Category Archives: Buddhist history

Oh, Those Unruly Monks! (Part 1)

Posted on April 26, 2013 by EricKVanHorn

There are many remarkable stories in the Pali canon. One of my favorites is the Upakkilesa Sutta. “Upakkilesa” translates to “imperfections”. Yeah, I know. It doesn’t sound like a page-turner. But bear with me. This discourse has several sections. I won’t … Continue reading →

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The Business of Buddhism

Posted on April 9, 2013 by EricKVanHorn

One of the things that I have always enjoyed about the Buddhist tradition is that from the time of the Buddha the teachings were always offered freely. India must have been quite something around 2400 B.C.E. when the Buddha lived. … Continue reading →

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The Buddha and His Son

Posted on March 18, 2013 by EricKVanHorn

There is a quite endearing discourse by the Buddha in the Majjhima Nikaya called Advice to Rahula at Ambalatthka (Ambalatthaka means “Mango Grove”). What makes it endearing isn’t so much the content as the context. Rahula was the Buddha’s son. … Continue reading →

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The Art of Bus Maintenance, India Style

Posted on March 1, 2013 by EricKVanHorn

March, 2004 We are on a Buddhist pilgrimage in India, traveling by bus on the road from Varanasi (Benares) to Sarnath. The roads in Bihar Province have to be experienced to be believed. The terrain is flat, but you would … Continue reading →

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