lesson 8 - nasin Puta (Buddhism)

In today’s lesson, we will listen to a fascinating discussion about Buddhism (nasin Puta) from kalama sin. The conversation features jan Lakuse (host), jan Tepo, and kala Salan (guest) who shares his knowledge and personal experiences with Buddhist philosophy and practice.

You will hear about Buddhist schools, meditation, spiritual paths, minimalism, and liberation from suffering.

Illustration made with AI (Recraft)

Kalama sin: nasin Puta 

        

        		





Let’s break the episode into several parts. For each part, we want to:


    

  1. listen and identify the main ideas
    2. 

  2. broaden our understanding
    3. 

  3. observe and practice the vocabulary
    4. 

  4. rephrase everything
    5. 



FIRST PART




Kalama sin: nasin Puta-1






        

            

        

        		





  
    S: lon. lon la mi jan lili la mi open kama sona. mi jan lili la mi kama sona lili. tenpo ale la mi alasa lili e nasin li wile kama sona e nasin ante, li wile kama sona e ma, e nasin ma, la mi jan pi lili mute a, la mi alasa e nasin li kama lukin e nasin pi jan Puta. taso nasin li suli a. sona mute li lon la mi ken ala sona pona e nasin… mi jan lili la mi ken ala sona pona.
  






NIMI
INLI





nasin
way, path, philosophy, doctrine




nasin Puta
Buddhism




alasa e nasin
to seek a path/way




jan lili
child




kama sona
to learn




kama lukin
to discover, to begin to see





1 KUTE LI SONA
Listen and try to answer these questions:


    

  1. jan Kala li open kama sona e nasin Puta lon tenpo seme?
    2. 

  2. jan lili li ken sona pona e nasin Puta anu seme?
    3. 

  3. jan Kala li alasa e seme lon tenpo lili ona?
    4. 



2 NASIN TOKI - TENPO ALE LA
Look closer at this construction:




tenpo ale la mi alasa lili e nasin
Always I would search a little for a path/way




The structure “tenpo X la” is used to express when something happens.


Let’s practice reformulating these sentences:


    

  1. mi moku lon tenpo pimeja.
    2. 



-> 
  
    tenpo pimeja la mi moku.
  


    

  1. ona li kama sona lon tenpo suno ale.
    2. 



-> 
  
    tenpo suno ale la ona li kama sona.
  


    

  1. jan lili li musi lon tenpo mute.
    2. 



-> 
  
    tenpo mute la jan lili li musi.
  


3 NASIN TOKI - MI KEN ALA
Now let’s focus on expressing inability:




mi ken ala sona pona e nasin…
I cannot understand the way well…




The negation “ala” is placed after “ken” to express inability.


Try to translate these sentences:


    

  1. I can’t sleep.
    2. 

  2. They can’t come today.
    3. 

  3. The child can’t understand difficult concepts.
    4. 

  4. We can’t find our way home.
    5. 



Here are possible answers:


    

  1. mi ken ala lape.
    2. 

  2. ona mute li ken ala kama lon tenpo suno ni.
    3. 

  3. jan lili li ken ala sona e ijo sona ike.
    4. 

  4. mi mute li ken ala alasa e nasin tawa tomo.
    5. 



SECOND PART


Illustration made with AI (midjourney)






Kalama sin: nasin Puta-2






        

            

        

        		





  
    S: la mi toki e ni: a. mi wile awen lon supa li wile wan e lawa. mi wan e lawa kepeken kon insa kepeken kon weka. ni la mi awen lon supa li wan e lawa li insa e kon li weka e kon, li insa e kon li weka e kon, li insa e kon li weka e kon, la mi kama pilin e ijo nasa a. lawa mi li kama wawa li kama wan. kon li weka… [la] pilin pona mute a li kama tawa sijelo mi la mi toki e ni: a ni li seme a? mi insa e kon li weka e kon. taso tenpo li kama li kama li kama la sijelo mi li kama pona mute. lawa mi li open a.
  


Try to define these expressions:






NIMI
INLI





awen lon supa

  
    to sit, to remain on a surface
  




wan e lawa

  
    to focus the mind, to concentrate
  




kon insa

  
    to breathe in
  




kon weka

  
    to breathe out
  




sijelo

  
    body
  




pilin pona

  
    good feeling, well-being
  





4 NASIN TOKI - MEDITATION
In this section, kala Salan describes his meditation practice. Let’s practice talking about meditation in toki pona.


Say in toki pona:


    

  1. I sit and breathe deeply.
    2. 

  2. When I breathe in and out, my mind becomes peaceful.
    3. 

  3. Meditation makes my body feel good.
    4. 

  4. I practice mindfulness every day.
    5. 



Here are some suggestions:


    

  1. 
  
    mi awen lon supa li insa e kon suli.
  
    2. 

  2. 
  
    mi insa e kon li weka e kon la lawa mi li kama pona.
  
    3. 

  3. 
  
    nasin pi wan lawa li pona e sijelo mi.
  
    4. 

  4. 
  
    tenpo suno ale la mi pali e nasin pi sona insa.
  
    5. 



5 PALI SONA
Now, describe how you feel during different activities:


    

  1. When I listen to music, I feel…
    2. 

  2. When I eat good food, I feel…
    3. 

  3. When I exercise, my body feels…
    4. 

  4. When I meditate, my mind becomes…
    5. 

  5. When I’m tired, I need to…
    6. 



Remember to use the structure tenpo X la and describe your feelings using pilin.


THIRD PART




Kalama sin: nasin Puta-3






        

            

        

        		





  
    S: taso tenpo ni la mi ante lili a. mi pilin a e ni: ken la mi o awen lili o pini e sike ni pi tomo sona… la sike li pini la mi ken tawa ma Mewika li ken awen lon tomo. ni la mi pini pona. mi wile ala pini ike li wile ala tawa weka pi pini ala. mi o pini lili e tomo sona. L: a, lon. S: ni la ale li pini pona li ike ala. L: lon. ni la sina wile kama sin lon tomo sona la sina ken… sina kama sin li ken pali pona, li ken awen e pali.
  


6 KUTE LI SONA
Listen to the third part and try to answer these questions:


    

  1. What has changed in kala Salan’s thinking?
    2. 

  2. What does he want to finish properly?
    3. 

  3. Where does he want to go after finishing?
    4. 

  4. How does jan Lakuse respond to kala Salan’s plan?
    5. 



7 NASIN TOKI - EXPRESSING CHANGE
Did you notice how change is expressed?




tenpo ni la mi ante lili a.
Now I have changed a little.




Let’s practice expressing change:


    

  1. My thinking has changed a lot.
    2. 

  2. The weather is changing.
    3. 

  3. She has changed her clothes.
    4. 

  4. They want to change their lifestyle.
    5. 



Try these translations:


    

  1. 
  
    pilin mi li ante mute.
  
    2. 

  2. 
  
    kon ma li kama ante.
  
    3. 

  3. 
  
    ona li ante e len ona.
  
    4. 

  4. 
  
    ona mute li wile ante e nasin lon ona.
  
    5. 



8 NASIN TOKI - PINI PONA
Another interesting expression from this section is pini pona (to finish well/properly):


    

  1. I want to finish my work well.
    2. 

  2. He didn’t finish his meal properly.
    3. 

  3. They completed the project successfully.
    4. 

  4. How can I end this relationship properly?
    5. 



Let’s try in toki pona:


    

  1. 
  
    mi wile pini pona e pali mi.
  
    2. 

  2. 
  
    ona li pini pona ala e moku ona.
  
    3. 

  3. 
  
    ona mute li pini pona e pali suli.
  
    4. 

  4. 
  
    mi ken pini pona e seme nasin pi kulupu olin ni?
  
    5. 



FOURTH PART




Kalama sin: nasin Puta-4






        

            

        

        		





  
    L: tawa sina la, jan pi nasin Telawata li jan sewi anu jan sona? S: ona li jan sona taso. mi la ona li jan sona taso. lon. ona li sama ni: jan li ken… jan sona li ken pona li ken… sina kama sona tan jan sona suli la ona li sewi ala. taso ona li pona tawa sina. ona li suli tawa sina. taso ona li jan sona taso. ona li sewi ala. ni la ona li ken suli. ona li ken pona mute. taso… L: sina wile ala anpa tawa ona anu seme? S: lon. L: a ni li sona pona. S: lon.
  


9 KUTE LI SONA
    

  1. According to kala Salan, what is Buddha in Theravada tradition?
    2. 

  2. Does kala Salan bow down to Buddha?
    3. 

  3. What is the relationship between a student and a wise teacher?
    4. 



10 PALI SONA - JAN SEWI VS JAN SONA
This section discusses the difference between viewing Buddha as a deity (jan sewi) or as a wise teacher (jan sona). Let’s practice making comparisons in toki pona.


Translate these sentences:


    

  1. A teacher is wise, but not divine.
    2. 

  2. Knowledge is more important than blind worship.
    3. 

  3. I respect my teacher but don’t worship them.
    4. 

  4. What’s the difference between knowledge and wisdom?
    5. 

  5. Some people pray to gods, others seek wisdom.
    6. 



Here’s my take:


    

  1. 
  
    jan sona li jo e sona mute. taso ona li sewi ala.
  
    2. 

  2. 
  
    sona li suli. anpa tawa sewi li suli ala.
  
    3. 

  3. 
  
    mi pana e sona wawa tawa jan sona mi. taso mi kepeken ala ona sama sewi.
  
    4. 

  4. 
  
    sona en sona wawa li ante lon seme?
  
    5. 

  5. 
  
    jan ante li toki tawa sewi. jan ante li alasa e sona wawa.
  
    6. 



FIFTH PART




Kalama sin: nasin Puta-5






        

            

        

        		





  
    S: nasin Puta la, ale li sike. sina moli la sina kama jan ante, anu sina kama ante. sina ken soweli. sina ken kon. sina ken jan. sina ken sewi. sina kama sin, lon sike. sina moli la sina kama sin la sina moli la sina kama sin la sina moli la sina kama sin… la, jan Puta li toki e ni: tenpo suli wawa la jan li moli li kama sin li moli li kama sin. ni li pilin ike. ni li kama e ike mute a. sina kama sin - sina olin e mama sina la mama sina li moli. sina olin e jan pona la jan pona li moli. sijelo sina li kama ike, la sina kepeken misikeke. taso sina moli. sijelo sina li pilin ike. sina moli.
  


11 KUTE LI SONA
Listen to this section and try to understand:


    

  1. What cycle does Buddhism describe?
    2. 

  2. What happens after death according to Buddhism?
    3. 

  3. Why is this cycle considered suffering?
    4. 



12 NASIN TOKI - THE CYCLE OF REBIRTH
In this section, the cycle of rebirth (samsara) is explained. Let’s practice talking about concepts of rebirth and transformation:


    

  1. After death, one is reborn.
    2. 

  2. The cycle of birth and death is endless.
    3. 

  3. All living beings experience suffering.
    4. 

  4. Medicine can heal the body, but cannot prevent death.
    5. 

  5. We love people, but they eventually die.
    6. 



Let’s translate:


    

  1. 
  
    jan li moli la ona li kama sin.
  
    2. 

  2. 
  
    sike pi lon sin en moli li pini ala.
  
    3. 

  3. 
  
    ijo ale pi kon lon li pilin ike.
  
    4. 

  4. 
  
    misikeke li ken pona e sijelo. taso ona li ken ala pini e moli.
  
    5. 

  5. 
  
    mi olin e jan. taso tenpo kama la ona li moli.
  
    6. 



13 PALI SONA - EXPRESSING CYCLES AND REPETITION
Buddhism speaks extensively about cycles. Practice expressing repetitive patterns:


    

  1. Every day is the same routine.
    2. 

  2. History repeats itself.
    3. 

  3. The seasons change in a cycle.
    4. 

  4. The moon waxes and wanes repeatedly.
    5. 

  5. Habits are difficult to break because they are cyclical.
    6. 



Try these in toki pona:


    

  1. 
  
    tenpo suno ale li sama.
  
    2. 

  2. 
  
    tenpo pini li kama sin.
  
    3. 

  3. 
  
    tenpo seli en tenpo lete en tenpo kasi en tenpo pan li kama sin lon sike.
  
    4. 

  4. 
  
    mun li kama suli li kama lili lon tenpo ale.
  
    5. 

  5. 
  
    nasin pi tenpo ale li ken ike tan ni: ona li sike.
  
    6. 



PINI
We’ve explored the fascinating conversation about Buddhism in toki pona. The discussion covered fundamental Buddhist concepts like meditation, the cycle of rebirth, suffering, and different schools of thought. Through this lesson, you’ve practiced expressing philosophical ideas, personal experiences, and spiritual concepts in toki pona.



Illustration made with AI (recraft)


For practice, try writing your own summary of what you’ve learned about Buddhism from this podcast, or describe your own spiritual or philosophical path in toki pona.






NIMI SULI
INLI





nasin Puta
Buddhism




nasin Telawata
Theravada Buddhism




nasin Mawejana
Mahayana Buddhism




jan Puta
Buddha




awen lon supa
meditation (sitting)




insa e kon
breathe in




weka e kon
breathe out




wan e lawa
focus the mind




pilin ike
suffering




sike
cycle (of rebirth)




weka tan sike
liberation (from cycle)




jan sewi
deity




jan sona
wise person