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Making excuses not to meditate
AN 8.80
âBhikkhus, there are these eight grounds for laziness. What eight?
(1) âHere, a bhikkhu has to do some work. It occurs to them: âI have some work to do. While Iâm working, my body will become tired. Let me lie down.â They lie down. They do not arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, for the realization of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the first ground for laziness.
(2) âAgain, a bhikkhu has done some work. âŠ
(3) âAgain, a bhikkhu has to make a trip. It occurs to them: âI have to make a trip. While traveling, my body will become tired. Let me lie down.â âŠ
(4) âAgain, a bhikkhu has made a trip. âŠ
(5) âAgain, a bhikkhu has walked for alms in a village or town but has not gotten as much food as they need, whether coarse or excellent. It occurs to them: âIâve walked for alms in the village or town but didnât get as much food as I need, whether coarse or excellent. My body has become tired and unwieldy. Let me lie down.â âŠ
(6) âAgain, a bhikkhu has walked for alms in a village or town and has gotten as much food as they need, whether coarse or excellent. It occurs to them: âIâve walked for alms in the village or town and gotten as much food as I need, whether coarse or excellent. My body has become as heavy and unwieldy as a heap of wet beans. Let me lie down.â âŠ
(7) âAgain, a bhikkhu is a little ill. It occurs to them: âIâm a little ill. I need to lie down. Let me lie down.â âŠ
(8) âAgain, a bhikkhu has recovered from illness. Soon after recovering, it occurs to them: âIâve recovered from illnessÍŸ Iâve just recovered from illness. My body is still weak and unwieldy. Let me lie down.â They lie down. They do not arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, for the realization of the as-yet-unrealized. This is the eighth ground for laziness.
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Very nice doodles. I really enjoyed this thread.
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Sanghamitta Bhikkhuni brings the Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka
(The other day, we went to Kelaniya University and I was hoping to see the famous painting of Sanghamitta and the Bodhi tree. But unfortunately, no luck⊠So I made my own copy. 
)
And this is what I would have seen in Kelaniya: 
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Kelaniya temple or University! 
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Seven bhikkhus in Kassapa Buddhaâs time
(Warning: The following is from the Dhammapada commentary, not an EBT⊠But itâs just such a dramatic story and features some of my favorite monks. And it has a happy ending⊠
)
During Kassapa Buddhaâs dispensation, after he had attained parinibbana and his teaching was in decline, seven bhikkhus, who were very committed to practise, decided to climb a mountain, throw down the ladder, and either attain arahantship or starve up there. The first monk attained arahantship with the psychic powers and offered to fetch food for the others but they refused to take it. The second monk became an anagami, also offered to fetch food, and was also refused. The other five starved.
In Gotama Buddhaâs dispensation, these five became eminent monks with high attainments and very unusual biographies: Pukkusati, Bahiya Daruciriya, Dabba Mallaputta, Kumara Kassapa, and Sabhiya. The anagami monk, who was reborn in the pure abodes, continued to help his former companions. He directed Bahiya to the Buddhaâs teaching, and gave the riddle to Kumara Kassapa that facilitated his awakening.
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Itâs a great story! Strangely, two were killed by cows:
Pukkusati: SuttaCentral
Bahiya Daruciriya: SuttaCentral
[The leper Suppabuddha SuttaCentral and TambadÄáčhika TambadÄáčhika were also killed by the same cow, a yakkhinÄ«, according to the commentaries.]
Dabba Mallaputta self-immolated: SuttaCentral
Kumara Kassapa seems relatively normal by comparison: SuttaCentral
And also Sabhiya: SuttaCentral
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Dear Yodha, i love your doodles, and the painting is awe-inspiring to see and be with if you are still nearby. It is at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara 3 kms away from the University (https://goo.gl/maps/BKZuB2xBZsEzQFEy5). If you go inside the main shrine building and walk through, itâs almost impossible to miss.
Donât know if youâd be interested or not, but i spoke about this painting and different ways contemporary artists have depicted the same scene in Toronto last June (@ 32.20): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oDwOL7rr6E&t=181s.
Much metta
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Oh, thanks for the directions! Iâm still in Sri Lanka but not in Kelaniya. If I get the chance Iâll definitely go and see the painting.
Thanks very much for sharing your talk. 
With respect 
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One who stands squarely before the door to the Deathless
SN 12.49
They are then called a noble disciple who is accomplished in view, accomplished in vision, who has arrived at this true Dhamma, who sees this true Dhamma, who possesses a traineeâs knowledge, a traineeâs true knowledge, who has entered the stream of the Dhamma, a noble one with penetrative wisdom, one who stands squarely before the door to the Deathless.
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Awesome doodles. You should really make a book with all your doodles. 
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I have no skills and resources to do that. But if someone wants to volunteer they are welcome to. 
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Watch out for dengue mosquito 
!!
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Iâve had dengue fever twice already. I think Iâm immune nowâŠ
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Painful but better than the disease!
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I have been doodling a bit over the last few month and thought Iâd share todayâs doodle. Itâs not sutta based, however, it was this thread that got me doodling again after many years without picking up the pen. I wasnât going to post any of these up, but have been encouraged by one of the other nuns to do so. These doodles have been a nice way for me to think about practice and how I relate to my mind.
It did have a caption but Iâm going to leave it blank for your own interpretation
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Beautiful and so many great ways to interpret it 
Sending lots of metta your way Ven @Pasanna
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It speaks to me. Do please share others.
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