Bhante Devananda

04/05/2026

04/05/2026

Happy Peaceful Easter to all families and friends! 🌸

May you find peace and joy within yourselves and with your loved ones. We extend our compassion to all living beings.

In Buddhism, we honor one another through insight and understanding, regardless of religion, culture, or personal beliefs. The Buddha’s teachings guide us to act rightly in every situation, emphasizing moral integrity and harmony. At their core, Buddhist philosophy — like many major world religions — seeks to unite, not divide, humanity.

“The world has yet to learn how to live with diversity. ‘Difference’ was still perceived as a threat. When amplified by historic grievances and manipulations of the unscrupulous, fear of difference can deny the very humanity of ‘the other,’ with the result that people fall into cycles of violence in which no one is spared, even children. That is why the world must learn that difference is enriching. Different cultures are different ways of facing the question of the meaning of human existence. Religious freedom and freedom of conscience are thus the cornerstones of human rights and the foundation of every truly free society.”
— Witness to Hope, Pope John Paul II

May loving-kindness, peace, and understanding shine in your hearts and in the world.

04/05/2026

We wish Happy Peaceful Easter to all families and friends. May all of you have peace and joy within you and with your loved ones. We extend our compassion to all living beings.

In Buddhism, we respect each other through insightful understanding regardless of our chosen religion, cultural differences or personal views. The Buddha’s teachings are morally rooted in doing the right thing in every instance, regardless of your path in life. The basic teaching of Buddhist philosophy and many other major religions is to unite the world, not to divide it.

“The world has yet to learn how to live with diversity. “Difference” was still perceived as a threat. When amplified by historic grievances and exacerbated by manipulations of the unscrupulous, the fear of “difference” can lead to denial of the very humanity of ‘the other,’ with the result that people fall into cycle of violence in which no one spared, even the children.”

That was why the world had to learn that difference was enriching, for “different cultures are different ways of facing the question of the meaning of human existence. “

Religious freedom and freedom of conscience were thus “the cornerstones of the structure of human rights and the foundation of every truly free society. “ Witness To Hope - the late Pope John Paul II

indiana metta buddhasasana theravadabuddhism lovingkindnessmeditation buddhist interfaith mayallbeingsbehappyandpeaceful sabbesattabhavantusukhitatta bryanohio

04/05/2026

Memorial and funeral service honoring the late Most Venerable Polwatte Pagnananda Nayaka Thero, the late Abbot of Sarana International Buddhist Center, Tukwila, Washington.

“Anicca vata saṅkhārā — uppāda vaya dhammino; uppajjitvā nirujjhanti, tesaṃ vūpasamo sukho.”
“Impermanent indeed are all conditioned things — their nature is to arise and pass away. Having arisen, they cease; their stilling is true happiness.”

With deepest respect and gratitude, we remember the Most Venerable Polwatte Pagnananda Nayaka Thero for his compassionate service, wisdom, and dedication to the Buddha Sāsana. May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbāna.

May all beings reflect on impermanence and cultivate wholesome qualities in honor of his noble life.

04/05/2026

11 Beautiful Benefits of Loving-Kindness Meditation (Mettā Bhāvanā)

The Buddha taught that cultivating loving-kindness brings powerful blessings—both seen and unseen. These are known as Mettānisaṁsa (the benefits of mettā).

11 Benefits
1. Sukhaṁ supati → One sleeps peacefully
2. Sukhaṁ paṭibujjhati → One wakes up happily
3. Na pāpakaṁ supinaṁ passati → One does not have bad dreams
4. Manussānaṁ piyo hoti → One becomes dear to human beings
5. Amanussānaṁ piyo hoti → One becomes dear to non-human beings
6. Devatā rakkhanti → Devas (divine beings) protect you
7. Nāssa aggi vā visaṁ vā satthaṁ vā kamati → Fire, poison, and weapons do not harm easily
8. Tuvaṭaṁ cittaṁ samādhiyati → The mind becomes calm and concentrated quickly
9. Mukhavaṇṇo vippasīdati → One’s complexion becomes bright and serene
10. Asammūḷho kālaṁ karoti → One dies unconfused, with clarity
11. Uttari appaṭivijjhanto brahmalokūpago hoti → If no higher realization is reached, one is reborn in the Brahma world

These are the blessings of a heart filled with loving-kindness—radiating goodwill to all beings without exception.

May all beings be happy
May all beings be safe
May all beings live with ease

Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā
→ May all beings be truly happy

Meditate with Bhante Devananda and venerable monks daily—onsite or online. All ages, levels, and backgrounds are welcome.

MettaBhavana PeacefulMind

04/05/2026

Healing the Past, Honoring the Present. 🙏

In this profound Dhammadesana, Bhante Pannasara of the Indiana Buddhist Temple explores the Tirokhudda Sutta—the Buddha’s discourse on the "Hungry Shades" and the spiritual importance of transferring merits to those who have passed.

Whether you are seeking peace for your ancestors or looking to understand the deep karmic connections we share with all beings, this teaching offers a path to clarity and compassion.

✨ Special Merit Dedication (Pattidāna)
This Dhamma sharing is offered with the heartfelt intention of transferring merits:
Sabbe sattā tehi kamma-bhāvehi sammatā Elly Hernawati Go ṁ paṭidānā.

We dedicate the merits of this teaching to all beings who have karmic connections with Elly Hernawati Go and the Go Family. May all such beings receive these merits, benefit from the Dhamma, and live happily in accordance with the Path.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu! 🌸

04/04/2026

The Buddha’s teaching in the Sallatha Sutta (The Arrow) reminds us how suffering can multiply when the mind reacts with resistance, fear, or anger.

When pain arises, an untrained mind is struck by two arrows: the physical pain and the mental suffering we create through worry, grief, and attachment. But the wise person experiences only one arrow, understanding the nature of feelings and letting go.

Let it go. Calm your mind. Keep smiling.

Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta Bhavana) helps improve our mental health by gently training the mind to release anger, fear, and self-criticism. Through cultivating goodwill toward ourselves and others, we soften emotional pain and gradually let go of the second arrow. A mind filled with loving-kindness becomes calmer, more resilient, and more peaceful.

Sallatha Sutta (SN 36.6)
Sallena viddho puriso
Sallañca paṭivijjhati
Tasmā na socati dhīro
Sallaṃ dukkhassa muñcati.

Assutavā puthujjano
Phuṭṭho vedanāya dukkharāya
Socati kilamati kandati
Uruppādeti dukkhaṃ.

Sutavā ariyasāvako
Phuṭṭho vedanāya dukkharāya
Na socati na kilamati
Ekameva dukkhaṃ vedeti.

The uninstructed person, when touched by painful feeling, sorrows, grieves, and laments, experiencing two kinds of suffering. But the well-trained disciple understands feelings as they truly are, and experiences only one pain, without adding mental distress.

By practicing loving-kindness, we learn to respond to difficulties with patience, compassion, and understanding instead of reactivity. In this way, we remove the second arrow and protect our mental well-being.

May we gently release the second arrow, calm the mind, and cultivate wisdom and compassion.
May all beings be peaceful and happy.

Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā
May all beings be peaceful, healthy, and happy.

CalmMind KeepSmiling Mindfulness Compassion Dhamma InnerPeace