A forum to find useful information about orthodox Theravada - and to discuss, debate and ask questions on Theravada.
Say anything you want here.
We also have a Feedback Category which is for more serious comments.
7 Likes
I’m very happy about a modern server (Discourse) and like minded individuals to join in a proper Classical Theravada Dhamma Discussion as a main focus. The software provided by Discourse.org is easy to edit, markup, add attachments, quote, and provide direct links to posts or individual comments on a post. I am so grateful for this.
@RobertK has been keeping this going for 2 years on shared server even though only 3 people joined. As the fourth member, I approached him about moving the serveer to its own home. Within a few days, everything was finished. Many thanks to user @kokoye2007 for the volunteer work to help set things up, in addition to his technical help with other issues. User @Sandeep pre-paid-donated the server costs for over 1 year.
7 Likes
I think one of the major lack in the internet realm seems fulfilled by this skillful act.
Out of the three realms of existence, we are living in the sensual realm, and the human plane is a major part of it. In the modern era the internet realm also has become a major part of the human realm.
Nevertheless, there has not been existing a successful Discussion Board for the Classical Theravadins where unorthodox people do not dominate.
With the merits of this act may the good expectations of the contributors be fulfilled soon.
4 Likes
If you use Chrome browser and you have a careful eye, you can click on “downloading app”. It works for both phones and desktop. I have it on my home screen on my phone and also on the desktop. It is a searchable app from the desktop launcher.
If you missed it, delete the cookie for classicaltheravada and then sign-in again… look in the upper right corner near or inside the address bar.
4 Likes
Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu
May the true Dhamma prevails ! May Vibhajjavada prospers !
5 Likes
Yes, at least, people will see that Classical Theravada is different.
4 Likes
Hi all, I’m new here. I’m trying to write a new post but I don’t see any option to do this. How should I? Is my account too new?
2 Likes
yes the forum default is to allow making new topics only after a reply or 2 to other topics.
Anyway I have now reset your level so you can start topics.
2 Likes
Ok, how can I add a private real name that’s not a display name to comply with the tos?
Hi Sir, is there a way to add the name in a private field? The name field is public in preferences.
1 Like
no. But it is ok, we can leave it as is for now.
Welcome to the forum!
1 Like
Hi Venerables & friends, happy to be here! How are your nine doors and four wheels going? Mine are bearable. Looking forward to some great Dhamma discussions here.
2 Likes
Hi, everyone! Looking forward to learning from all of you.
4 Likes
Welcome!
1 Like
Namo Buddhāya everyone.
Sādhu sādhu sādhu.
Vandami Saṅgha Maharatna.
__
I’m very happily surprised about the existence of this Orthodox Theravada website. One of my student show it just now, I thought it’s made by him. Why?
Because almost all the sentences in this website are exactly the way I think and taught my students in many countries, in these few years.
I also talk about Orthodox Theravāda, the importance of Abhidhamma, Aṭṭhakatha, Visuddhimagga, etc. The only thing differs is I always reject and correct my students from using the word “commentary” to refer to Aṭṭhakatha. Use Exposition, Exegesis.
That’s why I responded my student few minutes ago with:
"Me:
Aiyah
Exposition Arihant, never commentary.
Bhante Buddhaghosa, the Great Translator. Not commentator.
Using commentary to refer to Aṭṭhakatha is disrespectful, is sacrilegious. But many of the content satisfy my Heart.
NEVER use commentary.
That just the Thorn for the Heart.
Other parts very Nice and Lovely.
__
Student:
Namo Buddhaya Bhante,
I didn’t create this website.
__
Me:
Who??
Oh so shocking.
When I read It,
I think it’s you who made It.
And I think, ah such a Great Student. Because almost everything—besides the usage of word commentary—almost exactly the way I think and they way I teach this few years.
How to contact the writer?"
__
Who is the maker of this website? Please forgive me because I really not skilled in technology. This website really confuse me but due to the Amazingness of the existence of Orthodox Theravāda, like-minded people, I try my Best to connect here.
Whatever support I can give, I’ll try my Best. Me and my student, we’re Tipiṭaka Reciter Monks, live in seclusion in Sri Lanka. Occasionally travel various countries to teach Pariyatti and Patipatti, but incline to seclusion.
We interested in nothing but Arahantship.
Preserving Ancient Orthodox Dhamma is our service to Sāsana. We also come from Esoteric Theravāda lineage. Esoteric Theravāda is just another name of Orthodox Theravāda. It’s called Esoteric to differs It from the mainstream infected theravāda. Infected with personal opinions that is going against Tipiṭaka Principles.
Really look forward to connect more so we can do more for Buddhasāsana.
May All Beings be Happy,
May Saṃsāra be Empty!
Namo Buddhāya.
2 Likes
Welcome Venerable,
This forum is really for serious Buddhists like you and your students. The founders are venerable Subhuti, an American monk living in Sri Lanka and me, a layman. We have decades of study of the Tipitaka and Expository material.
2 Likes
Namo Buddhāya Upāsaka.
Oh Sādhu sādhu sādhu.
Vandami Bhante.
Yes, we’re interested only in Pure Dhamma, only in whatever Dhamma that can successfully help us master Pariyatti Patipatti Pativedha.
We have almost no interest for labha sakkara pasamsa and any rebirth in whatsoever realm. Only Parinibbāna is interesting for us.
May you always be Well and Happy.
Namo Buddhāya.
Welcome @Esoteric_Theravada!
@RobertK and myself merged and created this website. It was created for people who want to get away from the “normalized” English dhamma. Classical Orthodox Theravāda is the only way to describe us properly. It was created out of frustration from being a subgroup in “dhammawheel”. If the other members left us alone, this separate group would not exist. However, there were (still are) annoying members who like to pick fights and brows the subgroups looking to cause trouble. There are no sub-categories for EBT or Suttanta Only (or any other religions). All is based on Theravāda “as it should be.” But due to the times, we need to label it as classical or orthodox. In my parting words to Robert, I noticed he had a 4 member discourse subdomain he was paying handsomely for. I proposed we merge his website and name as a separate domain for 1/4 of the price which I had sponsors for. Even now, with 300+ members, we are still cheaper than the original subdomain costs 4 or so years ago. A friend of ours from Myanmar helped us set up the server and bails us out every so often when the updates go sour.
We are very happy to have you here. However, since you are in Sri Lanka, unfortunately, you might know that “pure dhamma” has become a dirty word. But we know what you are saying when you said that.
(Pure Dhamma has a direct association with the late ven. vaharaka. One of the main points of controversy is rewriting pāḷi keywords. to him, anicca means “without wish” or a+iccha).
Your username reminds me of a post I made on The Secret Teachings of Theravada
Vandami Bhante.
I put my head always under All Buddhas, All Dhammas, and All Saṅghas.
Please pardon me that I have no mental capacity to understand technicalities of technology and website things. For me even to find way to type like this is already very sophisticated process, let alone to understand how this things being set up and maintained. In short, I know it takes a lot of skill to do so.
We are very happy to have you here. However, since you are in Sri Lanka, unfortunately, you might know that “pure dhamma” has become a dirty word. But we know what you are saying when you said that.
(Pure Dhamma has a direct association with the late ven. vaharaka. One of the main points of controversy is rewriting pāḷi keywords. to him, anicca means “without wish” or a+iccha).
I’m trying to make sense about how some of you quote some part of the text to reply to. Manual copy paste? 
Oh unfortunately I really don’t know Bhante. Most of the time when we stay in one place, we just stay there, like a tortoise. Almost no any communication with people around.
Our daily activities mainly chanting Pali Tipiṭaka, we wish to finish entire Tipiṭaka together with Aṭṭhakathā-Ṭīkā-Añña, entire CST Tipiṭaka content.
Also Meditation. Also writing various Dhamma writings and Dhamma Books. My time everyday finished so fast. Teaching many students online also. Not updated to so many other things. We have “zero drama” policy. Whenever we see drama, we disappear 
So I don’t know about Varaha. But I do even heard there are some serious miccha ditthi spread in Sri Lanka, some say Lord Buddha born in Sri Lanka, etc. but we just ignore and steer clear from that.
My Guru taught me Bhante
Samsāro hi balavisayo.
~
Samsara is the domain of the fools.
Lord Buddha also said
Puthujjano ummattako viya
~
Worldling are like a mad man.
Therefore, we don’t have time to manage them. You crazy? Bye bye, I hand you to be helped by the future Sammāsambuddhas. For me and my student group, we only focus on our very soon Arahantship Bhante..
Even if not yet Arahatta, we’ll reborn in Tusita and never come back from there anymore. Tusita many Ariya Devas, but if reborn in heaven need to set many Protective Aspirations. For example need to set entire palace compound all Brahmacari Devas. No liquor. Need to avoid touching heaven liquor and nymph, the 2 main cause of loss of mindfulness.
But yeah reborn in Tusita is already a great misfortune, better Arahant in this Life.
Your username reminds me of a post I made on The Secret Teachings of Theravada
Esoteric Theravāda doesn’t mean secret Bhante. We take it from DutiyaMitta Sutta. GulhaGambhiraDhamma, Dhamma that is unusually elaborated, hidden from the crowd due to high level Wisdom necessary to understand It properly, and Deep, not superficial.
Examples of Esoteric Theravāda Text:
VisuddhiMagga
Rasavahini (Saddharmalankaraya in Sinhalese)
Ledi Sayadaw’s Writings
Pa Auk Sayadaw’s Writings
Ariyadhamma Mahathero Itipiso Practice.
We’re from the living lineage of Esoteric Theravāda, Bhante. How to harness the Power of Devas, Mantram, Yantra to proceed in Dhamma Path, based on Right View. With Tipiṭaka as compass and filter.
If someone learn Ledi Sayadaw writings, it’s how I breath Bhante. Not because I learn from Ledi Sayadaw, but I already see Dhamma from the style very similar to Ledi Sayadaw that when I met His Writings, I just feel “ah, I Ledi Sayadaw still alive today, I’m surely will be one of His closest disciple!” Why? Because I feel as if our Heart and way of thinking is One.
Can see also if not mistaken—because usually I remember the content but forget the name of the Sutta—AnathaoindikovadaSutta where Bhante Sāriputta and Bhante Ananda visit Anathapindika that sick and almost pass away. How Bhante Sāriputta expound deep subtle Dhamma to him and he start to cry, Bhante Ananda think he start to lose mindfulness in the face of death and he said he cry because how can for this long time attending to Lord Buddha and Sangha, he never heard Dhamma this Beautiful?
Then Bhante Sāriputta said that these kind of Deep Dhamma usually not taught to white cloth cladded householder. This Bhante is what we refer to as Esoteric Theravāda.
Also Boran Kammatthana, the Ancient Practice that almost totally disappeared but up to now some of the text still survive a bit here and there, in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, not all are right, but we indeed have access and living lineage about how to practice it and really, can attain Jhana, heal diseases, proceed in Vipassanā quite effortlessly. No difficulty, no drama.
Even for my householders students attaining Jhana is normal. Not my Power, all because of harnessing PāḷiPiṭaka Power. Actually when I meet this platform, I thought whether to pour out many Dhamma Jewel here or not for future documentation Bhante.
Because most of my Gurus are forest Monks that don’t like humans. In front of many people they’re silent to the extent people think they’re just normal empty Monks but their attainment and psychic power and Wisdom is so Great. They have Compassion but they don’t want the hassle of explaining and debating.
Fortunately I stumble into this kind of connection solely due to my Puja. I do a lot of Puja to Lord Buddha Relic, Bodhi, Saṅgha. These Bhante when they see me serving Saṅgha, slowly they open door for me and ‘initiate’ me into Deep Dhamma that’s laid plain in PāḷiPiṭaka but almost no one talking about.
But the point is, All Knowledge is to support Nibbāna attainment. Not for worldly enjoyment. Some Gurus taught me Kumaravijja, Art of Youth. One can lengthen lifespan up to 300, 500, 1.000 years with the appearance of 20-30 years old.
Using Kayanupassana Satipaṭṭhāna Power, Catudhatuvavatthanakammatthana, etc. Ledi Sayadaw also talk about it if not mistaken in some part of Tika also mention something like ..actually to posponed the manifestation of aging is possible.. the purpose isn’t about living forever, no it’s impossible.
The point is about appabadha, less disease, less discomfort, so wherever we go, no difficulty. I’ve seen so many drama caused by diseases among Monks Bhante. Due to my Guru Blessings, im the last 2,5 years, going around 8-9 countries, inside forest or cities, changing temperature and weather and humidity, I never get sick, not even cough or cold. This is the usefulness.
So we don’t need even herbal medicine, let alone chemical one. Few times my teeth has cavities, go check dentist to see where the position, dentist say need to do surgery because wisdom tooth position pushing the front tooth, and the cavities already deep. I say no need, go back forest monastery, use the healing technique, after 26 days go to check in the city again, all cavities disappear.
I heal maybe 8 cavities without any chemical medicine. Only coconut oil, clove, some Meditation. Esoteric Theravāda teach the usage of Ānāpānassati Nimitta and Kasina to Heal Bhante.
The logic is simple. Because it’s very refine rupa. Use it to gently ‘guide’ the body to regrow. Yeah need elaboration but after elaboration people will always see that there are plain logic behind it, no any strange rituals.
My basic is science Bhante, I taught science olympic student shen I’m in highschool. Some of my student are nuclear scientist. In the past I don’t believe miraculous things. But meeting with so many Masters, I can’t argue with how they can read mind, etc.
But still I don’t like something that is unsure. I like to quantify and measure things. So through the Power of Abhdihamma, Abhidhamma tame me to bow down thoroughly to Lord Buddha Sāsana. 
Esoteric Theravāda satisfy me because it answers and fill up so many ‘gap’ in mainstream theravāda.
For example, even among pa auk practitioners, it’s a common secret that most yogi are simply suffering. Can’t do Ānāpānassati, even already have Jhana but still many fighting. Not only Pa Auk but we just take example.
Esoteric Theravāda give a very foolproof method of meditation before going into “common” SamathaVipassana to prepare the body for Samādhi.
We call it Energy Meditation. It harness the basic knowledge of cakra nadi prana but we don’t go too much detail and for sure free from the touch of hindu wrong views, but yeah, NamaRupaAññamañña, people mind why so chaotic? Wind element chaotic. Prana consist of fire wind element dominant rupakalapas.
Earth element gross (olarika) bad quality, mind stiff rigid stubborn.
Water element gross, mind mellow melancholy can’t set boundary, lazy heavy.
Fire element gross, strong ambition and greed. Body and mind hot.
Wind element gross, anxiety fear worry paranoid.
__
All these can be gained if someone practice Kayagatasati. Esoteric Theravāda Knowledge are actually the elaborative Knowledge that arise mainly from Satipaṭṭhāna Practice.
Many things, need to write more later. I just wish the Knowledge like this not disappear together with my death. And nothing need trust or faith, all can be proven and under scrutiny, one will always see the Abhidhamma explanation for everything.
I wish we can communicate and discuss more freely Bhante. And there are one thing that make me hesitate to pour all the Jewel here, I told to my student this morning.
We can’t associate with people that disrespect Dhamma or tolerate disrespect towards Dhamma. I’m very Happy to see this Website. But wherever people use the term commentary to refer to Aṭṭhakatha, we can’t stay there.
Dhamma is the Mother of All Buddhas. I can elaborate how Great is Aṭṭhakatha and of course Pāḷi Tipiṭaka. But it takes a lot of time to type.
I told my student, I’m considering 2 moves.
First, just disappear silently. Second, elaborate to them why the term commentary is untolerable. No any excuse can dissolve that disrespect. Before that being corrected, we can’t pour Dhamma Jewel to dirty container. That’ll be Dhamma agarava. And if we pour Dhamma to dirty container, two adinavas, 2 dangers,
We can’t attain higher Dhamma and we’ll lose the Dhamma we have attained. In ET (Esoteric Theravāda), Puja is the Root.
SaddhammapatirupakaSutta. Lord Buddha to Bhante Mahakassapa.
Respect to Lord Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, Sikkha, Samādhi.
By protecting the Utmost Respect to these Five Jewels, we gain Esoteric Theravāda Knowledge beyond what most people can even know.
That’s why we shouldn’t defile the water source we’re drinking from. The requirements of Puja towards Dhamma is non-negotiable.
But to explain long and detailed too tiring. If sensitive enough will understand commentary is very bad. Undermine Aṭṭhakatha authority, trustworthiness, reliability. Very very disrespectful.
May Bhante always be Well and Happy.
Namo Buddhāya.