Daily Dhamma Drops

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Purity of Virtue is the root of Perfection!

His virtue is immaculate. His wearing the bowl and robe pleases and inspires trust.
His going forth will bear its fruit. A pure Bhikkhu never fears that self-reproach
will obsess and consume his mind, since there is indeed no darkness inside the sun...
A Bhikkhu of bright virtue shines forth even in the forest of reclusive ascetics,
by the radiance of his past deeds, just like the moon lights up the clear night sky...
Now if the body smell of pure Bhikkhus can succeed in pleasing even the deities,
what then of the perfume of their virtue? It is a far more splendid scent than all
the other perfumes in the world, because the fragrance of pure morality spreads
unhindered in all directions! The favours done for a pure & virtuous one, even when
only few, will bear great fruit! The pure one thus becomes a fountain of advantage!
No fetid fermentations plagues a virtuous one, since his pure behaviour digged out
the root of future suffering in lives to come. Excellence among humans & also even
among deities, if longed for, is not hard to gain for one whose morality is perfected!
However, when ethics is fully perfected, then mind seeks only the supreme Nibbana:
The state where utterly pure peace prevails! Such is the blessed fruit of clean virtue,
ethics, rectitude, goodness, integrity, righteousness, and high-mindedness: It awards
fulfilment, so let a wise one know it well: This root of all the branches of perfection!

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Remote & Solitary is Forest Bliss!

The forest bhikkhu pays much attention to the experience of forest:
Thereby he enters deeper yet unattained depths of concentration.
By living remote he is not distracted by any unsuitable phenomena.
He is free from anxiety and stress. He abandons attachment to life.
He enjoys a taste of the bliss of seclusion, and the silenced peace.
He lives secluded and apart. Calm and remote abodes delight his heart.
The hermit that in woods can dwell alone, may gain the bliss as well.
Whose savour is beyond the price of royal bliss even in any paradise.
So let the forest delight a wise man for his precious dwelling's site.
Sources: MN 121, AN III 343, Vism I 73

ALONE
The one who sits and lives solitary,
& walks alone finds great delight
in the silence of the forest...
Dhammapada 305

SUCH ONE
The One wearing only 3 robes,
who is thin with veins showing,
who meditates alone in the forest,
such one is a Holy One...
Dhammapada 395

http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Forest_Bliss.htm

Have a nice calm day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Forest Bliss...

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Daily Words of the Buddha:

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Sabbadanam dhammadanam jinati
Sabbarasam dhammaraso jinati
Sabbaratim dhammarati jinati
Tanhakkhayo sabbadukkham jinati.

The Supreme Triumph:
The gift of Dhamma surpasses all other presents.
The taste of Dhamma excels every other flavour.
The delight of Dhamma exceeds any other happiness.
Eradication of craving conquers all and any suffering...

Have a really nice day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

The Supreme Triumph!
:p

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Open Air Tree Root Dwelling Teaches Transience!

The Blessed One often praised Tree Roots as dwelling place:
Secluded in mind and guarded well by deities one lives there
truly devoted without longing or urging for any city or house.
And when the tender leaves are seen, first bright carmine red,
then turning green, and finally to shades of yellow as they fall,
one relinquishes mistaken belief in permanence once and for all.
Tree roots is thus granted by him the One as a serene scene no
wise and clever one should reject at all, for study of rise & fall!
Vism I 74, Vin I 58, 96

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Sincere Motivation, Dedication and Determination!

Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for non-greed sees the danger in all greed...
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for non-hate recognizes the error in all hate.
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for understanding realizes a fault in ignorance.
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for renunciation knows the pain of house life.
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for seclusion perceives the stress of society.
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for release comprehends the wrong in clinging.
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for awakening is dedicated to ending rebirth!
The degree of whole-hearted sincerity, dedication and resolute determination does
indeed determine the remaining time in Samsara before finally reaching Nibbana...

More on this crucial issue of Motivation:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Samsara.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Signless_Nibbana.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Motivation.htm

Have a nice well motivated day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Sincere Motivation!

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

The 10 Tricks in the Art of Jhãna Concentration:

1: Making the basis pure: Means clean body, clean room and clean morality.
2: Balanced abilities = Energy equals concentration. Faith equals understanding.
3: Skill in the sign: Any moment of absorption is remembered exactly for recollection.
4: One exerts the mind on all occasions, it advantageously should be pushed forth.
5: One controls the mind on all occasions, it advantageously should be held back.
6: One encourages mind on occasions it advantageously should be incited and cheered.
7: One observes the mind with calm equanimity, when things proceed appropriately.
8: One avoids all distracted, agitated, frantic, unconcentrated, and stressed persons.
9: One cultivates company with well focused, determined and concentrated persons.
10: One is resolutely determined upon that absorption level of jhana concentration.
Vism I 128.

Have a nice well focused day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

The Art of Absorption!

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

The Body is a bone-frame plastered with fat and skin:

The body's nature: 300 bones, jointed by 180 joints, sewn into a chain by 900 sinews,
plastered over with pieces of flesh, enveloped by inner membrane, fat and outer skin,
with 9 openings constantly dribbling and trickling with tears, snot, saliva, slime, urine
and excrement. Its bowels are inhabited by many fold bacteria, parasites and worms,
the home of disease, the source of painful states, perpetually oozing from the nine
orifices like a chronic open boil, and from thousands skin pores the stale sweat seeps,
with bluebottles and their like buzzing round it, which when untended with tooth brush,
washing, shaving, bathing, underclothing and dressing up looks just like a living corpse!
In its natural wild then a body is a stinking nauseating repulsiveness, but by concealing
its private parts under several cloths, by daubing it with various perfumes and salves,
by pranking it with jewellery, it is faked up into a state being mistaken as 'I' & 'mine'!
So men delight in women, and women in men, without perceiving the true nature of this
body's characteristic foulness, now masked by this adventitious adornment. But in the
ultimate sense, there is no place on any body even the size of an atom fit to lust after!
Comically we loove the whole of this 'our precious temple, but when any such bits of it
as head hairs, body hairs, nails, teeth, spittle, snot, excrement or urine have dropped
off the body, then beings will not touch them! Though somewhat absurd, they are now
ashamed, humiliated & disgusted with exactly the same matter as they adored before!
But as long as any one of these disgusting things remains inside the body, though it is
just as repulsive when inside, they take this body as agreeable, desirable, permanent,
pleasant, & 'my beautiful self', since they are wrapped in the murk of ignorance and
dyed with unseen and unrecognised affective greed for a physical self... Vism I 196

Have a nice noticing day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Foul Flesh Frame!

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Any Buddha is a sublimely Well Gone One (Sugata):

1: Because of the Way he has travelled, was good,
2: Because of having gone to an excellent Destination,
3: Because of having gone there Completely and Absolutely,
4: Because of explaining the Way thereto suitably and precisely!

The Noble 8 fold Way he went, was purified and blameless, since it was without delay,
obstruction, and leading directly to a sublime safety! The excellent place, that he has
gone to is the deathless state of Nibbana, which is supreme, since this happy mode of
existence cannot be found anywhere else! He has furthermore gone there completely
absolutely & irreversibly without ever going back again to the defilements eliminated
by each stage of path. For this is said: He does not again turn around, return, or slide
back to the defilements abandoned by first the stream-entry, then the once-returner,
then the never-returner and finally the Arahat path, thus is he supremely well gone...
From the time of making his resolution at the feet of Dipankara Buddha many universal
cycles ago, up until his Enlightenment in year 534 BC, by working solely for the welfare
and happiness of the entire world, and through the fulfilment of the thirty perfections,
and through following the Middle Way without ever deviating towards either of the two
extremes, that is: Neither towards indulgence in sense pleasures, nor in any self-torture,
neither towards any form of eternalism, nor any form of annihilationism, therefore is he
sublimely well gone (Sugata), having gone rightly and exactly down the exceedingly subtle,
razor-sharp and difficult Noble 8-Fold Middle Way! Then he enunciates and explains this
unique Way rightly & exactly by speaking only about what is relevant, what fits the present
occasion and in a way that suits the ability of the many listeners, so that they understand...
Therefore also is he a sublimely Well Gone (Sugata) One, because of explaining this Way
faultlessly, systematically and accurately. Vism I 203

___

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

What, when and how to Speak!

Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be untrue and incorrect,
disadvantageous, and which also is unwelcome and disagreeable to
others, that he does not speak. (No need at all...)
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be true and correct, yet
still disadvantageous, and which also is unwelcome and disagreeable
to others, that neither does he speak. (No advantage for listener!)
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be both true and correct,
and also advantageous, yet still unwelcome & disagreeable to others,
that speech the Perfect One waits for the right time to speak!
(Correct constructive critique should fall, when it does not hurt!)
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be untrue and incorrect,
disadvantageous, but pleasing, agreeable and welcome to others,
that he does neither speak. (Empty and false flatter is all out...)
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be both true and correct,
but disadvantageous, though pleasing, agreeable & welcome to others,
that he does not speak. (No speech, when no advantage for listener!)
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be both true and correct,
advantageous, and also pleasing, agreeable and welcome, that speech
the Perfect One knows and picks the exact right time to speak.
(Making well timed maximum impact of advantage for listener!)
MN 58

__

Have a nice well spoken day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

What to Say?

Validus · September 2009

samahita;64657 said:
The body's nature: 300 bones, jointed by 180 joints, sewn into a chain by 900 sinews,
plastered over with pieces of flesh, enveloped by inner membrane, fat and outer skin,
with 9 openings constantly dribbling and trickling with tears, snot, saliva, slime, urine
and excrement. Its bowels are inhabited by many fold bacteria, parasites and worms,
the home of disease, the source of painful states, perpetually oozing from the nine
orifices like a chronic open boil, and from thousands skin pores the stale sweat seeps,
with bluebottles and their like buzzing round it, which when untended with tooth brush,
washing, shaving, bathing, underclothing and dressing up looks just like a living corpse!
In its natural wild then a body is a stinking nauseating repulsiveness, but by concealing
its private parts under several cloths, by daubing it with various perfumes and salves,
by pranking it with jewellery, it is faked up into a state being mistaken as 'I' & 'mine'!
So men delight in women, and women in men, without perceiving the true nature of this
body's characteristic foulness, now masked by this adventitious adornment. But in the
ultimate sense, there is no place on any body even the size of an atom fit to lust after!
Comically we loove the whole of this 'our precious temple, but when any such bits of it
as head hairs, body hairs, nails, teeth, spittle, snot, excrement or urine have dropped
off the body, then beings will not touch them! Though somewhat absurd, they are now
ashamed, humiliated & disgusted with exactly the same matter as they adored before!
But as long as any one of these disgusting things remains inside the body, though it is
just as repulsive when inside, they take this body as agreeable, desirable, permanent,
pleasant, & 'my beautiful self', since they are wrapped in the murk of ignorance and
dyed with unseen and unrecognised affective greed for a physical self... Vism I 196

Interestingly the great Greek philosopher Epicurus held the same opinion. He said, "you [meaning people in general] are a little soul that drags around a corpse."

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Contemplating the Qualities of the Buddha:

Worthy, honourable and perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha!
Consummated in knowledge and behaviour, totally transcended,
expert in all dimensions, knower of all worlds, unsurpassable
trainer of those who can be tamed, both teacher and guide of gods
as well as of humans, blessed, exalted, awakened and enlightened
is the Buddha!!!

When a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of the Buddha, he is
respectful and deferential towards the Master. He attains fullness
of faith, awareness, understanding and merit. He has much happiness
and gladness. He conquers fear and dread. He is able to endure pain.
He comes to feel as if he were living in the Master's presence...!
And his body, when dwelling in he recollection of the Buddha's special
qualities, becomes as worthy of veneration, just like as a shrine room.
His mind tends towards the plane of the Buddhas. When he encounters
an opportunity for transgression, he has acute awareness of conscience
and shame as vivid as though he were face to face with the Master.
If he penetrates no higher, he is at least headed for a happy destiny.

Now when a man is truly wise,
His constant task will surely be
This recollection of the Buddha
Blessed with such mighty potency.
Vism I 213

Remembering these perfectly Well Gone Ones (Samma-SamBuddha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/buddha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Three_Jewels.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddha_Contemplation.htm

Have a nice remembering day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

As if in the Master's Presence!

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Contemplating the special Qualities of the Dhamma:

Perfectly formulated is this Buddha-Dhamma, visible right here and now,
immediately effective, timeless, inviting each & everyone to come and see
for themselves, inspect, examine and verify. Leading each and everyone
through progress towards perfection. Directly observable, experiencable
and realizable by each intelligence...

When a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of the Dhamma, he thinks:
I never in the past met a master, who taught a law that led onward thus,
who possessed this talent, nor do I now see any such a master other than
the Blessed One. Seeing the Dhamma's special qualities in this very way,
he is respectful and deferential towards the Master. He entertains great
reverence for the Dhamma and attains fullness of faith, and insight.
He has much happiness and gladness. He conquers fear and dread.
He is able to endure pain. He comes to feel as if he were living in the
Dhamma's presence. When recollecting the Dhamma's special qualities,
dwelling in this remembrance, his body becomes as worthy of worship
as a shrine room. His mind tends towards the realization of the peerless
Dhamma. When he encounters an opportunity for transgression, then he
has vivid awareness of conscience and shame induced by recollecting the
well-regulatedness of the Dhamma. And if he penetrates no higher, he is
at least headed for a happy destiny...

Now when a man is truly wise,
His constant task will surely be
This recollection of the Dhamma
Blessed with such mighty potency.
Vism I 218

Remembering this perfect ever returning Dhamma Doctrine:
http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Dhamma
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Three_Jewels.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/dhamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Dhamma_Contemplation.htm

Have a nice Dhamma Day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

In the Delightful Dhamma's Presence!

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Contemplating the Unique Qualities of the Sangha:

Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples!
Training the right way, the true way, the good way, the direct way! Therefore do
these eight kinds of individuals, these four Noble pairs, deserve both gifts, sacrifice,
offerings, hospitality & reverential salutation with joined palms, since this Noble Sangha
community of the Buddha's Noble disciples, is an unsurpassable and forever unsurpassed
field of merit, in this world, for this world, to honour, support, respect and protect...

As long as he recollects the special qualities of the Sangha in this way, indeed defined as
'having entered on the good way', then: On that occasion his mind cannot be obsessed
by greed, or obsessed by hate, or obsessed by delusion; his mind possess integrity on that
occasion, being inspired by the Sangha (AN III 286). When a bhikkhu is devoted to this
recollection of the Community, he is respectful and deferential towards the Community.
He attains fullness of faith! He has much happiness and bliss. He conquers fear & dread.
He is able to endure pain. He feels as if he were living in the Community's presence.
When dwelling in the recollection of the Sangha's special qualities his body becomes as
worthy of veneration as an Uposatha house, where the Community has met. His mind tends
towards the attainment of the Community's special qualities. When he encounters yet an
opportunity for transgression, he has awareness of conscience and shame as vividly as if
he were face to face with the Community. And if he penetrates no higher, he is at least
headed for a happy destiny. Vism I 221

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Contemplating the Purity of own Morality:

One who wants to develop the recollection of virtue should go into
solitary retreat and recollect his own different kinds of virtue in
their special qualities of being completely pure & untorn, as follows:
Indeed, the integrity of my morality is untorn, unbroken, unspotted,
unmottled, liberating, praised by the wise, detached, and productive
of concentration (AN III 286). Laymen should recollect them at the
level of laymen's morality, while the one gone forth into homelessness
should recollect it at the degree of vinaya virtue of those gone forth.

And when a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of virtue, then he
has respect for the training. He lives in communion with his fellows in
the life of purity. He is tireless in welcoming. He is devoid of the fear
of any self-reproach. He fears as evil danger even the slightest fault!
He attains to fullness of faith. He has much happiness and gladness...
If he penetrates no higher, he is at least headed for a happy destiny.

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Contemplating the Extent of own Generosity:

One naturally devoted to generosity by the constant practice of giving and
sharing makes the decision: From now on, whenever there is anyone present
to receive, I shall not eat even a single mouthful without having given a gift!
And that very day he should give a gift by sharing whatever according to his
means and his ability with those, who have distinguished mental qualities.
When he has apprehended the sign in that, he should go into solitary retreat
and recollect his own generosity in its special qualities of being free from
the stain of mean miserliness like this: It is gain for me, it is great gain for
me, that in a culture obsessed by the greedy stain of niggardliness, I abide
with my mind & heart free from penny-pinching stinginess. I delight indeed
in relinquishing by being freely generous & open-handed, always welcoming
any request by rejoicing in all altruistic giving and sharing (AN III 287).
Any who gives life by giving food will get life & strength either divine or as
a human (AN III 42). Any giver is loved & frequented by many (AN III 40).
One who gives, is ever loved, according to the wise man's law! (AN III 41).

When a Bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of generosity, he becomes
ever more intent on generosity, his favourite becomes non-greedy charity,
he acts with kind, noble, & loving liberality, and he gains a fine lion-heart.
He enjoys much happiness and gladness. And if he penetrates no higher, he
is at least headed for a happy destiny.

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Contemplating the Deities and what made them so:

One who wants to develop the recollection of deities should possess the special
quality of faith evoked by means of the noble path. He should go into solitary
retreat and recollect his own special qualities of faith, purity and understanding,
with the deities as if standing as witnesses, in this very way: There are deities on
the plane of the Four Great Kings, of the Realm of the Thirty-three, Yama World,
the Contented Devas, those enjoying own creation, those with power over others
creations, those of the Brahma world, and those formless ones far above them...
All those deities were possessed of faith so that on dying here they were reborn
there, and such faith is present in me too. And those deities were possessed of
virtue ... of learning... of generosity ... of understanding, such that when they died
here they were reborn there in a divine dimension, and such understanding is also
present in me too! (AN III 287). He recollects his own special qualities, making the
deities stand as witnesses. When a bhikkhu is devoted to this remembrance of the
deities, he becomes dearly loved by those deities. He obtains even greater fullness
of faith. He has much happiness and gladness. And if he penetrates no higher, he is
at least headed for a happy destiny.

Typical appearance and postures of some Devas.

Now when a man is truly wise,
His constant task will surely be
This recollection of the Deities
Blessed with such mighty potency!
Vism I 226

Sakka king of the 33 devas hovering about with 2 nymphs.

More on the many types of Deities (Devas) literally meaning 'Shining Ones':
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/t/tusita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Divine_Rebirth.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/t/taavatimsa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/deva.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Divinity_Contemplation.htm

Have a divine day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Remembering the Deities!

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

How to Dwell abiding in Successful Recollection:

The Blessed Buddha once told his cousin the Noble Layman Mahanama:
One who has faith is successful, Mahanama, not one who has no faith.
One who is energetic is successful, Mahanama, not one who is lax & lazy.
One who is acutely aware is successful, Mahanama, not one who is negligent.
One who is concentrated is successful, Mahanama, not one who is distracted.
One who understands is successful, Mahanama, not one of no understanding.
Having established yourself in these five things, Mahanama, then you should
establish six things. On these, Mahanama, you should always dwell recollecting:

1: The Blessed One
2: The Dhamma
3: The Sangha
4: Own Purity
5: Own Generosity
6: The Deities

Doing this, Mahanama, one wins the joy & special thrill that goes with the Dhamma.
From joy grows satisfaction. From satisfaction grows calm. From a calm body
grows happiness. From happiness grows concentration. Concentrated, Mahanama,
one dwells even among those agitated. One dwells joyous among those in anger...
AN V 329-32

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

The inevitable and ever returning problem: Death!

All health ends in sickness, all youth ends in ageing, all life ends in assured death!
All world existence begins with birth, is haunted by ageing, surprised by sickness,
and struck down by death, often in a state of desperate panic and frantic fear...
As though if huge mountains made of rock so vast that they reach up into the sky,
were to attack from every side, grinding & crunching beneath them all that lives,
so indeed do Ageing and Death roll over all beings, whether gods, kings, warriors,
priests, merchants, craftsmen, poor, or animals, crushing all beings, sparing none!
And neither armies, nor guards, nor medicines, nor spells, or riches, can even delay
them by a single second! (SN I 102). Death should thus be remembered as the ruin
of success by seeing it as death's final & unavoidable wrecking any life's success!
Vism I 232

More on these inevitable Facts: Ageing - Sickness - Decay - and Death (Marana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Death.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Game_Over.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/End_Making.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Problem.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Momentary_Life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Death_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Inevitable_but_not_the_End.htm

Have a sober ultra realistic day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Ageing and Death!

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Any conscious moment also dies immediately!

Life, personality, pleasure, pain, endures joined in one conscious moment,
that flicks by... Whether such ceased clusters of clinging are those of a
dead or alive does not matter, they are all alike, momentarily gone never
to return... No world is born and appears as manifest, if consciousness is
not produced! Only when consciousness is present, does the world emerge!
When consciousness momentarily dissolves, the world is dead and vanished!
So both the being & the world starts and ends within each conscious moment!
Both are reborn millions of times per second! Not only at conventional death..
This is how death also should be recollected, as the shortness of the moment.
This is the highest sense this concept of conscious existence ever will allow...
(Vism I 238, Nd I 42)

Both 'Being' & 'World' occurs only as a discrete conscious moment!

Being or rather becoming proceeds as a discrete Blinking:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Void_Blinking.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Discrete_States.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Momentary_Life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Impermanence_Anicca.htm

No being is Static: In the blinking tunnel flows the process of re-becoming!

Have a nice blinking day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

All Being is Blinking!

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Awareness of the Body induces all Advantages!

The Blessed Buddha repeatedly emphasized:
Bhikkhus, when one thing is developed and repeatedly practised, then it leads
to a supreme sense of urgency, to a supreme advantage, to a supreme ceasing
of bondage, to a supreme full awareness and clear comprehension, to winning
knowledge and vision, to a happy life here and now, to realization of the fruit
of clear vision and releasing deliverance. What is that one unique thing?
It is awareness occupied with the body! Bhikkhus, they savour the deathless,
who taste awareness occupied with the body! Those, who do not repeatedly
practice body awareness, cannot taste the deathless element... (AN I 43+45)

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Evaporate the Enemy inside by Friendliness!

Suppose an enemy has hurt you now, in what is his domain, his house etc...
Why try yourself additionally to hurt your mind? That is not his domain!
In tears you have left your family, though they had been both kind & nice.
So why not leave your 'enemy': The anger that brings you internal harm?
This anger that we harbour is gnawing at the very roots of all the qualities
and virtues, that we otherwise try to guard and protect! Anger is foolish!
Another behaves badly... Then stirred one becomes angry! But how is this?
Does one really want to copy the bad behaviour, that he just committed?
Suppose another, to annoy, provokes you with some offensive behaviour:
Why suffer then by letting anger spring up? One is certainly punished so...
If anger-blinded enemies plans conflict, getting angry one-self only grows
even more hostility. Therefore put this bitter anger down, since why should
one be harassed groundlessly? Since all states last only a moment's time,
this 'enemy' has already evaporated, when the sweet revenge is planned...
But why then attack an 'absence', that is only an image maintained inside?
The 'enemy' never really was there 'outside', but only became interpreted
so, by an inner mental pollution called hate, anger, aversion, irritation etc...
Vism 301

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

The Relief of Relinquishing all Resentment!

When one's resentment towards any hostile person has been allayed, then
one can deliberately turn mind with loving-kindness towards any person:
Both the very dear friend, the neutral person and the hostile opponent!
By repeated praxis of meditation on infinite friendliness one gradually
breaks down the mental barrier of evil opposition thereby accomplishing
mental impartiality towards the 4 persons: oneself, the very dear person,
the neutral person and the hostile person. Suppose a trainee is sitting in
a place with a dear, a neutral, and a hostile person, himself being the 4th.
Then bandits come to him and say, 'Venerable friend, give us a person so
that we may kill him and use the blood of his throat as an offering'...!
When one does not see a single one among these four people suitable to
be given to the bandits and one directs mind impartially towards oneself
and towards those three people, then one has broken down the barriers...

Breaking the Barrier to: Impartiality

Therefore the Ancient Nobles said:
When he does not discriminates between the 4 persons:
That is: Himself, the dear, the neutral, and the hostile one,
Then "Skilled" is not the name he gets, nor "Most Friendly",
But only "Kind towards all beings". Now when a bhikkhu's
barriers towards all the 4 persons have been broken down,
The he treats with equal amity all beings in the whole world;
Exalted and distinguished is he, who knows no barriers...
Vism 307

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

The 11 Advantages of Infinite Friendliness:

When one cultivates regular meditation on Infinite Friendliness (Metta),
then these 11 advantages are produced, can be expected and observed:

1: One sleeps in comfort.
2: One wakes in comfort.
3: One dreams no evil dreams.
4: One is dear to human beings.
5: One is dear to non-human beings.
6: Deities guard and protect one.
7: Fire, poison and weapons cannot affect one.
8: One's mind is easily concentrated.
9: The expression of one's face is serene.
10: One dies unconfused and without panic.
11: If one penetrates no higher, then one is reborn in the Brahma-world.
These 11 advantages emerges and hold insofar as goodwill is maintained!
Vism I 312-314, AN V 342

RADIATING PEACE
The Noble Friend, who dwells in friendly good-will,
Who has faith in the Teaching of the Buddhas,
Will reach the place of Peace, the mode of ease,
The stilling of all formation,
The calming of all construction,
Purest Happiness itself ...
Dhammapada 368

fivebells · September 2009

Christ, that reads like a scientology screed.

federica · September 2009

But it isn't, so that's ok.

samahita · September 2009

Friends:

Compassionate Pity cures all bitter Cruelty:

How does a Bhikkhu dwell pervading one direction with his mind endued
with compassion? Just as he would feel compassion on seeing an unlucky,
unfortunate person, so he pervades all beings with boundless compassion!
Therefore first of all, on eyeing a wretched man, deplorable, unfortunate,
in every way a fit object for compassion, horrid, reduced to utter misery,
with hands and feet cut off, sitting in the shelter for the weak & helpless
with an empty dirty pot placed before him, with maggots in all his wounds,
moaning, compassionate pity should be felt for him in this way: This being
has been reduced to misery: If only he could be freed from his suffering!
Similarly too should a Bhikkhu whose meditation subject is compassion also
arouse compassion for an evil-wrong-doing person, even if he is happy now:
Though this poor wretch is now happy, cheerful, & enjoying his wealth, but
still, since he has neglected to do even one single good deed, he can come to
experience untold suffering anytime after a downfall to the states of loss!
Such infinitely compassionate pity he feels towards all beings and especially
both towards himself, the dear friend, the neutral one, & the hostile person,
thereby breaking down the wrong attitude barrier separating these objects.
Vbh 273, Vism I 315

Compassionate Pity (Karuna), which cures all cruelty, is a divine state!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Endless_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Karuna_is_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Wrong.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Great_Compassion.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Space_Compassion.htm

Have a nice compassionate day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Compassionate Pity!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Mutual Joy cures all vicious Envy and Jealousy!

The dear companion can be the proximate cause for Mutual Joy, where one
rejoices in another being's success... One thus rejoicing in others fortune
is called a 'boon companion', for he is constantly glad: He laughs first and
speaks afterward! So he should be the first to be pervaded with gladness.
Or on seeing a dear person being happy, cheerful and glad, mutual joy can
be aroused thus: 'See this being is indeed glad! How good, how excellent!'
Just as one would be glad at seeing a dear and beloved person very happy,
exactly so does one pervade all other beings in all directions with mutual joy...
Rejoicing mutual joy can also be aroused by remembering other's happiness
in the past and recollecting the elated joy aspect in this way: 'In the past he
had great wealth, a great following and he was always glad'. Or mutual joy
can be aroused by apprehending the future glad aspect of his in this way:
'In the future he will again enjoy similar success and will go about in gold
palanquins, on the backs of elephants or on horseback'. Having thus aroused
mutual joy regarding a dear person, one can then direct the very same feeling
successively towards a neutral one, and gradually towards any hostile person.
Vbh 274, Vism I 316

Comments:
Mutual joy causes Contentment! No mutual joy thus means Discontentment!
Therefore: If being generally dissatisfied, then be happy over others gains.
Secondly: Mutual joy causes all envy & jealousy to evaporate into equanimity!

Mutual Joy (Mudita), which cures all envy and jealousy, is a divine state!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Rejoicing Joy!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Serene Equanimity promotes imperturbable Peace:

Equanimity just looks on and observes, while calmly settled in composed neutrality.
Equanimity is characterized as promoting the aspect of impartiality among beings.
Its function is to see the equality of all beings. It is manifested as the quieting of
both resentment and approval. Its proximate cause is seeing and comprehending
the ownership and efficacy of kamma thus: All beings are owners of their deeds,
born, created and conditioned by the accumulated effect of their past intentions!
Whose, if not theirs, is the choices by which they have become happy, or unhappy,
or will break free from suffering, or have fallen down from their past good state?
Equanimity succeeds, when it makes both resentment and approval subside, and it
fails, when it instead produces a bored, indifferent, & careless state of negligence!
Vism I 318

Comments:
Non-involved and even Equanimity is a subtle form of happiness... By stabilization
it perfects and consummates all the other six links to awakening: As Awareness,
Investigation, Energy, Joy and Concentration. Equanimity is the proximate cause
for knowing and seeing it, as it really is. Equanimity quenches any upset agitation!
When seeing and noting: All this is constructed, conditioned, coarse and transient!
But this state of serene equanimity is indeed exquisitely peaceful, then instantly
ceases any arisen agreeable or nasty feeling, when Equanimity takes its stance!

Have a nice serene day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Serene Equanimity...

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

What are the 16 roots of Imperturbable Peace?

1: The un-depressed mind is not perturbed by apathy, thus it is unperturbed.
2: The un-excited mind is not perturbed by agitation, thus it is unperturbed.
3: The un-attracted mind is not perturbed by desire, thus it is unperturbed.
4: The un-opposed mind is not perturbed by anger, thus it is unperturbed.
5: The self-reliant mind is not perturbed by opinions, thus it is unperturbed.
6: The un-involved mind is not perturbed by desire-to-do, thus it is unperturbed.
7: The released mind is not perturbed by lust for sensing, thus it is unperturbed.
8: The un-associated mind is not perturbed by clinging, thus it is unperturbed.
9: The un-blocked mind is not perturbed by obstructions, thus it is unperturbed.
10: The unified mind is not perturbed by diverse varieties, thus it is unperturbed.
11: The mind reinforced by faith is not perturbed by doubt, thus it is unperturbed.
12: The enthusiastic keen mind is not perturbed by laziness, thus it is unperturbed.
13: The acutely aware mind is not perturbed by negligence, thus it is unperturbed.
14: The concentrated mind is not perturbed by distraction, thus it is unperturbed.
15: The understanding mind is not perturbed by ignorance, thus it is unperturbed.
16: The illuminated mind is not perturbed by blind darkness, thus it is unperturbed.
These sixteen roots of success lead to the obtaining of super-human power and
to the fearlessness of one enjoying the success of supra-human force...
Source: Sariputta, in: The Path of Discrimination: Patidasambhidamagga II 206

The most Venerable Sariputta

Have a nice super-day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

The 16 Supra-Human Roots!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Faith is an advantageous Hand, Wealth and Seed:

Using it as a tool they have faith. Just this act of having an anchor is itself faith.
Its characteristic is trusting, having confidence in & being fully convinced about.
Faith's function is to clarify, like a filter, and to promote entrance like a door.
Faith manifests as devoted non-wavering, and as a quite resolute determination.
Its proximate cause is something to have faith in, and hearing the Saddhamma.
It should be seen as a hand because it takes up and holds all advantageous states,
as mental wealth since it leads to future prosperity, and as a seed that initiates
growth of all that is truly good.

The Blessed Buddha said:
Faith is all being's best wealth;
Dhamma praxis brings best happiness;
Truth indeed has the best taste of all;
Living in and by understanding is best!
Sn. 182

Confidence is the seed,
Self-control is the rain,
Understanding is the yoke & plough,
Shame and Conscience is the pole,
A well working mind is the yoke-tie,
Awareness is the ploughshare & goad.
Sn. 77

By Conviction is the flood crossed;
By endurance is the ocean crossed;
By effort is one's suffering quelled;
By wise understanding is one purified!
Sn. 184

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

The 3 Root States of all, that is Advantageous:

By means of Non-Greed, they are not greedy, lusty, desirous, yearning or longing.
Non-greed has the characteristic of easy absence of desire for any given object.
It does not cling, attach or adhere, but rolls off like a water drop on a lotus leaf!
The function of non-greed is not to lay hold on, grasp, fasten or cling to anything.
It is manifested as a state of not treating as a shelter, like one who leaves dirt...

Through Non-Hate, they do not react with hate, anger, irritation, or opposition.
Non-hate has the characteristic of lack of cruelty. Gently, it does not oppose...
Its function is to remove any fever of annoyance, and allay all fury exasperation.
Non-hate is manifested as a pleasant and mild agreeableness, like the full moon!

Due to Non-Delusion, they are not ignorant, confused, in doubt, or perplexed...
Non-delusion has the characteristic of seeing through, penetrating to the real
nature of phenomena, understanding their essence, and not just their appearance.
The function of non-delusion is to illuminate the object everywhere, like a lamp.
Non-delusion is manifested as non-bewilderment, like a clever guide in a forest.

These three states should be regarded as the roots of all that is advantageous!
Vism I 465.

More on the 3 Roots of Good and Evil (Mula):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Fading_Away.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/g_m/muula.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/What_is_Disadvantageous.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Proximate_Causes_of_the_Root_Defilements.htm

Have a nice unrooted day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Absence of all ill!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Friendly Loving Kindness Beams, Blazes and Shines!

Metta is defined thus: Loving-Kindness has the mode of friendliness as characteristic.
Its natural function is to promote friendliness. It manifests as disappearance of ill-will.
Its source is seeing with kindness. When succeeding, then it eliminates all angry enmity.
When it fails, then it degenerates into egocentric lust and desire. It can be practiced
anywhere and at anytime, but ideally sitting cross-legged in a quiet secluded place and
then whole-heartedly wishing, first beaming it out in front, then to the right, then back,
then to the left and finally below and above in this very effective and exhaustive way:
May I be happy and free from suffering...
May I keep myself free from hostility, trouble and thereby live happily...
May I become happy in this way by repeated training of this excellent goodwill praxis...
Just as I want happiness, absence of pain, life and not death, so do all other beings!
Therefore: May all beings become thus happy...
May all breathing things become thus happy...
May all creatures become thus happy...
May all deities become thus happy...
May all human beings become thus happy...
May all who have form become thus happy...
May all the Noble and not Noble become thus happy...
May all those in the states of deprivation become thus happy...
By being freed from all enmity, distress & anxiety, may they thus guide themselves to bliss."

The blessed Buddha often pointed out:
Bhikkhus, whatever kinds of worldly merit there are, all are not worth one 16th part of the
release of mind by infinitely universal friendliness: In shining, beaming, glow & radiance the
release of mind by infinite, immeasurable and inexhaustible friendliness far excels them all!
Itivuttaka 27

Source: BPS Wheel no 7:
The Practice of Loving-Kindness (Metta) as taught by the Buddha in the Pali Canon.
Compiled and translated by Ñanamoli Thera:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/wheel007.html

Have a nice ultra-friendly day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Infinite Loving-Kindness!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

By Greed, Hate and Ignorance beings Suffer!

By its means they are greedy, this itself is greed.Greed and all its dilutions
such as desire, lust, urge, yearning, craving, wanting, longing, & hoping all has
the characteristic of grasping an object, like an adhesive glue attaching to it...
The function is sticking, binding, and clinging to it, like meat put in a hot pan.
It is manifested as not giving up, not releasing, & inability to drop the object.
Greed's proximate cause is seeing enjoyment in things, that lead to bondage!
Swelling with the current of craving, it should be regarded as taking beings
with it to the states of loss, as a swift-flowing river whirls to a great ocean...

Hate itself hates, by its characteristic ferocious, vicious and furious rage,
like a provoked snake. Its function is to spread, like a drop of poison, and
to grow up its own source, like a forest fire. Hate is manifested as a cruel
persecution, like an enemy who has got his chance. The proximate cause of
hate, anger, irritation, aversion, and opposition is any source of annoyance.
It should be regarded as like stale urine mixed with poison...

Ignorance has the characteristic of blindness, delusion or simply unknowing.
Its function and consequence is non-penetration, by concealment of the real
individual essence of an object. It is manifested as the absence of right view,
and a deep mental darkness. The proximate cause of ignorance is unreasoning
and wrongly directed attention neglecting all analysis of cause and effect...
It should be regarded as the deepest root of all, that is disadvantageous!
Vism I 468

More on the 3 Roots of all Good and Evil (Mula):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Fading_Away.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Absence_of_Ill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/g_m/muula.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/What_is_Disadvantageous.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Proximate_Causes_of_the_Root_Defilements.htm

Have a nice rootless day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

The 3 Evils!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

What are the 5 Burdens we Cling to?

I: There is the cluster of clinging to Material Form and Body (Rupa):
The cluster of clinging to form is like clinging to a sick-room, since it will
contain the sick and dying human being, one inevitably will develop into...
The body and all external form is like a prison, since it locks one up in the
painful samsaric process of repeated rebirth, ageing, sickness and death!
All matter should be regarded as a lump of froth, because it will not endure
existence. Form is like the dish the process of being is served upon, yet all
material phenomena is impermanent, because of their inherent rise and fall.

II: There is the cluster of clinging to Feeling (Vedana):
Feeling is like a water-bubble, because it can only be enjoyed for an instant!
Bodily painful feeling and mental unhappy feeling is like the sickness because
it afflicts and torments. Feeling is the punishment beings meet in the prison,
caused by disadvantageous kamma having been performed and accumulated.
The consequent effect: Pain is like the food of existence, one just has to eat.

III: There is the cluster of clinging to Perception (Sañña):
Perception of any sense experience is like a mirage because it causes illusion.
It is like the provocation, that causes disease, since it gives rise to the feeling
associated with any sense experience, which very often is accompanied by greed.
Perception is like the offence, that brings & holds one fixed inside the prison.
Experience can be likened to a spicy curry sauce poured over the food of being.
No experience can ever be controlled and is thus neither me, mine, nor any self.

IV: There is the cluster of clinging to Mental Construction (Sankhara):
Mental construction is like returning to what is unsuitable because it is the very
source of any painful feeling. Mental construction is thus the punisher in the
prison and the server of the food of the distressing and excruciating feeling...
Mental construction is like a banana palm trunk, because it has no solid core...
Since its formation cannot be fully managed, governed or commanded it is no-self!

V: There is the cluster of clinging to Consciousness (Viññana):
Consciousness is like a trick, because it deceives by conjuring up a void appearance.
Consciousness is the eater of the food of painful suffering inherent in existence!
Consciousness is like the offender since it is the entity that is tortured by feeling.
Though captivating it lasts only a single moment and will never return as the same...

Whatever one loves and cling to inevitably becomes both a burden and a Prison!

Collectively these 5 clusters of clinging is like an enemy with drawn sword, who will
kill you again, they should be seen as a burden beings wander carrying on in samsara,
and a devourer and serial killer who will kill & devour any poor being repeatedly by
dragging him through an endless series of rebirth, ageing, sickness and death...

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

What is the Meaning of the 4 Noble Truths?

1: This and such is Suffering is The 1st Noble Truth!
The meaning of this suffering is the oppression, when pain is being formed due
to the burning of frustrated desire, created when the wanted object changes
into something else, now undesirable, and thereby always and inevitably is lost..
This is the meaning of Suffering, which is real, neither unreal, nor otherwise.

2: Craving is the Cause of Suffering is The 2nd Noble Truth!
The meaning of craving as the origin of suffering is something that is stored
and accumulating, since this source and cause of suffering, means addiction,
obsession, enslavement and bondage and thus vulnerable un-free dependence..
This is the meaning of the Cause, which is real, neither unreal, nor otherwise.

3: Ceasing of Craving is the End of Suffering is The 3rd Noble Truth!
The meaning of ending craving ceases suffering is escape, since one now has
become sheltered and protected, due to the suffering not being recreated,
when the cause of craving have subsided. Ending craving means deathlessness...
This is the meaning of the End, which is real, neither unreal, nor otherwise.

4: The Noble 8-fold Way is the Path to end Suffering is The 4th Noble Truth!
The meaning of the Noble 8-fold Way is outlet, since this method causes exit
from the state of suffering, through knowing, seeing and understanding what
is real as the dominant releasing factors, that has to be developed into a unity!
This is the meaning of the Way, which is real, neither unreal, nor otherwise...
Vism 494

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

The 4 Noble Truths are Absolutes!

The 1st Noble Truth: This is Suffering!
There is no pain, that does not torment!
And nothing that is not pain torments...
This certainty, that this being torments:
Is what makes it an absolute truth...

The 2nd Noble Truth: Craving is the Cause!
No other source causes pain, than craving,
Nothing else provides craving, than pain...
This utter certainty in producing pain:
Is why it is considered an absolute truth!

The 3rd Noble Truth: Suffering can End!
There is no pure peace except Nibbana,
Nibbana cannot be anything but peace...
This certainty that it is perfect peace:
Is what is reckoned as an absolute truth.

The 4th Noble Truth: By the Noble Way!
No outlet is there other than the Noble Way,
Nor fails the Noble Way ever to be escape...
This sure status as the one and only exit:
Has made it recognized as absolute truth.

This genuinely irrefutable infallibility,
Which is their true essential core,
Is what the wise declare to be
The Truth's meaning common to all four!
Vism 496

More on these Four Noble Truths (Ariya-Sacca):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Indeed_True.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The_4_Truths_Meaning.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_1st_Noble_Truth_on_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_2nd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Cause_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_3rd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Ceasing_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4th_Noble_Truth_on_The_Way_to_Cease_Suffering.htm

Have a nicely assured day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Absolute Certainty!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Re-birth Reproduces Suffering ever Again!

Birth in the world is an indispensable necessity for all kinds of suffering.
If no being were ever again reborn in hell, the unbearable scorching pain,
or other states of agony, grief or misery, then pain would have no chance!
Therefore the Sage explained that birth is pain! Multifarious are the many
sorts of pain, that creatures have to endure both the physical and mental...
Since birth does this pain procure, birth is pain: This consequence is sure!
While the hungry ghosts know pain in great variety through hunger, thirst,
& hopeless fear, no other, unless actually reborn there, knows this misery!
So this repeated and blind birth, the Sage indeed declared only pain to be.
In empty space, where demons dwell in searing cold, black and thick gloom,
their depressed despair requires rebirth there as well, just as an evil spell!
The horrible torment any being feels on coming out the womb is also pain...
Can there be a painful state anytime or anywhere if birth has not preceded?
Indeed this Sage so great, when he explained pain, took care first to point
out rebirth as pain, the condition always & unambiguously needed to suffer!
Vism 501

On the 31 Planes of Existence:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html

Have a nice day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Re-Birth is Suffering!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Ageing Reproduces same Suffering ever Again!

Ageing is suffering: And what is ageing? Whatever decay, decrepitude,
brokenness of teeth, graying of hair, wrinkling of skin, decline of strength,
weakening of the mental abilities, feebleness, and senility of whatever
kind of being, that is called aging. Its function is to lead on to death!
It is manifested as the vanishing of youth. It is suffering because of the
change into decay and the gradual, but steadily falling apart of the body.
The loss of memory and intelligence in senile dementia is also distressing.

With leadenness in every limb,
With every ability declining,
With vanishing of youthfulness,
With memory all evaporated,
With intelligence eroded away,
With strength now drained,
With growing unattractiveness
Now looking and smelling bad
To both wife, friends and family:
This is the unavoidable misery
Any mortal must expect to find!
Since ageing all of this will bring,
Ageing is well named suffering.
Vism 502 + MN 141

Have a nice realistic day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Ageing Again!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Sad Sorrow consumes the Dejected Mind!

Sorrow and sadness is a burning of mind associated with loss of relatives,
loss of job, social position, lover, spouse, and whatever favoured belonging.
Where grief oppresses mind, sorrow has inner consuming as characteristic.
Its function is to consume the mind completely, as if eating it up from inside.
It is manifested as a constant gloomy sadness of a deprived depressed mind.
It is suffering, because it is an intrinsic mental torment, where the mind
with this melancholic state as its basis & source tortures itself even more!

This sadness is part & parcel of the The 1st Noble Truth on Suffering:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_1st_Noble_Truth_on_Suffering.htm

Sorrow is like a poisoned dart!
That penetrates a being's heart;
Setting up a consuming burning there,
Like burning with a red-glowing spear;
This state of mind brings future pain:
Such as disease, and then ever again:
Ageing and death, so one may thus tell
Wherefore it is called pain as well...

Have a nice day anyway!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Sad is Sorrow!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Dependent Origination Creates the World!

The Blessed Buddha once asked his disciples:
And what is dependent origination, bhikkhus?
With birth as condition, bhikkhus, ageing and death emerges...!
Whether Perfect Ones arise or do not arise, there remains that element,
that particular relatedness of states, that fixed causal linking of states,
that very specific conditionality. The Perfect One indeed first discovers it,
penetrates to it. Having discovered it, penetrated to it, he announces it,
teaches it, makes it known, establishes, exposes, expounds and explains it:
"See", he says, "With birth as condition, there will be ageing and death".
With becoming as condition, there is birth...
With clinging as condition, there will be becoming...
With craving as condition, clinging develops...
With feeling as condition, craving arises...
With contact as condition, feeling springs up...
With the 6 senses as condition, contact appears...
With name-&-form as condition, the 6 senses crop up...
With consciousness as condition, name-&-form is born...
With mental constructions as condition, there is consciousness ...
With ignorance as condition, bhikkhus, there are mental constructions....
Whether Perfect Ones arise or do not arise, there yet remains that element,
that same relatedness of states, that fixed regular causal linking of states,
that very specific conditionality. The Perfect One indeed first discovers it,
penetrates to it. Having discovered it, penetrated to it, he announces it,
teaches it, makes it known, establishes, exposes, expounds and explains it:
"See", he says, "With ignorance as condition, there are mental constructions".
So that causal sequence is an absolute reality, since in all past and all future
universes it is never unreal, never otherwise, but the same specific conditionality:
This 12 fold principle called dependent origination. (SN II, 25f).

Commentary:
Because particular states are produced only by particular specific conditions,
neither less nor more, it is called the reality, exactly so, such and thus only is it!
Once the conditions have met and combined, then there is never lack of producing
the states, that they generate even for an instant! Therefore is this fundamental
called never unreal! Because there never arises a state caused by another states
conditions, this doctrine is called never otherwise... Because this sequence of
emergence has exact unambiguous causes, it is called specific conditionality.
Vism 518

Have a nice day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Dependent Origination!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

The Samsaric Cycle has No Beginning...

The Blessed Buddha once explained the round of existence as this:
No first beginning of ignorance can be perceived, bhikkhus, before
which there was no ignorance, and after which ignorance had emerged.
Nevertheless ignorance has its specific causal conditions:
When there is mental fermentation, ignorance also comes into being.
When the 5 mental hindrances are present, ignorance grows & expands.
AN V 113, MN I 54

No first beginning of craving for becoming can ever be perceived,
before which there was no craving for becoming, and after which
craving for becoming had emerged.
Nevertheless craving for becoming has its specific causal condition:
When there is ignorance of the 4 truths, craving for becoming arises.
AN V 116

But why does the Blessed One give this exposition of the round with
those two things as starting points? Because they are the outstanding
causes of kammic action that leads to the happy and unhappy destinies!
Ignorance is prime cause of behaviour, that results in unhappy destiny.
Vism 525

Naturally: In no cyclic process can a beginning ever be pointed out...
Why not? There is neither beginning nor end of a fully closed circle!

For explanation of this wheel of becoming click here:
http://www.vimokkha.com/paticcasamuppada.html

More on these prime causes of the round (vatta) of being:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Causes_of_Ignorance.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/The_5_Mental_Hindrances.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/The_Three_Fermentations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/vatta.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/What_is_Ignorance.htm

Have a nice day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

No First Beginning!

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

The Basic Duality is Name and Form...

The Blessed Buddha once explained mentality-materiality like this:
So, bhikkhus, for the fool, who is blinded by ignorance and obsessed
by craving, there re-arises this body. Now this body with its 6 senses
sources makes a duality: name-&-form or mentality-&-materiality...
Due to this duality there is contact. Touched & stirred by contact the
fool feels pleasure & pain. Bhikkhus, craving increases in any one who
dwells seeing enjoyment in things productive of pleasure! With craving
as condition, there is clinging. Clinging is the condition causing becoming.
By becoming is there birth. Thus re-arises a new body also with 6 senses.
With birth as condition the cycle of ageing, sickness and death, sorrow,
lamentation and despair is thus renewed once again. Such is therefore
the origin of this entire mass of suffering.... (SN II 23-4, 84)

Comments:
Name-and-Form is a duality of two joined phenomena travelling trough
time together, just like 2 persons, who is travelling in the same boat:

Name or mind can be likened to a man with good eyes, but without legs...
Mind can see & understand everything, but not itself move even a sandcorn!
Form or body materiality can be likened to a blind man with strong legs.
Matter and Body cannot see or understand anything, but can lift a stone...
Name-and-form, mind-and-matter, mentality-materiality joined together
becomes very effective, just like if the seeing yet crippled man rides on
the shoulders of of the blind man directing him about: Go this way & stop...
Mind is like the ghost in the bottle: Imprisoned, unconnected & powerless...
Matter is like a robot with the power turned off: Blind, dumb and frozen...
Mind joined with matter however comes to life! Now both seeing and moving!

On Duality of Mind-&-Matter, Mentality-Materiality, Naming & Forming:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Core_Duality.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/naama_ruupa.htm

Have a nice dual day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Name and Form...

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Dependent Origination is a Profound Causality!

The Blessed Buddha once pointed out:
This dependent origination is profound, Ananda, and profound it appears.
Moreover, Ananda, it is through not knowing it, due to not comprehending it,
that this generation has become a tangled coil, like a knotted ball of thread,
snarled and twisted like creepers. It is because of not understanding that
subtle causality of dependent origination, that this generation cannot find
any way out of this Samsaric round of rebirths, with its many states of loss,
painful unhappy destinies, and even purgatory hells. DN II 55

There is no one, not even in a dream, who has ever got out of this fearful round
of rebirths, always destroying beings, unless he he has cut through this wheel
of becoming with the razor blade of understanding well whetted on the stone
of sublime concentration. This cyclic sequence of cause of effect offers no
footing owing to its great profundity, and is therefore hard to get a handle on
due to the maze of complex details. Vism 586

Therefore, practising for his own and others' advantage and welfare, let any
wise man practise deliberately and fully aware, so that he may begin to find
a footing in the abysmal deeps of the profound principle of dependent origin!

Have a nice dependent day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Profound Causality...

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

No Being exists apart from Mentality-Materiality...

There is no "person" neither inside, nor outside the duality of Name-and-Form:
Feeling, perception, mental construction and consciousness defines all Mentality.
The 4 primary elements: Solidity, fluidity, heat & motion defines all Materiality.
After defining mentality-materiality one can leave the common concept "a being"
and "a person" more thoroughly, since these now are seen more realistically as
compounded accumulated collections of mentality-&-materiality, name-&-form...
Strictly speaking: This is mere mentality-materiality, there is no being, no person!

As the Blessed Buddha expressed it at various levels of generalization:
As with the assembly of parts, the designation "car" emerges as conceptualized,
So, when the 5 clusters of clinging are present, "a being" is named by convention...
SN I 135

Just as when a part of space is enclosed with timber & bricks, there comes to be
the term "house", so too, when a space is enclosed with bones, sinews, flesh, fat
and skin, there comes into being the designation "body". MN I 190

It is ill (Dukkha) alone that arises, ill that remains, ill that vanishes!
Nothing else than ill arises, and nothing else than ill ceases...SN I 135

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Mentality & Materiality are Mutually Dependent:

Interdependence of Mentality and Materiality; of the dual Name-and-Form:
Mentality alone has no efficient power, it cannot eat, drink, speak, nor walk...
Materiality alone is also without sufficient power, since it cannot do anything
without orders and drive: It has neither desire to eat, drink, speak, nor walk...
When materiality and mentality are joined together, these two twins can act:
When mentality (mind) has a desire to eat, a desire to drink, a desire to speak,
or a desire to walk, it is materiality (body) that eats, drinks, speaks & walks!

Mentality and Materiality, Mind & Matter are Inseparable!

Therefore did the Ancient Elders say:
The mental and the material does really exist,
But here there is no 'human being' to be found,
For it is void and merely fashioned like a doll!
Just suffering piled up like grass and sticks...
The mental and the material: Name-and-Form
Are Siamese Twins, that each supports the other:
When one dies, they both die, surely inseparable,
Due to the necessary mutual dependence...
They cannot come to be by their own strength,
Or even maintain themselves by their own power
Depending on other states, weak in themselves,
Conditioned and constructed, they come to be;
They come to be, with others as crucial requirement.
They are activated by others as if their controller,
They are thus produced by object and condition,
And each by something other, than itself...
And just as men depend upon
A boat for traversing the sea,
So does the mental mind need the
material body for real efficiency.
And as the boat depends upon
The men for traversing the sea,
So does the material body need the
mental mind for induction & control.
Depending each upon the other.
The boat and men can sail the seas.
And so do both mind and matter
Depend, the one, upon the other...
Vism 597

On this Mind-&-Matter Duality, Mentality-Materiality, Naming & Forming:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Name_and_Form.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Core_Duality.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/No_Being_No_Person.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/naama_ruupa.htm

Have a nice discriminating mind-&-matter day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

The Siamese Twins ...

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Past life causes makes effects in the present life!

In the previous life there was doubt, confusion, and delusion, which is ignorance.
There was kammic accumulation of many intentions, which is mental construction.
There was attachment to the past life body, food, and pleasures, which is craving.
There was embracing this & that, delighting in this & that object, which is clinging.
There was volitions, favourite choices, & firm determinations, which is becoming...
These 5 things accumulated in the previous kamma-process of becoming therefore
became the conditions for rebirth-linking at birth here in the present life process...
Here in the present life process, there was rebirth-linking, which is consciousness.
There was descent into the womb, which is mentality-&-materiality; name-&-form.
There is sensitivity of the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body & mind, which is the 6 senses.
There is what is seen, heard, smelt, tasted, touched, and thought, which is contact.
There is what is felt as pleasure, pain or neither pleasure nor pain, which is feeling...
These five things here in the present rebirth-process of becoming all have their
conditions in kamma done in the past. Since feeling causes clinging. And since this
clinging, then causes new becoming resulting in future birth, these 5 things causes
the conditions for a future life to be deposited... The rebirth round is thus closed!
Any present intentional conscious moment, thus creates a future conscious moment!
Ps I 52, Vism 601

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

No Doer exists apart from Kamma & its Result!

In all kinds of becoming, generation, destiny, station and abode there can
only appear mentality-materiality, which occurs caused by previous kamma.
One cannot discover any doer over & above the activity of the doing itself!
There is neither any experiencer of the result apart from the result itself!
That we say 'doer', when actually there is 'doing', and 'experiencer' when
actually there is 'experiencing', is nothing more than linguistic convention.
Therefore the Ancient Elders said : There is no doer of a deed or any one
who reaps the deed's result. Impersonal phenomena alone arise and cease...
No other view than this is right. Only kamma & its result causally maintain
their round, just as seed and tree succeed in turn. No first beginning can
be shown. Nor in the future round of births can any 'agent' ever be found!
Sectarians, not knowing this, fails to gain self-mastery, since they assume
a 'being', a 'person', a 'doer', an actor or agent, who performs the action..
The stream of craving carries them on, caught in the meshes of their views.
Since the stream thus carries them on, they are not freed from suffering.
A monk, disciple of the Buddha, with direct knowledge of this egolessness,
can penetrate this deep & subtle conditionality empty of any acting agency.
There is no kamma in result of kamma, nor does a result exist in the kamma.
Though they are void of one another, there is no fruit without the kamma...
Nor does the kamma still persist in the result it has produced. Kamma of its
fruit is void and no fruit exists yet in the kamma. Still the resulting fruit is
born from the kamma, wholly depending on this initiating & seeding kamma.
For there is no almighty God as creator of this revolving round of rebirths!
Phenomena alone flow on: Cause and effect. Components & their conditions.
Vism 603

Help me Out! "I" have been caught inside a Concept of Ego...

Have a nice selfless day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Deed without Doer...

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

The 3 Stigmata are Universal Characteristics!

Any form, materiality or body whatsoever, whether past, future or present,
internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far or near is only
impermanent, painful and not-self: these are 3 kinds of deep comprehension.
Any feeling whatsoever ... Any perception whatsoever ... Any construction
whatsoever ... Any consciousness whatsoever is impermanent, miserable and
not-self! Any eye, any ear, any nose, any tongue, any body and any mind is
impermanent, suffering and not-self! Any visible form, any sound, any smell,
any taste, any touch and any idea whether past, future or present, internal
or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far or near remains always
transient, painful and impersonal: These are 3 kinds of real comprehension.
One can understand it in this way: Any object is impermanent in the sense
of destruction, painful in the sense of terror, and not-self in the sense of
having no core: These 3 characteristics can be generalized to all things...
Full comprehension is understanding: Any object whatsoever whether past,
future or present, is impermanent, constructed, dependently arisen, thus
inevitably it will be destroyed, unambiguously it will fade away by decay,
unavoidably it will be lost, inescapably it will all cease, perish and vanish ...
Vism 608

More on these 3 Universal Characteristics of Existence (Ti-lakkhana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_3_Universal_Characteristics.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/ti_lakkhana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_3_Ultimate_Facts.htm

Have a nice day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Sam?hita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Anything Whatsoever...

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

What Right View gives Certainty of Rightness?

Seeing the 5 Clusters of Clinging: form, feeling, perception, mental construction,
and consciousness collectively as impermanent, as painful, as a disease, a boil,
a dart, a calamity, an affliction, as alien, as disintegrating, as a plague, a terror,
a menace, a disaster, as fickle, as perishable, as not lasting, as transient, as no
protection, no shelter, no refuge, as empty, as vain, void, as not-self, as a danger,
as subject to change, as having no core, as the root of calamity, as murderous,
as due to be annihilated, as subject to fermentation, as constructed of parts,
as Mara's bait, as subject to birth, subject to ageing, subject to illness, subject
to death, subject to sorrow, subject to lamentation, subject to despair, subject
to defilement. By seeing that the 5 clusters of clinging are impermanent, one thus
acquires a fondness, an inclination, a preference that conforms with the Dhamma.
By seeing that ceasing of the 5 clusters of clinging is the very immutable Nibbana,
one enters into the certainty of rightness. This is therefore perfectly right view!
Ps II 238, Vism 611

Physical aggregates can have many forms, yet mental even more so!

Have a nice detached day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Certainty of Rightness...

samahita · October 2009

Friends:

Only Momentary Causes & Effects passes by...

Life, person, pleasure, pain, just these join in a conscious moment that flicks by.
Even gods, that live for 84.000 aeons, are not the same even for 2 such moments!
Ceased aggregates of those dead & alive are all alike, gone for never to return...
And those states and accumulations that break up meanwhile, and in any future,
have no traits different from those ceased before. All states are equally brief!
No world is born if consciousness is not produced! When consciousness is present,
then the world appears as living! When consciousness dissolves, the world is dead!
This is the highest sense, this concept of ever blinking re-becoming, can justify...
No store of broken states exist anywhere, & no future stock of states to come!
Those phenomena that are momentarily born balance like seeds on a needle point.
Fall and breakup of all states is surely foredoomed, even at their fleeting birth...
Those present states decay now, unmingled with those past states, just gone by.
They come from nowhere, break up, & back to nowhere they inevitably then go...
Reality flash in & then flash out, as a lightning in the sky... Not ever to be kept!!!
Even for a single moment! Vism 625, Nd I 42

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