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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 19

walk 5 feet on top of the water, then silent for a long time, his face received fully the experience of the
I increased the length each year impassive. At last he spoke gently, loss, accepted it as what is, and then
until I could walk all the way across.” his voice filled with compassion: allowed your emotions to go on to
Upon hearing this the other students “You know, you could have just experience what is possible in the
gasped in amazement. They had given that boatman three rupees present moment? More importantly,
been right. He was the best; he could and saved yourself 10 years.” are you still caught in an endless
walk on water. cycle of wanting mind, imagining
Looking back over your life, how that it is the next accomplishment,
They quickly realized they had many weeks, months, even years change in relationship, or piece
broken the noble silence in the have you wasted anguishing over of recognition that will make you
hall and fell silent waiting for something you didn’t get from a happy? Pay the boatman at the river
their teacher to question and parent, a spouse, or in life? Did all of loss and sorrow his three rupees
praise the returnee. Much to their of that anguish serve you, or would and cross over to the other shore.
wonderment the teacher stayed it have been more skillful to have Your life is here, now. EH

A Brief Introduction

to the Pāli Suttapiṭaka:

the Five Nikāyas, Part I

By Venerable Dr R. Chandawimala Thero

Ven. Dr. R. Chandawimala Thero is a Sri Lankan Buddhist conferences in Australia, China, Hong
Buddhist monk who received higher ordination Kong, France, India, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka,
in 1989. He completed his monastic education at and Thailand. He was awarded the Best Young
Gangarama Pirivena, Colombo 2. He graduated from Scholar award at 3rd Sangeeti Buddhist Conference
the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, in Buddhist in South Korea in 2006 for his paper on Bodhisattva
Philosophy (Hon) in 1994 and obtained M.A. from Practice in Ancient Sri Lanka. His field of interest
the same University in 1997. As a trained teacher covers Early Buddhism, Buddhist Philosophy,
he received PG Dip in Education from the University Buddhist Psychology, Mahāyāna Buddhism,
of Colombo and served as a teacher at a monastic Vajrayāna Buddhism, and Buddhist history. His
college in Sri Lanka. He also received M.A. and PhD latest publication is “Heterodox Buddhism: The
degrees in Buddhist Studies from the University School of Abhayagiri”.
of Hong Kong in 2003 and 2008, respectively.
Currently, he is serving as an Associate Professor Eastern Horizon is pleased to publish Bhante’s
at Buddhist College of Singapore, at KMSPKS article on the Pali Sutta Pitaka in three parts. The
Monastery. He has published several articles in first part in this issue is on the Long Discourses of
international journals and presented papers at the Buddha.