Cultivating Wholesomeness: full moon - Thursday 2nd April, 2026
Hasten to cultivate that which is wholesome.
Restrain your mind from that which is evil.
The mind that is slow to do good
can easily find pleasure in doing that which is evil.
Dhammapada 116
When we are confronted by a lot of confusion, such as that of our world right now, we could assume large solutions are necessary. There may well be big changes called for in the way society operates, however here and now what we can effectively offer might in fact be many small solutions. In this Dhammapada verse the Buddha is encouraging us to cultivate habits that are wholesome; training our body, speech and mind to incline towards that which is good.
The way things appear to be is not necessarily the way things actually are. When a wound is healing it feels itchy and it is natural to want to scratch it. What helps is not scratching it. Even if our modest efforts to intentionally engage in small moments of patience, generosity and empathy appear insignificant, they can be contributing to a wholesome momentum that brings real benefit, to ourselves and others.
These Dhammapada quotes have been taken or adapted from, A Dhammapada For Contemplation, by Ajahn Munindo, published by Aruno Publications. They should not be understood as literal renderings of the Dhammapada. For literal translations, please read other works. The reflections are by Ajahn Munindo.
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Receiving Guidance: full moon - Tuesday 3rd March, 2026
Let the wise guide beings
away from darkness,
giving direction and advice.
They will be treasured by the virtuous
and dismissed by the foolish.
Dhammapada 77
Imagine for a moment that you have received a profoundly important piece of advice; advice that is going to positively change the rest of your life. Then consider your good fortune at having been given such advice. Now, bring to mind how significant it is that you were actually able to ‘hear’ the advice that was given.
It is quite possible that wise beings are giving us direction and advice though we don’t ‘hear’ what they are saying. Making ourselves ready to receive wisdom from those who see more clearly is an important aspect of spiritual practice. If our minds are overly active in thinking about how things should be or shouldn’t be according to our preferences, then we might miss out on helpful guidance that is being offered.
As an exercise, when listening to someone speak, whether you think they are wise or not, try imagining your ears are in the middle of your chest. Invite your mind to be quiet. This is not about rejecting the value of discriminative analysis, it is about learning to listen more accurately.
These Dhammapada quotes have been taken or adapted from, A Dhammapada For Contemplation, by Ajahn Munindo, published by Aruno Publications. They should not be understood as literal renderings of the Dhammapada. For literal translations, please read other works. The reflections are by Ajahn Munindo.
All content strictly for free distribution only.
The Way Things Appear: full moon - Friday 5th December 2025
It is easy to do that which is
of no real benefit to oneself;
it is difficult indeed to do that
which is truly beneficial and good.
Dhammapada 163
When we register just how complex and challenging this human existence has become, the task of trying to change it can appear impossible. There is already enough evidence showing how powerful technology causes fragmentation, both within communities and individuals, contributing to despair. There is also evidence that unimaginably good things can happen. If you have ever broken a bone, the recovery process takes time. Healing doesn’t happen according to our preferences – though healing can happen. The task of addressing the suffering in our world, inwardly and outwardly, takes effort. Let us not just settle for the way things merely appear to be. May the Buddha’s wisdom serve to inspire us.
FIVE spiritual faculties: full moon – Tuesday 10th June 2025
In one whose mind is unsteady,
whose heart is not prepared with true teachings,
whose faith is not matured,
the fullness of wisdom will not manifest
DHAMMAPADA v. 38
We are all familiar with teachings on mindfulness. It is important to remember that the Buddha encouraged the cultivation of five spiritual faculities, not just one: trust/confidence (saddha), motivation (viriya), embodied mindfulness (sati), collectedness of attention (samadhi), and discernment (pannya). When faced with rapid change and disruption, it matters that we prepare ourselves in ways that protect and strengthen us. With a well-developed capacity for trusting in true principles there is less risk of falling into doubt and despair. If you have energy and motivation you are more likely to perceive difficulties as challenges that you can learn from, not just as problems that obstruct. When mindfulness is cultivated and embodied, you are better prepared to accurately engage with whatever your inner and outer worlds present you. Disciplined attention can help equip you with a sense of steadiness and the ability to remain focussed, not chronically distracted. When the faculty of discernment is functional, you will be more inclined to ask the right sort of questions, at the right time, in the right way, leading to clarity and balanced sensitivity.
WISE ACTION: full moon – Sunday 11th April 2025
As a beautiful flower without fragrance
is disappointing,
so are wise words without right action.
DHAMMAPADA v. 51
A great deal of inspiration can be gleaned from reading and listening to wise teachings. We might even know enough about the Buddhist path of practice to be able to talk about it and inspire others.The implication of Dhammapada verse 51 is that such inspiration is enhanced when our actions are congruent with this wisdom. Life is already disappointing enough without our adding to it, so let’s determine to act in ways befitting the wise teachings we have received.