The Story of Angulimala
by BHIKKHU BODHIDHAMMA
This booklet come with Compact Disc Audio on
narrated by Barry Letts
One track, duration 53:40:00 min
ISBN 978-983-3512-74-4
IJ179/10
Size: 6” X 5.5”
Pages: 72
If there is one story in the whole of the Buddhist Canon that captures the imagination, it must surely be that of Angulimala, Necklace of Fingers. Here is a man steeped in murder who upon meeting the Buddha experiences a conversion that not only stops all his evil doings, but propels him into the spiritual life. So much so that he finally attains the end of all endeavour, Nibbāna.
In this study Bhikkhu Bodhidhamma explores Angulimala’s process of purification. That purification of the heart of all the evil committed is the process of forgiveness. It needs a language of the heart — innocence, pollution, guilt, shame, remorse, forgiveness and compassion — a process of purification to eventual immaculacy.
What is that process and what are the insights needed to attain this purity? This is what both the monologue (audio in CD) and the essay try to address.
The reason why the story of Angulimala means so much to us is not simply because of how an extremely evil person can redeem himself, but because there is in each of us that which needs to be forgiven and purified. It is a way to Nibbana through the heart of love. That is why the author has entitled the work: “Towards the End of Forgiveness.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bhante Bodhidhamma began his Buddhist practice in the Soto Zen tradition at a monastery in the north of England, Throssel Hole Priory. He was living in Birmingham at the time and through his teacher, Vajira Bailey, was introduced to Ven. Dr Rewata Dhamma, a Burmese monk who established the Birmingham Buddhist Centre and Peace Pagoda. Out of interest he began to practise vipassanā. About that time, the Mahāsi Sayadaw came to England. He attended a course given by Sayadaw U Janaka, the teacher who accompanied him. In ’82, he went to work with Sayadaw in Burma. Before long he wanted to spend more time in meditation and so ordained in ’86. He spent the first years in England and then went to Sri Lanka. He joined an order of monks there who take their ordination from the Mahāsi Sayadaw. He stayed at their main meditation centre at Kanduboda for eight years. He returned to England in ’98 and began teaching.
From 2001 – 5, he was the resident teacher at Gaia House, a large meditation centre in the south of England which he acknowledges as his Dhamma Teacher Training College. During that time, he began with the help of supporters to establish the Satipanya Buddhist Trust, a registered charity (no. 1116668). The objective was to set up a small meditation centre dedicated to the Mahāsi tradition. This aspiration was realised on April 2nd 2007, when Satipanya Buddhist Retreat was opened on the borders of Wales and England.
by BHIKKHU BODHIDHAMMA
This booklet come with Compact Disc Audio on
narrated by Barry Letts
One track, duration 53:40:00 min
ISBN 978-983-3512-74-4
IJ179/10
Size: 6” X 5.5”
Pages: 72
If there is one story in the whole of the Buddhist Canon that captures the imagination, it must surely be that of Angulimala, Necklace of Fingers. Here is a man steeped in murder who upon meeting the Buddha experiences a conversion that not only stops all his evil doings, but propels him into the spiritual life. So much so that he finally attains the end of all endeavour, Nibbāna.
In this study Bhikkhu Bodhidhamma explores Angulimala’s process of purification. That purification of the heart of all the evil committed is the process of forgiveness. It needs a language of the heart — innocence, pollution, guilt, shame, remorse, forgiveness and compassion — a process of purification to eventual immaculacy.
What is that process and what are the insights needed to attain this purity? This is what both the monologue (audio in CD) and the essay try to address.
The reason why the story of Angulimala means so much to us is not simply because of how an extremely evil person can redeem himself, but because there is in each of us that which needs to be forgiven and purified. It is a way to Nibbana through the heart of love. That is why the author has entitled the work: “Towards the End of Forgiveness.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bhante Bodhidhamma began his Buddhist practice in the Soto Zen tradition at a monastery in the north of England, Throssel Hole Priory. He was living in Birmingham at the time and through his teacher, Vajira Bailey, was introduced to Ven. Dr Rewata Dhamma, a Burmese monk who established the Birmingham Buddhist Centre and Peace Pagoda. Out of interest he began to practise vipassanā. About that time, the Mahāsi Sayadaw came to England. He attended a course given by Sayadaw U Janaka, the teacher who accompanied him. In ’82, he went to work with Sayadaw in Burma. Before long he wanted to spend more time in meditation and so ordained in ’86. He spent the first years in England and then went to Sri Lanka. He joined an order of monks there who take their ordination from the Mahāsi Sayadaw. He stayed at their main meditation centre at Kanduboda for eight years. He returned to England in ’98 and began teaching.
From 2001 – 5, he was the resident teacher at Gaia House, a large meditation centre in the south of England which he acknowledges as his Dhamma Teacher Training College. During that time, he began with the help of supporters to establish the Satipanya Buddhist Trust, a registered charity (no. 1116668). The objective was to set up a small meditation centre dedicated to the Mahāsi tradition. This aspiration was realised on April 2nd 2007, when Satipanya Buddhist Retreat was opened on the borders of Wales and England.
TOWARDS THE END OF FORGIVENESS
- Product Code: IJ179/10
- Availability: 297
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