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Daily Dhamma Drops

1246720

Comments

  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited December 2006
    Friends:

    How is the Faith leading to Lay Discipleship?
    Having heard the Buddha speak the Lay Disciple exclaims:
    Excellent, Lord, excellent! It is as if someone were to set up
    right what had been knocked and turned upside-down, or it
    is as if someone revealed what was covered up and hidden, or
    it is as if someone pointed out the way to one who had got lost
    by going astray, or it is as if someone brought a lamp into a
    dark place, so that those with eyes could see the forms there!
    Exactly so has the Blessed Buddha explained this Dhamma in
    many various clear ways. Therefore do I, Venerable Sir, hereby
    take refuge in the Blessed Buddha, hereby take refuge in the
    true Dhamma, and hereby take refuge in the pure Sangha...
    May the Blessed Buddha accept and know me as a lay-follower
    from this day on and as long as this life shall last!

    So is the faith of those who after countless lives at last have
    accumulated and now possesses the right and ripe conditions
    for attaining the valuable state of lay disciple of a Buddha...
    This is the first step towards the Bliss of Deathless Nibbana!

    Source: DN 2 The Fruits of Retreat: Samaññaphala Sutta I 85
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html

    Lay Faith!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited December 2006
    Friends:
    How is the Faith leading to Going Forth?
    Having heard the Buddha speak a householder or a householder's
    son or one born in some other family hears that Buddha-Dhamma.
    On hearing this sublime Dhamma he acquires faith in the Tathagata.
    Possessing that faith, he considers thus: Household life is crowded,
    cramped, and dusty. The Life gone forth is out in the wide open...
    It is not easy, while living in a home, to lead the Noble life utterly
    perfect and pure as a polished shell. Suppose I shave off my hair
    and beard, put on the yellow robe, and go forth from the home life
    into homelessness. On a later occasion, leaving behind any small or
    large fortune, leaving behind a small, or a large circle of relatives,
    he shaves off his hair and beard, puts on the ochre robe, and goes
    forth from the home life into homelessness...

    So is the faith of those who after countless lives at last have
    accumulated and now possesses the right and ripe conditions
    for attaining the advantageous state of Bhikkhu under Buddha...
    This is the next step towards the Bliss of Deathless Nibbana!

    MN 27: Culahatthipadopama Sutta. The Short Elephant Footprint Simile
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.027.than.html

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Going Forth Faith ... !!! :om:
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited December 2006
    Friends:
    What is Unwavering Faith and Confidence?
    Knowing, Friends, evil covetousness and wicked greed to be mental
    defilements, the Bhikkhu leaves them, eliminates, & eradicates them.
    Knowing hating ill will to be a mental defilement, he leaves ill will.
    Knowing aversive anger to be a mental defilement, he leaves anger.
    Knowing bad revenge to be a mental defilement, he leaves revenge.
    Knowing contempt to be a mental defilement, he leaves contempt.
    Knowing tyranny to be a mental defilement, he leaves tyranny.
    Knowing green envy to be a mental defilement, he leaves envy.
    Knowing jealousy to be a mental defilement, he leaves jealousy.
    Knowing hypocrisy to be a mental defilement, he leaves hypocrisy.
    Knowing cheating fraud to be a mental defilement, he leaves fraud.
    Knowing obstinacy to be a mental defilement, he leaves obstinacy.
    Knowing puffed pride to be a mental defilement, he leaves pride.
    Knowing self-conceit to be a mental defilement, he leaves conceit.
    Knowing arrogance to be a mental defilement, he leaves arrogance.
    Knowing void vanity to be a mental defilement, he leaves vanity.
    Knowing negligence to be a mental defilement, he leaves negligence.

    When the Bhikkhu has left behind this covetousness, and evil greed,
    ill will, aversive anger, revenge, contempt, domineering tyranny, envy,
    jealousy, hypocrisy, cheat & fraud, obstinacy, puffed pride, conceit,
    arrogance, vanity, and negligence, he then gains unwavering Faith,
    unshakable Confidence and resolute Conviction in the Buddha thus:
    Worthy, honourable and perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha!
    Fully 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 humans, blessed, exalted, awakened, & enlightened is the Buddha!

    He gains unwavering Faith, Confidence & Conviction in the Dhamma
    thus: Perfectly formulated is the Buddha-Dhamma, visible right here
    and now, immediately effective, timeless, inviting each and everyone
    to come and see for themselves, inspect, examine and verify.
    Leading each and everyone through progress towards perfection.
    Directly observable, experiencable & realizable by each intelligence!

    He gains unwavering Faith, Confidence and Conviction in the Sangha
    thus: Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha community of Buddha's
    Noble disciples: Training the right way, the true way, the good way,
    the direct way! Therefore do these 8 kinds of individuals, the four
    Noble pairs, deserve both gifts, self-sacrifice, offerings, hospitality
    and reverential salutation even with joined palms, since this Noble
    Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples, is indeed an
    unsurpassable and forever unsurpassed field of merit, in this world,
    for this world, to honour, support, award, respect, and protect!

    When he has given up, left, and eliminated these mental defilements
    he knows: I am convinced by steady unwavering Faith & Confidence
    in the Buddha... in the Dhamma... in the Sangha... He therefore gains
    enthusiasm for the goal, gains inspiration from the Dhamma, & gains
    the gladness connected with this true Dhamma. When gladdened, a
    rapturous joy is born in him; being joyous in mind, his body becomes
    tranquil; his body being tranquil, he feels happiness; and the mind of
    him who is happy becomes concentrated into full intense absorption!

    Source:
    Majjhima Nikaya MN 7 Vatthupama Sutta: The Simile of the Cloth!
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.007.nypo.html

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Unwavering Faith!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited December 2006
    Friends:

    How is Faith and Confidence Advantageous?

    Faith is the first of these 5 Elements of Effort:
    Faith, Health, Sincerity, Energy, and Understanding.
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/padhaaniyanga.htm

    Faith is main factor of these 4 Streams of Merit:
    1: Unshakable faith in the Buddha,
    2: Unshakable faith in the Dhamma,
    3: Unshakable faith in the Sangha,
    4: Quite Perfected Morality.
    AN IV 52
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/punna_dhaaraa.htm

    Faith is the first of these 7 Treasures:
    1: Faith,
    2: Morality,
    3: Shame,
    4: Fear of Wrongdoing,
    5: Learning,
    6: Generosity,
    7: Understanding.
    A. VII, 5, 6.
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/dhana.htm
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an07/an07.006.than.html
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Seven_invisible_Diamonds.htm

    Faith is seed, the entrance, the initiator, the ticket, the beginning.
    Understanding is the highest, the goal, the diamond-cutter, the end.
    Both are Floods of Advantage, Fruits of the Best, Leading to Happiness!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Freeing and Fruitful is Faith!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:
    Where does Faith and Confidence Lead?
    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    Bhikkhus, the well explained Dhamma is clear, open, evident,
    and free of patchwork. In this very clear, open, evident, and
    unstitched Dhamma, those who are Dhamma-followers or are
    Faith-followers are all headed for Enlightenment...
    Bhikkhus, the well explained Dhamma is clear, open, evident,
    and free of patchwork. In this very clear, open, evident, and
    unstitched Dhamma, those who have enough faith in me, and
    enough devotion for me, are all headed for Divine Existence...

    Source: MN 22: Alagaddupama Sutta: The Snake Simile
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.022.nypo.html

    The Noble Dhamma-follower is a Noble Person whose main quality
    is Understanding. He who understands that all constructions are
    impersonal & lacking self, by thus gaining the ability of wisdom,
    he is at the moment of Stream-Entrance a Dhamma-devotee...

    The Noble Faith-follower is a Noble Person whose main quality
    is Conviction. He who is filled with determination and dedication,
    who considers all constructions as impermanent & lacking stability,
    by thus gaining the ability of faith, he is at the path moment of
    Stream-Entrance a Faith-devotee...

    For the various kinds of Noble Disciples see:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/ariya_puggala.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Therefore: Saving Treasure is Faith!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:
    How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?

    Durutu Poya day is the full-moon of January. This holy day celebrates
    the first visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka. The Buddha visited the very
    place where the present magnificent Mahiyangana Stupa was built to
    enshrine the Buddha's hair relics and the collar bone. For Details see:
    http://www.buddhanet.net/sacred-island/mahiyangana.html

    On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days:
    Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the
    Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean
    bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first
    three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head touch the floor.
    Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites these memorized lines
    in a loud, calm & steady voice:

    As long as this life lasts:
    I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
    I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
    I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
    I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
    I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
    I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
    I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
    I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
    I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.
    I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!

    I accept to respect & undertake these 5 training rules:
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs.
    As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...

    Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's
    own eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much
    better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to
    this world! So is the start towards Nibbana: the Deathless Element!
    This is the Noble Way to Peace, to Freedom, to Ease, to Happiness,
    initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and
    fulfilled by training of Meditation...

    Today indeed is Pooya or uposatha or observance day, where any lay
    Buddhist normally keeps even the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the
    next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha,
    they may simply forward the lines starting with "I hereby ..." signed with
    name, date, town & country to me or join here. A public list of this new
    quite rapidly growing global Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!

    The True Noble Community of Buddha's Disciples: Saddhamma Sangha:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm
    Can quite advantageously be Joined Here:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm

    May your journey hereby be light, swift and sweet. Never give up !!
    Bhikkhu Samahita: what.buddha.said@gmail.com
    For Details on The Origin of Uposatha Observance Days:
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Durutu Poya Day!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:
    What is the Mental Ability of Energy?

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    Bhikkhus, there are these mental five abilities. What five?

    The ability of Faith (saddha)
    The ability of Energy (viriya)
    The ability of Awareness (sati)
    The ability of Concentration (samadhi)
    The ability of Understanding (pañña)

    But what is the Ability of Energy (Viriya):
    That which is the arousing of mental energy, effort, endeavour,
    exertion, industry, toiling travail, diligent zeal, vigour, tenacity,
    enthusiasm, eagerness, unfaltering will, not giving up the task,
    forceful drive, intense activity, controlled ardour, get-up-and-go
    or in short: The power of energy. This is called ability of energy!
    Source: The Book of Analysis: Vibhanga
    http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=130304

    For details on the Ability of Energy see:
    Energy is the 6th factor of the Noble 8-fold Way: Right Effort.
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Effort.htm
    Energy is the 5th Mental Perfection (parami):
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
    Energy is 3rd Link to Awakening (viriya-sambojjhanga):
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energy_Viriya.htm
    How to Feed Energy:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Energy.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups-beta.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    What is the Mental Ability of Energy?
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:
    What is the Definition of Energy?

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    What, Bhikkhus, is the ability of Energy? Here, Bhikkhus, the
    Noble Disciple lives with energy aroused for the elimination of
    disadvantageous states and for gaining advantageous states.
    He is determined, resolute in all his efforts, not evading any
    good opportunity to train the advantageous mental states.
    This is called the ability of Energy. Source: Samyutta Nikaya V 48

    Without Energy, there is no advantageous action nor effort!
    Without any advantageous Action, there is not any good Result!
    No cause gives no effect! Therefore: Raise & Stir up yourself!

    For details on the Enthusiastic Ability of Energy see:
    Energy is the 6th factor of the Noble 8-fold Way: Right Effort
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Effort.htm
    Energy is the 5th Mental Perfection (parami):
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
    Energy is 3rd Link to Awakening (viriya-sambojjhanga):
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energy_Viriya.htm
    How to Feed Energy:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Energy.htm
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:
    What is the Origin & Cause of Energy?

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    Where, Friends, is the ability of Energy to be seen & found?
    The Energy ability is to be found among the Four Right Efforts...
    SN V 196 http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Effort.htm

    What is Right Effort?
    The effort to overcome already present damaging mental states..
    The effort to prevent future damaging mental states from arising..
    The effort to develop yet unarisen advantageous mental states..
    The effort to maintain already arisen advantageous mental states..
    That is Right Effort! SN V 2
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/sacca4/samma-vayamo/index.html

    Damaging mental states should be seen & battled in every moment!
    Beneficial states should be sought and cultivated in every moment!
    The enthusiasm in doing that, conditioned by that, is right energy!

    For details on the Enthusiastic Ability of Energy see:
    Energy is the 6th factor of the Noble 8-fold Way: Right Effort
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Effort.htm
    Energy is the 5th Mental Perfection (parami):
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
    Energy is 3rd Link to Awakening (viriya-sambojjhanga):
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energy_Viriya.htm
    How to Feed Energy:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Energy.htm


    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups-beta.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Origin of Energy!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:
    What is the Arising of the Energy Ability?

    The initiation of deliberately directing mind for the sole purpose of
    exertion, is the very first sprouting arising of the energy ability.
    The growing of keen eagerness and enthusiasm under the influence
    of the exertion itself, expands this arising of the energy ability.
    Occurrence of focused attention and consideration conditioned by
    the guided control of exertion, is the arising of the energy ability.
    The unification in one-pointed concentration under the condensing
    influence of the exertion, adds to the arising of the energy ability.
    Non-appearance of laziness is the advantage of the energy ability.
    Absence of the frustration of laziness is the charm of this ability.
    Entering mental absorption is the motive behind the energy ability.
    Assured firmness of effort is the rapt power of the energy ability.
    Enthusiastic pleasure & joy is the fascination of the energy ability.
    The emergence of laziness is the danger for the ability of energy.
    Through bold striving the ability of energy escapes from laziness.

    Source: The Path of Discrimination: Patisambhidamagga IV
    http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=133494

    For details on the Enthusiastic Ability of Energy see:
    Energy is the 6th factor of the Noble 8-fold Way: Right Effort
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Effort.htm
    Energy is the 5th Mental Perfection (parami):
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
    Energy is 3rd Link to Awakening (viriya-sambojjhanga):
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energy_Viriya.htm
    How to Feed Energy:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Energy.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups-beta.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    The Arising of the Ability of Energy!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:
    How is the Energy that is utterly Unshakable?

    It is not shaken by indolent Laziness, thus is it the Power of Energy.
    It is the Power of Energy by stiffening & stabilizing other qualities.
    It is the Power of Energy by terminating the bad mental defilements.
    It is the Power of Energy by purifying penetration to understanding.
    It is the Power of Energy by calming, steadying, & focusing the mind.
    It is the Power of Energy by clearing, cleansing & purifying the mind.
    It is the Power of Energy in the sense of arrival at subtle distinction.
    It is the Power of Energy in the sense of penetration to even higher.
    It is the Power of Energy in the sense of convergence upon actuality.
    It is the Power of Energy in the sense of establishing in cessation!
    The energetic one has unflagging faith. The faithful one is energetic.
    The energetic establishes awareness. The aware one is energetic.
    The energetic one concentrates. The concentrated one is energetic.
    The energetic one understands. The understanding one is energetic.
    This and so is the Power of Energy... Mutually enhancing abilities!

    Source: Sariputta - The General of the Dhamma -
    The Canonical: Path of Discrimination: Patisambhidamagga. IV + XIX.
    http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=133494

    The Power of Energy! :bigclap:

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups-beta.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:

    Ballanced Energy does not stir up Restlessness!

    Laziness overcomes one strong in concentration and weak in energy,
    since concentration favours idle inaction. Agitation and restlessness
    overpowers one strong in energy and weak in concentration, because
    energy stimulates agitation. But concentration coupled and ballanced
    with energy cannot lapse into laziness, & energy coupled & ballanced
    with concentration cannot provoke distracted & restless agitation...
    Therefore should these two abilities be ballanced, since absorption
    comes with the even ballancing of the mental abilities.

    Source:
    Path of Purification: Visuddhimagga: Buddhaghosa 5th century AC.
    http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=771100

    Ballanced Energy!

    Friendship is the Greatest
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  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:
    The Inflexible Law of Nature: Action & Reaction!

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    There are 4 things, Bhikkhus & Friends, nobody can change,
    no recluse, priest, divine being, no god nor devil, nor anyone
    in this or any other world. What are these 4 things?
    That what is subject to decay may not decay...
    That what is subject to sickness may not fall sick...
    That what is subject to death may not die...
    That those evil, immoral, impure, terrible, and pain-producing
    actions, which ever and again lead to rebirth, ageing, & death,
    may not bring results, may not produce their inviolable fruit...
    These four things, Bhikkhus & Friends, neither recluse, priest,
    divine being, neither gods nor devils, nor anyone in this or any
    other world can stop...

    Source:
    Anguttara Nikaya. Numerical Sayings: AN 4:182
    http://what-buddha-said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

    Fixed Law!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:
    Enthusiastic Energy Boosts Advantageous Right Effort!

    By it one strives and struggles, thus is it energetic effort.
    Any advantageous exertion of endeavour is a right effort.
    By it one works in the right direction, thus is it right effort.
    It is right, because it eliminates all the ugly evil mentalities.
    It is effort, because it brings progress of well-being and bliss.
    Therefore is it called Right Effort. It is a name for Energy...
    Right Effort achieves these four functions:
    1: Elimination of already arisen detrimental mental states!
    2: Prevention of detrimental mental states not yet arisen!
    3: Initiation of advantageous mental states not yet arisen!
    4: Maintenance of already arisen advantageous mental states!
    Thus is it fourfold. That is why it is called the 4 right efforts...

    Source: The Path of Purification:
    Visuddhimagga by Ariya Buddhaghosa from 5th century AC.
    http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=771100

    Definition and Inspiration also at:
    http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Effort.htm
    http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Right Effort! :thumbsup:
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:

    Kinship with All: Be Gentle & Kind towards your Family!

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    It is not easy, Bhikkhus & Friends, to find even a single living being
    that during this immensely long round of rebirths has not at least 10
    times been your mother, father, brother, sister, son, or daughter!!!
    How is this possible? Inconceivable, Bhikkhus and Friends, is the
    beginning of this Samsara; not to be discovered is a first beginning
    of individual beings who, blinded by ignorance and all obsessed by
    craving, are hurrying and hastening through this round of rebirths!
    The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book SN 15:14-19

    On Samsara: The Dreadful Round:
    Long is indeed Samsara for the simpleton not knowing the Dhamma.
    Long is the night for one who keeps Awake.
    Long is the mile for one who is tired.
    Long is the rebirth round for one unaware of the true Dhamma.
    Dhammapada 60

    Check out:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/samsaara.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Samsara.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    BIG Family!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:
    Energy avoids, overcomes, develops, & maintains!

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    Friends: There are four efforts: The effort to avoid, the effort to
    overcome, the effort to develop, and the effort to maintain...
    What, friends, is the effort to avoid? In this case, when perceiving
    a form with the eye, a sound with the ear, a smell with the nose, a
    taste with the tongue, a touch with the body, or a thought of mind,
    one neither fixes to the overall appearance nor to any of its details.
    One strives to avert the arising of evil and detrimental states, such
    as greed, urge, and longing, by remaining with guarded sense-doors!
    One watches & notes the senses, keeping under control the senses...
    This is the effort to avoid!
    What, friends, is the effort to overcome? In this case, one does not
    accept any thought of sensual lust, ill-will, irritation, or any other
    evil and detrimental state that may have arisen! One immediately
    dispels it, destroys it, and causes it to vanish right there & then...
    This is called the effort to overcome!
    What, friends, is the effort to develop? In this case, one develops
    the links to Enlightenment, which bent on solitude, on detachment &
    on ceasing, ends in release, namely: Awareness, Investigation, Energy,
    Joy, Tranquillity, Concentration and Equanimity...
    This is called the effort to develop!
    What, friends, is the effort to maintain? In this case, one keeps the
    mind firmly focused on any advantageous object of concentration
    that may have arisen, such as the mental image of a skeleton, of a
    festering corpse infested by worms, of a swollen, decaying corpse,
    bluish-black riddled with pus and maggot dripping holes...
    This is called the effort to maintain!
    These, Friends, are the four Right Efforts!

    Source:
    Anguttara Nikaya. Numerical Sayings: AN 4:14
    http://what-buddha-said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm
    Definition and Inspiration also at:
    http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Effort.htm
    http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm

    Avoiding Effort!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited January 2007
    Friends:
    How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?

    Navam Poya day is the full-moon of February. This holy day celebrates
    the ordination of the Buddha Gotama's main disciples Sariputta and
    MahaMoggallana. On this day he also later decides his Parinibbana.
    On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days:
    Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the
    Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean
    bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first
    three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head touch the floor.
    Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites these memorized lines
    in a loud, calm & steady voice:

    As long as this life lasts:
    I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
    I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
    I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
    I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
    I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
    I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
    I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
    I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
    I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.
    I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!
    I accept to respect & undertake these 5 training rules:
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs.
    As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...
    Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one’s own
    eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much
    better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to
    this world! So is the start towards Nibbana: the Deathless Element!
    This is the Noble Way to Peace, to Freedom, to Ease, to Happiness,
    initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and
    fulfilled by training of Meditation...
    Today indeed is Pooya or Uposatha or observance day, where any lay
    Buddhist normally keeps even the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the
    next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha,
    they may simply forward the lines starting with "I hereby ..." signed with
    name, date, town, & country to me or join here. A public list of this new
    quite rapidly growing global Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!

    The New Noble Community of Buddha's Disciples: Saddhamma Sangha:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm
    Can quite advantageously be Joined Here:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm

    May your journey hereby be light, swift, and sweet. Never give up !!
    Bhikkhu Samahita: what.buddha.said@gmail.com
    For Details on The Origin of Uposatha Observance Days:
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html

    Navam Poya Day!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    Energy is The Chief Hero: The Main Root of all Success!

    Your majesty, like a man might reinforce a house that was falling
    down with an extra piece of wood, & being thus strengthened that
    house would not collapse. Even so, your majesty, has energy (viriya)
    the characteristic of reinforcing support & consolidating strength.
    By energy are no advantageous states lost. The Questions of King Milinda:
    Milindapanha 36 http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebsut045.htm

    Energy is the prime state of a chief hero, a champion, a conqueror!
    Its characteristic is enthusiastic and forceful thrust of exertion.
    Its function is the supporting foundation of associated states.
    Its manifestation is a state of non-collapse of whatever is good.
    The proximate cause of energy is what stirs up & activates effort.
    Alternatively: Any source that stimulates and instigates energy.
    It is said by the Blessed One that one who is stirred and aroused
    by energy exerts and struggles properly. That leads to all success!
    Rightly instigated it should be seen as the root of all attainments!
    Visuddhimagga XVI 137 http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=771100

    Definition and Inspiration also at:
    http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Effort.htm
    http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm

    Energy: The Root Hero!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    Kamma (= action) and Fruit: Action & Reaction!

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    Beings are owners of their actions (kamma = karma), inheritor of
    their actions, are created by their actions, linked to their actions,
    their actions produce their destiny. Whatever actions they do;
    good as evil, the resulting reaction & effect will be only theirs!
    There is one who kills living beings, steal what belongs to others,
    commits adultery with other's partners; speaks lies, uses divisive
    and aggressive speech, prattle empty gossip; is covetous, envious,
    jealous, wicked-minded of evil views. Such one is creeping in all
    actions both bodily, verbal, and mental. Hidden & secret are such
    one's actions, words, and thoughts, of ulterior & concealed ways.
    But I tell you: Whoever pursues hidden ways and objects will have
    to expect one of these two results: Either the torture of hell, or
    birth among the creeping animals. Thus it is with all rebirth of any
    being: They will be reborn according to their actions (kamma)...
    When reborn, they will experience the exact result of their actions.
    Therefore I declare: Beings are owners of their actions (kamma),
    inheritor of their actions, are created by their actions, linked to
    their actions, as a shadow that never leaves! Their actions produce
    and condition their future destiny. Whatever action they perform;
    good as evil, the resulting reaction & effects will be only theirs!

    Kamma causes & creates rebirth! A shadow that never leaves!

    Source:
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 10:205
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

    For details on the mechanics of Kamma = Action see:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_is_intention.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Buddha_on_Kamma.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_dilutes_Evil_Kamma.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_short_&_long_life.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Effect_of_Action_(kamma)_is_Delayed.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Health_&_Sickness.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Low_or_High_Birth.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Wealth_or_Poverty.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Beauty_&_Ugliness.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Power_or_Disrespect.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Evil_Kamma_enhances_other_Evil_Kamma.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Stupidity_or_Intelligence.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_enhances_other_Good_Kamma.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:

    There are two kinds of Energy: Bodily & Mental!

    There are two kinds of the Energy Ability (Viriyindriya):
    1. Bodily Energy (Kayika-viriya)
    and
    2. Mental Energy (Cetasika-viriya)

    There are two degrees of the Energy Ability(Viriyindriya):
    1: Ordinary Energy (Pakati-viriya)
    and
    2. Energy developed by meditation (Bhavana-viriya)

    Bodily Energy is by reducing sleep & by being vigorous and energetic.
    Mental Energy is alert enthusiasm in keen attention to the object.
    Any kind of work will only reach success if gaining mastery over it.
    If done without real energy the work gains mastery over the person
    and no concrete results appear, days & months drag along & strong
    disgust with the work appear, leading to laziness. When being lazy
    the progress in the work slows down, the fake idea appears that it
    maybe would be better to change work or give it up altogether...
    In meditative work, quick success is obtained only by one endowed
    with both bodily and mental energy. Energy developed by meditation
    can overcome sloth and laziness> The mind then takes enthusiastic
    delight in dwelling on the objects on which its attention is strong!
    This is the Energy Ability (Viriyindriya) developed by meditation...

    Source:
    The requisites of Enlightenment. Ven. Ledi Sayadaw. Wheel 171/172
    http://www.bps.lk/

    For a Full Study on Energy (Viriya): The root Hero of all Success:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Definition_of_Energy.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Arising_of_Energy.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Ability_of_Energy.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Origin_of_Energy.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Power_of_Energy.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Ballanced_Energy.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Chief_Hero.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energetic_Effort.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Avoiding_Effort.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Energy.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energy_Viriya.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Energy.htm

    Dual Energy! :rarr:
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    Results of Immoral Actions are Inevitably Painful!

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    The destroying and cruel killing of living beings, Bhikkhus & Friends,
    committed, carried out, and often pursued, leads to Hell, the animal
    world, or the realm of ghosts. Even the least result of killing living
    beings brings a short life. Killing brings bad future & quick death!!!
    The taking of other people's belongings, committed, carried out,
    and often pursued, leads to Hell, the animal world, or the realm of
    hungry ghosts. Even the slightest result of stealing other people's
    belongings brings the future loss of one's own goods and poverty!!!
    Adultery and illegitimate sex, committed, carried out, and often
    pursued, leads to Hell, rebirth as animal, or in realm of ugly ghosts.
    Even the minimum result of unlawful sex brings enmity & rivalry!!!
    Lying, committed, carried out, and often pursued, leads to Hell,
    the animal world, or the realm of ghosts. Even the weakest result
    of lying brings future false accusations, blame, & evil complaints!!!
    Tale-bearing, slander, divisive speech of gossip & malicious rumours
    committed, carried out, & often done, leads to Hell, animal world,
    or the realm of, ghosts. Even the slightest result of tale-bearing
    brings discord, disagreement, and conflict even with one's friends!!!
    Harsh, hurting, and aggressive speech, committed, carried out, and
    often pursued, leads to rebirth in Hell, rebirth in the animal world,
    or the realm of ghosts. Even the smallest result of abusive language
    brings back future relentless, rude and ruthless verbal scolding!!!
    Vain & empty gossip, prattle, and hearsay committed, carried out,
    and often pursued, leads to Hell, the animal world, or the realm of
    ghosts. Even the least result of vain and void prattle brings future
    hearing of unacceptable and disagreeable stories and words!!!
    Drinking intoxicating drinks, such as wine and liquor, committed,
    carried out, and often pursued, leads to rebirth in Hell, the animal
    world, or the realm of hungry ghosts. Even the minutest result of
    drinking alcoholic drinks brings future dementia and insanity!!!

    Beings are owners of their actions (kamma), inheritor of their own
    actions, are created by their actions, and linked to their actions!!!
    Their actions produce, condition and create their future destiny...
    Whatever action they perform; good as evil, the resulting reaction
    and consequential effects will be only theirs! Be careful!

    Kamma causes & creates the rebirth! A shadow that never leaves!

    Source:
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 8:40 + 10:205
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

    For details on the mechanics of Kamma = Action see:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_is_intention.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Buddha_on_Kamma.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_dilutes_Evil_Kamma.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_short_&_long_life.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Effect_of_Action_(kamma)_is_Delayed.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Health_&_Sickness.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Low_or_High_Birth.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Wealth_or_Poverty.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Beauty_&_Ugliness.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Power_or_Disrespect.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Evil_Kamma_enhances_other_Evil_Kamma.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Stupidity_or_Intelligence.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_enhances_other_Good_Kamma.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Inevitable Consequences!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    What is the Mental Ability of Awareness (Sati)?

    The Blessed Buddha once said:

    Bhikkhus, there are these five mental abilities (indriya). What five?

    The ability of Faith (saddha)
    The ability of Energy (viriya)
    The ability of Awareness (sati)
    The ability of Concentration (samadhi)
    The ability of Understanding (pañña)

    But what is the mental ability of Awareness (Sati) ?
    That which is Awareness, constant attention, recollection,
    mental presence, mindfulness, remembering, bearing in mind,
    alertness, watchful consciousness, non-neglect, non-oblivious,
    non-forgetfulness, non-carelessness, and non-superficiality.
    This is called the ability of Awareness, the Power of Awareness,
    Right Awareness, and the Awareness link to Awakening!

    But what is the Awareness link to Awakening?
    Herein a Bhikkhu is mindful, furnished with excellent Awareness,
    recollection, he remembers, remembers constantly, what has long
    been done & long been said concerning release even very long ago.
    This is called the Awareness link to Awakening...
    There is Awareness of internal states and there is Awareness of
    external states. Both Awareness of internal states & Awareness
    of external states is an Awareness link to Awakening leading to
    full knowledge, Enlightenment, & to complete emancipating release!

    Source: The Book of Analysis: Vibhanga 124 + 228
    http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=130304

    For further study on the illuminating presence of Awareness:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Awareness.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Awareness_Sati.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Awareness_Analysis.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Awareness.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Noble_Awareness.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/One_and_only_Way.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Sati_Studies.htm
    http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/Causes_of_sati.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Clear_Comprehension.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Careful_and_Rational_Attention.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Clear_and_Aware_Comprehension.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    The Aware Ability!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    Blinded by Ignorance & Driven on by Craving!

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    There will come a time, Bhikkhus & Friends, when all the mighty
    oceans will evaporate, dry up, vanish, and exist no more...
    But there will be no end of Suffering for beings who, blinded by
    Ignorance and obsessed by Craving, are hurrying and hastening
    through this samsaric round of endless rebirths...This I tell you!
    There comes a time, when this mighty planet earth will explode in
    a gigantic burst of fire, be completely destroyed, & exist no more...
    But there will be no end of Misery for beings who, obstructed by
    Ignorance and addicted by Craving, are hurrying, even running and
    hastening from birth to repeated death in this round of rebirths...
    This I explain to you!

    Source:
    Grouped Discourses of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya SN 22:99
    http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html

    For details on this Round of Rebirths: Samsara see:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/samsaara.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Samsara.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    The Endless Round!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    Establishing the 4 Foundations of Awareness!

    What, friends, are these 4 Foundations of Awareness?
    While always acutely alert & clearly comprehending, thus removing
    any lust, urge, envy, frustration, & discontent rooted in this world,
    The intelligent Bhikkhu keeps contemplating & regarding any & all
    Body as an alien frame of filthy foul form... As something bound
    to emerge, decay and vanish... Not as mine, belonging to me or self!
    Not as lasting, stable & safe! Not as pleasant beauty & happiness!

    The intelligent Bhikkhu keeps contemplating & regarding any & all
    Feeling as a banal ever recurring reactivity... As something bound
    to arising, decay & fade away! Not mine, belonging to me or my self!
    Not as lasting, stable & safe! Not as ever pleasure & all happiness!

    The intelligent Bhikkhu keeps contemplating & regarding any & all
    Mind as a habituated set of bizarre mentalities of a queer nature
    to appear, dwindle, flutter & flicker... Not as I, me, ego or any self!
    Neither lasting, stable nor safe! Not as pleasant! Not as happiness!

    The intelligent Bhikkhu keeps contemplating & regarding any & all
    Phenomena as mentally constructed appearances of only transitory
    manifestation always ending right where they arised. Not as mine,
    belonging to me or self! Not as something lasting, stable, or real!
    Not as something existent, pleasant, beautiful or attractive!

    This is the fourfold Foundation of Awareness...!!! This - only this -
    is the sole way to the purification of beings!!! Why is it actually so?
    It is an indispensable support for presence that has to stand near!
    It has to be made manifest to be of service as a guarding activity!
    It has to be established as continuous dominance of comprehension!
    It is essential & absolutely necessary for optimizing any behaviour!
    It is a crucially needed key, imperative for preventing all mistakes!
    It is a vitally fundamental prerequisite for guidance & self-control!
    It is the only thing that can overcome relapses of careless neglect!

    Details On Four Foundations of Awareness (Sati):
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Awareness_Sati.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Clear_Comprehension.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/One_and_only_Way.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Awareness.htm
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/mahasi/wheel370.html
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wayof.html

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    The Four Foundations of Awareness!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    Ceasing of Kamma is by Exhaustion of Effect!

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    I tell you, Bhikkhus and Friends, that it is absolutely impossible,
    that willed, intended, performed, & accumulated actions (kamma)
    will cease to be effective as long as one has not yet experienced
    their results, be it in this life, or in the next life, or in future lives!
    And it is equally impossible, that without having experienced these
    results of one's accumulated, intended, & performed past actions,
    that one will be able to put an end to Suffering. May this be known!

    Source:
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 10:208
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

    For details on the mechanics of Kamma = Action see:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_is_intention.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Buddha_on_Kamma.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_dilutes_Evil_Kamma.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_short_&_long_life.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Effect_of_Action_(kamma)_is_Delayed.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Health_&_Sickness.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Low_or_High_Birth.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Wealth_or_Poverty.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Beauty_&_Ugliness.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Power_or_Disrespect.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Evil_Kamma_enhances_other_Evil_Kamma.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Stupidity_or_Intelligence.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_enhances_other_Good_Kamma.htm

    Impossible!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    Establishing the 4 Foundations of Awareness!

    How, Friends, does one view any Body only as a Form?

    While always acutely alert & clearly comprehending, thus removing
    any lust, urge, envy, frustration, & discontent rooted in this world,
    the intelligent Bhikkhu keeps contemplating & regarding any & all
    Body as an alien frame of filthy & foul form... As something bound
    to emerge, decay and vanish... Not as mine, belonging to me or self!
    Not as lasting, stable & safe! Not as pleasant beauty & happiness!
    In this way the intelligent Bhikkhu keeps reviewing any & all body,
    whether internal or external and he notes the cause of its arising
    and the cause of its ceasing, or he just knows: There is this body!
    In this way he comes to live not clinging to & independent of body!
    This is one way to contemplate the body only as a transient form...

    Or he gains awareness of the body only as a form by Breathing:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Awareness_by_Breathing.htm

    Or he gains awareness of the body by Noting the 4 Postures:
    When walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, he notes that he is
    walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. However his body is placed
    he notes it to be exactly and just so.

    Or he gains body awareness by Clear Comprehension of all actions:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Clear_Comprehension.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Clear_and_Aware_Comprehension.htm

    Or he gains body awareness by Scanning the 32 Internal Organs:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Meditation_On_the_Body_Kayagata-Sati.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Evil_smelling_body.htm

    Or he gains body awareness by Analysis of it into the 4 Elements:
    This body is only a cluster of solidity, fluidity, heat, and motion!

    Or he gains body awareness by The 9 Corpse Contemplations:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Meditation_On_the_Body_Kayagata-Sati.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Evil_smelling_body.htm

    Remaining thus attentive & enthusiasticly noting, any memories &
    motivations related to the household life are left & with their total
    removal his mind gathers, settles inwardly, & dives into unification!
    In this way the intelligent Bhikkhu keeps reviewing any & all body,
    whether internal or external, and he notes the cause of its arising
    and the cause of its ceasing, or he just notice: There is this body!
    In this way he comes to live not clinging to & independent of body!
    This is the way to contemplate the body only as a transient, alien &
    ownerless form of matter, a complex structure of disgusting things,
    a constructed accumulation of putrid, rotting and decaying slime,
    a painful restricting & deceasing burden one have to carry around!
    This is how the intelligent Bhikkhu develops mindfull awareness by
    focusing on the body as a deadly form of matter... As something
    bound to decay and vanish... Not as mine, belonging to me or self!
    Not as lasting, stable & safe! Not as pleasant beauty & happiness!!!

    The reward is Fearlessness of Death & thereby Fearlessness of All!
    Without fear there is the mental elevation of gladness and free joy!

    It detaches and relinquishes from body & form and frees thereby...
    Clever Disgust by Anti-Porn cooling all lust and greed for body:

    For Inspiration have a collection of Corpse Pictures Viewable only
    by Adults (>18y) signed in with Yahoo ID! been deposited here:
    http://asia.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/clever_disgust/album?.dir=/f672

    A painted puppet!
    A chain of bones plastered by skin with 9 oozing holes!
    A heap of sores & slimy rotten excrement with evil intentions!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Body as only Form: A painted Puppet born to die!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:

    Effect of action is not fixed, but modifiable by new action:

    Painful effects of wrong action is reduced by new right action.
    Painful effects of wrong action is enhanced by more wrong action.
    Pleasurable effects of right action is reduced by new wrong action.
    Pleasurable effects of right action is enhanced by more right action.

    Good Action dilutes Evil Kamma
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_dilutes_Evil_Kamma.htm
    Good Action boost Good Kamma
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_enhances_other_Good_Kamma.htm
    Evil Kamma enhances other Evil Kamma
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Evil_Kamma_enhances_other_Evil_Kamma.htm
    Effect of Action (kamma) is Delayed
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Effect_of_Action_(kamma)_is_Delayed.htm
    AN 3.99 Lonaphala Sutta The Salt Crystal:
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.099.than.html
    Kamma & the Ending of Kamma:
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/wings/part1.html#part1-b

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Kammic effects can be modified!
    Kamma is improvable!
    Never give up!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    Establishing the Awareness of Body only as a Body!

    How, Friends, does one view any Body only as a Form?

    Herein, Bhikkhus & Friends, the Bhikkhu contemplates the body
    from the soles of the feet upward, and from the top of the hair
    downward: This filthy frame with skin stretched over it, which is
    filled with many impurities consists of head-hairs, body-hairs, nails,
    teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, vomit
    diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestine, membrane, stomach, excrement,
    brain, bile, lymph, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, skin, tallow, spit,
    snot, joint-fluid, and urine. Just as if a man with good sight would
    examine a sack with openings at both ends, filled with various kinds
    of grain; paddy, beans, sesame, on opening it would recognize its
    contents thus: That is paddy, this is beans, that is sesame, this is
    husked rice: Exactly so does the Bhikkhu investigate this body...
    While always thus aware & clearly comprehending, & thus removing
    any lust, urge, envy, frustration, & discontent rooted in this world,
    the intelligent Bhikkhu keeps contemplating & regarding any & all
    Body as a remote carcass of filthy foul form. As something bound
    to emerge, decay & vanish... Not as mine, belonging to me or my self!
    Not as lasting, stable & safe! Not as pleasant beauty or happiness!
    In this way the intelligent Bhikkhu keeps reviewing any & all body
    whether internal or external and he notes the cause of its arising
    and the cause of its ceasing, or he just knows: There is this body!
    In this way he comes to live not clinging to & independent of body!
    This is the way to contemplate the body only as a transient shell...

    Source Text: Majjhima Nikaya 119: Kayagata-Sati Sutta
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Meditation_On_the_Body_Kayagata-Sati.htm

    The reward is Fearlessness of Death & thereby Fearlessness of All!
    Without fear there is the mental elevation of gladness and free joy!
    It detaches and relinquishes from body & form and frees thereby...

    Clever Disgust by Anti-Porn cooling all lust and greed for body:
    For Inspiration have a collection of Corpse Pictures Viewable only
    by Adults (>18y) signed in with Yahoo ID! been deposited here:
    http://asia.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/clever_disgust/album?.dir=/f672

    Just a painted puppet!
    A chain of bones plastered by skin with 9 oozing holes!
    A heap of sores & rotten excrement with evil intentions!

    The 32 Body Parts!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:

    The Mental Release by All Embracing Kindness!

    This was spoken by the Blessed Buddha, the Perfectly Holy One...
    Thus have I heard him saying it:
    Whatever, Bhikkhus and Friends, there are here of worldly things
    & merit making, all these are not worth 1/16 of the mental release
    & liberation of the heart reached through All-Embracing Kindness...
    The release of mind & the liberation of the heart by all-embracing
    kindness radiates, emanates, and shines, far surpassing it all...
    Just as the light from all the stars is not 1/16th of the moonlight,
    but the luminous light of the moon, radiating, beaming and shining,
    surpasses them all, exactly & even so; whatever there are of simple
    worldly and meritorious things, all these are not worth one 1/16th
    of the mental deliverance of the heart by All-Embracing Kindness...
    The release of mind & the liberation of the heart by all-embracing
    kindness radiates, beams, sparkles and shines, far surpassing it all...
    Just as in autumn, in the last month of the rainy season, on a clear,
    cloudless day the sun rises on the horizon & dispels all darkness of
    the entire surrounding space, bright and brilliant, even & exactly so:
    Whatever there are of worldly, meritorious, admirable, & attractive
    things, all these summed up are not worth even one sixteenth of the
    release of mind & liberation of the heart by All-Embracing Kindness!
    The release of mind and the liberation of the heart by outstanding
    All-Embracing Kindness radiates and shines, far surpassing them all...

    Source Text: The Itivuttaka 27: Thus what it Said:
    http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=404214
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.1.024-027.irel.html

    Blazing and Bright is release by Universal Friendliness!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    The Stilling of all Mental Construction is Nibbâna!

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    Here, Ananda, the Bhikkhu considers it all like this:
    This is the supreme peace, this is the sublime calm: The standstill of
    all forming activities, the silencing of all kammic construction,
    the relinquishing of all substrata fuelling existence, the fading away
    of all craving, detachment, release, ceasing, Nibbana...
    In this way, Ananda, the Bhikkhu may enter a mental absorption in
    which there is no notion of I and mine, no attacks of conceiving any
    internal consciousness or any external objects & wherein he is both
    mentally released & fully liberated through understanding the all...
    There is no inclination to I and mine-making, and no more attacks of
    conceit by latent tendencies to identification, egotism, & narcissism!

    Knowing both what the inner is and the outer is,
    one is neither stirred nor troubled any more!
    When thus stilled and imperturbable, there is
    neither any attraction, nor any aversion...
    One has crossed & escaped ageing & death!!!
    Sutta Nipata 1048

    Source:
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 3:32
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Stilled is Nibbana!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    Awareness of Body as a live Corpse & Skeleton!

    The Blessed Buddha said:
    If a monk sees a corpse 1, 2, 3 days dead; swollen, blue & festering,
    thrown in cemetery, he then utilizes this experience on his own body:
    Verily, exactly so is also my own body; it is of the very same nature;
    so disgusting will it inevitably become and it cannot ever escape it...

    If a monk sees a body thrown in the cemetery, being eaten by crows,
    hawks, vultures, dogs, jackals or by different worms and maggots...

    If a monk sees a corpse reduced to a skeleton with some flesh and
    blood still attached to it, and held together by the sinews...
    If a monk sees a cadaver; a blood-besmeared skeleton, but without
    any flesh, held together by the tendons as a chain of bones...

    If a monk sees a carcass; just a skeleton without any flesh or blood,
    yet still held together by the tendons...

    If a monk sees a skeleton of separated bones, scattered in a mess,
    here a hand bone, there a foot bone, the pelvis, spine & the skull...
    If a monk sees a skeleton simply as bleached white shell-like bones...
    If a monk sees bare bones thrown in the cemetery lying heaped up...

    If a monk sees a stack of bones now gone rotten & turning into dust,
    he then applies this experience to his own body: Verily, exactly so
    is also my own body; it is of the very same nature; so fragile & feeble
    is it, it will inevitably turn into dust and it cannot ever escape it...

    Then he lives fearless, detached, and clings to nothing in this world!!!

    Clever Disgust cools all obsessive greed and addictive lust:
    For Inspiration have a collection of Corpse Pictures Viewable only
    by Adults (>18y) signed in with Yahoo ID! been deposited here:
    http://asia.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/clever_disgust/album?.dir=/f672

    Source Text: Majjhima Nikaya 119: Kayagata-Sati Sutta
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Meditation_On_the_Body_Kayagata-Sati.htm

    Just a painted puppet!
    A chain of bones plastered by skin with 9 oozing holes!
    A heap of sores & rotten excrement with many evil intentions!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    The 9 Corpse Meditations!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    Realizable here & now in each & every Moment!

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    Through greed, hate, and confusion, overwhelmed and obsessed by
    greed, hate, & confusion, one aims at one's own ruin, others' ruin,
    at the ruin of both, & one suffers much mental pain & frustration...
    If, however, greed, hate, & confusion are eliminated, then one aims
    neither at one's own ruin, nor at others' ruin, nor at ruining both,
    and one suffers neither any mental pain nor any frustration at all!
    Hence is Nibbana realizable right here & now in this very lifetime,
    immediate, inviting, interesting, & intelligible to each intelligent one.
    Exactly in so far as anyone has made real the complete ceasing of
    all greed, hate, and confusion, just in so far is Nibbana realizable
    right here & now in this very life, immediate, inviting, interesting, &
    intelligible to each and every intelligent being...

    Source:
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 3:55
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Nibbana is immediate and inviting!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited February 2007
    Friends:
    Awareness of Body as mere Postures of Elements!

    The Blessed Buddha said regarding noting The Four Postures:
    Again, friends, when walking, a Bhikkhu notes and understands:
    This body is walking; when standing, he notes and understands:
    This body is standing; when sitting, he notes and understands:
    This body is sitting; when lying down, he notes and understands:
    This body is lying down or he notes and understands the attitude,
    position and location of whatever way his body frame is postured.
    In this way he lives considering the body as internal, as external
    as both something internal and external. And he lives therefore
    abiding independent, freed, not clinging to anything in this world...

    He knows and understands that it is no real person, no real being,
    no 'I', 'me' or ego that goes, sits, stands and lies down, but that it
    are only the 5 clusters of clinging & the 4 great elements of solidity,
    fluidity, heat & motion, which arising & ceasing in adjacent locations
    appears to be going, sitting, standing, and lying down, yet all these
    elements naturally & instantly cease right wherever they arised!

    Source Text: Majjhima Nikaya 119: Kayagata-Sati Sutta
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Meditation_On_the_Body_Kayagata-Sati.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Body as appearing circumstances!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?

    Medin Poya day is the full-moon of March. This holy day celebrates
    that the Buddha visits parents home after his supreme Enlightenment,
    and ordains his son prince Rahula, & half brother Nanda. This day is
    also called: The Sangha Day, since on this full-moon 1250 Arahats
    spontaneously met & assembled around the Buddha without any call.
    Buddha then spoke the famous Ovada Patimokkha core teaching!

    On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days:
    Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the
    Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean
    bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first
    three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head touch the floor.
    Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites these memorized lines
    in a loud, calm & steady voice:

    As long as this life lasts:
    I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
    I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
    I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
    I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
    I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
    I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
    I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
    I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
    I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.
    I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!

    I accept to respect & undertake these 5 training rules:
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty.
    I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs.
    As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...

    Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's
    own eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much
    better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to
    this world! The journey towards Nibbana: The Deathless is started!
    This is the Noble Way to Peace, to Freedom, to Ease, to Happiness,
    initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and
    fulfilled by training of Meditation...

    Today indeed is Pooya or Uposatha or observance day, where any lay
    Buddhist normally keeps also the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the
    next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha,
    they may simply forward the lines starting with "I hereby ..." signed with
    name, date, town, & country to me or join here. A public list of this new
    quite rapidly growing global web Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!

    The New Noble Community of Buddha's Disciples: Saddhamma Sangha:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm
    Can quite advantageously be Joined Here:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm

    May your journey hereby be light, swift, and sweet. Never give up !!
    Bhikkhu Samahita: what.buddha.said@gmail.com
    For Details on The Origin of Uposatha Observance Days:
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html

    Medin Poya Day!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    What is Right Understanding of the 3 Facts!

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    It is impossible, Bhikkhu and Friends, and cannot ever happen,
    that one possessed of right understanding should ever regard
    any phenomenon as really permanent ... or
    any phenomenon as real happiness ... or
    any state as a real self...
    But it is quite possible that the ordinary worldling may indeed
    have, entertain & act out such a naive and distorted belief...

    Source:
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 15:1-3
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Right Understanding of the 3 Facts!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:

    Awareness of Feeling just as a Contact Response!

    The Blessed Buddha said regarding Contemplation of Feeling:
    How, Bhikkhus and Friends, does a one live reflecting on feelings as
    feeling? When feeling a pleasant feeling, one notes and understands:
    I feel a pleasant feeling! When feeling a painful feeling, one notes &
    understands: I feel a painful feeling. When feeling a quite neutral &
    neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling, one notes and understands: I
    feel a neutral neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. When feeling a
    worldly pleasant feeling, one notes and understands: I feel a worldly
    pleasant feeling. When feeling a pleasant feeling not of this world,
    one notes & understands: I feel a pleasant feeling not of this world.
    When feeling a worldly painful feeling, one notes and understands:
    I feel a worldly painful feeling. When feeling a painful feeling not
    of this world, one notes and understands: I feel a painful feeling
    not of this world . When feeling a worldly neutral feeling, which is
    neither-painful-nor-pleasant, one notes and understands: I feel a
    worldly neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. When feeling a neutral
    feeling not of this world, one understands: I feel a neutral feeling
    not of this world. This is how a Bhikkhu abides reflecting on feelings
    just as feeling...

    Source Text: Majjhima Nikaya 10: Satipatthana Sutta:
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.010.nysa.html

    Worldly feeling arises from sense contact with this world...
    Feeling not of this world arises from withdrawal from this world...
    The cause of the emergence of momentary feeling is contact!
    The cause of the ceasing of this feeling is the ceasing of contact!
    Contact is the meeting of 3: Object, sense-organ and attention!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Focus on Feeling!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    Avoiding Extremes by the Golden Middle Way!

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    The homeless one should not follow after these Two Extremes:
    1: Giving in to indulgence in easy sensual pleasure, which is banal,
    primitive, vulgar, not noble, & disadvantageous on a very long term!
    Neither should he 2: Practice martyr self-torture, which is painful,
    not noble, and disadvantageous. The Blessed One has avoided both
    these extremes, and found the Golden Middle Way, which gives one
    both vision and understanding, which leads to peace, to clear insight,
    to Enlightenment, to Nibbana... It is this very Noble 8-fold Way that
    leads to the final irreversible ceasing of absolutely all Suffering:

    Right View
    Right Motivation
    Right Speech
    Right Action
    Right Livelihood
    Right Effort
    Right Awareness
    Right Concentration

    These Eight Noble Links, Friends and Bhikkhus, are to be developed
    for the full comprehension & elimination of all greed, hate, confusion,
    anger, envy, stinginess, hypocrisy, shrewdness, disloyalty, conceit,
    stubbornness, irritation, haughty arrogance, and lethargic laziness!
    These Noble 8 Links will induce their complete annihilation, ceasing,
    overcoming, vanishing, abandoning, destruction, evaporation, and
    the ultimate detaching release from all of these mental horrors!

    Source (edited extracts):
    The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya SN: 56:11
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 8:90
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

    More on the Noble Eight-Fold Way:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Way.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Middle_Way.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Noble_8_fold_Way.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Noble_8-Fold_Way.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fruits_of_the_Noble_Way.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4th_Noble_Truth_on_The_Way_to_Cease_Suffering.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    The Golden Middle Way!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:

    Everything Converges on Feeling (Vedanâ)!

    The 3 Kinds of Feeling are:
    1: Pleasant Feeling that is agreeable, delightful, & likable.
    2: Painful Feeling that is disagreeable, repulsive, & distressing.
    3: Neutral Feeling that is an indifferent neither pleasure nor pain.

    The 5 Kinds of Feeling are:
    1: Pleasant Bodily Feeling that is agreeable & arised in the body.
    2: Painful Bodily Feeling that is disagreeable & arised in the body.
    3: Pleasant Mental Feeling that is agreeable & arised in the mind.
    4: Painful Mental Feeling that is disagreeable & arised in the mind.
    5: Neutral Feeling that is an indifferent neither pleasure nor pain.

    The 6 Kinds of Feeling are:
    1: Feeling that is arised from visual eye contact.
    2: Feeling that is arised from auditory ear contact.
    3: Feeling that is arised from olfactory nose contact.
    4: Feeling that is arised from gustatory tongue contact.
    5: Feeling that is arised from tactile skin & body contact.
    6: Feeling that is arised from mental mind & ideational contact.

    The cause of Feeling is Momentary Sense Contact.
    Ceasing of this momentary contact instantly ceases the feeling.
    The effect of Feeling is Craving, if the mind is untrained...
    Noble Awareness of arising feeling can prevent arising of craving.
    All Buddhist training of mind control aims at this crucial purpose:
    To break the automatic emergence of craving, when feeling arises!

    If the feeling is pleasant arises craving towards the object...
    Pleasant feeling is therefore the cause of desire, lust, & greed!
    If the feeling is painful arises craving away from the object...
    Painful feeling is therefore the cause of aversion, anger, & hate!
    If the feeling is neutral arises craving for neglect of the object...
    Neutral feeling is therefore the cause of ignorance, & confusion!

    Since ignorance, greed and hate are the three roots of all Evil and
    their absence are the three roots of all Freedom it verily confirms:
    Every state and all experienced phenomena converges on Feeling...

    Example: All conflict and wars starts from feeling!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Convergence on Feeling!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    What are the 5 Ways to pacify Anger and Hate?

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    There are, Bhikkhus & Friends, five methods to quell Hate & Anger.
    Which are these?
    Towards any person against whom hatred and anger have arisen,
    1: One should quickly direct mind to, cultivate and develop:
    All-embracing and kind friendliness towards that person...
    2: One should quickly direct mind to, cultivate and develop:
    compassion & pity ... mutual joy & ... indifferent equanimity ... or
    3: One should avoid & not pay that person any attention at all ... or
    4: One should remind oneself of the law of ownership of kamma or
    5: One should know that this person too is the owner and inheritor
    of his actions, that he is created by them, that his actions are his
    future foundation, & that he will have both his good & bad actions
    as his future... In these 5 ways one may overcome hate and anger...

    Source (edited extract):
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 5:161

    More on how to overcome Hate, Anger, Irritation, & derivatives:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Elimination_of_Anger.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Anger_and_Irritation.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Cure_Anger_and_Irritation.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Slaying_Anger.htm
    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Five Ways to Tranquilize Anger & Hate!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    Awareness of Mind just as Moods & Mentality!

    The Blessed Buddha said regarding Contemplation of Mind:
    How, Bhikkhus & Friends, does one reflect on Mind just as Moods?
    Herein one knows when the mind is greedy or not greedy, angry or
    not angry, confused or unconfused, cramped or scattered, exalted
    or unexalted, surpassable or unsurpassable, & one clearly notes &
    understands when the mind is concentrated or unconcentrated, &
    one notices & understands when the mind is released or unreleased!
    Thus one lives while internally considering own mind, or externally
    the mind of others, or the mind of both. One notices how any new
    mood and mentality arises, or how it passes away. Or one is simply
    aware: Mind is in this or that mood now; just enough for mindful &
    clear comprehension of the present actual mental state. Caused by
    this mindfull mental presence and acute and clear comprehension of
    the current momentary mental state one comes to live independent,
    unattached, and not clinging to anything in this world whatsoever....
    Thus does one dwell immersed in contemplation of the mind!

    Source Text: Majjhima Nikaya 10: Satipatthana Sutta:
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.010.nysa.html

    What is the Fuel on which any Momentary Event of Mind burns?
    The proximate causes of arising of any mood and mentality are:
    Presence of 1: Ignorance, 2: Craving, 3: Kamma, & 4: Name-&-Form..
    The proximate causes of ceasing of any mood and mentality are:
    Absence of 1: Ignorance, 2: Craving, 3: Kamma, & 4: Name-&-Form..

    Prerequisite understanding:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Ignorance.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_3_kinds_of_Craving.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Buddha_on_Kamma.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Causes_of_Emergence.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Focus on Mind just as changing Moods and Mentality!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    What are the 5 Basic Rules Guiding Behaviour?

    The Blessed Buddha once said to Anathapindika:
    Whoever, householder, has not overcome five terrible evils, such one
    is without morality, is without control, and will be reborn in hell.
    And what are those five terrible evils?
    They are killing, stealing, sexual abuse, lying, and taking intoxicants.
    But whoever has overcome these five terrible evils, such one is pure,
    well controlled and will be reborn in a happy world.
    One who is doing these 5 things, creates both present and future
    extreme misery, and will thus experience much mental pain & regret!
    One who abstains from these 5 things produces neither present nor
    future terrible misery, nor will he experience mental pain or grief.
    Such terrible evil is thus eliminated by him and extinguished in him...

    Whoever murders living beings,
    Speaks words that are not true,
    Takes what does not belong to him,
    Seduces wives of other men,
    And drinks intoxicating drinks,
    To which he ever strongly clings:
    A man who does not shun these evils,
    Has no morality indeed;
    And when his body once dissolves,
    That fool will fall to deepest hell...
    Who does no harm to anyone,
    Who never utters any lie,
    Who never takes what is not his,
    Nor seduces his neighbour's wife,
    Nor ever wishes in all his life
    To drink intoxicating drinks:
    A man who shuns these five evils
    Is rightly called a virtuous man;
    And when his body once dissolves,
    This wise man rises heavenward.

    Source (edited extract):
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 5:174
    More on this Mighty Morality:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Good.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Prime_Benefits.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Truth_Triumphs.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Happy_Habbit.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Best_Protection.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Mighty_is_Morality.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Action.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Best_Buddhist_Praxis.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Speech.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/ay/anaathapindika.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Sensual_and_Sexual_Misbehaviour.htm

    The Five Basics!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    Awareness of Phenomena just as Mental States!

    The Blessed Buddha said about Contemplation of Mental Objects:
    How does one reflect on Phenomena just as Mental States?

    The 5 Hindrances:
    One notes & knows when mind is dominated by sense-desire, anger,
    lethargy & laziness, restlessness & regret, & doubt and uncertainty!
    One notes & knows when mind is released from sense-desire, anger,
    lethargy & laziness, restlessness & regret, & doubt and uncertainty!
    One understands how there is emergence of sense-desire, anger,
    lethargy & laziness, restlessness & regret, & doubt and uncertainty.
    One understands how there is overcoming of sense-desire, anger,
    lethargy & laziness, restlessness & regret, & doubt and uncertainty.
    One understands how there is elimination of sense-desire, anger,
    lethargy & laziness, restlessness & regret, & doubt and uncertainty.
    The 5 Clusters of Clinging:
    One understands such is form, feeling, perception, construction,
    and consciousness. One understands such is the causes of origin
    of form, feeling, perception, construction, and consciousness.
    One understands such is the causes of ceasing of form, feeling,
    perception, construction, and consciousness....

    The 6 Sense Sources:
    One notes & understands such is the eye and the forms and the
    consequent obsessive sense-addiction arising dependent on both.
    One notes & understands such is the ear and the sounds, the nose
    and the smells, the tongue and the flavours, the body and touches,
    the mind & the thoughts & the consequent obsessive & compulsive
    sense-addiction there arise dependent on both.
    The 7 Links to Awakening:
    One notes & knows when mind contains awareness, investigation,
    energy, joy, tranquillity, concentration, and equanimity.
    One notes & knows when mind is without awareness, investigation,
    energy, joy, tranquillity, concentration, and equanimity.
    One understands how there is arising of awareness, investigation,
    energy, joy, tranquillity, concentration, and equanimity.
    One understands how there is complete fulfilment of awareness,
    investigation, energy, joy, tranquillity, concentration & equanimity.

    The 4 Noble Truths:
    One notes, understands, and knows as it actually is:
    This is Suffering! This is the Cause of Suffering!
    This is the End of Suffering! This is the Way to End Suffering!

    Thus one lives while considering own internal mental states, or the
    external mental states of others, or the mental states of both.
    One notices how any new mental state arises, & how it passes away.
    Or one is simply aware: There is this mental state now; just enough
    for mindful & clear comprehension of the present mental state.
    Caused by this acute aware presence and clear comprehension of
    any current momentary mental state, one comes to live independent,
    unattached, and not clinging to anything in this world whatsoever....
    Thus does one dwell immersed in contemplation of the mental states!

    Remembered easily after some training by this Key: 5-5-6-7-4

    Source Text (extract): Majjhima Nikaya 10: Satipatthana Sutta:
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.010.nysa.html

    The 5 Hindrances:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_5_Mental_Hindrances.htm
    The 5 Clusters of Clinging:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_are_the_5_Clusters_of_Clinging.htm
    The 6 Sense Sources:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/aayatana.htm
    The 7 Links to Awakening:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
    The 4 Noble Truths:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Noble_Truths.htm

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    All phenomena are just Mental States!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    What is the Concentration Ability (Samâdhi Indriya)?

    Concentration is the ability to focus all mental factors on 1 object!
    Concentration (samadhi) is a mental ability & power when steady...
    Concentration is a Link to Awakening & a Factor on the Noble Way.
    Concentration is non-distraction, non-scatter, and non-diffusion...
    Concentration is collecting together, unifying, focusing, condensing!
    Making mental release the object the Noble Disciple gains Samadhi,
    achieves one-pointedness, & enters fixed unified mental absorption!

    The Definition:
    Having eliminated the 5 mental hindrances, mental defects that
    obstruct understanding, quite secluded from all sensual-desires,
    protected from any detrimental mental state, one enters & dwells
    in the 1st jhana; full of joy & pleasure born of solitude, joined with
    directed & sustained thought.
    With the stilling of directed and sustained thought, one enters and
    dwells in the 2nd jhana, calmed assurance & unification of mind with
    joy & pleasure now born of concentration, devoid of any thinking!
    With the fading away of joy, in equanimity, clearly comprehending,
    one enters upon & remains in the 3rd jhana, still feeling pleasure in
    the body, about which the Noble Ones declare: In aware equanimity
    one dwells in Happiness...
    With the leaving behind of both pleasure & pain, and with the prior
    cessation of both joy and sorrow, one enters and dwells in the 4th
    jhana mental absorption, which is an entirely stilled mental state of
    awareness, purified by the equanimity of neither-pain-nor-pleasure!

    The Entrance:
    As long as a Bhikkhu does not perceive the disappearance of the 5
    hindrances in himself, he feels as if in debt, in sickness, in bonds, in
    slavery, on a desert journey. But when he perceives disappearance
    of the five hindrances in himself, it is as if he were freed from debt,
    from sickness, from bonds, slavery, & from the desert dangers...
    And when he knows that these 5 mental hindrances have left him,
    then gladness arises in him, from gladness comes joy, from the joy
    in his mind, his body is tranquillised! With a calm body he delights in
    happiness, & with this happiness his mind is concentrated into focus.
    Thus secluded from sense-desires, isolated from detrimental states,
    he enters and remains in the 1st jhana, which is of directed thought
    & sustained evaluation, born of seclusion, filled with pleasure & joy.
    And with this pleasure and joy born of seclusion, he so permeates,
    drenches, fills & pervades his whole body that there is not even a
    single spot in his entire body that is unsoftened by this pleasure &
    joy born of seclusion...

    The Similes:
    As, your majesty, all rafters there are in a house with a ridge roof,
    they all lead to the ridgepole, incline towards the ridgepole, lean on
    the ridgepole & this ridge beam is termed their peak summit, even &
    exactly just so, your Majesty, whatever advantageous mental states
    there are, all of these are headed by concentration, incline towards
    concentration, lean on concentration, is based on concentration ...
    As, your majesty, a king might enter battle with an army of 4 parts,
    and the whole army, the elephants, horses, chariots & foot-soldiers
    would be headed by him, incline towards him, lean on him, and tend
    towards him, would follow after just him, even exactly so is indeed
    this unique concentration the chief, the captain, the commander, &
    the conductor of the orchestra of mental states.. Miln. 38

    The Explanation:
    It is concentration in that it places & anchors the mind evenly on 1
    same single object, it settles & collects mind rightly together there.
    Its characteristic is absence of wandering, dispersal & distraction.
    Its function is joining & binding together of co-arised mental states
    as water does for bath-powder. Its manifestation is calming down,
    tranquillization, stilling, ceasing and peace. Its proximate cause is
    especially happiness. It should be seen as fixed steadiness of mind,
    like the steadiness of candle-flames in absence of perturbing wind!
    Vism. XIV 139

    More on this sublime Concentration:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Samma-Samadhi.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Concentration_Samadhi.htm
    Feeding Concentration http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Concentration.htm
    What is Concentration http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Concentration.htm
    Requisites for Jhana http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Requisites_for_Jhana_Absorption.htm

    Condensing, Collecting, Convening & Converging Concentration!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    Universal Friendliness (Mettâ) Outshines All!!!

    The Buddha said:
    May all creatures, all breathing things,
    all beings everyone without exception,
    experience joy & good fortune only.
    May they not fall into any harm!
    Anguttara Nikaya II, 72

    Let no one deceive another
    or despise anyone anywhere,
    or through anger or irritation
    wish for another to suffer!
    Sutta Nipata I, 8

    For one who deliberately & aware
    Fully develops Universal Friendliness
    Fading away of clinging is realized,
    All chains are worn down & broken!
    Itivuttaka 27

    More Metta:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/One_BIG_Family.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Selfless_Friendship_is_Sweetest.htm

    Good-Will Encore!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    What are the 8 Precepts which brings Divinity?

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    The habitual praxis of the observance day endowed with eight
    features brings high reward and blessing, & is of sublime dignity
    and greatness. And which are these eight features? Here, any
    Noble Disciple considers within himself: Throughout their life
    the Arahats avoid the killing of living beings, they do not hurt
    any of them. Without stick or weapon, tender-hearted, gentle,
    caring, & mild they think only of the welfare of all living beings!
    So will also I, this day and night, avoid the killing and hurting of
    hearted, full of kindness, I will think only on the joyous welfare
    of all living beings and creatures. In this regard I will follow the
    Arahats, & I shall observe this observance day praxis perfectly!
    With this first praxis is the observance day enriched. Observed in
    this very way, the observance day endowed with eight features will
    bring high - even divine - reward & blessing and is of supreme dignity
    and immense greatness...

    Source (edited extract):
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 8:44
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

    More on this Optimal Buddhist Uposatha Day Observance:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fullmoon_Observance_Day.htm
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/atthasila.html
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html

    Optimal Observance I!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    What is the Understanding Ability (Paññâ Indriya)?

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    What, Bhikkhus, is the Ability of Understanding?
    Here, Bhikkhus, any Noble Disciple who is both intelligent and wise;
    is endowed with understanding of cause and effect,
    is endowed with understanding of arising and ceasing,
    is endowed with understanding of conditioned dependency,
    which is Noble, penetrative, & leading to the complete irreversible
    elimination of any and all Suffering...
    He understands it, as it really is: This is Suffering!
    He understands it, as it really is: This is the Cause of Suffering!
    He understands it, as it really is: This is the Ceasing of Suffering!
    He understands it, as it really is: This is the Way to End Suffering!
    This is called the Ability of Understanding!

    Source (edited extract):
    The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
    Book [V:199] section 48: The Abilities. 10: Analysis ...

    More on this supreme Comprehension:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Understanding_is_the_Chief.htm
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/pannaa.htm

    Understanding is knowing & seeing the 4 Noble Truths!
    Ignorance is not knowing & not seeing the 4 Noble Truths!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    The Ability to Understand!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:

    What are the 8 Precepts which brings Divinity?

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    The habitual praxis of the observance day is endowed with eight
    features & brings high reward and blessing. It is of sublime dignity
    and greatness. And which are these eight features? In this, any
    Noble Disciple considers within himself: Throughout their life the
    Arahats avoid all stealing of others' property and abstain from any
    cheating. Always waiting till whatever thing is freely & openly given,
    free from all thievish intent, they remain pure both in mind & moral!
    May also I, this day and night, avoid all stealing & not cheat anyone..
    By that I will follow the track & traits of these perfected Arahats!
    I shall then have observed the Uposatha observance day perfectly..
    With this second praxis is the observance day enriched. Observed
    in this very way, the observance day endowed with eight features
    brings high - even divine - reward & blessing & is of sublime dignity
    and immense greatness...

    Source (edited extract):
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 8:44
    http://what-buddha-said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

    More on this Optimal Buddhist Uposatha Day Observance:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fullmoon_Observance_Day.htm
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/atthasila.html
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html

    Optimal Observance II: Not Stealing!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    How is the Understanding Ability Outstanding?

    With the development of the Ability of Understanding, Enthusiasm
    arises! With the elimination of all Skeptical Doubt, Enthusiasm also
    arises! With the ceasing of the frustration inherent in all Skeptical
    Doubt, Enthusiasm arises! With the eradication of all fixed mental
    obstructions linked with wrong view, Enthusiasm arises. With the
    removal of the gross mental obstructions, Enthusiasm arises. With
    the dying out of subtle mental obstructions, Enthusiasm also arises!
    With extinction of all mental obstructions, Enthusiasm arises as a
    Thunderbolt!!! When through this hilarious & energetic Enthusiasm,
    gladness arises, then the Ability of Understanding is outstanding as
    Understanding due to Gladness... When through gladness, happiness
    arises, then the Ability of Understanding indeed is outstanding as
    Understanding due to Happiness...When via happiness, tranquillity
    emerges, then the Ability of Understanding is outstanding due to
    calmed & stilled Tranquillity... When tranquil, sweet pleasure arises,
    then the Understanding Ability is outstanding as Understanding due
    to Pleasure... When through pleasure illumination arises, then this
    Ability of Understanding is outstanding as Understanding due to
    Illumination... When through revealing illumination sense of urgency
    arises, then this single Ability of Understanding is outstanding as
    Understanding due to the acute & vivid Sense of Urgency...
    When sensing urgency one concentrates mind, then this Ability of
    Understanding is outstanding due to well focused Concentration...
    When one now thoroughly trains the mind thus concentrated, then
    this Ability of Understanding is outstanding as Understanding due
    to Effort. When one looks on with complete equanimity at mind thus
    wielded into fixed focus, then this unique Ability of Understanding
    is outstanding as Understanding due to Equanimity. When as a prime
    result of equanimity, mind is liberated from many kinds of mental
    obstructions, then the Understanding Ability is outstanding as fine
    Understanding due to Liberation. When mind is all liberated, this
    mentally unified state come to have a single function and taste,
    then the Understanding Ability is outstanding as Understanding
    due to development of single function & taste. When mind is being
    cultivated and refined, it therefore turns away to what is superior,
    namely towards Nibbana, then verily this Ability to Understand is
    outstanding as Understanding due to Turning Away. When a mind
    remains turned away, then one becomes possessed of the Path…
    When one, as a consequence, relinquishes both mental obstructions
    & the clusters of clinging, then Understanding Ability is particularly
    outstanding as Understanding due to Relinquishment. When due to
    mental release, the mental obstructions, and the clusters of clinging
    therefore cease with no re-arising trace remaining, then the Ability
    of Understanding is outstanding as Understanding due to Ceasing...

    Source: Sariputta - The General of the Dhamma -
    The Canonical: Path of Discrimination: Patisambhidamagga. IV.
    http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=133494

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Outstanding Understanding!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    What are the 8 Precepts which brings Divinity?

    The Blessed Buddha once said:
    The habitual praxis of the observance day endowed with eight
    features brings high reward and blessing, & is of sublime dignity
    and greatness. And which are these eight features? In this, any
    Noble Disciple considers within himself: Throughout their life the
    Arahats avoid sexual intercourse, dwelling celibate, abiding aloof,
    far above copulation and masturbation, vulgar animal-like praxis...
    May also I, this day and night, avoid copulation and masturbation...
    By that I will follow the track & traits of the perfected Arahats!
    I shall then have observed the Uposatha observance day perfectly.
    With this third praxis is the observance day enriched. Observed
    in this very way, the observance day endowed with eight features
    brings high - even divine - reward & blessing & is of sublime dignity
    and immense greatness...

    Source (edited extract):
    Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 8:44
    http://what-buddha-said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

    More on this Optimal Buddhist Uposatha Day Observance:
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fullmoon_Observance_Day.htm
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/atthasila.html
    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html

    Optimal Observance III: Neither copulating nor masturbating!

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Optimal Observance III!
  • samahitasamahita Veteran
    edited March 2007
    Friends:
    How is the Understanding Ability Penetrating?

    Understanding knows more than the mere perception since this can
    just classify as 'blue' or 'round'... Only Understanding can dig out
    and penetrate into abstract characteristics of the object such as:
    Impermanent, Miserable and Impersonal... While perception is like
    a child, and thinking is like a villager, then Understanding is like an
    Expert, who knows far beyond both the childish perception and the
    naive villager-like logical thinking...

    Penetration into the particular individual essence significant for
    only that special object is the characteristic of Understanding!
    To eliminate the darkness of delusion & doubt by illuminating the
    object, as if from all sides, is the function of Understanding!
    Certainty, assured knowing, beyond all doubt, fully comprehending
    without deluded confusion is the manifestation of Understanding!

    The proximate cause of Understanding is Concentration, since only
    that quality can anchor consciousness long enough on the object so
    that analytical thinking can drill into it & penetrate into the core!
    When the object is experienced as if from inside, it is Understood!

    Understanding is always accompanied by clear Joy or Equanimity!
    Understanding prevents disadvantageous states from arising and
    eliminates all these detrimental states, if already arisen & present!
    Understanding initiates the arising of absent advantageous states,
    & refines, expands & perfects these good states if already arisen!
    There is Understanding gained by Hearing & Learning from another.
    There is Understanding earned by Thinking and Rational Reasoning.
    There is Understanding won by Development through Meditation.

    Who Knows? There is NOT an 'I, Me, or Person' who understands!
    Rather the Event of Understanding occurs exactly when the Ability
    of Understanding is in the State of Understanding... It is therefore
    Understanding itself!, that Knows, Comprehends and Understands...

    Source: The Path of Purification XIV 2ff:
    Visuddhimagga by Ariya Buddhaghosa from the 5th century AC.
    http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=771100

    Friendship is the Greatest
    Bhikkhu Samahita Ceylon
    http://What-Buddha-Said.net
    http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/What_Buddha_Said

    Revealing Understanding!
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