti.org. Pariyatti is a 501(c)(3) educational organization.

>> Ways to Give

Back in Stock

News — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:33:11 GMT

Several popular titles are back in stock, including Great Disciples of the Buddha, Essentials of Buddha-Dhamma, What the Buddha Taught, and two Dhammapada books. Visit pariyatti.org to see what else is new!

March Podcast

News — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:32:00 GMT

The March Pariyatti podcast is a talk given by S.N. Goenka in July, 2002, in Chicago. It is 70 minutes long, with a question and answer session. This and previous podcasts can be heard or downloaded here.

Pariyatti Press Honored for Letters from the Dhamma Brothers; Dhamma Brothers Film Shown in Myanmar

News — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:22:00 GMT

The National Council on Crime and Delinquency has recognized Pariyatti's book Letters from the Dhamma Brothers with its PASS Award (Prevention for a Safer Society). These awards recognize writers, journalists, reporters, producers, and publishers who try to focus attention in a thoughtful and considerate manner on the American criminal justice system, juvenile justice system, and child welfare systems.

The book has also been named a finalist for Book of the Year by Foreword Magazine in the Body/Mind/Spirit category. Winners will be announced in May.

The Dhamma Brothers film was shown recently in Yangon, Myanmar to a capacity crowd, and it was reported that guards had to physically turn away scores more people outside. Audience members included diplomats, monks, Vipassana teachers and trust members, aid workers, teachers, among others. There was a Q&A after the film; the Letters from the Dhamma Brothers book and DVD were then donated to the venue's library for circulation. "The reaction from the audience was moving--it was a very special event!" reported the organizer.

Last month overflow crowds of more than 1000 attended showings of the film and panel discussions organized at the University of Wisconsin campuses in Madison and Milwaukee.

Join Pariyatti

News — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:17:00 GMT

Pariyatti relies on donations to bridge the gap between book sales and the costs of services, including publishing and importing. Individual contributions--both large and small--enable us to keep precious Dhamma resources circulating to places and people around the world, including scholars, meditators, libraries, bookstores, monasteries, universities. Our website is a repository for additional resources that are freely and widely accessible.

You can contribute online now or by calling 360.978.4998 (9-5 Pacific time, Monday-Thursday). Pariyatti is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so donations are deductible for US tax purposes. Gifts are gratefully received and promptly acknowledged.

>> Learn more

Pali Workshop In North America Announced

News — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:13:00 GMT

Pariyatti is organizing a Pali workshop near Seattle from April 14 - May 15, 2010, with Mr. and Mrs. S.N. Tandon of Delhi, India. The focus of this workshop is on deepening the student's meditation practice, rather than on linguistics or academics. Participants may choose to attend for 20 or 30 days. Additional information is available here.

To be informed of details as they become available, please send an email to this address: pali-workshop-info-subscribe@pariyatti.org.

Abhidhamma Work by Scholar-Monk Rewatta Dhamma Available Online

News — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:10:00 GMT

The Process of Consciousness and Matter, by the late Dr. Rewata Dhamma, is now available as a free ebook from the Pariyatti Treasures website.

Venerable Rewata Dhamma was one of the foremost scholars of Abhidhamma in modern times. He co-authored an introduction to the classic text, A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma, to which The Process of Consciousness and Matter serves as a supplement.

Intended for all serious students of the Abhidhamma, this work treats various important aspects in more detail. In the introduction Ven. Rewata Dhamma writes "As human beings our sense consciousnesses, occurring at each of our five sense doors, arise and pass away millions of times each second. It needs to be understood that, because there are several sense doors there is not just one process occurring, there are many. Thus, for example, as we sit in meditation we may be experiencing many processes, such as feeling contact with the ground, and also seeing, hearing and so on. However, the sense consciousnesses themselves are not occurring simultaneously, even though it may seem that they are happening in the same mind moment. They seem to be happening simultaneously only because they follow one after the other at such an incredibly rapid rate. Therefore, I first of all explain that the processes arising at the five sense doors arise in respect of their own different respective objects. I then explain how the sense object consciousness arises at each sense door. . ."

Born in Burma in 1929, he obtained his Ph.D. from Varanasi University, India, in 1967. That year he also edited and published the two-volume Abhidhammattha Sangaha. Venerable Rewata Dhamma passed away in 2004.

January, February Podcasts

News — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:04:00 GMT

Each month Pariyatti volunteers prepare an audio or video podcast for viewing online or downloading to an MP3 player. The podcasts for January and February are talks given by S.N. Goenka in St. Paul, Minnesota and Missoula, Montana as part of a 2002 tour of North America. These and previous podcasts can be downloaded here.

E-Cards & Words of Dhamma

News — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:02:00 GMT

Two free offerings have been added recently to our website. E-Cards feature photographs that can be customized with a selection of Dhamma verses and a personal greeting. Words of Dhamma is a collection of suttas (some in Pali and English) and excerpts from the Buddha and meditation teachers. A downloadable desktop version is available too.

Discourses and More Now Offered as MP3 Downloads

News — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:56:00 GMT

Downloads are proving to be a popular format for Pariyatti audio selections, and now you can find most of our audio materials in MP3 format as well as CD. We email download instructions when the order is processed, so a delay of a day or so is possible, longer on weekends.

>>MP3 downloads

VHS Video Sale

News — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:54:00 GMT

All VHS videos are on sale now for $5 each. Regularly priced from $12.95 to $19.95, this is a closeout price.

Among the selections are: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana in English, Spanish (dubbed), French (subtitles) and Mandarin (subtitles); Changing from Inside; Introduction to Vipassana (in Hindi or in English).
NTSC format.

>>Sale Videos

Pariyatti's Fundraising Challenge is Met!

News — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:17:00 GMT

Thanks to everyone who contributed to Pariyatti's fundraising drive in October and November. Our short-term goal has been reached!

While most Dhamma publishers are sustained by endowments, Pariyatti is not yet in that position. As service organization, we price books so they are affordable to many, so we rely on donations throughout the year to bridge the gap between revenues and expenses.

Annual membership program
Become a $100 annual supporter and enjoy a 20% discount on purchases for twelve months. You can contribute online now, send a check, or call us at 360.978.4998, 9 to 5 Pacific time, Monday through Thursday. A 501(c)(3) charitable organization, gifts to Pariyatti are tax-deductible in the U.S.

DECEMBER SPECIALS from Pariyatti

News — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:14:00 GMT

For a limited time, you can take advantage of special pricing and gift ideas for end-of-year occasions. Visit pariyatti.org! >>> December Specials

The Dhamma Brothers film and book
Limited time offer: Get this award-winning documentary film on DVD with the book Letters from the Dhamma Brothers for just $30 (through December).

The Dhamma Brothers (DVD) Special purchase; availability limited, $19.99 from Pariyatti

Gift certificates Available in amounts of $25, $50 or $100.

Art of Living Audiobook (four cassettes)
The classic introduction to Vipassana, read by William Hart with S.N. Goenka. Four cassettes, $9.95.

From now through December 19, Pariyatti will donate one copy of Letters from the Dhamma Brothers for prison libraries and outreach with orders of $50 or more, by request (write "Donate book" in the comments field).

Life of the Buddha (Art Book) (images from the British Library)
This high quality, four-color book of Burmese manuscript art sells elsewhere for $19.95. Special price: $10.00

Give a donation to Pariyatti on behalf of someone, or a membership in their name.

Two books by Paul Fleischman: Karma and Chaos and Cultivating Inner Peace. Purchase together and save 30%. Price: $22.22 (save $8.97). Use discount code 1108 when ordering.

Special Savings Time

News — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:42:07 GMT

Need a gift book idea? Here are two, on sale. Karma and Chaos is a collection of essays by psychiatrist, author and meditator Paul R. Fleischman, M.D. that explore the interface between psychiatry, science and the timeless teachings of the Buddha, probing the heart of the Buddha's legacy to humanity: self-correction through meditation.

Cultivating Inner Peace is a poetic, profound and uplifting book, also by Dr Fleischman, who identifies and focuses on the essential qualities of those who are known for manifesting inner peace. And, he shows how these qualities can be cultivated through intention and practice.

Buy them individually and get 20% off, or both to save 30%. Use order code 1108 when ordering both.

>> More about Cultivating Inner Peace

Both books: $22.22
Save: $8.97

November Podcast - Karma & Chaos by Dr. Paul Fleischman

News — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:34:21 GMT

Each month Pariyatti volunteers prepare an audio or video podcast for viewing online or downloading to an MP3 player. The podcast this month is a talk entitled "Karma & Chaos" by Dr. Paul Fleischman recorded in Europe in December 2007. It is available as both video & audio. This and previous podcasts can be downloaded here.

New! MP3 Downloads of Dohas

News — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:32:22 GMT

The poetic rhyming couplet form known in Hindi and Urdu-speaking regions as the doha has been a vehicle for S.N. Goenka's Dhamma compositions. Hindi poets have explained whole stories and epics in the form of dohas. We now offer MP3 downloads of Goenkaji's Dohas.

New "Treasures" Added to Pariyatti's Website

News — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:30:56 GMT

Nine new issues of The Light of the Dhamma have been posted on the Pariyatti Treasures website. These issues contains invaluable writings from Burma around the era of the Sixth Buddhist Council, which took place in Yangon for two years. During this time 2,500 learned monks of the Theravada sangha examined the Tipitaka and its allied literature in all scripts, with their differences noted down, the necessary corrections made, and collated.

The Light of the Dhamma was created in celebration of the beginning of the second sasana or 2,500 years of the Buddha's teaching. The new issues are:

Vol 2 Iss. 2 - April 1954
Vol 5 Iss. 1 - January 1958
Vol 5 Iss. 2 - July 1958
Vol 5 Iss. 4 - October 1958
Vol 6 Iss. 1 - January 1959
Vol 6 Iss. 2 - April 1959
Vol 6 Iss. 3 - July 1959
Vol 6 Iss. 4 - October 1959
Vol 7 Iss. 2 - April 1960

Correspondence between Dr. Leon Wright and Sayagyi U Ba Khin from 1958 has been added to the Sayagyi U Ba Khin Treasures page.

Update on Pariyatti's Financial Challenge

News — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:28:11 GMT

Gifts of $5 to $10,000 from 151 donors have come in so far during Pariyatti's ongoing fundraising challenge to raise $77,350 by November 30. Thanks to everyone who has given a donation so far. The goal is within reach! Here's an update:

As of Nov. 14:

82 people have pledged $38,675, and 151 donors have matched $26,741.
218 donors are giving $25 or more.

If you can help, please join in the challenge and make a donation by November 30. You can contribute online now or by calling 360.978.4998, 9 to 5 Pacific time, Monday-Thursday.

To generate awareness of Pariyatti's services and get more people involved, an additional $2,500 has been offered if 250 supporters donate $25 or more by November 25.

If we meet the challenge to raise $77,350 by November 30, Pariyatti will be able to:

keep Dhamma books available,
repay a short-term loan,
avoid reducing services.

Pariyatti relies on donations to bridge the gap between book sales and the costs of services, including publishing and importing. Many employers will match donations to nonprofit organizations; if yours does, please take advantage of this to double the value of your gift!

Because Pariyatti is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, donations are deductible for US tax purposes. All gifts will be gratefully received and promptly acknowledged.

>> Learn more

Pali Workshop In North America Announced

News — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:19:00 GMT

Pariyatti's board of directors has just approved a proposal to sponsor a Pali workshop in 2010, to be led by Mr. Satyendra Nath Tandon (Tandonji) of New Dehli, India. Dates are April 14-May 15, with the option of participating for either 15 or 30 days.

It will be held at a scenic and comfortable camp facility in Western Washington, about an hour and a half from Seattle. To get details about costs, requirements, registration and such as they become available, you can send an email to this address: pali-workshop-info-subscribe@pariyatti.org.

Mac Widget Available for Daily Words of the Buddha

News — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:42:10 GMT

Mac users may now receive the Daily Words of the Buddha via a Dashboard widget which is available for download here.

Upcoming Podcasts from Pariyatti Programs

News — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:39:11 GMT

Each month Pariyatti volunteers prepare an audio or video podcast for viewing online or downloading to an MP3 player. The podcast this month will be a talk by S.N. Goenka at the Metropolitan Center, Calgary, Alberta, recorded July 3, 2002. This and previous podcasts can be heard or downloaded here.

October's Featured Book: Cultivating Inner Peace

News — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:37:34 GMT

Cultivating Inner Peace is a poetic, profound and uplifting book by psychiatrist, author and meditator Paul R. Fleischman, M.D., who identifies and focuses on the essential qualities of those who are known for manifesting inner peace. And, he shows how these qualities can be cultivated through intention and practice. Originally published as a hardcover book in 1997, Pariyatti Press brought out this softcover edition in 2004. This book makes a lovely gift. Save 30% this month when you purchase Cultivating Inner Peace.

Our Price: $11.86
List Price: $15.95

>> More about the book

Pariyatti Supporters Offer $38,000 Fundraising Challenge

News — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:32:13 GMT

Do you count on us? Pariyatti needs your help. Generous supporters have pledged $38,000 and hope to inspire you to give as well. Their challenge to you is to double this amount by November 30. If we meet this goal and raise $76,000, we'll be able to:

keep precious Dhamma books in print and in stock
promote our inspiring new book, Letters from the Dhamma Brothers
repay a short-term loan
avoid reducing services.

An additional $2,500 has been pledged if 250 supporters donate $25 or more by November 25.

You can contribute online now or by calling 360.978.4998, 9 to 5 Pacific time, Monday-Thursday. All gifts will be gratefully received and promptly acknowledged.

Pariyatti relies on donations to bridge the gap between book sales and the costs of services, including publishing and importing. Many employers will match donations to nonprofit organizations; if yours does, please take advantage of this to double the value of your gift!

Because Pariyatti is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, donations are deductible for computing US income and estate taxes.

>> Learn more

Oprah Interviews Pariyatti Author Phillips Oct 13 & 20

News — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:28:55 GMT

Jenny Phillips, author of Pariyatti's new book Letters from the Dhamma Brothers, will be a guest on Oprah's Soul Series. Listen to their conversation on Oprah & Friends Radio XM 156 & SIRIUS 195, Monday October 13th and 20th at 10am ET, 7pm ET and 10pm ET. Or view the webcast on those dates at Oprah.com.

On October 13th, Oprah talks with Dr. Phillips about her background, working with prisoners, and the program of Vipassana meditation she helped bring to Donaldson Correctional Facility, near Birmingham, Alabama.

On October 20th, Oprah talks by telephone with two inmates at the prison who still practice Vipassana regularly and with Dr. Ron Cavanaugh, director of treatment, Alabama Department of Corrections. The inmates are asked about their crimes and sentences, and how they are dealing with life in prison.

If you don't currently have an XM radio subscription, you can sign up for a free on-line trial.

>>Read about the book

Letters from the Dhamma Brothers Book and Related Film Get Noticed

News — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:57:36 GMT

Pariyatti's new title Letters from the Dhamma Brothers went on sale in bookstores September 1. This 240-page book of inmate letters is attracting media attention that may help raise awareness about the Buddha's teachings, the transformative effects of Vipassana, prisoner rehabilitation needs, and associated public policy issues. The book features letters from 15 inmates, written over a four-year period, describing how they are changed and continuing to change, and ways they are working to exert a positive influence within the harsh prison environment. The Dhamma Brothers, a documentary film about the Vipassana program at Alabama's maximum-security prison, continues to play at U.S. theatres and film festivals, including in Alabama this weekend. A long interview with author and filmmaker Jenny Phillips recently appeared in the Toronto Globe & Mail newspaper.

Read a review

New Podcasts from Pariyatti Programs

News — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:55:00 GMT

Every month the volunteers of Pariyatti's Programs Committee prepare an audio or video podcast for viewing online or downloading to an MP3 player.

September's podcast is a Dhamma talk given at the Conservatory of Music in Victoria, BC, Canada, by S.N. Goenka June 26, 2002, followed by Q&A. it is 64 minutes in length.

The August podcast is from the 2002 Meditation Now tour talk at the Plaza of Nations in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where S.N. Goenka discusses Vipassana meditation. This is a bilingual talk presented in English and Mandarin.
Recorded June 25, 2002, 97 minutes.

You'll find these and previous podcasts at Pariyatti.org.

Two Titles Back to Press

News — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:52:45 GMT

We are happy that steady sales of The Discourse Summaries by S.N. Goenka and The Noble Eightfold Path, by Bhikkhu Bodhi, have necessitated going back to press to reprint more copies. However, book sales are slow at this time of year, and donations are lower than usual. Printing costs will be $8,100. To designate a financial contribution toward this expense, you can email supporters@pariyatti.org or call Pariyatti at 360.978.4998. If you have been thinking of making a donation, this would be a great time to do so.

Ways to contribute

This Month's Podcast

News — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:53:34 GMT

Every month the volunteers of Pariyatti's Programs Committee prepare an audio or video podcast for viewing online or downloading to an MP3 player. This month's podcast is a talk by S.N. Goenka recorded June 24, 2002, at the Plaza of Nations in Vancouver, B.C. It is 87 minutes long, including Q&A. Podcasts can be heard online or downloaded.

You'll find these and previous podcasts at Pariyatti.org.

Pariyatti Launches Its New Website With Special Offers

News — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:49:00 GMT

Pariyatti's new website is now live! Come by and have a look, at www.pariyatti.org. You'll find much-improved search features, refined categories, and free offerings. We've integrated information about Pariyatti and its services with the bookstore (previously found at pariyatti.com) and we now have true ecommerce, resulting in greater efficiency. You will only need to enter your account information once; from then on, your username and login will make the ordering process a snap.

Throughout the month of August, to encourage you to explore our new website and shop online, we're offering incentives: the poetry book The Moon Appears When the Water is Still, by Ian McCrorie, a DVD of the film Doing Time, Doing Vipassana, and a set of eight Art Pariyatti note cards. You can receive one of these items with a web order of $50, two items with a web order of $75 and all three with a web order of $100. Please be sure to indicate your selection(s) in the comments field when you order.

We're very interested to hear your thoughts about the site--let us know what you think.

Letters from the Dhamma Brothers Update

News — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:17:24 GMT

Pariyatti Publishing's forthcoming book, Letters from the Dhamma Brothers, in bookstores September 1, is available from Pariyatti at the advance purchase price of $12.95 (list price $15.95).

Letters from 15 inmates at a maximum-security prison in Alabama describe their struggles and triumphs at "applied Dhamma" -- maintaining their meditation practice after taking a ten-day Vipassana course behind bars, moderating their behaviors, reactions and thoughts, and coming to terms with their crimes and present circumstances.

The book was written by Jenny Phillips, who co-produced and directed The Dhamma Brothers, a documentary film about the program that has been playing in numerous U.S. theaters since opening in New York this April.

Read more about the book

Pariyatti Financial Report

News — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:03:00 GMT

First Quarter, 2008
Total income            $75,225
Cost of Sales             -32,578
Surplus from Sales     42,647
Operating Expenses -57,527
Operating Loss         -14,880

General Donations     $ 7,271
Benefactor Donation   48,520
Project Donations       11,390
Net Surplus               $52,301

Year to Date
Total income           $124,384
Cost of Sales              -50,474
Surplus from Sales      73,910
Operating Expenses -117,504
Operating Loss           -43,594

General Donations      $ 7,436
Benefactor Donation    48,520
Project Donations        11,550
Net Surplus                $23,912

Upcoming expenditures for Pariyatti's soon-to-be launched new website and book reprintings, and ongoing operations will quickly use up the surplus. We're counting on steady sales and contributions to make up the difference.

Pariyatti's New Podcasts for May, June

News — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:58:00 GMT

Every month the volunteers of Pariyatti's programs committee prepare an audio or video podcast for viewing online or downloading to an MP3 player. The May podcast is a talk from the Meditation Now tour where S.N. Goenka discusses Vipassana meditation, followed by Q&A. The June podcast is a 16 min video of Q&A with S.N. Goenka in Berkeley, CA.

You'll find these and previous podcasts at Pariyatti.org.

New Pariyatti Treasures

News — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:56:00 GMT

The Pariyatti Treasures website recently added a section on the Sixth Buddhist Council (Chattha Sangayana). This page includes some rare photographs and a PDF of the souvenir album issued at the time of the Council.

A slideshow of photos has also been added to the Sayagyi U Ba Khin page.

Buddhist India, A Small Classic of Buddhist Enquiry

News — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:20:00 GMT

Buddhist India, a small book (320 pages, page size approx. 4x6), was first published in 1903 and it is a classic of Buddhist enquiry. Written by T.W. Rhys Davids, the Pali scholar who was the founder and guiding light of the Pali Text Society, it is a very readable early recounting of the historical, political and sociological facts that were being gleaned from the Pali scriptures by the pioneering scholars of the day.

We forget that Europe had almost no knowledge of the rich cultural history of Buddhist India prior to the late Victorian age. The Pali scriptures that had been "discovered" in Sri Lanka and Burma were at the time a new and revealing source of information for all of Europe and the New World about remote and mysterious people, places and events.

Buddhist India reports on this world of ancient India, covering such topics as the kings and the nations they ruled, village life, social structures, economic conditions, language, literature and religion. Some history of the Buddhist kings that followed the Buddha and spread the Dhamma widely completes the scope of this study.

Much later study of these topics has been done since the time of this book, all of it built on what Rhys Davids and his colleagues were discovering at the time. What I like about Buddhist India is the freshness and sense of wonder that comes through the writing in this report. The factual information is still basically valid and it paints a lovely picture of the conditions prevailing in India during and just after the time of the Buddha.

Pariyatti offers the 1985 edition published in India by Motilal Banarsidas; the paperback version is $12.95 and hardcover is $21.

Order or learn more

The Dhamma Brothers coming to West Coast theaters

News — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:10:00 GMT

Dhamma Brothers, a documentary film about Vipassana meditation within a maximum security southern prison, will open in San Francisco May 2, LA and Seattle May 9, and Portland the weekends of May 16-18 and 24-25.

The companion 240-page book, Letters from the Dhamma Brothers, is available from Pariyatti at the advance purchase price of $12.95 (plus shipping and handling). Thirteen inmates share their struggles, successes and changes in letters writtten in the four years after their ten-day immersion in Vipassana meditation at Donaldson Correctional Facility in Alabama.

Pariyatti's new podcasts for March, April

News — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Every month the volunteers of Pariyatti's programs committee prepare an audio or video podcast for viewing online or downloading to an MP3 player. New for March and April, from the Meditation Now tour, S.N. Goenka discusses Vipassana meditation, followed by Q&A.

St Martin's College, Lacey, WA, June 19, 2002, 78 minutes; Rainier Club, Seattle, June 20, 2002, 43 minutes.

You'll find these and previous podcasts at Pariyatti.org.

Pariyatti Year-End Financial Update

News — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:40:42 GMT

Most people know Pariyatti as a bookstore. We are also a publisher of books as well as a distributor of books published by Pali Text Society, Buddhist Publication Society, and Vipassana Research Institute. These activities are undertaken as a service, not for profit, and are sustained by significant volunteer help, a dedicated and modestly paid staff of five, and donations that bridge the gap between income and expenses.

In future issues we intend to provide a quarterly financial update so that friends of Pariyatti can be better informed. Following is Pariyatti's statement of income and expense for the year 2007.
Total income from all sales $244,917, less cost of goods $-121,521 = surplus from sales $123,396.
Expense of operations $234,455; operating deficit $-111,059.
Donations $87,750.
Net deficit for 2007 = $-24,501

This year we hope to increase donations. We have reluctantly concluded we must adjust prices on imported books to offset higher shipping costs and the decline in the value of the U.S. dollar. Prices on BPS books will be increasing after the first week in March, for the first time in many years.

Audio Comes to Daily Words of the Buddha

News — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:30:00 GMT

Subscribers to Pariyatti's Daily Words of the Buddha may have noticed recently that on some days there are links to audio clips, so that subscribers can listen to the verses in Pali in addition to reading them in Pali and English. Efforts are underway to make this feature available on all the daily verses. Stay tuned. . .

If you would like to receive this free inspirational email each day, it's easy to subscribe.

Letters from the Dhamma Brothers Prepublication Discount, Film Dates

News — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:20:39 GMT

Last month we announced a prepublication sale of Letters from the Dhamma Brothers, the long-awaited book about Vipassana meditation inside Alabama's Donaldson Prison, by Jenny Phillips. Pariyatti Press will publish this 240-page book later this spring and we'll send it to advance purchasers as soon as it arrives from the printer. Order now at the prepublication price of $12.95 and save; regular price will be $15.95.

The Dhamma Brothers, the award-winning documentary film about this program, has three theatre bookings scheduled so far:
1. NYC: Opens April 11 at Cinema Village for one week or more.
2. San Francisco: Opens May 2 at Red Vic Moviehouse for a one-week run.
3. Seattle: Opens May 9 at Grand Illusion Cinema for six days minimum.

The film offers a rare glimpse into the lives of inmates who have spent many years in a maximum security prison, and their efforts to find peace of mind. The transformations brought about through the practice of Vipassana meditation are described in interviews.

"The stories of the Dhamma Brothers ring with the truth and power of their experiences, and offer the hope for renewal and rehabilitation. . ." -- Sister Helen Prejean, author, Dead Man Walking

"Those of us who accept the philosophy of nonviolence believe there is a spark of divinity within all of us. This book makes it plain that no human being--no matter how troubled his beginning, regardless of his race, color, nationality or creed--should be considered beyond the reach of redemption. No one should be tossed away in a jail cell and forgotten as though his life means nothing. This book demonstrates that all some people need--even those we might consider the worst among us--is to be led toward their path to recovery, and when they are restored, their contribution to our society and the world is limitless." -- Congressman John Lewis

Fiftieth Anniversary of Buddhist Publication Society

News — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:10:39 GMT

2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the Buddhist Publication Society (BPS), Sri Lanka. Pariyatti has partnered with BPS since 1997 to distribute their books in North America to the book trade, libraries and individuals. In 1999 we began republishing selected BPS books for the U.S., including the esteemed Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma, The Noble Eightfold Path, The Path of Purification, The Life of the Buddha, and several others. We are glad that Pariyatti can increase the availability of these classic titles and others, and we extend our good wishes to BPS for their continued fine work.

Like Pariyatti, BPS is a nonprofit organization sustained by donations. Memberships cost $20 per year or $150 for a ten-year membership and BPS has recently added the option of paying membership fees via PayPal.

Pariyatti's February Podcast

News — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Every month the volunteers of Pariyatti's programs committee prepare an audio or video podcast for viewing online or downloading to an mp3 player. This month's free offering is Islands of Dhamma, a 42-minute video tour of several Vipassana meditation centers around the world, filmed several years ago. You'll find previous podcasts at Pariyatti.org also. Watch it now.

Dhamma Podcast for January 2008

News — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:30:00 GMT

The January 2008 podcast is a talk by S. N. Goenka given on June 2002 during the Meditation Now tour.

Pariyatti Treasures: Venerable Webu Sayadaw

News — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:20:00 GMT

The Pariyatti Treasures website recently added a section on Venerable Webu Sayadaw. This page includes some video footage and rare photographs.

Letters from the Dhamma Brothers book on sale now

News — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:10:00 GMT

When the first ten-day Vipassana meditation course came to a close at Alabama's Donaldson Prison, 20 maximum security prisoners had the possibility of a new chapter in their lives. Many have life sentences and most have been deeply acculturated during years of incarceration to the life of violence and abuse that is common in prisons.

In Letters from the Dhamma Brothers we gain direct and intimate access to the thoughts, struggles, dreams and triumphs of these inmates during the four years following their participation in the rigorous meditation course, by reading their letters and interviews with author Jenny Phillips.

Pariyatti Press will publish Letters from the Dhamma Brothers in the spring. The 200-plus page book includes photographs of the participants and the prison gymnasium transformed into a meditation course site. It is now available for advance purchase at the prepublication price of $12.95 (regular price will be $15.95).

The Dhamma Brothers, an award-winning documentary film about this program, will open in New York City on April 11 and subsequently in Boston, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. Visit www.dhammabrothers.com to learn more.

"The stories of the Dhamma Brothers ring with the truth and power of their experiences, and offer the hope for renewal and rehabilitation. . ." -- Sister Helen Prejean, author, Dead Man Walking

Pariyatti News: Now coming to you monthly

News — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:00:42 GMT

Pariyatti will be sending this newsletter every month and hope you'll enjoy hearing from us more often to learn about additions to our bookstore, website, and other Pariyatti-related happenings. We'll also announce the latest podcast to become available.

Art and Striving Towards Being

News — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:50:42 GMT

by Rebecca Lemov, PhD

The word Nirvana is well known even among people who don't sit in meditation or consider themselves followers of the Buddha. Like many of the more intriguing states of mind encountered by humanity (Arrested Development, The Moody Blues, Fear), Nirvana has also been a rock band -- in this case, a singularly self-destructive one. At the very least, this fact makes Nirvana count as a popular term, one that has a meaning widely enough understood so that it didn't necessitate a translation. Its meaning, in fact, is taken to be fairly simple: the Buddhist "Nirvana" means something close to "nothingness," with perhaps a tinge of nihilism and a tablespoon of bliss mixed in. The term Nirvana seems to many people (including practitioners, sometimes) to be about negation: the negation of all vexing desires, the falling away of habitual significance, and the withdrawal of the self into some state of non-definition and non-recognition. As the beat poet Jack Kerouac believed, Buddhism was about embracing this state of negation: "His attitude," according to his ex-girlfriend in a recent interview, "was 'Why do anything? We're all heading for the void.'" Nirvana in this view seems to be about giving up the things of this world, and this common understanding leads often to a concomitant misunderstanding: that the Buddhist meditator must be set on joylessness and on renouncing the pleasure one can take in being alive on this "good green earth" (as a friend put it).

In fact, this opinion that all-leads-to-negation and that therefore Buddhism is a negative path (in the sense of "life denying" or "joy denying") can be found as far back as the West has wrestled with and tried to understand the Buddha's path, that is, long before a 1990s grunge band put it on a stage. Thomas Merton gave an etiology of the misunderstanding: "Buddhist enlightenment, or Nirvana, the highest goal of man, has been completely misunderstood in the West. Perhaps this is because the concept of Nirvana first reached the West in translations of ascetic text of the Little Vehicle, which emphasized the extinction of desire and the negative aspect of Buddhist enlightenment. This was taken up by romantic pessimists like Schopenhauer, and as a result the Western stereotype of Buddhism is that of the world-denying religion par excellence, in which the ideal is to spend one's earthly existence in a trance in order that after death one may pass away into pure nothingness. According to this view, all positive value in earthly existence is merely negated." Given this stereotypical view, Merton continued, it is difficult to see how such a "supposed cult of inertia and death" could have inspired the flowerings of Buddhist art and culture found all over the Far East, and indeed in the West as well.

Here is the crux, then: how does the giving up and attenuation of habitual desires and pleasures actually lead to a form of true pleasure and delight in earthly things? How can this "letting go" lead, as it in fact does, to a fuller immersion in experience? There is a way in which the path to Nirvana, or Nibbana, to use the Pali term, requires acts of renunciation through the observation of reality as it is -- that is, the more one is able to see things as they are more clearly, the more the renunciation of old deluded patterns of seeing naturally follows. In turn this leads not to dullness or ghostliness but rather to joyful presence and, in a word, to art. The resulting connection between the making of visual arts -- painting and drawing, largely, here -- and the practice of meditation may be counterintuitive, but is worth elaborating on.

This is the project of Art Pariyatti: to explore the connection between Vipassana meditation and the practice of art. The work of Art Pariyatti gets its inspiration from a connection drawn to a Vipassana trust legal protocol. The crux of this fragment, it seems to me, is in its focus on art that moves toward, or has the intention to move toward, a triple good: "Art is most meaningful in the Society when it has threefold completeness of Truth, Beauty and Goodness in its content," states this document. Thus the project of Art Pariyatti is to move toward these goods, and to use the clarity of mind generated by such meditation to do a better job of it. In each case, the artists involved have experienced a great flowering of their own perceptual abilities, gratitude, and sense of grace. The art that follows out of this mutual development is its by-product.

And yet there is another paradox. These paintings are testaments to expanded seeing, and to presence-in-the-world, even though they are generated by and from an extinguishing of the seer's usual or conventional desires. At the same time, the works are best seen as intimations -- they point toward something else, something not-quite-glimpsed, something at the very edge of visibility, at the endpoint of expressive possibility. They are the finger that points at the moon, and bespeak what C. S. Lewis named "joy": intimations of something else. They are aspirational, in short. As Wordsworth wrote, they point towards

A motion and a spirit, that impels
All thinking things, all objects of all thought,
And rolls through all things. Therefore am I still
A lover of the meadows and the woods.

Rebecca Lemov is a visiting researcher/lecturer at Harvard University, and the author of World as Laboratory.

Artful Volition: Fine Art Note Cards from Art Pariyatti

News — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:40:00 GMT

by a supporter

Art Pariyatti is a vehicle created by artists to support the nonprofit educational mission of Pariyatti. Fine art note cards created by meditator artists from the Pacific Northwest are its first offerings. The art cards are reproductions of original paintings by the artists themselves, who donated their images for this purpose.

A small group of artists and art appreciators met in September 2006 to discuss how donated artwork might help to support Pariyatti. Our working statement is: "to joyfully support the mission of Pariyatti with a variety of creative works that are both beautiful and inspirational."

We discussed how Pariyatti enriches the world by providing access to the teachings of the Buddha and its potential for personal and societal transformation. We also discussed how art and beauty are meaningful components in the life of wholesome householders.

One artist expressed it this way: "I was moved to express my awe and gratitude, the tranquility and healing that I found, and through images of nature my hope is to inspire these things in the hearts of others. Nature and all that is beyond human conception are coming through on this paper." Another artist had been struck by an excerpt from the document describing the aims of the first Vipassana trust in India: "To help growth of meaningful art and artists...through the practice of vipashyana." The document went on to say "Art is most meaningful [to society] when it has threefold completeness of Truth, Beauty and Goodness in its content. Perfection of truth, beauty and goodness in its best and highest order is possible with clean mind and deep concentration only."*

We discussed many directions that Art Pariyatti could take: auctions, exhibitions, workshops, classes for children; there was no lack of creative ideas. We decided to make our first project a series of art cards from original paintings by three participating local artists, all of whom are practitioners of Vipassana meditation.

The art cards are the result of this collaborative effort. Our intention is to have the inspiration created through art benefit and nourish the growing work of Pariyatti. The artists donated many additional hours to us via the art cards, and a donation underwrote the entire cost of printing. As a result 100 percent of the purchase price of these cards directly benefits Pariyatti.

Please visit the Art Pariyatti website to view all 16 art card images. We hope that they will delight you, and that as you savor these images on our website, or buy these cards, you will be heartened by the volition of the artists and the continuing and creative support of Pariyatti.

*from the Sayagyi U Ba Khin Memorial Trust (of India) Trust Deed, August 1971; quoted on p. 168 of Maha Bodhi U Ba Khin Memorial Number, April 1972. This document is available for download from this Treasures webpage.

In Grateful Remembrance and Appreciation

News — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:30:42 GMT

John Wolford (1971-2007), a devoted Pariyatti volunteer and supporter, passed away November 20 in Vancouver, B.C. We remember with gratitude his eagerness to help, his generosity, cheerfulness, ready smile and kindness, and his enthusiasm, most especially for the study and practice of the Dhamma. He faced illness, treatment and death with inspiring equanimity.

Think of Pariyatti . . .

News — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:20:00 GMT

When considering year-end gifts to causes or services, please think of Pariyatti. We provide ready access to the teaching of the Buddha for practitioners and others. We do this primarily by publishing and importing books--and we can continue this service because of the generosity of others: donors who share our conviction that making the Buddha's teaching available helps to uplift the world. In appreciation, donors of $100 or more will receive a 20% discount on purchases in 2008. If you'd like to contribute online, see box on the left). Pariyatti is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and as such contributions may be tax-deductible in the U.S.

Among our free services are Podcasts, Treasures, and the Daily Words of the Buddha sent by email to subscribers. Recently volunteers added Pali to Daily Words quotations. To subscribe and or to see today's quotation, go to Daily Words of the Buddha.

30% Off Sale Now

News — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:10:42 GMT

Now through December 18 you can purchase books published by VRI, Pariyatti, and Buddhist Publication Society for 30% off our regular price. Just give the code 07N with your order, either online in the comments field at pariyatti.com, by email (bookstore@pariyatti.org) or by phone (360.978.4998). In the case of online orders, the discount will be applied when your order is processed.

Pariyatti will close for the holidays and for inventory December 23 to January 2, 2008. Orders placed online during that time will be filled when we reopen.

In this issue: Beauty and Giving Reflected Together

News — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:00:42 GMT

We celebrate beauty and generosity in this issue, with articles about Art Pariyatti and its fine art note cards now on sale in time for holiday giving and to raise needed funds for Pariyatti. There's also an essay by Rebecca Lemov, and announcement of our pre-inventory sale that starts today.

New 'Treasures' Available Online

News — Thu, 03 May 2007 18:20:00 GMT

The Treasures of Pariyatti team of volunteers has just added a new section to the Treasures webs pages, featuring several hard to find texts related to the late Burmese meditation teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin. They are in PDF format and can be downloaded from the Treasures web page.

The Path of Purification Is Back In Print

News — Thu, 03 May 2007 18:10:00 GMT

The Path of Purification (The Visuddhimagga) is back in print at Pariyatti, republished thanks in part to gifts from several generous donors. This work has been called the "great treatise" of Theravada Buddhism, an encyclopedic manual of doctrine and meditation written in the fifth century by Bhadantacaryia Buddhaghosa, an India-born monk-scholar.

Buddhaghosa journeyed from India to Sri Lanka in the early part of the 5th century A.D. for the purpose of translating into Pali the extensive Sinhalese commentaries preserved there. Carrying letters of recommendation to give him residence and help in his translation work, the young monk went to the Mahapadana monastery in the Mahavihara complex at Anuradhapura. After studying for some time under Thera Sangapala, the chief monk, he requested free access to all the books. Before agreeing, the monks decided to test Buddhaghosa's understanding by asking him to write a comment upon two stanzas. Buddhaghosa responded by writing the 950-page Path of Purification, a compendium of the entire Tipitaka based on these two stanzas.

However, this massive work somehow went astray while enroute to the monks--so he wrote it all over again. When the bhikkhus read it, they were amazed. Well-satisfied to entrust all the books to him, they arranged for him to reside at a residential institute of writings and writers. Buddhaghosa completed his tasks and returned to India with his translations. His crystallization of the entire Pali Canon reinvigorated Theravada Buddhism in India and Sri Lanka.

The most esteemed commentary in all of Pali literature, The Path of Purification sets out detailed practical instructions for developing purification. It systematically organizes the various teachings of the Buddha found throughout the Pali Canon into the three training divisions of Sila (morality), Samadhi (concentration) and Panna (wisdom). Together these provide a clear, comprehensive path leading to the final goal, nibbana, the state of complete purification. In the course of his treatise Buddhaghosa gives instructions on subjects of meditation aimed at concentration, an elaborate account of the Buddhist Abhidhamma philosophy, and explicit descriptions of the stages of insight culminating in final liberation.

The Visuddhmagga was first translated into English by Pe Maung Tin and published by the Pali Text Society in three volumes in 1923, 1929 and 1931, under the title The Path of Purity. It had long been out of print when Bhikkhu Nanamoli, a British-born monk, undertook to translate it for his own instruction. When it was suggested to him that his translation be published, he agreed somewhat hesitantly, then devoted a year to typing and preparing the manuscript, which was published in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1956.

The Buddhist Publication Society (BPS), based in Kandy, Sri Lanka, issued this work beginning with the third edition in 1975. The fourth edition was published in 1979, and the fifth edition in 1991.

Pariyatti first published The Path of Purification in 1999 under an agreement with BPS to co-publish titles for sale in the Americas; two additional printings have been done since then in both hardcover and softcover editions.

This translation is considered an outstanding achievement of Pali scholarship of the twentieth century, making available in fluent English a difficult and intricate classical work. The year of its publication also marked the beginning of the second half of the Buddha-sasana (2500 B.E.), when the theory and practice of the Buddha's teachings began to flourish anew, particularly in the West--a flourishing which continues to this day. As Bhikkhu Nanamoli writes in his preface to the book, "Much that is circumstantial has now changed since the Buddha discovered and made known his liberating doctrine 2,500 years ago, and likewise since this work was composed some nine centuries later. On the other hand, the Truth he discovered has remained untouched by all that circumstantial change."

Keeping this book in print, whether in America or elsewhere, has been challenging. Many obstacles have arisen, from lost printing plates to mid-process padlocked printers, from redoing painstaking proofreading work, to the present, with volunteers retyping the entire book so that it will exist in digital form.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote in a message for the Pariyatti edition, "Inner peace is the key. In that state of mind you can face difficulties with calm and reason. The teachings of love, kindness and tolerance, the conduct of non-violence, and especially the Buddhist theory that all things are relative can be a source of that inner peace. . . I offer my prayers that readers, wherever they are, may find in [The Path of Purification] advice and inspiration to develop that inner peace that will contribute to a happier and more peaceful world."

The imprint BPS-Pariyatti Editions makes this and other quality editions of classic and scholarly works more widely available in an affordable format.

For more information click here

Thanks for your support this year!

News — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 19:10:42 GMT

As 2006 draws to a close, we take this moment to extend best wishes to our customers, donors and well-wishers, with sincere gratitude for the support given to Pariyatti this year. If you are interested in learning about giving financial support, we invite you to visit our website to learn more.

Pariyatti is dedicated to making Dhamma material available in more ways to more people. We look forward to expanding our free digital offerings in the coming year, and continuing to serve as a unique resource for print, audio and video of the Buddha's teachings.

May all beings be peaceful and happy.

Web Improvements Coming in 2007

News — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 19:00:42 GMT

Volunteers and staff are beginning to envision major changes to Pariyatti's website. It was built in the very early days of ecommerce, and though it has served us well, we know it is time for a major update.

Among the aspects we intend to improve are speed, design, the search function and navigation. If you would like us to consider a particular feature or function, send an email to let us know your ideas.

On the Horizon

News — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 19:10:42 GMT

By Jeff Glenn
President of the Pariyatti Board

This is an exciting time for Pariyatti, its supporters and its staff, as interest in the teachings of the Buddha continues to grow and technology makes available new venues for the dissemination of these teachings. I would like to briefly address the Pariyatti mission and what lies on the horizon for Pariyatti. The current mission statement is:

Pariyatti enriches the world by
Disseminating the words of the Buddha,
Providing sustenance for the seeker's journey, and
Illuminating the meditator's path.

These three components of the mission address three subtly different but complimentary initiatives.

Disseminating the Words of the Buddha

Many readers will know that the word 'pariyatti' is a Pali word which translates as the theoretical teaching of the Buddha. The core of the Pali Canon consists of the Tipitika, the words uttered directly by the Buddha, believed by most scholars to have been committed to writing in 29 B.C. at the Fourth Council in Sri Lanka. In the subsequent centuries, commentaries and sub-commentaries arose to elaborate and expound on the teachings of the Buddha. A significant flowering of post commentarial writings arose beginning in the late 1800's with the founding of the Pali Text Society and the translations of many works by Maha-theras (Sr. Bhikkhu elders) from Burma and Sri Lanka. The Sixth Council, held in the 1950's, lead to an additional flurry of wonderfully inspirational writings celebrating the 2,500th anniversary of the teachings of the Buddha. In the more recent decades, publishers such as the Buddhist Publication Society, the Vipassana Research Institute, and Pariyatti have continued to add valuable literary classics to this body of writings.

In accordance with our mission to disseminate the Words of the Buddha, Pariyatti makes available the entire cumulative corpus of these works. Increasingly, with the advent of modern technology, many of these teachings are taking alternate forms such as audio-books, e-books, CD's, CD-ROM's, DVD's, and downloadable media. The catalog of products continues to grow with the addition of newly written works as well as the re-publication of timeless classics.

Providing Sustenance for the Seeker's Journey

The second component of the Pariyatti mission statement is a bit broader in scope. By providing sustenance for the seeker's path, the organization seeks to expand the awareness of the teachings of the Buddha. By making the teaching of the Buddha available in a simple and easy to understand format to any and all who would seek an inner calm, Pariyatti is providing sustenance along the path of meditation and peace to those that might not otherwise have access to these teachings.

Current programs to fulfill this aspect of the mission include the donation of books and other inspirational materials to prisons, universities, monasteries, and temples. Daily e-mails of the Words of the Buddha are currently delivered to thousands of seekers. Additionally, in 2005, Pariyatti began offering Podcasts via the internet on a monthly basis. The program for these podcasts continues to expand and positive feedback has come in from throughout the world.

Illuminate the Meditator's path

The Buddha differentiated between 'pariyatti', meaning theoretical knowledge, and 'patipatti', the experiential application of the Buddha's teachings. For those who are actively seeking patipatti (and ultimately, 'pativeda', the realization of ultimate reality through meditation), Pariyatti offers tools for inspiration and elucidation.

This is perhaps the aspect of the Pariyatti mission with the most potential for growth in the coming years. The recent publication of the Gem Set in Gold was the culmination of over a decade of work and will be an invaluable resource to any serious student of the Dhamma. Students of Vipassana as taught by S.N. Goenka will find many resources to assist them, and will illuminate the path as they develop their meditation practice. Additionally, Pariyatti is investigating the feasibility of offering Pali language instruction -- either in a residential setting or via remote interactive instruction. The Treasures of Pariyatti project has recently been announced; this is a project to preserve classic, out-of-print works of literature related to the teaching of the Buddha through electronic re-publication.

Each of these three components of the Pariyatti mission unify a community of individuals that share an interest in the teaching of the Buddha. You are all invited to join in at whatever level of community you wish. If you would like to get more involved with the fulfillment of the mission of Pariyatti, please contact us and join in as a volunteer. If you are supportive of the mission, but have limited availability, please consider becoming a Pariyatti Supporter. This is an exciting time in the Buddha Sasana, and we are confident that all participants will find inspiration from their involvement with Pariyatti.

Letters from the Dhamma Brothers By Jenny Phillips

News — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 19:00:42 GMT

Review by Rick Crutcher, Publisher

When the first ten-day Vipassana course came to a close at Donaldson Prison in Alabama, in January 2002, twenty men were faced with the opportunities and challenges of a whole new phase of their lives. Many were sentenced to life imprisonment; most had been deeply acculturated during their years of incarceration to the life of violence and abuse that was common for inmates of this maximum security prison in the deep South. Now a new opportunity lay before them: they had the practice of Vipassana. How would they apply it in these unlikely surroundings and how would it affect them and others around them?

Letters from the Dhamma Brothers, a book forthcoming in early 2007 from Pariyatti Press, gives us direct access to their thoughts, struggles, dreams, and triumphs, in their own words, through letters they sent to those who introduced the Vipassana course into the prison. With the second course in May, 2002, seventeen more inmates joined the voluntary and intentional fraternity of Dhamma brotherhood. This course was documented on video and will be the subject of a film to be released in 2007, called The Dhamma Brothers.

Each man has his own story of finding the courage to keep sitting, of resisting the lure of falling in with the old habits and ways of prison life, of reconciling his past actions with the effects on himself, his family, friends and the victims of his crimes. And all together experience a bond that extends beyond the intensity of the ten-day course. The Dhamma brotherhood survives even when the Vipassana program itself is cancelled and some of the men find it too difficult to keep the practice going.

When the prison once again invites the Vipassana Prison Trust to conduct a three-day course for the old-student Dhamma brothers, in January, 2006, there is a joyful homecoming and a revival of Dhamma practice and enthusiasm.

The big question for all corrections officers, wardens, judges and other officials who have observed these Vipassana courses in prisons and jails is: Is it real? Will the changes seen in the beginning last? Can a meditation program like Vipassana really reform these hardened inmates? Scientific studies so far have shown promising results in the short run but how deep are the changes really?

Four years and counting, these letters and the experiences of these inmates will give you the chance to decide for yourself whether it is real.

If you are interested in helping to underwrite the publishing costs of "Letters from the Dhamma Brothers" please contact Julie Schaeffer: julie@pariyatti.org or 360-978-5195

Supporters Surpass $5,000 Challenge

News — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:40:42 GMT

Thanks to everyone who supported Pariyatti's Summer Matching Gift campaign. The goal of $5,000 was met and then some: a total of $13,000 was given toward the challenge! The challenge donor then donated $5,000 plus another $1,000, because 50 people gave at least $25, raising the total to $19,000. No matter what size the gift, we are grateful for your support of Pariyatti and its purpose: bringing people in contact with the Buddha's teachings, offering sustenance for the seeker's journey and illuminating the meditator's path.

Restored "Treasures" Now Available

News — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:30:00 GMT

Several issues of Burmese periodicals long out of print have been restored by Pariyatti volunteers. Through digital technology, six old editions of The Light of the Dhamma now look like new and can be downloaded free of charge, or read online. This was a quarterly magazine that was published in Burma before, during, and after the period of the 6th Buddhist Council (Chattha Sangayana), from 1952 - 1963.

Additionally, issues of The Light of Buddha, a monthly publication from around the same period, are also being scanned and will be posted to the site in the near future. Our hope is to preserve these works for the current and coming generations of seekers that will find invaluable truths within their pages. This collection is a work-in-progress and additional items will be added as they become available. Check back often to see the new additions to the site. The Light of the Dhamma

Events at Pariyatti

News — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:10:42 GMT

The board of Vipassana Prison Trust held a two-day meeting at Pariyatti in July, attended by 25 representatives from many parts of the U.S. and Canada. The facility in rural western Washington proved quite suitable for a gathering of this size.

In August Pariyatti's Board gathered for a two-day planning retreat. For many it was their first visit. The weekend was filled with various meetings, workshops, break-out sessions, group sittings, tasty meals, and the warm hospitality of friends of Pariyatti who live in the area. The weekend was very productive and Board members left feeling inspired and rejuvenated to carry on working towards fulfilling Pariyatti's mission.

A session on the Pali Canon (Tipitaka) followed the board meetings and was open to the public. Topics included how this monumental body of work has been preserved in the 2600 years since the Buddha's time, how it is organized, and the print versions at Pariyatti in Pali, Devanagari, and English. Members of the programs committee are in discussion about ways to offer Pali language courses in the future.

The Gem Set in Gold: The wait is almost over

News — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:00:42 GMT

This book is now expected in late September and we're ready to ship all advance orders promptly.

Well-wisher offers $5,000 matching gift

News — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:10:00 GMT

We are very happy to announce that a member has offered a challenge matching gift. Here's how it works: if donations totalling $5,000 are given by August 31, $5,000 will become $10,000. Multiply your contribution and join the challenge! The intention is to raise not only funds but also interest in Pariyatti's work. To stimulate broad-based interest, the donor will give an additional $1,000 if at least 50 supporters give $25 or more towards this goal during the summer challenge campaign.

Pariyatti relies on donations to bridge the gap between book sales and the costs of offering our services, including publishing and importing books. This year an additional $75,000 is needed from other sources. The Board fundraising committee is inviting friends of Pariyatti to help. You might ask five friends to contribute as they are able, encourage them to purchase books directly from Pariyatti, become a member, or offer another challenge grant. Also, many employers will match donations to nonprofits; this will multiply by four the value of a gift!

Donations can be made online or by calling 360.978.4998, 9 to 5 Pacific time, weekdays. Your support will be gratefully received and acknowledged.

Pariyatti.org offers free Dhamma podcasts

News — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:00:00 GMT

A new monthly audio program is now available at Pariyatti.org. Dhamma Podcast features public talks by S.N. Goenka and Q&A from his 2002 visit to North America, plus others speaking on aspects of Vipassana meditation. This month's podcast is Different Kinds of Minds, The Relevance of Vipassana Meditation to Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder, by Vivian Snyder.

The audio content from a podcast can be automatically downloaded to a portable device such as an iPod, or it can be accessed directly from any personal computer with internet access and speakers. Pariyatti began offering this free service last October, and archives each month's podcast on the site.

You can contact podcasts@pariyatti.org with questions or assistance.

Gem Set in Gold nears publication

News — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 18:00:00 GMT

Pariyatti will publish in July Gem Set in Gold, the complete English translation of Hindi and Pali chanting by S.N. Goenka from the ten-day Vipassana course. The text in English appears opposite the Hindi and Pali text, organized in sequence by day. Ten years in development, this long-awaited volume has been carefully reviewed by scholars in various locations.

The 128-page book may be ordered from Pariyatti through June 21 at the pre-publication price of $8.95 (plus shipping) and later for $12.95.

Read Rebecca Lemov's in-depth article about the translation project, below.

Gem Set in Gold in Print

News — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 18:00:00 GMT

by Rebecca Lemov

Many people on the first day of their first Vipassana course with S.N. Goenka finding themselves awake at an unusual hour and sitting in an unusual place are surprised to hear the sounds of chanting that accompany the last 30-40 minutes of the early morning session. These sounds can be different things to different people (some are entranced, some are averse), but in almost every center outside India, most listeners will have at least one response in common: incomprehension. However mellifluous the sounds, however enchanting the voice, the words themselves are, at least until recently, left untranslated.

In fact, the chanting is in two languages: at times it is Hindi, Goenkaji's native language and the one in which he composes traditional, exhortational poems in couplets (dohas), which comprise a significant portion of the chanting. At other times it is Pali, through which the Buddha's suttas are conveyed in the closest surviving dialect to the language the Tathagatha spoke.

About ten years ago the publisher at Pariyatti, Rick Crutcher, had a seemingly simple idea: he would collect and translate the chanting from the ten-day course. Students in America and Europe had been asking over the years: "What is he saying?" "Is it a mysterious rite of some kind?" In India, however, he saw that students were moved to tears by the poetry of the language. It seemed clear that these poetic expressions of Goenkaji's teaching often have a powerful, inspirational effect on those who can understand their meaning. Perhaps Western students could, to some degree, share in this deeper understanding.

The simple idea soon became a rather more intricate undertaking. The Gem Set in Gold -- a decade in the making, and the result of a worldwide collaboration of scholars -- is the tangible result. The title refers to the metaphor Goenkaji uses to characterize the relationship between practice and theory, between the experience of sitting (patipatti) and the scholarly exploration of the Buddha's words and systematic teachings (pariyatti). The gem is to practice as the Buddha taught; the golden setting is the teachings that illuminate and contextualize the practice.

An international team began with translations of the Hindi dohas originally done by Bill Hart in the 1980s. Researchers on opposite sides of the globe audited the recordings of Goenkaji's chanting and worked to iron out minute variations (depending on which recordings were being used). For the Pali suttas from the morning chanting, scholars and Pali students from the Vipassana Research Institute started with the text from the Chattha Sangayana edition of the Tipitaka. Consulting traditional translations available from sources in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, they painstakingly retranslated and amended the older translations to modernize the English and, at times, update the language in the light of insights from the Vipassana practice. After many rounds of review, at last all the scholarly corrections, and judgments were brought together.

Throughout, the most pressing issue was that of translation itself. An issue that all translators face is how to preserve the 'feel' of the original language. A simple, literal translation is never either simple or literal for such a translation, no matter how accurate, cannot communicate the most basic truth of the language. (Especially when the words in question are poetic, literary, or scriptural.) In translating The Gem Set in Gold, Indian and non-Hindi-speaking contingents debated how to communicate the truth of what was being said, the poetry of the words, without distorting them or subjecting them to personal quirks of diction. As the literary scholar Walter Benjamin wrote in his famous essay The Task of the Translator, a translation is always more than a transmission.

"Even a poor translator will admit [that it is] the unfathomable, the mysterious, the 'poetic'that any true translation aims to bring across. A translation is like a new flowering of the original, a transformation and a renewal of something living." "Being a special and high form of life," Benjamin continued, "this flowering is governed by a special, high purposiveness."

The Gem Set in Gold is the result of years of scholarly efforts to allow these words to flower anew. The result of this remarkable interchange will be published by Pariyatti this summer.

Rebecca Lemov is a Vipassana student and the author of World as Laboratory: Experiments with Mice, Mazes and Men (Hill and Wang, 2005). She will begin a postdoctoral fellowship next year at Harvard in the history of science.