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@federica said:
You really should "assume" less and ask more....
I appreciate your opinion however unwelcome it was.
An assumption is the process of the brain filling in the gaps of knowledge between different points of understanding. Anyone who thinks they don't have assumptions is assuming they do not. It is best to be aware of these so that they may be removed and replaced with more accurate data.
I was providing you with more data to work with so that you may fill in the gaps and unwind the knots in my overfilled mind.
@Grayman said:
How does Buddhism tackle ignorance?
By developing wisdom, and therefore by practising. In dependent origination ignorance is the root cause of suffering.
0
federicaSeeker of the clear blue sky...Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubtModerator
@Grayman said:An assumption is the process of the brain filling in the gaps of knowledge between different points of understanding. Anyone who thinks they don't have assumptions is assuming they do not.
You will find that the better your practise and understanding of Buddhism becomes, the less you will be inclined to assume.
The Buddha explained the sweet, yet solid silence of the sage:
From all acquaintance, association, affiliation, and attachment, fear arises!
From any form of civil house-life emerges a mentally dull and dusty pollution!
The sage therefore prefers the disentangled and dissociated houseless state.
He who has cut down what has grown up accumulating, and who would never
neither plant anything new, nor irrigate what has already sprung up, him they
call a solitary wandering sage. Such great seer has seen the state of peace...
Having considered and comprehended all the fields of constructing activity,
having killed all initiation and all clinging affection, such sage indeed, seeing
the end of both birth and death, is beyond both speculation and designation!
Knowing all stations of the mind, yet detached from them all, a silenced sage
with neither greed nor preference, does neither any good nor any bad action,
for he has gone beyond to the far shore, by not accumulating any kamma...
Overcoming all, knowing all, very intelligent, unattached to all phenomena,
giving up all, completely released by the destruction of craving, such one the
wise know as a sage. One who has the power of wisdom, endowed with pure
virtue and ascetic praxis, concentrated, delighting in meditation, possessing
continuous mindfulness, released, detached, with neither mental barrenness,
nor with any mental fermentation brewing, such one the wise know as a sage.
Persistent, unshaken by blame & praise like a lion not trembling at any sound,
or like the wind not caught in any net, or like a lotus not defiled by any mud.
The sage is wandering alone, attentive, leading others, not to be led by any.
In the midst of oppression, despise & accusation he becomes imperturbable
like a pillar, with passion gone, with senses well under control... Immovable,
straight, upright, direct, never ever deviating, disgusted with all evil deeds,
examining both good & bad conduct, such one the wise surely know as a sage.
Fully restrained, fully self-controlled, who cannot be angered and who never
angers anyone, who does no evil, and who neither praises, nor criticizes any
other, him indeed the wise know as a sage. Constantly protecting all living &
breathing beings, the sage meditating in the remote forest, all beyond both
company and sex, completely released, not tied to anything, never negligent,
knowing all in this world, seeing the highest goal, having crossed the flood,
such a one, with his bonds completely cut, not fettered, without any mental
pollution, unselfish, swift and elevated, him indeed the wise know as a sage... Sn 207-221
14th May 2014 Vesak Day celebrates birth, Enlightenment, and passing away
of the Buddha Gotama. Rejoice! Keep clean, calm, cool, clever, and caring...
About this Buddhist Vesak Festival: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesak
This May full moon also celebrates the Buddha's third visit to Sri Lanka in
the eighth year after his Enlightenment where he journeyed to Kelaniya on
the invitation of the Naga King Maniakkhika (Mahavamsa i,72ff.).
The day also celebrates the crowning of king Devanampiyatissa (Mhv.Xi.42),
and the laying of the foundation stone of the Maha Stupa (Mhv.Xxix.1)
Please Remember:
At this very May full moon in year 528 BC the Blessed Buddha awakened
by completely perfect and utterly unsurpassable self-Enlightenment!
At that time a girl named Sujata Senani lived in Uruvela. When adult she
prayed before a certain Banyan tree, that she might get a good husband
equal to herself in caste & that her firstborn may be a son. Her prayer was
successful. Since indeed it did happen. At the full moon day of the Wesak
month, she rose at early dawn and milked the cows. As soon as new buckets
were placed under the cows, the milk poured spontaneously in streams all by
itself! Seeing this miracle, she knew something special was happening!
That same night the Future Buddha dreamt 5 dreams making him conclude:
"Surely, truly, without any doubt, today I will reach perfect Enlightenment!"
His 5 colored radiance illuminated the whole tree. Then Sujata came and
offered the cooked milk rice into the hands of this Great Being.
Later a local grass-cutter came going with a bundle of grass just harvested
from nearby. He offered the Great Being 8 handfuls of Kusa grass, when he
saw that this Sage was a Holy Man. The Future Buddha accepted the grass
and proceeded to the foot of the Bodhi-tree. Reaching the imperturbable
Eastern side, where all the Buddhas take their seat, he sat down saying to
himself: This is the immovable spot, where all the prior supreme Buddhas
have planted themselves! This is the place for destroying this net of desire!
Then the Future Buddha turned his back to the trunk and thus faced east.
Right there, he then resolutely settled on this mighty decision: Let just blood and flesh of this body dry up & let skin and sinews fall from
the bones. I will not leave this seat before having attained the absolute and
Supreme Self-Enlightenment!
So determined did he seat himself in this unconquerable seat, from which
not a 100 lightning strikes could make him waver from. At this very moment
the rebel deity Mara -The Evil One- raised exclaiming: Prince Siddhattha will
pass beyond my power, but I will never allow it! And sounding the Mara's war
shout, he summoned his mighty army for battle. Then Mara warned his evil
militia: This Sakyamuni, son of Suddhodana, is far greater than any other
man, so we will never succeed to fight him up front. We must thus attack
him from the rear. Frustrated, being unable even to touch this big wielder
of power also with 9 mighty hurricanes of wind, rain, rocks, weapons, red
coals, hot ashes, sand, mud, and darkness Mara somewhat in panic shouted
at his army: "Why do you all stand still? Seize, kill & drive away this prince!"
Mara then yelled: "Siddhattha, leave this seat. It is not yours, but mine!"
Hearing this, the Well-gone One replied: Mara, neither have you fulfilled the
10 perfections to the third degree, nor have you given the 5 great donations.
Neither have you striven for insight, nor for the welfare of all the world,
nor for supreme self-enlightenment! Therefore does this very seat surely
not belong to you, but truly indeed only to me. Suddenly overpowered by fear
Mara's followers fled helter-skelter in all directions. Not two went in the
same direction, but leaving their weapons in a chaos, they all fled terrified
by metaphysical panic. Seeing them flee thus, the great assembly of deities
triumphantly shouted: Mara is defeated. Prince Siddhattha has won! Let us
celebrate this truly sublime, wonderful and unique victory! It was before
the sun had set that the Tathagata conquered Mara and defeated his army.
That same night, after having bathed, while the Bo tree rained red sprigs onto
his robe, The Consummate One gained knowledge of his prior lives during the
1st watch of the night: "With the mind thus concentrated, purified, bright,
unified, focused, tractable, compliant, steady & imperturbable, I directed
mind to remembrance of my past lives. I recollected many past lives, i.e., one
re-birth, two...five, ten... 50, a hundred, a thousand, 100 thousand, many eons
of cosmic contraction, & many eons of cosmic expansion: There I had such
a name, belonged to such a clan & species, had such a body. Such was my food,
such my life of pleasures and pains. Such was the end of my life. Passing away
from that state, I re-arose there. There I had such name, belonged to such
a sort & family, had such a form. Such was my food, such my experience of
pleasures & pains. Such was the end of my life. Passing away from that state,
I re-arose here. Thus I remembered my various past lives in all their various
modes and manifold details. This was the first knowledge I attained in the
first watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed; the knowledge arose;
darkness was destroyed; light arose as happens in one who is alert, aware,
and determined. But the very pleasant feeling that arose by this did neither
invade my mind, nor remain. With the mind thus concentrated, purified, bright,
intact, pliant, malleable, steady, and totally imperturbable, I directed it to
the knowledge of the passing away and reappearance of beings. I saw by
means of the divine eye, purified & surpassing the human eye! I saw beings
passing away & re-appearing, and I realized how & why they are high or low,
beautiful or ugly, fortunate and unfortunate all in exact accordance with
the intentions of their prior actions: These beings who were endowed with
bad behaviour of body, speech, and mind, who reviled the Noble Ones, held
wrong views & acted under the influence of wrong views, with the break-up
of the body, after death, have re-appeared in the plane of misery, the bad
painful destination, the lower realms, even in hell. But the beings who were
gifted with good behaviour of body, speech and mind, who did not revile the
Noble Ones, who held right views and acted under the influence of right
views after the break-up of the body, after the death, have re-appeared in
happy destinations, even in a divine world! Thus by means of the divine eye,
purified and surpassing the human I saw beings passing away & re-appearing,
all in accordance with their particular mixture of good and bad kamma...
But the satisfaction that arose here did neither invade my mind, nor remain.
With the mind thus concentrated and completely absorbed, I then directed
it towards understanding the ending of mental fermentation. I realized how
it actually comes to be, that:
This is Suffering...
Such is the Cause of Suffering...
Such is the End of Suffering...
Such is the Way to End Suffering...
Such was the mental fermentations...
Such is the Cause of mental fermentation...
Such is the End of mental fermentation...
Such is the Way leading to the end of mental fermentation.
When my mind saw that, it was instantly freed of the fermentation of all
sense-desire, it was released from the fermentation of becoming, and it
became fully uncovered from the fermentation of ignorance. Thus fully and
perfectly Enlightened - The Buddha - perceiving this immense glory, spoke
these 2 solemn verses, which never has been omitted by any of countless
billions of prior Buddhas:
Through this round of countless existences have I searched, but yet failed
to find "the Creator", who framed this construction: What Suffering indeed
is such endless birth, ageing, decay, sickness and ever repeated death!
Now I see that "the Constructor" of this structure is Craving...!!! Never shall
this construction be built again, since all the rafters are shattered and the
main beam is busted and completely broken... At this calming of all Craving,
the mind was finally, irreversibly and ultimately stilled…
Then, friends, this revelation of certainty arose in me: This release is indeed
immutable, this is the very last rebirth, this endless reappearance has finally
come to a happy end...Nibbana is verily the Highest Bliss!
What is real Richness?
Bhikkhus, when a Noble Disciple possesses 4 things, then he is said to be rich,
with much wealth and prosperous property. What four?
Here, Bhikkhus, a Noble Disciple possesses the faith of confirmed confidence
in the Supreme Buddha ... in the Perfect Dhamma ... and in the Noble Sangha....
He possesses the moral purity that is praised by the Noble Ones, unbroken ...
unspotted ... untorn ... pure ... intact ... leading to absorbed concentration....
Any Noble Disciple, who possesses these 4 things is indeed really quite rich,
with much heavy wealth and a lush and vast property.... SN V 402
Buddha to the Ploughman:
Faith is my seed, simplicity the rain, Understanding my yoke and plough,
Modesty is pole, and mind is the strap, Awareness is my ploughshare & goad! Sn 77
Suffering is the cause of Faith...
Elated Joy is the effect of Faith... Entrance is the function of Faith...
Trusting is the characteristic of Faith...
Decisiveness is the manifestation of Faith...
Faith is the Hand, that lifts one out of Suffering...
Faith is the Seed, that makes one grow much good Future...
Faith is the Real Wealth, since it produces the best Advantage... Vism XIV 140
How does Faith save one from pain?
When one has faith in the Tathagata, Unshakable and quite well established,
And good behaviour built on morality, Liked by the Noble Ones and praised!
When one has confidence in the Sangha, And a view straight and clear!
Then they say, that one is not poor, That one's life is not wasted...
Therefore should any intelligent person, aware of the Buddha-Dhamma,
be devoted to the fine faith & moral purity, which gives confirmed conviction
in this safe saving Dhamma. SN V 405
Alavaka once asked the Blessed Buddha:
What wealth here is best for any man? What well practiced brings happiness?
What is the sweetest of all the flavours? How lived, is this life best?
The Buddha:
Faith is the best wealth here for any human!
Dhamma well practiced brings happiness! Nothing is sweeter than truth.
A wise life lived in understanding is best...
Alavaka:
How does one cross the flood of ills? How is the ocean of existence crossed?
How is all suffering stilled? How is one purified?
The Buddha:
By Faith is the flood of evil crossed! By attention is this existence crossed!
By effort is all suffering stilled! By wisdom one is finally purified! Sn 182-184
Impersonal, selfless, coreless, ownerless and without any ego are all phenomena:
There exists no unchanging, same, identical identity such as 'I, Me, My-self, My Ego, My Personality'!
There exist momentary states of internal form, feeling, perception, construction, and consciousness.
These five internal clusters of clinging are always changing, becoming otherwise, and never the same!
There exist no unchanging, same, identical identities such as 'They, We, Them-selves, these Personalities'!
There exist momentary states of external form, feeling, perception, construction, and consciousness.
These five external clusters of clinging are always changing, becoming otherwise, and never the same!
The notion: 'I Am' is false! There is a process of ever renewed becoming: The "Am" is therefore OK!
However the pointing reference "I" is without a referent! It is lacking a real object & points nowhere!
Egoism is the assumed belief in an unverifiable unchanging core substance residing somewhere inside
all beings as a permanent entity, which is the fictitious basis of the 'self, ego, person, I, me, U, We' etc!
However much one falls in love with this made-up 'idea,' it remains not to be seen or ever demonstrated!
Though non-existent this purely mental constructs is nevertheless quite effective as conflict-starter!
It is the 'king in the inner castle', which should be defended & gratified, even when he is not really there!
How comic! How tragic! How tricky! How difficult to see! How precious to know! How releasing of all!
The Blessed Buddha once emphasized:
Blissful is solitude for one who is content, learned & who see the True Dhamma.
More blissful is complete harmlessness towards all beings without exception.
Even further blissful is full freedom from any sensual urge whatsoever.
Yet, the supreme bliss, is the elimination of the abysmal conceit “I am”! Udana – Inspiration: II – 1
These five internal clusters of clinging are always changing, becoming otherwise, and never the same!
"Whatever priests or contemplatives say that liberation from becoming is by means of becoming, all of them are not released from becoming, I say.
"And whatever priests or contemplatives say that escape from becoming is by means of non-becoming, all of them have not escaped from becoming, I say.
Loka Sutta: (Surveying) the World
There is yet another law the understanding of which helps in the understanding of death. It is the Law of Becoming or bhava, which is a corollary to the Law of Change or anicca. Becoming, or bhava, is also one of the factors in the scheme of Dependent Origination. According to Buddhism the Law of Becoming, like the Law of Change, is constantly at work and applies to everything. While the Law of Change states that nothing is permanent but is ever-changing, the Law of Becoming states that everything is always in the process of changing into something else.
Not only is everything changing, but the nature of that change is a process of becoming something else. Not only is everything changing, but the nature of that change is a process of becoming something else, however short or long the process may be. Briefly put, the Law of Becoming is this: "Nothing is, but is becoming." A ceaseless becoming is the feature of all things. A small plant is always in the process of becoming an old tree.There is no point of time at which anything is not becoming something else.
If you stand by the sea and watch how wave upon wave rises and falls, one wave merging into the next, one wave becoming another, you will appreciate that this entire world is also just that — becoming and becoming. If you can stand by a bud continuously until it becomes a flower, you will be amazed to see that the condition of the bud at one moment appears to be no different from its condition at the next moment and so on, until before your very eyes, the change has taken place through you could not discern it at all.
The process is so gradual, one stage merging into the next so imperceptibly. It is a becoming. If you close your eyes to this process, if you see the bud one day and then see it a day later, then only will you see a change. Then only will you speak in the terms of "buds" and "flowers" and not in terms of a process of a becoming.
If you can keep on looking at a new-born babe without a break for ten years you will not perceive any change. The baby born at 10 a.m. appears just the same at 11 a.m. or at 12 noon. Each moment shows no difference from the next. One condition merges into the next so imperceptibly. It is a becoming, a continuous process of becoming. Close your eyes to this process and see the baby once a month. then only will you perceive a change. Then only can you speak in terms of "baby" and "boy" and not in terms of a process or a becoming.
If you think you can watch minutely the progress of time, see whether you can divide it into present, past, and future as do grammarians speaking of present tense, past tense and future tense. In the view of Buddhist philosophy, time is one continuous process, each fragmentary portion of time merging into the other and forming such an unbroken continuity that no dividing line can precisely be drawn separating past time from present, or present time from future.
The moment you think of the present and say to yourself "this moment is present time" it is gone — vanished into the past before you can even complete your sentence. The present is always slipping into the past, becoming the past, and the future is always becoming the present. Everything is becoming. This is a universal process, a constant flux. It is when we miss the continuity of action that we speak in terms of things (atta/self) rather than processes or becomings. Upadana pacaya bhava [Existence is dependent on clinging to a self/being]
Biology says that the human body undergoes a continual change, all the cells composing the body being replaced every seven years. According to Buddhism, changes in the body are taking place every moment. At no two consecutive moments is the body the same.
Things seem to be entities owing to the fallibility of our senses — our faculties of sight, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting, and even thinking. Science has accepted the position that our senses are not infallible guides to us. A permanent entity is only a concept, only a name. It does not exist in reality.
“Before I had studied Chan for thirty years, I saw things the way I thought them to be. When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point where I saw the way that things truly are. But now that I have got its very substance I am at rest. For it's just that now I see how the rest of the world lives in bondage for not seeing things as they truly are.”
We are all different aspects of . . . well apart from this guy . . .
1
DavidA human residing in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Ancestral territory of the Erie, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Mississauga and Neutral First NationsVeteran
edited May 2014
Sometimes I think this teaching is mired by confusion... There is no permanence except that change happens but at the same time, those shoes are not going to tie themselves.
To say we are not is as extreme a view as saying we are. So suffering is not and compassion just a hopeful ideal instead of logical common sense.
Afterall, if we are not, how could we be deluded into believing we are?
@ourself said:
Sometimes I think this teaching is mired by confusion... There is no permanence except that change happens but at the same time, those shoes are not going to tie themselves.
To say we are not is as extreme a view as saying we are. So suffering is not and compassion just a hopeful ideal instead of logical common sense.
Afterall, if we are not, how could we be deluded into believing we are?
Sometimes words are self defeating
Yes indeed! I think the important thing is to know the I, ego,sense of self can be out of whack ... perhaps disproportionate. ..oh no big head blues! Lol
For me the mind with its continual judging of the things it likes or dislikes is far more important to me to tend to....and there's a me concerned with it! Lol
@MeisterBob said:
For me the mind with its continual judging of the things it likes or dislikes is far more important to me to tend to....and there's a me concerned with it! Lol
And my judging of the concept of no self too! ...As I quote myself! Lol!
"If you want to understand anatta, you have to meditate. If all you do is think about it, your head will explode" ~Ajahn Chah
LOL
Once there was a layman who came to Ajahn Chah and asked him who Ajahn Chah was. Ajahn Chah, seeing that the spiritual development of the individual was not very advanced, pointed to himself and said, "This, this is Ajahn Chah."
On another occasion, Ajahn Chah was asked the same question by someone else. This time, however, seeing that the questioner's capacity to understand the Dhamma was higher, Ajahn Chah answered by saying, "Ajahn Chah? There is NO Ajahn Chah!"
One who wants to develop the recollection of virtue should go into
solitary retreat and recollect his own different kinds of virtue in
their special qualities of being completely pure & untorn, as follows:
Indeed, the integrity of my morality is untorn, unbroken, unspotted,
unmottled, liberating, praised by the wise, detached, and productive
of concentration (AN III 286 ). Laymen should recollect them at the
level of laymen's morality, while the one gone forth into homelessness
should recollect it at the degree of vinaya virtue of those gone forth.
And when a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of virtue, then he
has respect for the training. He lives in communion with his fellows in
the life of purity. He is tireless in welcoming. He is devoid of the fear
of any self-reproach. He fears as evil danger even the slightest fault!
He attains to fullness of faith. He has much happiness and gladness...
If he penetrates no higher, he is at least headed for a happy destiny.
Now when a man is truly wise,
His constant task will surely be
This recollection of the Morality
Blessed with such mighty potency. Vism I 222
@seeker242 said:
"If you want to understand anatta, you have to meditate. If all you do is think about it, your head will explode" ~Ajahn Chah
LOL
Once there was a layman who came to Ajahn Chah and asked him who Ajahn Chah was. Ajahn Chah, seeing that the spiritual development of the individual was not very advanced, pointed to himself and said, "This, this is Ajahn Chah."
On another occasion, Ajahn Chah was asked the same question by someone else. This time, however, seeing that the questioner's capacity to understand the Dhamma was higher, Ajahn Chah answered by saying, "Ajahn Chah? There is NO Ajahn Chah!"
Venerable Sariputta once told the Buddha:
Unsurpassable is how the Blessed Buddha has taught the supreme efforts imbedded
within the Seven Links to Awakening, that is:
1: The Awareness Link to Awakening: sati-sambojjhanga.
2: The Investigation Link to Awakening: dhammavicaya-sambojjhanga.
3: The Energy Link to Awakening: viriya-sambojjhanga.
4: The Joy Link to Awakening: piti-sambojjhanga.
5: The Tranquility Link to Awakening: passaddhi-sambojjhanga.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening: samadhi-sambojjhanga.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening: upekkha-sambojjhanga.
Venerable Sir, among all these supreme Dhamma teachings and sublime mental states,
this doctrine on the 7 links to awakening also is utterly unsurpassable!
Venerable Sariputta Thera and Venerable Maha Moggallana Thera.
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Who is welcoming and friendly,
Generous, open and unselfish,
A guide, an instructor, a leader,
Such one will gain much honour! Digha Nikaya 31
The friend who is a helping companion,
The friend both in happiness and misery,
The friend who gives good & sound advice,
The friend who really cares & understands...
These four, the clever knows as good Friends!
These 4 heroes, one should cherish devotedly,
as a mother nurses her own only child. Digha Nikaya 31
If one finds a wise and intelligent friend,
who lives a good, correct & fully pure life,
Then, overcoming all obstacles, one should
always keep his joyous and alert company... Dhammapada 328
@samahita said:
The 7 links are developed both sequentially one after another
and in parallel all together at the same time...
The way I've come to understand it is that mindfulness and investigation are used as a basis for applying energy ( aka Right Effort ) and therefore developing wholesome mental qualities ( the remaining factors ).
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, there are these five mental 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)
And where, Bhikkhus, is the ability of Faith to be seen & found?
The ability of Faith is found in the Four Factors of Stream-entry...
And where, Friends, is the ability of Energy to be seen & found?
The ability of Energy is to be found among the Four Right Efforts...
And where, Friends, is the ability of Awareness to be seen & found?
The ability of Awareness is found in the Foundations of Awareness...
Where, Friends, is the ability of Concentration to be seen & found?
The ability of Concentration is found in the Four Jhana absorptions...
Where, Friends, is the ability of Understanding to be seen & found?
The ability of Understanding is found among the Four Noble Truths...
These five qualities, Bhikkhus & Friends, are the 5 mental abilities!
Source of reference (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 196] 48 The Mental Abilities: 8 To be Seen..
It is a great pity with all those thinking like this:
Pleasure is the only good; by that they fall!
Terror is a necessary way; by that they fall!
Sensuality is innocent; by that they fall!
Violence is allowable; by that they fall!
Money makes happiness; by that they fall!
Power is progress; by that they fall!
Falsehood is acceptable; by that they fall!
Stealing gives wealth; by that they fall!
Conceit can conceal; by that they fall!
Science knows all; by that they fall!
Killing can be good; by that they fall!
Hunting is only fun; by that they fall!
Adultery is mature; by that they fall!
Paedophilia is harmless; by that they fall!
Drugs are fantastic; by that they fall!
Booze is medicine; by that they fall!
Giving does not help; by that they fall!
After death is nothing!; by that they fall!
The Hells do not exist; by that they fall!
Intentional Action has no effect; by that they fall!
I am the better than...; by that they fall!
I know better ...; by that they fall!
Making merit cannot elevate; by that they fall!
It is a great pity with all those poor beings:
who are veiled by wrong view; by that they fall!
who are fooled by own opinion; by that they fall!
who are gripped by greed and lust; by that they fall!
who are stirred by hate and anger; by that they fall!
who are clinging to all worldly things; by that they fall!
who are confused by not knowing; by that they fall!
who prostitute themselves; by that they fall!
who cheat and deceives; by that they fall!
who pretend what is not; by that they fall!
who hide what is actual fact; by that they fall!
who destroy beings or things; by that they fall!
who pollute the milieu and society; by that they fall!
who deliberately do evil willing it; by that they fall!
who fail their duties and obligations; by that they fall!
who miss the obvious opportunities; by that they fall!
It is a great pity with all those blinded by ignorance,
bound and dragged by desire, while pushed by aversion,
and allured, mislead and seduced by devious self-deception...
By that they surely fall into states of pain, agony and despair!
As if gripped by the arms of two strong men and hurled into a big fire...
To overcome loneliness, first learn to meditate, and to live in the moment!
Living like this, your mind becomes very peaceful, very calm, & very strong.
Mindfulness makes you very strong. You will develop serene inner strength...
I have no parents. I make heaven and earth my parents.
I have no home. I make mindfulness my home.
I have no life and death. I make breathing in-&-out my life and death.
I have no divine power. I make honesty my divine power.
I have no friends. I make my mind my friend.
I have no enemy. I make carelessness my enemy.
I have no sword. I make absence of ego my sword!
Source: Sayadaw U Jotika from Burma. His Book: Snow in the Summer
is published by DMG Books (http://www.dmgbooks.com)
I disagree that your parents are the earth and the sky. Your parents took on hardship giving you whatever you wanted when you cried out. They took responsibility to educate and raise you. The earth and the sky would not have done that for you. At the same time from the perspective of appreciation for the whole universe you could say that the earth and sky are LIKE parents, but not that they should receive the good will that you have for your ordinary parents.
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, even as any seed and plant grows, increases, & expands, based
upon the earth, established upon earth, so too, similarly here, based upon
morality, established upon morality, does any Bhikkhu develop and cultivate
the Noble 8-fold Way, and thereby he attains to growth, to increase, to
expansion in all advantageous states. And how does a Bhikkhu do so?
Here, the Bhikkhu develops: Right View, Right Motivation, Right Speech,
Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Awareness, and
Right Concentration, all based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and
culminating in release. It is in this way, that a Bhikkhu, based on morality,
established upon morality, develops and cultivates this Noble 8-fold Way,
and thereby he attains to growth, to increase, and to expansion in and of
any advantageous mental state!
What is Feeding the Awareness (Sati) Link to Awakening!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, just as this body, is sustained by feeding, exists in dependence on feeding
and cannot survive without food, exactly & even so are the Seven Links to Awakening
also sustained by feeding, they can also only exist in dependence on feeding and they
cannot survive without feeding... And what, Bhikkhus, is the feeding of the emergence
of any yet unarisen Awareness Link to Awakening and feeding of the completion by
development of any already arisen Awareness Link to Awakening?
There are states that are the basis and source for the Awareness Link to Awakening!!
Frequently giving careful and rational attention to them, is feeding the arising of any
unarisen Link to Awareness Link to Awakening and feeding the gradual fulfillment by
development of any already arisen Awareness Link to Awakening...
And what, Bhikkhus, is the starving that obstructs the emergence of any yet unarisen
Awareness Link to Awakening & which also hinders any already arisen Awareness Link
from reaching any fulfillment by development? There are, Bhikkhus, things that are
basis and source for the Awareness Link to Awakening: not giving frequent, careful &
rational attention to them; not considering them much; is the starving that prevents any
unarisen Awareness Link to Awakening from arising and also blocks any already arisen
Awareness Link to Awakening from reaching complete fulfillments by development...
Comments from the classical commentaries:
Establishing continual mental presence standing near the object is the characteristic
of the Awareness Link to Awakening (sati-sambojjhanga). Neither neglecting any nor
forgetting anything is the function of Awareness. Remaining anchored on the object,
undistracted & undisrupted, is the manifestation of the Awareness Link to Awakening.
The food that are basis and source the arising of the Awareness Link to Awakening is:
1: Training of Clear Comprehension (sampajanna): http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Clear_Comprehension.htm
2: Training of the Four Foundations of Awareness (satipatthana): http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Manual/Meditation.Manual.htm
3: Avoidance of careless, mindless and habitually distracted people.
4: Friendship with those endowed with acute and alert awareness.
5: Determination regarding establishing unlapsing awareness.
Awareness is the state that increases when opening the eyes extra-wide! Try Now!
Awareness is a crucial Universal Basis for all other advantageous states whatsoever...
Awareness is all helpful and useful everywhere and anytime. Sati Saturates so Sweet!
Having cultivated the Noble 8-fold Way, a being might enter the stream,
which leads to Nibbana! The Stream-Enterer (Sotapanna) is entirely freed
from rebirth as Animal, Hungry Ghost, Angry Demon & Burning Hell Being!
Such Noble One (Ariya) will be enlightened within maximally 7 rebirths...
The Stream-Enterer has eliminated all egoism, belief in a 'person' or 'self',
eradicated all 'I-making' & 'Mine-making', abolished all sceptical doubt in
the perfect Self-Enlightenment of the Buddha, & removed silly superstitious
belief in any benefit of empowerments and empty rituals. Such Noble have
by direct momentary experience touched and tasted the deathless Nibbana
and is forever hereafter independent of any Dhamma-teacher...
Having cultured the Noble 8-fold Way even further, a being might attain the
state of a Once-Returner (Sakadagami), who is reborn only as a god (deva)
and then awakens in that next-next life when he returns to earth as a human being!
Such Noble has reduced & weakened his sense-desire and aversion...
Having yet further refined the Noble 8-fold Way, a being might attain the
state of a Non-Returner(Anagami) , who is reborn in the higher fine material
worlds - The Pure Abodes - where they live for many universal cycles & there
attain Nibbana without ever returning to the human or lower divine worlds...
Such Noble has furthermore entirely eliminated sense-desire and aversion!
Having fully perfected the Noble 8-fold Way one awakens as an Arahat , who
is enlightened in this very life, by elimination of all remaining mental defects
such as desire for fine form and formlessness, the subtle conceit that 'I am',
latent tendency to restlessness and all ignorance. Such Noble One enters at
the moment of death the freedom, bliss & peace of Nibbana without trace of
clinging left...
Balanced Equanimity is the Tenth Mental Perfection:
Equanimity characteristically induces & promotes impartial neutrality...
Its function is to look upon things with an even unreactive indifference!
Its manifestation is the gradual stilling of both attraction & repulsion..
Its proximate cause is seeing, that all inherit the results of their actions.
Its effect is utter purification & perfection of all other mental qualities,
by ending both discontent & delight, thereby providing the necessary
equal calm required for their complete assessment & accomplishment.
Equanimity means Unaffectable..
Equanimity means Unprovokable..
Equanimity means Undisturbable..
Equanimity means Unexcitable..
Equanimity means Imperturbable..
Equanimity means Disengaged..
Equanimity means Disentangled..
Equanimity means Detached..
Equanimity means Immovable..
Equanimity means Unbeatable..
Equanimity means Untemptable..
Equanimity means Wholly Immune..
Equanimity means Indifferent..
Equanimity means Impartial..
Equanimity means Unbiased..
Equanimity means Disinterested..
Equanimity means Balanced..
Even like a smiling mountain!
Cool Calm is the ultimate Balm!
The Threefold Equanimity (Upekkha):
If Indifferent towards:
Internal states & external phenomena,
Living beings & lifeless things,
Past, present & future events,
How can one be hurt, upset,
disturbed or distressed?
Calm is his mind.
Calm is his speech.
Calm is his action.
So is the Tranquility;
So is the Equanimity;
Of one freed by the Insight
Of right Knowledge. Dhammapada 96
Although a man is richly dressed and adorned,
if he is in peace, at ease, in equanimity, calmed,
composed, controlled, celibate and harmless
towards all beings, then verily he is a Holy One,
a recluse, a sage ... Dhammapada 142
Equanimity towards one's own internal states -
that is indeed a link to Enlightenment.
Equanimity regarding external phenomena & conditions -
that is indeed also a link to Enlightenment. Samyutta Nikaya V Bojjhanga-samyutta.
Such noble friend finally develops
the link to awakening that is Equanimity
during Awareness of in-&-out breathing,
which protects against damaging mental states,
tends to detachment, to ceasing, tends to release
& culminates in complete self-surrender...
If, friends, Awareness of in-&-out breathing,
is so cultivated and so made much of, it is
indeed of great fruit, of great advantage!
One whose Awareness of breathing in-&-out
is perfected, well developed, and gradually
brought to refined growth thus, according to the
teaching of the Buddha, such one illuminates the
entire world, just like the full moon freed from clouds. Samyutta Nikaya V Anapana-samyutta.
The Blessed One once said:
Now how, Ananda, in the discipline of a Noble One is there
the unsurpassable development of the senses?
There is the case where, when seeing a form with the eye,
there arises in a monk what is agreeable, or what is disagreeable,
or what is both agreeable & disagreeable. He recognizes that:
This agreeable thing has arisen in me, or this disagreeable thing...
or this both agreeable & disagreeable thing, has arisen in me:
And that is constructed, conditioned, coarse & dependently co-arisen!
But this is peaceful, this is exquisite, namely even & equal equanimity!
Instantly, that arisen agreeable or disagreeable thing ceases,
and Equanimity takes its calm stance!
Just as a man with good eyes, having closed them, might open them;
or when open, might close them, that is how quickly, how rapidly,
how easily, no matter what it refers to, Equanimity make
whatever arisen agreeable thing... or disagreeable thing...
or both agreeable & disagreeable thing cease right there,
and Equanimity takes its even stance!
In the discipline of The Noble One, this is called the unsurpassable
development of the senses with regard to visible forms cognizable
by the eye. Similar is the supreme development of the other senses. MN 152
With the fading of rapturous joy, he remains in equanimity,
aware & alert, still physically sensitive to bodily pleasure.
He enters & remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones
declare: 'In aware Equanimity, one abides in pleasure...'
With the stilling of pleasure & pain as with the earlier disappearance
of elation & frustration, he enters & remains in the fourth jhana:
sole Awareness purified by equanimity, - neither pleasure nor pain -
This is called Right Concentration...
The elimination of both sensual desires & of discontent,
the ejection of laziness, the calming of all regrets,
just this pure Equanimity being aware of all mental
properties exactly at the moment they appear:
That I call the direct knowledge of release
the breakthrough from ignorance. Sutta Nipata V 13: Udaya's Questions
Equanimity is 'Tatra-majjhattata', which designates the evenly balanced
keeping to the moderate middle of all things. It has as characteristic, that
it affects the balance of consciousness and mental properties as a single
function of single taste, which prevents both overt excessiveness and any
lack or insufficiency. Equanimity thereby puts an end to biased partiality by
manifesting moderation well within range of the properly reasoned midway. Visuddhimagga XIV
The Buddha once explained:
I would make my bed in a charnel ground, with a skeleton for my pillow..
And cowherd boys came up and spat on me, urinated on me, threw dirt at me,
and poked sticks into my ears! While others, exultant & thrilled brought me
offerings of food, caskets of perfume & incense and garlands of flowers!
Yet I do not recall, that I ever showed any partiality towards any of them...
I was the same to them all! Neither arousing any fondness nor any aversion!
This was my ultimate perfection of equanimity...
MN 12 Lomahamsanapariyaya
The Hair-raising Presentation Cariyapitaka III 15
"And what are the six kinds of household equanimity? The equanimity that arises when a foolish, deluded person — a run-of-the-mill, untaught person who has not conquered his limitations or the results of action [2] & who is blind to danger [3] — sees a form with the eye. Such equanimity does not go beyond the form, which is why it is called household equanimity. (Similarly with sounds, smells, tastes, tactile sensations, & ideas.)
"And what are the six kinds of renunciation equanimity? The equanimity that arises when — experiencing the inconstancy of those very forms, their change, fading, & cessation — one sees with right discernment as it actually is that all forms, past or present, are inconstant, stressful, subject to change: This equanimity goes beyond form, which is why it is called renunciation equanimity. (Similarly with sounds, smells, tastes, tactile sensations, & ideas.)
The dear companion can be the proximate cause for Mutual Joy, where one
rejoices in another being's success... One thus rejoicing in others fortune
is called a 'boon companion', for he is constantly glad: He laughs first and
speaks afterward! So he should be the first to be pervaded with gladness.
Or on seeing a dear person being happy, cheerful and glad, mutual joy can
be aroused thus: 'See this being is indeed glad! How good, how excellent!'
Just as one would be glad at seeing a dear and beloved person very happy,
exactly so does one pervade all other beings in all directions with mutual joy...
Rejoicing mutual joy can also be aroused by remembering others happiness
in the past and recollecting the elated joy aspect in this way: 'In the past he
had great wealth, a great following and he was always glad'. Or mutual joy
can be aroused by apprehending the future glad aspect of his in this way:
'In the future he will again enjoy similar success and will go about in gold
palanquins, on the backs of elephants or on horseback'. Having thus aroused
mutual joy regarding a dear person, one can then direct the very same feeling
successively towards a neutral one, and gradually towards any hostile person. Vbh 274, Vism I 316
Comments:
Mutual joy causes Contentment! No mutual joy thus means Discontentment!
Therefore: If being generally dissatisfied, then be happy over other's success.
Secondly: Mutual joy causes all envy & jealousy to evaporate into equanimity!
Comments
http://www.bartleby.com/348/1235.html
No.
Ignorance (Moha) is one of the three Poisons.
It is the basis of delusion or clinging.
Read here.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=6ndwU-6ZCI3DPKaRgfAN&url=http://buddhism.about.com/od/buddhismglossaryt/g/threepoisons.htm&cd=3&ved=0CDcQFjAC&usg=AFQjCNFehnuJOh3aIBachjgcq7CZ3T0KmQ&sig2=Jz2D_F3oyNp9le18GOEYgg
You really should "assume" less and ask more....
I appreciate your opinion however unwelcome it was.
An assumption is the process of the brain filling in the gaps of knowledge between different points of understanding. Anyone who thinks they don't have assumptions is assuming they do not. It is best to be aware of these so that they may be removed and replaced with more accurate data.
I was providing you with more data to work with so that you may fill in the gaps and unwind the knots in my overfilled mind.
I was identifying negative concern with what you posted here. "we pursue things we think will make us happy and hate things that cause us discomfort."
The think between happy and hate is the thing I called "lack of concern". This is what I said they ignore.
I think I did a poor job stating what I was trying to get at.
By developing wisdom, and therefore by practising. In dependent origination ignorance is the root cause of suffering.
You will find that the better your practise and understanding of Buddhism becomes, the less you will be inclined to assume.
If that is what you intend to do, that is....
Everything is craving, aversion, and 'not care'. So you are on the right track.
Friends:
The Sage is a stilled Seer, sweet in his Silence!
The Buddha explained the sweet, yet solid silence of the sage:
From all acquaintance, association, affiliation, and attachment, fear arises!
From any form of civil house-life emerges a mentally dull and dusty pollution!
The sage therefore prefers the disentangled and dissociated houseless state.
He who has cut down what has grown up accumulating, and who would never
neither plant anything new, nor irrigate what has already sprung up, him they
call a solitary wandering sage. Such great seer has seen the state of peace...
Having considered and comprehended all the fields of constructing activity,
having killed all initiation and all clinging affection, such sage indeed, seeing
the end of both birth and death, is beyond both speculation and designation!
Knowing all stations of the mind, yet detached from them all, a silenced sage
with neither greed nor preference, does neither any good nor any bad action,
for he has gone beyond to the far shore, by not accumulating any kamma...
Overcoming all, knowing all, very intelligent, unattached to all phenomena,
giving up all, completely released by the destruction of craving, such one the
wise know as a sage. One who has the power of wisdom, endowed with pure
virtue and ascetic praxis, concentrated, delighting in meditation, possessing
continuous mindfulness, released, detached, with neither mental barrenness,
nor with any mental fermentation brewing, such one the wise know as a sage.
Persistent, unshaken by blame & praise like a lion not trembling at any sound,
or like the wind not caught in any net, or like a lotus not defiled by any mud.
The sage is wandering alone, attentive, leading others, not to be led by any.
In the midst of oppression, despise & accusation he becomes imperturbable
like a pillar, with passion gone, with senses well under control... Immovable,
straight, upright, direct, never ever deviating, disgusted with all evil deeds,
examining both good & bad conduct, such one the wise surely know as a sage.
Fully restrained, fully self-controlled, who cannot be angered and who never
angers anyone, who does no evil, and who neither praises, nor criticizes any
other, him indeed the wise know as a sage. Constantly protecting all living &
breathing beings, the sage meditating in the remote forest, all beyond both
company and sex, completely released, not tied to anything, never negligent,
knowing all in this world, seeing the highest goal, having crossed the flood,
such a one, with his bonds completely cut, not fettered, without any mental
pollution, unselfish, swift and elevated, him indeed the wise know as a sage...
Sn 207-221
On this Quenched State of Peace, Freedom, and Maximum Bliss (Nibbana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Final_Freedom.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/climax_of_calm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Reaching_Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Entrance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Nibbana_Still.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Uncreated.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_2_Nibbanas.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Nibbana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Unborn_State.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Nibbana_or_non-return.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Nibbana_True_Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Signless_Nibbana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Imperturbable_Equanimity.htm
http://www.What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/nibbaana.htm
The silent Sage...
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/The_Sage.htm
For being 'silent', he said quite a lot...
It looks to me like ignorance is really the root problem, with craving and aversion as "symptoms".
Friends:
At this Fullmoon Day do all Buddhas Awaken:
14th May 2014 Vesak Day celebrates birth, Enlightenment, and passing away
of the Buddha Gotama. Rejoice! Keep clean, calm, cool, clever, and caring...
About this Buddhist Vesak Festival: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesak
This May full moon also celebrates the Buddha's third visit to Sri Lanka in
the eighth year after his Enlightenment where he journeyed to Kelaniya on
the invitation of the Naga King Maniakkhika (Mahavamsa i,72ff.).
The day also celebrates the crowning of king Devanampiyatissa (Mhv.Xi.42),
and the laying of the foundation stone of the Maha Stupa (Mhv.Xxix.1)
Please Remember:
At this very May full moon in year 528 BC the Blessed Buddha awakened
by completely perfect and utterly unsurpassable self-Enlightenment!
At that time a girl named Sujata Senani lived in Uruvela. When adult she
prayed before a certain Banyan tree, that she might get a good husband
equal to herself in caste & that her firstborn may be a son. Her prayer was
successful. Since indeed it did happen. At the full moon day of the Wesak
month, she rose at early dawn and milked the cows. As soon as new buckets
were placed under the cows, the milk poured spontaneously in streams all by
itself! Seeing this miracle, she knew something special was happening!
That same night the Future Buddha dreamt 5 dreams making him conclude:
"Surely, truly, without any doubt, today I will reach perfect Enlightenment!"
His 5 colored radiance illuminated the whole tree. Then Sujata came and
offered the cooked milk rice into the hands of this Great Being.
Later a local grass-cutter came going with a bundle of grass just harvested
from nearby. He offered the Great Being 8 handfuls of Kusa grass, when he
saw that this Sage was a Holy Man. The Future Buddha accepted the grass
and proceeded to the foot of the Bodhi-tree. Reaching the imperturbable
Eastern side, where all the Buddhas take their seat, he sat down saying to
himself: This is the immovable spot, where all the prior supreme Buddhas
have planted themselves! This is the place for destroying this net of desire!
Then the Future Buddha turned his back to the trunk and thus faced east.
Right there, he then resolutely settled on this mighty decision:
Let just blood and flesh of this body dry up & let skin and sinews fall from
the bones. I will not leave this seat before having attained the absolute and
Supreme Self-Enlightenment!
So determined did he seat himself in this unconquerable seat, from which
not a 100 lightning strikes could make him waver from. At this very moment
the rebel deity Mara -The Evil One- raised exclaiming: Prince Siddhattha will
pass beyond my power, but I will never allow it! And sounding the Mara's war
shout, he summoned his mighty army for battle. Then Mara warned his evil
militia: This Sakyamuni, son of Suddhodana, is far greater than any other
man, so we will never succeed to fight him up front. We must thus attack
him from the rear. Frustrated, being unable even to touch this big wielder
of power also with 9 mighty hurricanes of wind, rain, rocks, weapons, red
coals, hot ashes, sand, mud, and darkness Mara somewhat in panic shouted
at his army: "Why do you all stand still? Seize, kill & drive away this prince!"
Mara then yelled: "Siddhattha, leave this seat. It is not yours, but mine!"
Hearing this, the Well-gone One replied: Mara, neither have you fulfilled the
10 perfections to the third degree, nor have you given the 5 great donations.
Neither have you striven for insight, nor for the welfare of all the world,
nor for supreme self-enlightenment! Therefore does this very seat surely
not belong to you, but truly indeed only to me. Suddenly overpowered by fear
Mara's followers fled helter-skelter in all directions. Not two went in the
same direction, but leaving their weapons in a chaos, they all fled terrified
by metaphysical panic. Seeing them flee thus, the great assembly of deities
triumphantly shouted: Mara is defeated. Prince Siddhattha has won! Let us
celebrate this truly sublime, wonderful and unique victory! It was before
the sun had set that the Tathagata conquered Mara and defeated his army.
That same night, after having bathed, while the Bo tree rained red sprigs onto
his robe, The Consummate One gained knowledge of his prior lives during the
1st watch of the night: "With the mind thus concentrated, purified, bright,
unified, focused, tractable, compliant, steady & imperturbable, I directed
mind to remembrance of my past lives. I recollected many past lives, i.e., one
re-birth, two...five, ten... 50, a hundred, a thousand, 100 thousand, many eons
of cosmic contraction, & many eons of cosmic expansion: There I had such
a name, belonged to such a clan & species, had such a body. Such was my food,
such my life of pleasures and pains. Such was the end of my life. Passing away
from that state, I re-arose there. There I had such name, belonged to such
a sort & family, had such a form. Such was my food, such my experience of
pleasures & pains. Such was the end of my life. Passing away from that state,
I re-arose here. Thus I remembered my various past lives in all their various
modes and manifold details. This was the first knowledge I attained in the
first watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed; the knowledge arose;
darkness was destroyed; light arose as happens in one who is alert, aware,
and determined. But the very pleasant feeling that arose by this did neither
invade my mind, nor remain. With the mind thus concentrated, purified, bright,
intact, pliant, malleable, steady, and totally imperturbable, I directed it to
the knowledge of the passing away and reappearance of beings. I saw by
means of the divine eye, purified & surpassing the human eye! I saw beings
passing away & re-appearing, and I realized how & why they are high or low,
beautiful or ugly, fortunate and unfortunate all in exact accordance with
the intentions of their prior actions: These beings who were endowed with
bad behaviour of body, speech, and mind, who reviled the Noble Ones, held
wrong views & acted under the influence of wrong views, with the break-up
of the body, after death, have re-appeared in the plane of misery, the bad
painful destination, the lower realms, even in hell. But the beings who were
gifted with good behaviour of body, speech and mind, who did not revile the
Noble Ones, who held right views and acted under the influence of right
views after the break-up of the body, after the death, have re-appeared in
happy destinations, even in a divine world! Thus by means of the divine eye,
purified and surpassing the human I saw beings passing away & re-appearing,
all in accordance with their particular mixture of good and bad kamma...
But the satisfaction that arose here did neither invade my mind, nor remain.
With the mind thus concentrated and completely absorbed, I then directed
it towards understanding the ending of mental fermentation. I realized how
it actually comes to be, that:
This is Suffering...
Such is the Cause of Suffering...
Such is the End of Suffering...
Such is the Way to End Suffering...
Such was the mental fermentations...
Such is the Cause of mental fermentation...
Such is the End of mental fermentation...
Such is the Way leading to the end of mental fermentation.
When my mind saw that, it was instantly freed of the fermentation of all
sense-desire, it was released from the fermentation of becoming, and it
became fully uncovered from the fermentation of ignorance. Thus fully and
perfectly Enlightened - The Buddha - perceiving this immense glory, spoke
these 2 solemn verses, which never has been omitted by any of countless
billions of prior Buddhas:
Through this round of countless existences have I searched, but yet failed
to find "the Creator", who framed this construction: What Suffering indeed
is such endless birth, ageing, decay, sickness and ever repeated death!
Now I see that "the Constructor" of this structure is Craving...!!! Never shall
this construction be built again, since all the rafters are shattered and the
main beam is busted and completely broken... At this calming of all Craving,
the mind was finally, irreversibly and ultimately stilled…
Then, friends, this revelation of certainty arose in me: This release is indeed
immutable, this is the very last rebirth, this endless reappearance has finally
come to a happy end... Nibbana is verily the Highest Bliss!
About Absolute Awakening!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/buddha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/g/gotama.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/s/sujaataa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/bodhisatta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/bodhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/bodhirukka.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/bodhimanda.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/sammaa_sambodhi.htm
Happy Wesak Day.
Friends:
Faith is the Seed, Hand, & Wealth of Beings!
What is real Richness?
Bhikkhus, when a Noble Disciple possesses 4 things, then he is said to be rich,
with much wealth and prosperous property. What four?
Here, Bhikkhus, a Noble Disciple possesses the faith of confirmed confidence
in the Supreme Buddha ... in the Perfect Dhamma ... and in the Noble Sangha....
He possesses the moral purity that is praised by the Noble Ones, unbroken ...
unspotted ... untorn ... pure ... intact ... leading to absorbed concentration....
Any Noble Disciple, who possesses these 4 things is indeed really quite rich,
with much heavy wealth and a lush and vast property.... SN V 402
Buddha to the Ploughman:
Faith is my seed, simplicity the rain, Understanding my yoke and plough,
Modesty is pole, and mind is the strap, Awareness is my ploughshare & goad!
Sn 77
Suffering is the cause of Faith...
Elated Joy is the effect of Faith... Entrance is the function of Faith...
Trusting is the characteristic of Faith...
Decisiveness is the manifestation of Faith...
Faith is the Hand, that lifts one out of Suffering...
Faith is the Seed, that makes one grow much good Future...
Faith is the Real Wealth, since it produces the best Advantage...
Vism XIV 140
How does Faith save one from pain?
When one has faith in the Tathagata, Unshakable and quite well established,
And good behaviour built on morality, Liked by the Noble Ones and praised!
When one has confidence in the Sangha, And a view straight and clear!
Then they say, that one is not poor, That one's life is not wasted...
Therefore should any intelligent person, aware of the Buddha-Dhamma,
be devoted to the fine faith & moral purity, which gives confirmed conviction
in this safe saving Dhamma.
SN V 405
Alavaka once asked the Blessed Buddha:
What wealth here is best for any man? What well practiced brings happiness?
What is the sweetest of all the flavours? How lived, is this life best?
The Buddha:
Faith is the best wealth here for any human!
Dhamma well practiced brings happiness! Nothing is sweeter than truth.
A wise life lived in understanding is best...
Alavaka:
How does one cross the flood of ills? How is the ocean of existence crossed?
How is all suffering stilled? How is one purified?
The Buddha:
By Faith is the flood of evil crossed! By attention is this existence crossed!
By effort is all suffering stilled! By wisdom one is finally purified!
Sn 182-184
For fine further Faith (Saddha) please see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Going_Forth_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Outstanding_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unwavering_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Power_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Faith_Summary.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Highest_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fruitful_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leaping_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Mutual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fine_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rich_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Lay_Faith.htm
Rich is Faith!
Faith is mental wealth and the only real richness...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rich_Faith.htm
Friends
Impersonal, selfless, coreless, ownerless and without any ego are all phenomena:
There exists no unchanging, same, identical identity such as 'I, Me, My-self, My Ego, My Personality'!
There exist momentary states of internal form, feeling, perception, construction, and consciousness.
These five internal clusters of clinging are always changing, becoming otherwise, and never the same!
There exist no unchanging, same, identical identities such as 'They, We, Them-selves, these Personalities'!
There exist momentary states of external form, feeling, perception, construction, and consciousness.
These five external clusters of clinging are always changing, becoming otherwise, and never the same!
The notion: 'I Am' is false! There is a process of ever renewed becoming: The "Am" is therefore OK!
However the pointing reference "I" is without a referent! It is lacking a real object & points nowhere!
Egoism is the assumed belief in an unverifiable unchanging core substance residing somewhere inside
all beings as a permanent entity, which is the fictitious basis of the 'self, ego, person, I, me, U, We' etc!
However much one falls in love with this made-up 'idea,' it remains not to be seen or ever demonstrated!
Though non-existent this purely mental constructs is nevertheless quite effective as conflict-starter!
It is the 'king in the inner castle', which should be defended & gratified, even when he is not really there!
How comic! How tragic! How tricky! How difficult to see! How precious to know! How releasing of all!
More on this counterintuitive selflessness (No-Self = Anatta):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Anatta_Doctrine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Solo_Self-Deception.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Anatta_No_Self.htm
The Blessed Buddha once emphasized:
Blissful is solitude for one who is content, learned & who see the True Dhamma.
More blissful is complete harmlessness towards all beings without exception.
Even further blissful is full freedom from any sensual urge whatsoever.
Yet, the supreme bliss, is the elimination of the abysmal conceit “I am”!
Udana – Inspiration: II – 1
The assumed 'Self' restricts itself...
Ego is Not!
Impersonal, selfless, coreless, and with no ego are all phenomena:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/We_Are_Not.htm
I am not there yet...or maybe ** I am** ... dunno...
"Whatever priests or contemplatives say that liberation from becoming is by means of becoming, all of them are not released from becoming, I say.
"And whatever priests or contemplatives say that escape from becoming is by means of non-becoming, all of them have not escaped from becoming, I say.
Loka Sutta: (Surveying) the World
First there is a cushion, then no cushion and then a cushion
http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/5211357.Qingyuan_Weixin
“Before I had studied Chan for thirty years, I saw things the way I thought them to be. When I arrived at a more intimate knowledge, I came to the point where I saw the way that things truly are. But now that I have got its very substance I am at rest. For it's just that now I see how the rest of the world lives in bondage for not seeing things as they truly are.”
We are all different aspects of . . . well apart from this guy . . .
Sometimes I think this teaching is mired by confusion... There is no permanence except that change happens but at the same time, those shoes are not going to tie themselves.
To say we are not is as extreme a view as saying we are. So suffering is not and compassion just a hopeful ideal instead of logical common sense.
Afterall, if we are not, how could we be deluded into believing we are?
Sometimes words are self defeating.
Yes indeed! I think the important thing is to know the I, ego,sense of self can be out of whack ... perhaps disproportionate. ..oh no big head blues! Lol
For me the mind with its continual judging of the things it likes or dislikes is far more important to me to tend to....and there's a me concerned with it! Lol
And my judging of the concept of no self too! ...As I quote myself! Lol!
"If you want to understand anatta, you have to meditate. If all you do is think about it, your head will explode" ~Ajahn Chah
LOL
Once there was a layman who came to Ajahn Chah and asked him who Ajahn Chah was. Ajahn Chah, seeing that the spiritual development of the individual was not very advanced, pointed to himself and said, "This, this is Ajahn Chah."
On another occasion, Ajahn Chah was asked the same question by someone else. This time, however, seeing that the questioner's capacity to understand the Dhamma was higher, Ajahn Chah answered by saying, "Ajahn Chah? There is NO Ajahn Chah!"
Friends:
Contemplating the Purity of own Morality:
One who wants to develop the recollection of virtue should go into
solitary retreat and recollect his own different kinds of virtue in
their special qualities of being completely pure & untorn, as follows:
Indeed, the integrity of my morality is untorn, unbroken, unspotted,
unmottled, liberating, praised by the wise, detached, and productive
of concentration (AN III 286 ). Laymen should recollect them at the
level of laymen's morality, while the one gone forth into homelessness
should recollect it at the degree of vinaya virtue of those gone forth.
And when a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of virtue, then he
has respect for the training. He lives in communion with his fellows in
the life of purity. He is tireless in welcoming. He is devoid of the fear
of any self-reproach. He fears as evil danger even the slightest fault!
He attains to fullness of faith. He has much happiness and gladness...
If he penetrates no higher, he is at least headed for a happy destiny.
Now when a man is truly wise,
His constant task will surely be
This recollection of the Morality
Blessed with such mighty potency.
Vism I 222
Remembering this perfect cause of Pure Morality:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Sila_1_to_5.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Mighty_is_Morality.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sila_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Action.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Speech.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Livelihood.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_I.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_II.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_IV.htm
Reviewing Own Virtue!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Reviewing_Virtue.htm
Different strokes for different folks.
Friends:
The 7 Links to Awakening is Unmatched!
Venerable Sariputta once told the Buddha:
Unsurpassable is how the Blessed Buddha has taught the supreme efforts imbedded
within the Seven Links to Awakening, that is:
1: The Awareness Link to Awakening: sati-sambojjhanga.
2: The Investigation Link to Awakening: dhammavicaya-sambojjhanga.
3: The Energy Link to Awakening: viriya-sambojjhanga.
4: The Joy Link to Awakening: piti-sambojjhanga.
5: The Tranquility Link to Awakening: passaddhi-sambojjhanga.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening: samadhi-sambojjhanga.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening: upekkha-sambojjhanga.
Venerable Sir, among all these supreme Dhamma teachings and sublime mental states,
this doctrine on the 7 links to awakening also is utterly unsurpassable!
Venerable Sariputta Thera and Venerable Maha Moggallana Thera.
On the 7 Links to Awakening (Sambojjhanga):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Sun.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Peak.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Clothes.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rare_Emergence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Sequential_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Vast_Penetration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Fruits.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/When_7_becomes_14.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leading_to_Enlightenment.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Cause_of_Knowledge_and_Vision.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Meaning_of_the-7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
Venerable Sariputta Thera
Source (edited extract):
The Exhaustive Speeches of the Buddha. Digha Nikaya.
DN 28: Confirmed Conviction. Sampasadaniya Sutta.
The 7 Links ...
An utterly unsurpassable doctrine!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unsurpassable_Seven.htm
Do you think the order of the 7 factors is significant? Some teachers describe them as a progression.
I personally feel they step from one to the next in that way. Progressive sounds accurate to me, yes...
Friends:
How is a Friend Good?
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Who is welcoming and friendly,
Generous, open and unselfish,
A guide, an instructor, a leader,
Such one will gain much honour!
Digha Nikaya 31
The friend who is a helping companion,
The friend both in happiness and misery,
The friend who gives good & sound advice,
The friend who really cares & understands...
These four, the clever knows as good Friends!
These 4 heroes, one should cherish devotedly,
as a mother nurses her own only child.
Digha Nikaya 31
If one finds a wise and intelligent friend,
who lives a good, correct & fully pure life,
Then, overcoming all obstacles, one should
always keep his joyous and alert company...
Dhammapada 328
More on the good in beautiful Friendship (Kalyanamittata):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Selfless_Friendship_is_Sweetest.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/United_in_Harmony.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Friendship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kalyanamitta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The Good Friend!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
The 7 links are developed both sequentially one after another
and in parallel all together at the same time...
Good friends DO let you do stupid things, but laugh with you - or cry, as appropriate - as they help you clear up the mess...
Or to put it another way,
A good friend will help you to move house.
A REALLY good friend will help you to move the body...
The way I've come to understand it is that mindfulness and investigation are used as a basis for applying energy ( aka Right Effort ) and therefore developing wholesome mental qualities ( the remaining factors ).
Thats a good and original pick-up line.
Sorry! I am Thwacking myself right now!
/Victor
Friends:
Where are the 5 Mental Abilities to be Found?
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, there are these five mental 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)
And where, Bhikkhus, is the ability of Faith to be seen & found?
The ability of Faith is found in the Four Factors of Stream-entry...
And where, Friends, is the ability of Energy to be seen & found?
The ability of Energy is to be found among the Four Right Efforts...
And where, Friends, is the ability of Awareness to be seen & found?
The ability of Awareness is found in the Foundations of Awareness...
Where, Friends, is the ability of Concentration to be seen & found?
The ability of Concentration is found in the Four Jhana absorptions...
Where, Friends, is the ability of Understanding to be seen & found?
The ability of Understanding is found among the Four Noble Truths...
These five qualities, Bhikkhus & Friends, are the 5 mental abilities!
Source of reference (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 196] 48 The Mental Abilities: 8 To be Seen..
On The Five Mental Abilities (indriya) see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Final_Abilities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Origin_of_Abilities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Finding_the_Abilities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fruits_of_the_Abilities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_the_Abilities.htm
Finding the Abilities...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Finding_the_Abilities.htm
Thank you!
Friends:
Feel Pity for all those Falling Beings:
It is a great pity with all those thinking like this:
Pleasure is the only good; by that they fall!
Terror is a necessary way; by that they fall!
Sensuality is innocent; by that they fall!
Violence is allowable; by that they fall!
Money makes happiness; by that they fall!
Power is progress; by that they fall!
Falsehood is acceptable; by that they fall!
Stealing gives wealth; by that they fall!
Conceit can conceal; by that they fall!
Science knows all; by that they fall!
Killing can be good; by that they fall!
Hunting is only fun; by that they fall!
Adultery is mature; by that they fall!
Paedophilia is harmless; by that they fall!
Drugs are fantastic; by that they fall!
Booze is medicine; by that they fall!
Giving does not help; by that they fall!
After death is nothing!; by that they fall!
The Hells do not exist; by that they fall!
Intentional Action has no effect; by that they fall!
I am the better than...; by that they fall!
I know better ...; by that they fall!
Making merit cannot elevate; by that they fall!
It is a great pity with all those poor beings:
who are veiled by wrong view; by that they fall!
who are fooled by own opinion; by that they fall!
who are gripped by greed and lust; by that they fall!
who are stirred by hate and anger; by that they fall!
who are clinging to all worldly things; by that they fall!
who are confused by not knowing; by that they fall!
who prostitute themselves; by that they fall!
who cheat and deceives; by that they fall!
who pretend what is not; by that they fall!
who hide what is actual fact; by that they fall!
who destroy beings or things; by that they fall!
who pollute the milieu and society; by that they fall!
who deliberately do evil willing it; by that they fall!
who fail their duties and obligations; by that they fall!
who miss the obvious opportunities; by that they fall!
It is a great pity with all those blinded by ignorance,
bound and dragged by desire, while pushed by aversion,
and allured, mislead and seduced by devious self-deception...
By that they surely fall into states of pain, agony and despair!
As if gripped by the arms of two strong men and hurled into a big fire...
More on this caring Great Compassion (maha-karuna)!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Endless_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Karuna_is_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Compassionate_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Space_Compassion.htm
Great is Compassion!
Feel Infinite Pity for all those Falling beings!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Great_Compassion.htm
Are those words from suttas? The Buddha's words? I liked it.
Thank you samahita!
I don't think it possible that Buddha said this.
TMI haha
Friends:
My mind is my Home & best Friend:
To overcome loneliness, first learn to meditate, and to live in the moment!
Living like this, your mind becomes very peaceful, very calm, & very strong.
Mindfulness makes you very strong. You will develop serene inner strength...
I have no parents. I make heaven and earth my parents.
I have no home. I make mindfulness my home.
I have no life and death. I make breathing in-&-out my life and death.
I have no divine power. I make honesty my divine power.
I have no friends. I make my mind my friend.
I have no enemy. I make carelessness my enemy.
I have no sword. I make absence of ego my sword!
Source: Sayadaw U Jotika from Burma. His Book: Snow in the Summer
is published by DMG Books (http://www.dmgbooks.com)
More on the Mind:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/What_is_Mind.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Luminous_is_Mind.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Magnificent_Mind.htm
Mind is Home...
The Focus of all Life...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mind_is_Home.htm
I disagree that your parents are the earth and the sky. Your parents took on hardship giving you whatever you wanted when you cried out. They took responsibility to educate and raise you. The earth and the sky would not have done that for you. At the same time from the perspective of appreciation for the whole universe you could say that the earth and sky are LIKE parents, but not that they should receive the good will that you have for your ordinary parents.
Friends:
The Noble 8-fold Way grows out of Morality!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, even as any seed and plant grows, increases, & expands, based
upon the earth, established upon earth, so too, similarly here, based upon
morality, established upon morality, does any Bhikkhu develop and cultivate
the Noble 8-fold Way, and thereby he attains to growth, to increase, to
expansion in all advantageous states. And how does a Bhikkhu do so?
Here, the Bhikkhu develops: Right View, Right Motivation, Right Speech,
Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Awareness, and
Right Concentration, all based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and
culminating in release. It is in this way, that a Bhikkhu, based on morality,
established upon morality, develops and cultivates this Noble 8-fold Way,
and thereby he attains to growth, to increase, and to expansion in and of
any advantageous mental state!
More on Morality (sila):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Mighty_is_Morality.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The_Good_Disciple.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/immaculate_virtue.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:46-7] section 45: The Way. 100: Seeds ...
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
The Seed of all Good!
Mental Purity starts at Absolute Morality...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Seed_of_Good.htm
Friends:
What is Feeding the Awareness (Sati) Link to Awakening!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, just as this body, is sustained by feeding, exists in dependence on feeding
and cannot survive without food, exactly & even so are the Seven Links to Awakening
also sustained by feeding, they can also only exist in dependence on feeding and they
cannot survive without feeding... And what, Bhikkhus, is the feeding of the emergence
of any yet unarisen Awareness Link to Awakening and feeding of the completion by
development of any already arisen Awareness Link to Awakening?
There are states that are the basis and source for the Awareness Link to Awakening!!
Frequently giving careful and rational attention to them, is feeding the arising of any
unarisen Link to Awareness Link to Awakening and feeding the gradual fulfillment by
development of any already arisen Awareness Link to Awakening...
And what, Bhikkhus, is the starving that obstructs the emergence of any yet unarisen
Awareness Link to Awakening & which also hinders any already arisen Awareness Link
from reaching any fulfillment by development? There are, Bhikkhus, things that are
basis and source for the Awareness Link to Awakening: not giving frequent, careful &
rational attention to them; not considering them much; is the starving that prevents any
unarisen Awareness Link to Awakening from arising and also blocks any already arisen
Awareness Link to Awakening from reaching complete fulfillments by development...
Comments from the classical commentaries:
Establishing continual mental presence standing near the object is the characteristic
of the Awareness Link to Awakening (sati-sambojjhanga). Neither neglecting any nor
forgetting anything is the function of Awareness. Remaining anchored on the object,
undistracted & undisrupted, is the manifestation of the Awareness Link to Awakening.
The food that are basis and source the arising of the Awareness Link to Awakening is:
1: Training of Clear Comprehension (sampajanna):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Clear_Comprehension.htm
2: Training of the Four Foundations of Awareness (satipatthana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Manual/Meditation.Manual.htm
3: Avoidance of careless, mindless and habitually distracted people.
4: Friendship with those endowed with acute and alert awareness.
5: Determination regarding establishing unlapsing awareness.
Awareness is the state that increases when opening the eyes extra-wide! Try Now!
Awareness is a crucial Universal Basis for all other advantageous states whatsoever...
Awareness is all helpful and useful everywhere and anytime. Sati Saturates so Sweet!
What is Right & Noble Awareness? Answer and Details at:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Awareness.htm
Further studies in this superb state:
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/III/Sati_Summary.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sati_in_Solitude.htm
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/Noble_Awareness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/One_and_only_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Awareness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Awareness_Analysis.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sati_a_la_Anuruddha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Awareness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Careful_and_Rational_Attention.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Four_Foundations_of_Awareness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Clear_and_Aware_Comprehension.htm
Sources (edited extracts):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 65-6+102-8] 46: Links. 2+51: Group & Nutriments....
Sweet is Saturated Sati ...
What is Feeding the Awareness (Sati) Link to Awakening!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Awareness.htm
3: Avoidance of careless, mindless and habitually distracted people.....
???
Friends:
How does the Noble 8-fold Way makes one Noble?
Having cultivated the Noble 8-fold Way, a being might enter the stream,
which leads to Nibbana! The Stream-Enterer (Sotapanna) is entirely freed
from rebirth as Animal, Hungry Ghost, Angry Demon & Burning Hell Being!
Such Noble One (Ariya) will be enlightened within maximally 7 rebirths...
The Stream-Enterer has eliminated all egoism, belief in a 'person' or 'self',
eradicated all 'I-making' & 'Mine-making', abolished all sceptical doubt in
the perfect Self-Enlightenment of the Buddha, & removed silly superstitious
belief in any benefit of empowerments and empty rituals. Such Noble have
by direct momentary experience touched and tasted the deathless Nibbana
and is forever hereafter independent of any Dhamma-teacher...
Having cultured the Noble 8-fold Way even further, a being might attain the
state of a Once-Returner (Sakadagami), who is reborn only as a god (deva)
and then awakens in that next-next life when he returns to earth as a human being!
Such Noble has reduced & weakened his sense-desire and aversion...
Having yet further refined the Noble 8-fold Way, a being might attain the
state of a Non-Returner (Anagami) , who is reborn in the higher fine material
worlds - The Pure Abodes - where they live for many universal cycles & there
attain Nibbana without ever returning to the human or lower divine worlds...
Such Noble has furthermore entirely eliminated sense-desire and aversion!
Having fully perfected the Noble 8-fold Way one awakens as an Arahat , who
is enlightened in this very life, by elimination of all remaining mental defects
such as desire for fine form and formlessness, the subtle conceit that 'I am',
latent tendency to restlessness and all ignorance. Such Noble One enters at
the moment of death the freedom, bliss & peace of Nibbana without trace of
clinging left...
Further study on the Noble 8-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/II/Fulfilled_First_.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Noble_8_fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_3-fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Failed_by_Neglect.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Noble_8-Fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Golden_Middle_Way.htm
The fine Fruits of the Noble Way!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fruits_of_the_Noble_Way.htm
Friends:
Balanced Equanimity is the Tenth Mental Perfection:
Equanimity characteristically induces & promotes impartial neutrality...
Its function is to look upon things with an even unreactive indifference!
Its manifestation is the gradual stilling of both attraction & repulsion..
Its proximate cause is seeing, that all inherit the results of their actions.
Its effect is utter purification & perfection of all other mental qualities,
by ending both discontent & delight, thereby providing the necessary
equal calm required for their complete assessment & accomplishment.
Equanimity means Unaffectable..
Equanimity means Unprovokable..
Equanimity means Undisturbable..
Equanimity means Unexcitable..
Equanimity means Imperturbable..
Equanimity means Disengaged..
Equanimity means Disentangled..
Equanimity means Detached..
Equanimity means Immovable..
Equanimity means Unbeatable..
Equanimity means Untemptable..
Equanimity means Wholly Immune..
Equanimity means Indifferent..
Equanimity means Impartial..
Equanimity means Unbiased..
Equanimity means Disinterested..
Equanimity means Balanced..
Even like a smiling mountain!
Cool Calm is the ultimate Balm!
The Threefold Equanimity (Upekkha):
If Indifferent towards:
Internal states & external phenomena,
Living beings & lifeless things,
Past, present & future events,
How can one be hurt, upset,
disturbed or distressed?
Calm is his mind.
Calm is his speech.
Calm is his action.
So is the Tranquility;
So is the Equanimity;
Of one freed by the Insight
Of right Knowledge.
Dhammapada 96
Although a man is richly dressed and adorned,
if he is in peace, at ease, in equanimity, calmed,
composed, controlled, celibate and harmless
towards all beings, then verily he is a Holy One,
a recluse, a sage ...
Dhammapada 142
Equanimity towards one's own internal states -
that is indeed a link to Enlightenment.
Equanimity regarding external phenomena & conditions -
that is indeed also a link to Enlightenment.
Samyutta Nikaya V Bojjhanga-samyutta.
Such noble friend finally develops
the link to awakening that is Equanimity
during Awareness of in-&-out breathing,
which protects against damaging mental states,
tends to detachment, to ceasing, tends to release
& culminates in complete self-surrender...
If, friends, Awareness of in-&-out breathing,
is so cultivated and so made much of, it is
indeed of great fruit, of great advantage!
One whose Awareness of breathing in-&-out
is perfected, well developed, and gradually
brought to refined growth thus, according to the
teaching of the Buddha, such one illuminates the
entire world, just like the full moon freed from clouds.
Samyutta Nikaya V Anapana-samyutta.
The Blessed One once said:
Now how, Ananda, in the discipline of a Noble One is there
the unsurpassable development of the senses?
There is the case where, when seeing a form with the eye,
there arises in a monk what is agreeable, or what is disagreeable,
or what is both agreeable & disagreeable. He recognizes that:
This agreeable thing has arisen in me, or this disagreeable thing...
or this both agreeable & disagreeable thing, has arisen in me:
And that is constructed, conditioned, coarse & dependently co-arisen!
But this is peaceful, this is exquisite, namely even & equal equanimity!
Instantly, that arisen agreeable or disagreeable thing ceases,
and Equanimity takes its calm stance!
Just as a man with good eyes, having closed them, might open them;
or when open, might close them, that is how quickly, how rapidly,
how easily, no matter what it refers to, Equanimity make
whatever arisen agreeable thing... or disagreeable thing...
or both agreeable & disagreeable thing cease right there,
and Equanimity takes its even stance!
In the discipline of The Noble One, this is called the unsurpassable
development of the senses with regard to visible forms cognizable
by the eye. Similar is the supreme development of the other senses.
MN 152
With the fading of rapturous joy, he remains in equanimity,
aware & alert, still physically sensitive to bodily pleasure.
He enters & remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones
declare: 'In aware Equanimity, one abides in pleasure...'
With the stilling of pleasure & pain as with the earlier disappearance
of elation & frustration, he enters & remains in the fourth jhana:
sole Awareness purified by equanimity, - neither pleasure nor pain -
This is called Right Concentration...
The elimination of both sensual desires & of discontent,
the ejection of laziness, the calming of all regrets,
just this pure Equanimity being aware of all mental
properties exactly at the moment they appear:
That I call the direct knowledge of release
the breakthrough from ignorance.
Sutta Nipata V 13: Udaya's Questions
Equanimity is 'Tatra-majjhattata', which designates the evenly balanced
keeping to the moderate middle of all things. It has as characteristic, that
it affects the balance of consciousness and mental properties as a single
function of single taste, which prevents both overt excessiveness and any
lack or insufficiency. Equanimity thereby puts an end to biased partiality by
manifesting moderation well within range of the properly reasoned midway.
Visuddhimagga XIV
The Buddha once explained:
I would make my bed in a charnel ground, with a skeleton for my pillow..
And cowherd boys came up and spat on me, urinated on me, threw dirt at me,
and poked sticks into my ears! While others, exultant & thrilled brought me
offerings of food, caskets of perfume & incense and garlands of flowers!
Yet I do not recall, that I ever showed any partiality towards any of them...
I was the same to them all! Neither arousing any fondness nor any aversion!
This was my ultimate perfection of equanimity...
MN 12 Lomahamsanapariyaya
The Hair-raising Presentation
Cariyapitaka III 15
More on Equanimity (Upekkha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Serene_Equanimity_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Imperturbable_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unshakable_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Equanimity_Upekkha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Empty_Equanimity.htm
More of the 10 mental perfections (paramis):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_10_mental_perfections_(parami)_in_three_levels.htm
Even is Equanimity...
Balanced Equanimity is the 10th Mental Perfection!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Even_is_Equanimity.htm
"And what are the six kinds of household equanimity? The equanimity that arises when a foolish, deluded person — a run-of-the-mill, untaught person who has not conquered his limitations or the results of action [2] & who is blind to danger [3] — sees a form with the eye. Such equanimity does not go beyond the form, which is why it is called household equanimity. (Similarly with sounds, smells, tastes, tactile sensations, & ideas.)
"And what are the six kinds of renunciation equanimity? The equanimity that arises when — experiencing the inconstancy of those very forms, their change, fading, & cessation — one sees with right discernment as it actually is that all forms, past or present, are inconstant, stressful, subject to change: This equanimity goes beyond form, which is why it is called renunciation equanimity. (Similarly with sounds, smells, tastes, tactile sensations, & ideas.)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.137.than.html
Friends:
Mutual Joy cures all vicious Envy and Jealousy!
The dear companion can be the proximate cause for Mutual Joy, where one
rejoices in another being's success... One thus rejoicing in others fortune
is called a 'boon companion', for he is constantly glad: He laughs first and
speaks afterward! So he should be the first to be pervaded with gladness.
Or on seeing a dear person being happy, cheerful and glad, mutual joy can
be aroused thus: 'See this being is indeed glad! How good, how excellent!'
Just as one would be glad at seeing a dear and beloved person very happy,
exactly so does one pervade all other beings in all directions with mutual joy...
Rejoicing mutual joy can also be aroused by remembering others happiness
in the past and recollecting the elated joy aspect in this way: 'In the past he
had great wealth, a great following and he was always glad'. Or mutual joy
can be aroused by apprehending the future glad aspect of his in this way:
'In the future he will again enjoy similar success and will go about in gold
palanquins, on the backs of elephants or on horseback'. Having thus aroused
mutual joy regarding a dear person, one can then direct the very same feeling
successively towards a neutral one, and gradually towards any hostile person.
Vbh 274, Vism I 316
Comments:
Mutual joy causes Contentment! No mutual joy thus means Discontentment!
Therefore: If being generally dissatisfied, then be happy over other's success.
Secondly: Mutual joy causes all envy & jealousy to evaporate into equanimity!
Mutual Joy (Mudita), which cures all envy and jealousy, is a divine state!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Rejoicing Joy!
Mutual Joy Causes Contentment! :-)
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm
We haz plan!