Paññā Discussion Society

20/11/2025

The Eight Great Meritorious Deeds that Bring Supreme Merit

"Kaṭhinatthaparikkhāraṁ - vāsadānaṁ ca uttamaṁ Buddhapamukha saṅghassa dānaṁ - dhammassa lekhanaṁ Khettadānaṁ ca buddhassa - paṭimākaraṇaṁpica Karaṇaṁ vaccakuṭiyā - aṭṭha puññāni uccare"
As taught in this verse, the eight great meritorious deeds (Aṭa Mahā Piṇkam) are:

1. Offering of the Kaṭhina Robe
2. Offering of the Eight Requisites (Aṭapirikara)
3. Offering of dwellings (āvāsa pūjā)
4. Offering alms to the Sangha headed by the Buddha
5. Writing or preserving the Dhamma
6. Donation of land and fields
7. Creating Buddha statues
8. Building restrooms (toilets)

1. Offering of the Kaṭhina Robe

The Kaṭhina Robe Offering is the foremost among the eight great meritorious deeds. According to the scriptures and commentaries, it is considered the highest form of merit. The "Vassāna" or rains retreat lasts three months during the monsoon, during which newly ordained monks (upasampadā) reside in one monastery. This season is seen as a time of intensified practice and merit-making.

The Kaṭhina offering is performed at the end of the Vassāna season, starting from the full moon of Vap (October). The month following this full moon is also called the "Robe Month" (Cīvara Māsa)" due to the Kaṭhina festival.
Unlike other Buddhist ceremonies that can be performed multiple times a year, Kaṭhina can only be offered once a year at a monastery. Hence, it is regarded as one of the most significant events held at a temple.

The Kaṭhina festival often includes processions, traditional dances, decorative lanterns (pahan pūjā), Bodhi tree offerings, protective chanting (pirith), Dhamma sermons, sanghika dāna (collective alms giving), and donation trees (kap ruka pūjā). Regional variations exist, and in ancient times, lay devotees would offer food like rice porridge to monks preparing for the robe offering.

According to the Vinaya commentary Samantapāsādikā, it was considered a duty of lay people to provide for the monks undertaking the Kaṭhina. Over time, it evolved to include a mandatory sanghika dakkhiṇā (offering to the entire Sangha).
In ancient Sri Lanka, Kaṭhina festivals were held with state support, with kings and citizens all participating. Mahāvaṁsa (Chapter 36) mentions King Dalla-Moggallāna offering Kaṭhina robes to every monastery in the country.

Today, this tradition continues, most notably at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy, where the Diyawadana Nilame conducts the annual Kaṭhina festival, reflecting the legacy of Sri Lankan monarchs.

2. Offering of the Eight Requisites (Aṭapirikara)

The second great meritorious act is the offering of the Aṭapirikara, a set of eight essential monastic requisites. These are:

1. Upper robe (uttarāsaṅga)
2. Outer robe (saṅghāṭi)
3. Inner robe (antaravāsaka)
4. Alms bowl
5. Razor
6. Needle
7. Belt (kāyabandhana)
8. Water strainer or filter cloth

According to tradition, these were the eight items offered to the newly ordained Gautama Buddha by Brahmā Ghaṭīkāra.

3. Offering of Dwellings (Āvāsa Pūjā)

This refers to the offering of residences or dwellings to monks. The Saṁyutta Nikāya states that those who perform this deed accumulate merit both day and night, and that offering shelter is equal to giving everything.

"Day and night, their merit increases; they are considered to have offered all when they offer shelter."

4. Offering to the Buddha and Sangha

This refers to offering alms or gifts to the Sangha, led by the Buddha. Among various forms of giving, this one is special as the offering is made with the Buddha as the foremost recipient.

5. Writing or Preserving the Dhamma
This involves writing Dhamma texts, articles, or scriptures to preserve and spread the teachings. This act helps in educating future generations and keeping the Dhamma alive.

6. Offering of Land or Fields (Khettadāna)
Khettadāna refers to the donation of land, fields, or plots for religious or monastic use. Such generosity supports the infrastructure of the monastic community.

7. Creating Buddha Statues
The seventh great meritorious act is constructing Buddha images. These are part of the Uddesika Cetiya (representational relics) and serve as objects of veneration and inspiration. Building and offering such statues is a highly revered meritorious deed.

8. Offering of Toilets (Vaccakuṭi Pūjā)
The eighth act is the offering or construction of restrooms for monastic use. This emphasizes the importance of public sanitation and comfort, and is considered a meritorious deed due to its practical benefit to others.

15/11/2025

"There are these five rewards in listening to the Dhamma. Which five?

"One hears what one has not heard before. One clarifies what one has heard before. One gets rid of doubt. One's views are made straight. One's mind grows serene. "These are the five rewards in listening to the Dhamma."

- Dhammassavana Sutta: Listening to the Dhamma (AN 5.202 PTS: A iii 248)

08/11/2025

Dhamma Talk on Ancient Buddhist Wisdom on Hatred

Date: 7th of November
Venue: Amitofo Care Centre, Hong Kong

On the 7th of November, a Dhamma talk titled "Ancient Buddhist Wisdom on Hatred as Recorded in Early Buddhist Sutta" was delivered by Ven. Bhikkhu Pragnapal at the Amitofo Care Centre, Hong Kong. The talk was translated into Chinese and Cantonese by Most Ven. Master Ding Xian enables a wider audience to deeply benefit from the profound teachings shared.

During the talk, Ven. Bhikkhu Pragnapal explored the timeless wisdom of early Buddhist Suttas, focusing on the nature of hatred, its root causes, and practical methods for overcoming it in daily life. The discussion highlighted the importance of cultivating loving-kindness, understanding, and inner peace as powerful antidotes to hatred and anger.

Participants expressed heartfelt appreciation for the clear and compassionate guidance offered throughout the session. The event concluded with the aspiration:

"May all rejoice in the Dhamma, be free from hatred, and find happiness and peace." On behalf of Ven. Bhikkhu Pragnapal, Founder of Paññā Discussion Society, we wish to extend our deepest gratitude to the organisers, volunteers, and supporters whose dedication and effort made this meaningful event possible. Their hard work ensured a welcoming environment for all, allowing participants to reflect, learn, and grow together in the spirit of the Dhamma.

This gathering provided a valuable opportunity for spiritual enrichment, leaving attendees inspired to continue practising and embodying the Buddha’s teachings in their daily lives.

06/11/2025

Abhayagiri Stupa stands as the centrepiece of the Abhayagiriya Viharaya monastic complex, which was constructed during the reign of King Vattagamini Abhaya (better known as King Valagamba) in the 1st century BCE.

Today, the ruins of Abhayagiriya—surrounded by tranquil gardens and ancient stone carvings—invite visitors to step back in time and experience the grandeur of Sri Lanka’s golden age. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Abhayagiriya continues to inspire awe and devotion, serving as a lasting reminder of the country’s rich cultural and religious legacy.

06/11/2025

Some of key Buddhist Teachings:

Meditate: Cultivate mindfulness and inner peace through regular meditation, a central practice in Buddhism.

Live purely: Follow ethical conduct and live a virtuous life, free from greed, hatred, and delusion.

Be quiet: Embrace inner and outer silence to foster calm and clarity.

Do your work with mastery: Engage fully and mindfully in your actions, performing your duties with care and excellence.
Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine: Just as the moon shines when free from clouds, your true nature—pure and luminous—emerges when you remove ignorance and negativity through practice.

In essence, the quote encourages living mindfully and virtuously, clearing away obstacles so your true, enlightened self can shine forth.

এই উদ্ধৃতিটি বৌদ্ধ শিক্ষার মূল বিষয়গুলো প্রকাশ করে:

ধ্যান করো: নিয়মিত ধ্যানের মাধ্যমে মননশীলতা ও অন্তর শান্তি চর্চা করো, যা বৌদ্ধ ধর্মের কেন্দ্রীয় অনুশীলন।

পরিশুদ্ধভাবে বাঁচো: নৈতিকতা অনুসরণ করো এবং লোভ, ঘৃণা, ও মায়া থেকে মুক্ত থেকে সদাচরণে জীবন যাপন করো।
নীরব থাকো: অন্তর ও বাহিরের নীরবতা গ্রহণ করো, যা মনে শান্তি ও স্পষ্টতা আনে।

কাজে দক্ষতা অর্জন করো: মনোযোগ সহকারে ও যত্নের সাথে তোমার কাজ করো, প্রতিটি কর্মে উৎকর্ষতা প্রকাশ করো।

চাঁদের মতো, মেঘের আড়াল থেকে বেরিয়ে আসো! জ্বলো: যেমন চাঁদ মেঘ কেটে উজ্জ্বল হয়, তেমনি ধ্যান ও সাধনার মাধ্যমে অজ্ঞতা ও নেতিবাচকতা দূর করলে তোমার প্রকৃত, নির্মল সত্তা প্রকাশ পায়।

মূলত, এই উক্তিটি মননশীল ও নৈতিক জীবনযাপন এবং অন্তরায় দূর করে নিজের প্রকৃত আলোকিত সত্তাকে প্রকাশ করার আহ্বান জানায়।

05/11/2025

If a person is full of energy, aware, and honest in their thoughts, words, and actions, does everything carefully, controls their desires, earns a living in the right way, and stays attentive, then their good reputation and success will grow steadily.

31/10/2025

23/10/2025

It is my great honour to receive a special invitation from the ACC to deliver, for the second time, two talks on ancient Buddhism.
This time, we will delve deep into one of the central unwholesome emotions discussed in Buddhist teachings: Hatred (Dosa/Dvesha). Buddhism teaches that hatred is a powerful mental poison that clouds our judgment, disrupts our inner peace, and leads to suffering for ourselves and others.

However, the Buddha also offered us a transformative path out of hatred, primarily through the cultivation of Mettā and Karuṇā:

Mettā (Loving-kindness): Mettā is the sincere wish for the happiness and well-being of all beings, without discrimination or attachment. By regularly practicing Mettā meditation, we gradually replace feelings of anger and resentment with unconditional goodwill, leading to a more peaceful and harmonious mind.

Karuṇā (Compassion): Karuṇā is the deep empathy we feel for the suffering of others, coupled with a genuine desire to alleviate that suffering. Cultivating Karuṇā opens our hearts, enabling us to respond to negativity and hostility with understanding and kindness, rather than with more hatred.

During these sessions, we will explore practical methods and guided meditations to identify and overcome hatred in our daily lives, and to nurture Mettā and Karuṇā within our hearts.

I warmly invite everyone interested in ancient Buddhist wisdom and practical methods for emotional transformation to join us for these enriching discussions.

May we all walk the path toward peace, loving-kindness, and compassion.

14/10/2025

Let us take a moment to rejoice in the present, reflect on our journey, and reform our hearts and minds with kindness and compassion—for ourselves and for everyone around us. Every day is a new chance to grow and spread positivity. Let’s make today count!

13/10/2025

The Power of the Mind

Buddhism teaches that our suffering is not directly caused by external events, but rather by our reactions and attachments to those events. The Dhammapada states:

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world."

This means that external situations or people are not inherently upsetting. It is our reaction—how we interpret and respond to them—that determines our inner peace or suffering.

Non-attachment and Equanimity

Buddha emphasized non-attachment (upādāna) and equanimity (upekkhā). When we react with anger or frustration, we become attached to negative emotions, increasing our suffering. By observing without reacting, we weaken the hold external factors have on our mind.

Mindfulness (Sati)

Practicing mindfulness encourages us to notice our thoughts and feelings as they arise, without immediately reacting. This gives us the space to choose a skillful response rather than an automatic reaction.

The Second Arrow Analogy

Buddhist teachings often use the "two arrows" analogy:

The first arrow is the unavoidable pain of life (external event).
The second arrow is our reaction (anger, resentment, worry), which is optional and self-inflicted.

By not reacting negatively, we avoid the suffering caused by the "second arrow."

According to Buddhism, people and situations themselves are not the cause of our distress. It is our reaction—rooted in attachment, aversion, or ignorance—that gives them power over us. Through mindfulness, non-attachment, and equanimity, we can choose how to respond and maintain our inner peace.

12/10/2025

In the words of the Buddha, "In this life, he finds joy, and in the next, he continues to feel happiness; a person who engages in virtuous actions enjoys bliss in both realms." This profound truth, found in the Dhammapada (v. 18), reminds us of the enduring value of wholesome conduct.

The Buddha often emphasised that our actions (kamma) shape not only our present experiences but also our future destinies. When we cultivate virtue—through acts of generosity, kindness, and moral restraint—we plant seeds of happiness that blossom in this very life. Such a person delights in their good deeds, reflecting with a peaceful mind, "I have done what is wholesome." This inner joy is immediate, bringing lightness and contentment to our hearts.

However, the benefits do not end here. According to early Buddhist teachings, the wholesome kamma we create becomes a supportive condition for favourable rebirth. When this life ends, the momentum of our virtuous actions leads us to a higher state—what the Buddha called "suggati," or a fortunate rebirth. There, the joy is amplified, and the happiness we experience is even greater.

The Buddha taught that the path of virtue (sīla) is foundational: it is the basis for happiness in this life and the next. He encouraged us to develop qualities such as compassion (karuṇā), loving-kindness (mettā), and generosity (dāna), for these not only bring immediate well-being but also shape our journey beyond this life.

Let us therefore commit ourselves to virtuous living. May we find joy now, delight in our good actions, and continue to experience happiness in the realms to come, in accordance with the timeless teachings of the Buddha.