Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
The Blessed Buddha once said: Beings are owners of their actions (kamma = karma), inheritor of their actions, are created by their actions, linked to their actions, their actions produce their destiny. Whatever actions they do; good as evil, the resulting reaction and effect will be only theirs! There is one who kills living beings, steals what belongs to others, commits adultery with other's partners; speaks lies, uses divisive and aggressive speech, prattle empty gossip; is covetous, envious, jealous, wicked-minded, & of evil views. Such one is creeping in all actions both bodily, verbal, and mental. Hidden & secret are such one's actions, words, & thoughts, of ulterior & concealed motives. But I tell you: Whoever pursues hidden ways and objects will have to expect one of these two results: Either the torture of hell, or birth among the creeping animals. Thus is it with all rebirth of any being: They will be reborn according to their actions (kamma)... When reborn, they experience the exact effects of their actions. Therefore I declare: Beings are owners of their actions (kamma), inheritor of their actions, are created by their actions, linked to their actions, as a shadow that never leaves! Their actions produce and condition their future destiny. Whatever action they perform; good as evil, the resulting reaction and effects will be only theirs! Kamma causes and creates rebirth! A shadow that never leaves!
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Exceptionally Rare is the arising of the Links to Awakening!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, the exquisitely refined & sophisticated 7 Links to Awakening do never arise apart from the appearance of a Well-Come-Well-Gone One, an Arahat, a Perfectly Self-Enlightened Buddha! They never emerge outside the discipline of a thus Happy & Successful One! Which seven?
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 Tranquillity Link to Awakening: passaddhi-sambojjhanga. 6: The Concentration Link to Awakening: samadhi-sambojjhanga. 7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening: upekkha-sambojjhanga.
These uniquely advanced, delicate & intricate Seven Factors of Awakening do never emerge other than after the arrival of a Tathagata, an Arahat, a Perfectly Self-Enlightened Buddha! They never emerge outside the discipline of a Fortunate One!
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
The Blessed Buddha once said: When a wise man well established in moral purity, Develops his mind and his understanding, Then as Bhikkhu, earnest and intelligent, He disentangles this entangled knot... SN I 13
Just as a man standing firm on the ground and taking up a well-sharpened sword might disentangle a great mesh of bamboos, so too, does this Bhikkhu possessing 4 things: Morality, Concentration, Energy, and Understanding cut away the maze of mess and demolish all the labyrinthine snarls of confusion! Vism I 4
Disentangling from the world by withdrawal unravels the outer complication... Disentangling from name-&-form, body and mind, releases the inner intricacy... Thus freed from fermentations of all what is physical and all what is mental, one disengages & detaches from this enmeshed, ensnaring & perplexing puzzle!
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
The Blessed Buddha once explained: Whenever withdrawn in body and withdrawn in mind one reflects on the Buddha-Dhamma, then the Awareness Link to Awakening arises and develops. Thus acutely aware one examines that!
Whenever examining a mind state, then the Investigation Link to Awakening arises and develops. While thus being curious & enthusiastically investigating, keen energy is aroused!
Whenever energy is aroused in one who is enthusiastic, then the Energy Link to Awakening arises and develops. While energetic & enthusiastic one succeeds: Therefore Joy is born!
Whenever succeeding in eager joy, then the Joy Link to Awakening arises and develops. One thus joyous becomes mentally satisfied and therefore calmed both in body and in mind!
Whenever calmed in body and mind, then the Tranquillity Link to Awakening arises & develops. One thus satisfied, calmed, serene, settled and tranquil in both body and mind becomes Happy!
Whenever calmed & comfortable in the body and tranquil & happy in the mind, then the Concentration Link to Awakening arises and develops. When mentally concentrated one reviews all states rationally & reasonably as if from above!
Whenever one well balanced reviews all mental states rationally & reasonably, then the Equanimity Link to Awakening arises and develops. In Equanimity one knows and sees things right as they really are and later become.
It is in this very way that The Seven Links to Awakening develop sequentially, one after the other; successively one leading to, and producing the next...
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
The Blessed Buddha once explained: How is the release of mind by infinite mutual joy (Mudita) achieved? What does this liberation have as its destination, what is its culmination, what is its sweet fruit, and what is the ultimate goal of mental release by universally mutual, unselfish, altruistic, appreciative & rejoicing joy? Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu dwells pervading the frontal quadrant with a mind imbued with infinite mutual joy, so the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quadrant. As above, so below, across, and everywhere to all beings as for himself, he dwells pervading the entire cosmos with a mind fully saturated with unlimited mutual joy, immense, exalted, measureless, without hostility, without any enmity, without any trace of ill will, of jealousy or of envy! Thus prepared and mentally quite expanded, he then develops: 1: The Awareness Link to Awakening joined with limitless mutual joy. 2: The Investigation Link to Awakening fused with such mutual joy. 3: The Energy Link to Awakening together with infinite mutual joy. 4: The Joy Link to Awakening accompanied with absolute mutual joy. 5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening linked with noble mutual joy. 6: The Concentration Link to Awakening associated with mutual joy. 7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening joined with endless mutual joy. Based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and culminating in release...
If he then wishes: May I dwell experiencing repulsion by any attractive & tempting object, then he can dwell experiencing repulsiveness therein. If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in any disgusting and repulsive object, then he experiences pleasing beauty in whatever disgusting & ugly thing! If he wishes: Avoiding both the repulsive & the unrepulsive, may I dwell in equanimity, just aware & clearly comprehending, then he experiences equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending! When meditating he can completely transcend the realm of infinitude of space, only aware that consciousness is infinite, he can enter and dwell in the sphere of the infinitude of consciousness.. I tell you Bhikkhus for a quite wise Bhikkhu here, who has not yet penetrated to an even more superior mental release, the mental release by infinite, altruistic and mutual joy has the sphere of the infinitude of consciousness as its culmination!
Comments: Are you Discontent? Here is Why! Mutual joy is the proximate cause of contentment. Consequentially: Lack of mutual joy produces frustrated discontent! Mutual joy also eliminates jealousy and envy! Absence of mutual joy therefore induces the acid like mental pain called envy and jealousy!
Source of reference (edited extract): The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book [V: 115-21] 46: The Links. 54: Joined by Friendliness...
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
His virtue is immaculate. His wearing the bowl and robe pleases and inspires trust. His going forth will bear its fruit. A pure Bhikkhu never fears that self-reproach will obsess and consume his mind, since there is indeed no darkness inside the sun... A Bhikkhu of bright virtue shines forth even in the forest of reclusive ascetics, by the radiance of his past deeds, just like the moon lights up the clear night sky... Now if the body smell of pure Bhikkhus can succeed in pleasing even the deities, what then of the perfume of their virtue? It is a far more splendid scent than all the other perfumes in the world, because the fragrance of pure morality spreads unhindered in all directions! The favours done for a pure & virtuous one, even when only few, will bear great fruit! The pure one thus becomes a fountain of advantage! No fetid fermentations plagues a virtuous one, since his pure behaviour digged out the root of future suffering in lives to come. Excellence among humans & also even among deities, if longed for, is not hard to gain for one whose morality is perfected! However, when ethics is fully perfected, then mind seeks only the supreme Nibbana: The state where utterly pure peace prevails! Such is the blessed fruit of clean virtue, ethics, rectitude, goodness, integrity, righteousness, and high-mindedness: It awards fulfilment, so let a wise one know it well: This root of all the branches of perfection!
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Remote & Solitary is Forest Bliss! The forest bhikkhu pays much attention to the experience of forest. Thereby he enters deeper yet unattained depths of concentration. By living remote he is not distracted by any unsuitable phenomena. He is free from anxiety and stress. He abandons attachment to life. He enjoys a taste of the bliss of seclusion, and the silenced peace. He lives secluded and apart. Calm and remote abodes delight his heart. The hermit that in woods can dwell alone, may gain the bliss as well. Whose savour is beyond the price of royal bliss even in any paradise. So let the forest delight a wise man for his precious dwelling's site. Sources: MN 121, AN III 343, Vism I 73
ALONE The one who sits and lives solitary, & walks alone finds great delight in the silence of the forest... Dhammapada 305
SUCH ONE The One wearing only 3 robes, who is thin with veins showing, who meditates alone in the forest, such one is a Holy One... Dhammapada 395
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Venerable Sariputta once said: Friends! Friend; the Bhikkhus replied. Venerable Sariputta then explained this: Friends, there are these Seven Links to Awakening. What seven?
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 Tranquillity Link to Awakening: passaddhi-sambojjhanga. 6: The Concentration Link to Awakening: samadhi-sambojjhanga. 7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening: upekkha-sambojjhanga.
These are the Seven Links to Awakening! In whichever of these 7 Links to Awakening, I wish to dwell in the morning, in that I abide in the morning; in whichever I wish to dwell at noon, in that I abide at noon; in whichever I wish to dwell in the evening, in that I abide in the evening... Suppose a king or a minister had a cupboard full of clothes of many various colours, then whichever pair of clothes he wished to put on in the morning, that he would put on in the morning; whichever clothes he wished to put on at noon, that he would put on at noon; & whichever clothes he wished to put on in the evening, that he would put on in the evening: so too, in whichever of these 7 Links to Awakening, I wish to abide in for whatever period, in that indeed I easily abide dwelling fully absorbed by that aspect... If it occurs to me that now there is The Awareness Link to Awakening present in me, then it occurs to me that it is measureless, & it occurs to me that it is well established; and while it is remaining I know that it remains; and if it falls away in me, then I know instantly that it faded away caused by this or that specific condition or definable circumstance! So too with the other six links to awakening. I notice and know both their presence, ceasing and absence!
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Venerable Sariputta once explained: They conduce and lead to the state of enlightenment; in this sense are they links to awakening! They are in, of and by themselves enlightening; also in this sense are they indeed links to awakening!
Establishing as the meaning of Awareness has to be directly experienced. Examination as the meaning of Investigation has to be directly experienced. Exertion of Effort as the meaning of Energy has to be directly experienced. Intense Contentment as the meaning of Joy has to be directly experienced. Stilled Peace as the meaning of Tranquillity has to be directly experienced. Non-Distraction as the meaning of Concentration has to be directly experienced. Even Ballance as the meaning of Equanimity has to be directly experienced.
They are enlightening as a root, thus are they links to awakening. They are enlightening as a cause, thus are they links to awakening. They are enlightening as a requisite, thus are they links to awakening. They are enlightening as a purification, thus are they links to awakening. They are enlightening as blamelessness, thus are they links to awakening. They are enlightening as withdrawal exit, thus are they links to awakening. They are enlightening as delivering freedom, thus are they links to awakening. They are enlightening as lack of fermentation, thus are they links to awakening. They are enlightening as silent solitary seclusion, thus are they links to awakening. They are enlightening as a releasing relinquishment, thus are they links to awakening.
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for non-greed sees the danger in all greed... Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for non-hate recognizes the error in all hate. Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for understanding realizes a fault in ignorance. Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for renunciation knows the pain of house life. Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for seclusion perceives the stress of society. Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for release comprehends the wrong in clinging. Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for awakening is dedicated to ending rebirth! The degree of whole-hearted sincerity, dedication and resolute determination does indeed determine the remaining time in Samsara before finally reaching Nibbana...
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Inclining, sloping, bending and falling towards Enlightenment!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, just as all the rafters in a peaked house slant, slant, slope, tilt, tend, incline & veer towards the roof peak, even so, when a bhikkhu begin to develop and cultivate the Seven Links to Awakening, then he indeed slants, slopes, tilts, tends, inclines & veers towards Nibbana... Why and how is this convergence so? When, friends, a Bhikkhu trains, develops, expands, consolidates and refines:
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 Tranquillity Link to Awakening: passaddhi-sambojjhanga. 6: The Concentration Link to Awakening: samadhi-sambojjhanga. 7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening: upekkha-sambojjhanga.
based upon seclusion, disillusion, and ceasing, maturing & culminating in release, then these 7 Links to Awakening and the repeated training of them, in and by themselves, make him slant, slope, tilt, tend, veer and incline towards Nibbana...
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
How to be a Real True Buddhist through Observance?
This Esala Poya day is the full-moon of July, which is noteworthy since on this celebrated day: 1: The Blessed Buddha preached his First Sermon: The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. 2: The Bodhisatta was conceived in Queen Maya who dreamt a white elephant entered her side. 3: The Blessed Buddha made the Great Withdrawal from the world at the age of 29 years. 4: The Blessed Buddha performed the Twin Miracle (yamaka-patihariya) of dual appearance. 5: The Blessed Buddha explained the Abhi-Dhamma in the Tavatimsa heaven to his mother. 6: The ordination of Prince Arittha at Anuradhapura, under Arahat Mahinda on Sri Lanka. 7: The foundation of the celebrated Mahastupa & enshrinement of relics by King Dutugemunu. 8: The next day the yearly 3 months rains retreat (vassa) of Buddhist Bhikkhus start.
The Buddha performing the Twin Miracle of simultaneously producing water & flames from his body.
On such Uposatha Observance days: Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees and head touch the floor. Then, with joined palms in front of the heart, one recite these memorized lines in a loud, calm & steady voice:
As long as this life lasts: I hereby take refuge in the Buddha. I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma. I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time. I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time. I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
I request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time. I request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd … I request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time. I will respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!
I accept to respect & undertake these 5 training rules: I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs. As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...
Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's own eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to this world! This is the very start on the path towards Nibbana -the Deathless Element- This is the Noble Way to Peace, to Freedom, to Bliss, initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and fulfilled by training of Meditation...
Today indeed is Pooya or Uposatha or observance day, where any lay Buddhist normally keeps the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha, they may simply forward the lines starting with "I..." signed with name, date, town & country to me or join here. A public list of this new Saddhamma-Sangha is here!
Friendship is the Greatest! If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net Have a nice, noble and easy day! Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
1: Making the basis pure: Means clean body, clean room and clean morality. 2: Balanced abilities = Energy equals concentration. Faith equals understanding. 3: Skill in the sign: Any moment of absorption is remembered exactly for recollection. 4: One exerts the mind on all occasions, it advantageously should be pushed forth. 5: One controls the mind on all occasions, it advantageously should be held back. 6: One encourages mind on occasions it advantageously should be incited and cheered. 7: One observes the mind with calm equanimity, when things proceed appropriately. 8: One avoids all distracted, agitated, frantic, unconcentrated, and stressed persons. 9: One cultivates company with well focused, determined and concentrated persons. 10: One is resolutely determined upon that absorption level of jhana concentration. Vism I 128.
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, when the 7 Links to Awakening have been developed, completed and refined, the winning of the seven fruits is indeed to be expected. What are the benefits of these 7 fruits?
They are, either: 1: One attains final knowledge early in this very life. Or: 2: One attains final knowledge at the moment of death. Or: Having destroyed the five lower chains and spontaneously re-arisen; 3: One attains Nibbana in the first half of the life as a divine brahma. Or: 4: One attains Nibbana in the second half of the life in these pure abodes. Or: 5: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner without effort. Or: 6: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner with some effort. Or: 7: One is bound upstream, surely heading towards the highest Akanittha realm. When, bhikkhus, these Seven Links to Awakening have been thoroughly developed and cultivated exactly in this way, these seven fruits & benefits may be expected....
The Body is a bone-frame plastered with fat and skin:
The body's nature: 300 bones, jointed by 180 joints, sewn into a chain by 900 sinews, plastered over with pieces of flesh, enveloped by inner membrane, fat and outer skin, with 9 openings constantly dribbling and trickling with tears, snot, saliva, slime, urine and excrement. Its bowels are inhabited by many fold bacteria, parasites and worms, the home of disease, the source of painful states, perpetually oozing from the nine orifices like a chronic open boil, and from thousands skin pores the stale sweat seeps, with bluebottles and their like buzzing round it, which when untended with tooth brush, washing, shaving, bathing, underclothing and dressing up looks just like a living corpse! In its natural wild then a body is a stinking nauseating repulsiveness, but by concealing its private parts under several cloths, by daubing it with various perfumes and salves, by pranking it with jewellery, it is faked up into a state being mistaken as 'I' & 'mine'! So men delight in women, and women in men, without perceiving the true nature of this body's characteristic foulness, now masked by this adventitious adornment. But in the ultimate sense, there is no place on any body even the size of an atom fit to lust after! Comically we loove the whole of this 'our precious temple, but when any such bits of it as head hairs, body hairs, nails, teeth, spittle, snot, excrement or urine have dropped off the body, then beings will not touch them! Though somewhat absurd, they are now ashamed, humiliated & disgusted with exactly the same matter as they adored before! But as long as any one of these disgusting things remains inside the body, though it is just as repulsive when inside, they take this body as agreeable, desirable, permanent, pleasant, & 'my beautiful self', since they are wrapped in the murk of ignorance and dyed with unseen and unrecognised affective greed for a physical self... Vism I 196
Friends: Sweet is Verbal, Bodily & Mental Silence!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Kayamunim vacamunim, manomunimanasavam, munim moneyyasampannam. Ahu ninhatapapakam.
Silenced in body, silenced in speech, silenced in mind, without inner noise, blessed with silence is the sage! He is truly washed of all evil... Itivuttaka 3.67
Calm is his mind. Calm is his speech. Calm is his action. So is the tranquillity; So is the serenity; of one freed by the insight of right understanding... Dhammapada 96
Worthy, honourable and perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha! Consummated in knowledge and behaviour, totally transcended, expert in all dimensions, knower of all worlds, unsurpassable trainer of those who can be tamed, both teacher and guide of gods as well as of humans, blessed, exalted, awakened and enlightened is the Buddha!!!
When a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of the Buddha, he is respectful and deferential towards the Master. He attains fullness of faith, awareness, understanding and merit. He has much happiness and gladness. He conquers fear and dread. He is able to endure pain. He comes to feel as if he were living in the Master's presence...! And his body, when dwelling in he recollection of the Buddha's special qualities, becomes as worthy of veneration, just like as a shrine room. His mind tends towards the plane of the Buddhas. When he encounters an opportunity for transgression, he has acute awareness of conscience and shame as vivid as though he were face to face with the Master. If he penetrates no higher, he is at least headed for a happy destiny.
Now when a man is truly wise, His constant task will surely be This recollection of the Buddha Blessed with such mighty potency. Vism I 213
Perfectly formulated is this Buddha-Dhamma, visible right here and now, immediately effective, timeless, inviting each & everyone to come and see for themselves, inspect, examine and verify. Leading each and everyone through progress towards perfection. Directly observable, experienceable and realizable by each intelligence...
When a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of the Dhamma, he thinks: I never in the past met a master, who taught a law that led onward thus, who possessed this talent, nor do I now see any such a master other than the Blessed One. Seeing the Dhamma's special qualities in this very way, he is respectful and deferential towards the Master. He entertains great reverence for the Dhamma and attains the fullness of faith and insight. He has much happiness and gladness. He conquers fear and dread. He is able to endure pain. He comes to feel as if he were living in the Dhamma's presence. When recollecting the Dhamma's special qualities, dwelling in this remembrance, his body becomes as worthy of worship as a shrine room. His mind tends towards the realization of the peerless Dhamma. When he encounters an opportunity for transgression, then he has vivid awareness of conscience and shame induced by recollecting the well-regulatedness of the Dhamma. And if he penetrates no higher, he is at least headed for a happy destiny...
Now when a man is truly wise, His constant task will surely be, This recollection of the Dhamma, Blessed with such mighty potency! Vism I 218
The blessed Buddha said: Sabbadanam dhammadanam jinati; Sabbarasam dhammaraso jinati; Sabbaratim dhammarati jinati; Tanhakkhayo sabbadukkham jinati.
THE SUPREME GIFT The gift of Dhamma surpasses all other gifts. The taste of Truth excels all other tastes. The joy of Understanding exceeds all other joys. The Elimination of craving overcomes and quenches all ill, all pain, all sorrow, and all suffering ... Dhammapada 354
Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples! Training the right way, the true way, the good way, the direct way! Therefore do these eight kinds of individuals, these four Noble pairs, deserve both gifts, sacrifice, offerings, hospitality & reverential salutation with joined palms, since this Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples, is an unsurpassable and forever unsurpassed field of merit, in this world, for this world, to honour, support, respect and protect...
The blessed Buddha said: As long as he recollects these special qualities of the Sangha in this way, defined as 'having entered on the good way', then: On that occasion his mind cannot be obsessed by greed, or obsessed by hate, or obsessed by delusion; his mind possess an unassailable integrity, when being inspired by this Noble Sangha (AN III 286). When a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of the Community, he is respectful and deferential towards the Community. He attains fullness of faith! He has much happiness and bliss. He conquers fear & dread. He is able to endure pain. He feels as if he were living in the Sangha's presence. When dwelling in the recollection of the Sangha's special qualities his body becomes indeed as worthy of veneration as an Uposatha house, where the Sangha has met. His mind inclines only towards the attainment of this Community's special qualities. Furthermore: When he encounters an opportunity for transgression, he has awareness of conscience and shame as vivid as if he were face to face with the elder Theras of the Noble Sangha. And if he can penetrate no higher, he is at least headed for a happy destiny. Vism I 221
Now when a man is truly wise, His constant task will surely be, This recollection of the Sangha, Blessed with such mighty potency! Vism I 218
EMERGENCE OF HARMONY Pleasant is the arising of a Buddha. Pleasant is the teaching of the Dhamma. Pleasant is peace and unity in the Sangha. Pleasant is the harmony of those united therein. Dhammapada 194
MEDITATION Ever are the true disciples of the Buddha well awake & quite aware. Constantly they meditate both day and night on the Sangha. Dhammapada 298
Freeing from Sense-Addiction are the Links to Awakening!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, I do not see even one other single thing that, when developed and cultivated, leads to the elimination of the things that bind, so effectively & quickly as these Seven Links to Awakening! What seven?
1: The Awareness Link to Awakening. 2: The Investigation Link to Awakening. 3: The Energy Link to Awakening. 4: The Joy Link to Awakening. 5: The Tranquillity to Awakening. 6: The Concentration Link to Awakening. 7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening.
How, Bhikkhus, are Seven Links to Awakening developed and refined so that they lead to the giving up & letting go of those things that bind? Here, when a Bhikkhu develops these seven links to awakening, joined with and dependent upon seclusion, disillusion, and ceasing, culminating in release, then these seven links to awakening, are refined and matured in a way, so that they lead to the abandoning of the things that bind, grip, addict and obsess beings! And what, Bhikkhus, are the things that bind, grip, addict and obsess all beings? The eye, ear, nose, mouth, body, & mind are things that addict & obsess beings! Form, sound, smell, taste, touch, & idea are things that addict & obsess beings! Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and thinking bind, grip, addict and obsess beings! These are called the things that bind, ensnares, entrap, enslaves, enchain and consume beings...
Equanimity just looks on and observes, while calmly settled in composed neutrality. Equanimity is characterized as promoting the aspect of impartiality among beings. Its function is to see the equality of all beings. It is manifested as the quieting of both resentment and approval. Its proximate cause is seeing and comprehending the ownership and efficacy of kamma thus: All beings are owners of their actions, born, created and conditioned by the accumulated effect of their past intentions! Whose, if not theirs, is the choice by which they have become happy, or unhappy, or will break free from suffering, or have fallen down from their past good state? Equanimity succeeds, when it makes both resentment and approval subside, and it fails, when it instead produces a bored, indifferent, & careless state of negligence! Vism I 318
Comments: Non-involved and even Equanimity is a subtle form of happiness... By stabilization it perfects and consummates all the other six links to awakening: Awareness, Investigation, Energy, Joy and Concentration. Equanimity is the proximate cause for knowing and seeing it, as it really is. Equanimity quenches any upset agitation! When seeing and noting: 'All this is constructed, conditioned, coarse and transient! But this state of serene equanimity is indeed exquisitely peaceful...', then instantly ceases any arisen agreeable or nasty feeling, when Equanimity takes its stance
Power of Equanimity: Not much agitation, wavering or panic here!
The Joy Link to Awakening (Piti-sambojjhanga) has the characteristic of suffusing contentment, and the property of gladdening satisfaction. This Joy Link to Awakening manifests as mental elation, which can reach five successively increasing degrees of intensity:
1: Minor Joy, which can raise the hair on the body when thrilled. 2: Momentary Joy, which is flashing like lightning at various occasions. 3: Showering Joy, which breaks over the body repeatedly like sea-waves. 4: Uplifting Joy, which can be strong enough to even levitate the body. 5: Pervading Joy, which is like a heavy sponge all saturated with water. Visuddhimagga IV 94-9
The Buddha once said: What mental fermentations (asava) should be overcome by development? If a Bhikkhu by careful & rational attention develops the Joy Link to Awakening based on seclusion, on disillusion, on ceasing, & culminating in relinquishment, then neither can any mental fermentation, nor any fever, or discontent ever arise in him. MN2 [i 11]
In one who has aroused enthusiastic energy, there arises a joy not of this world & the Joy Link to Awakening emerges there. He develops it, & for him it goes to the culmination of its development. MN118 [iii 85]
Any one convinced by understanding of Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, gets an enthusiastic sense of the sublime good goal of Nibbana & gains gladness connected, joined, and fused with this Dhamma...! In any one gladdened, Joy is born. The body of the Joyous is calmed. One of calm body experiences pleasure and happiness! The mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. The concentrated mind sees and knows things as they really are. This brings disgust and disillusion, which enables full direct experience of mental release. It is in this way that Joy indeed is a factor leading to Awakening! MN [i 37-8], AN [iii 21-3], DN [iii 21-3]
Friendly Loving Kindness Beams, Blazes and Shines!
Metta is defined thus: Loving-Kindness has the mode of friendliness as characteristic. Its natural function is to promote friendliness. It manifests as disappearance of ill-will. Its source is seeing with kindness. When succeeding, then it eliminates all angry enmity. When it fails, then it degenerates into egocentric lust and desire. It can be practiced anywhere and at anytime, but ideally sitting cross-legged in a quiet secluded place and then whole-heartedly wishing, first beaming it out in front, then to the right, then back, then to the left and finally below and above in this very effective and exhaustive way: May I be happy and free from suffering... May I keep myself free from hostility, trouble and thereby live happily... May I become happy in this way by repeated training of this excellent goodwill praxis... Just as I want happiness, absence of pain, life and not death, so do all other beings! Therefore: May all beings become thus happy... May all breathing things become thus happy... May all creatures become thus happy... May all deities become thus happy... May all human beings become thus happy... May all who have form become thus happy... May all the Noble and not Noble become thus happy... May all those in the states of deprivation become thus happy... By being freed from all enmity, distress & anxiety, may they thus guide themselves to bliss."
The blessed Buddha often pointed out: Bhikkhus, whatever kinds of worldly merit there are, all are not worth one 16th part of the release of mind by infinitely universal friendliness: In shining, beaming, glow & radiance the release of mind by infinite, immeasurable and inexhaustible friendliness far excels them all! Itivuttaka 27
The young brahman Magha once asked the Blessed Buddha: When giving food, where would this offering be most purified for the donor? The Blessed One answered: If any open-handed householder, a lordly giver, Magha, seeking merit, looking for merit, sacrifices, giving food and drink to others, such one would achieve most merit, if the recipient is pure and Noble. Such, who indeed wander unattached in the world, having & wanting nothing, fully accomplished, in complete self-control, upon them, at the right time one should bestow an offering. Those who have cut all mental bonds and fetters, who are tamed, completely released, without affliction, without desire, upon them, at the right time, should one bestow an offering. Upon these purified & Noble Ones should any brahman, who is looking for merit, place his sacrifice! Sutta-Nipata verses 488-491 Edited excerpt.
Pure giving cut short: Give 2 those who don't want anything!
Cruelty, Mercilessness & Revengefulness are diluted Hate:
How to cure these evil derivatives of Cruelty:
1: Review the Danger in Cruelty like this: This can bring me to a bad destination, the downfall, to pain, even to hell! This is a path of thorns, an evil way, a dark state, conflict, violence, pain!
2: How does a friend dwell pervading all with his heart endued with pity? Just as he would feel pity on seeing an unlucky, unfortunate person, so he pervades all beings with infinite pity. Therefore first of all he imagines a poor man, unlucky, unfortunate, in every way a fit object for pity, ugly, reduced to utter misery, with hands and feet cut off, sitting in the shelter for the helpless, with an empty pot in front of him, with maggots oozing from sores on hands and legs, moaning, infinite pity should be felt for him in this way: 'This being has been reduced to utter misery! If he just could be freed from this misery...' Then later one can arouse the same pity and compassion for a neutral person and later for even a wrong-doing person! This is the complete mastery of pity: Compassion even with the Evil One!
3: All wrong doing is caused by blindness: A real pity for the wrong-doers! All wrong-doers will thus suffer immensely in the future. How sad for them!
4: Begin and Cultivate meditation on Infinite pity: Sit down a silent, empty place with closed eyes & beam this from the heart: May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating awareness of pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating examination of pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating energetic pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating joyous infinite pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating stilled infinite pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating concentrated pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating imperturbable pity. Beaming first out in front, then right, left, down below and also up above: May all beings live happily and free from suffering, pain and frustration. May all beings be free from hate, cruelty, mercilessness & revengefulness!
One who is virtuous and wise Shines like a blazing fire; Like a bee collecting nectar He acquires wealth by harming none! Digha Nikaya III, 188
May all breathing creatures, all living things, All beings, every one without exception, Experience good fortune only! May they not fall into harm. Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
Solitude is happiness for one who is content, Who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees. Non-violence is happiness in the world Harmlessness towards all living beings. Udana 10
JOY Oh let us live happily! Freed from all cruelty! Living even among those, who always flames by hate! Among those dominated by anger, let us live free from anger! Dhammapada 197
With the development of the Ability of Faith, Enthusiasm arises. With the elimination of all Skeptical Doubt, Enthusiasm also arises, With the fading of the frustration inherent in all Skeptical Doubt, enthusiasm arises, with the eradication of all mental obstructions linked with wrong view, enthusiasm arises, with the removal of the gross mental obstructions, enthusiasm arises, with the dying out of subtle mental obstructions, enthusiasm arises, with extinction of all mental obstructions, enthusiasm arises as a Thunderbolt!!! When via this hilarious and energetic Enthusiasm, gladness arises, then the Ability of Faith is outstanding as Faith due to Gladness... When through gladness, happiness arises, then the Ability of Faith is outstanding as Faith due to Happiness...When through happiness, tranquillity emerges, then the Ability of Faith is outstanding due to calmed & stilled Tranquillity... When tranquil, sweet pleasure arises, then the Faith Ability is quite outstanding as Faith due to Pleasure... When through pleasure illumination arises, then the Ability of Faith is outstanding as Faith due to Illumination... When through revealing illumination a sense of urgency arises, then this single Faith Ability is outstanding as Faith due to the acute and vivid Sense of Urgency... When sensing urgency one concentrates the mind, then this Ability of Faith is outstanding as Faith due to Concentration... When one now thoroughly trains the mind thus concentrated, then this Ability of Faith is outstanding as Faith due to Effort. When one looks on with complete equanimity at mind thus wielded into solid focus, then the Faith Ability is outstanding as Faith due to Equanimity. When as a result of equanimity, mind is liberated from many kinds of mental obstructions, then the Faith Ability is outstanding as Faith due to Liberation. When mind is all liberated, this mentally unified state come to have a single function and taste, then the Faith Ability is outstanding as Faith due to development of single function & taste! When mind is being cultivated and refined, it therefore turns away to what is superior, namely towards Nibbana, then the Faith Ability is outstanding as Faith due to Turning Away. Then, because of mind remains turned away, one is now possessed of the Path! When one, as a consequence, relinquishes both all mental obstructions and all clusters of clinging, then the Faith Ability is outstanding as Faith due to Relinquishment. When due to mental release, all the mental obstructions and the clusters of clinging therefore cease with no re-arising trace remaining, then the Ability of Faith is outstanding as Faith due to Ceasing...
The blessed Buddha once said: Contentment is the Highest Treasure! Dhammapada 204
Solitude is happiness for one who is content, Who understands & clearly sees the Dhamma. Udana 10
What is the proximate cause of contentment? Mutual joy with others success is the proximate cause of contentment... Therefore: If one is always gladdened by other's success, one will always be content! Therefore: If one is never gladdened by other's success, one will always be discontent! Therefore is contentment caused by an altruistic mental state & not by external richness... Example: Rich people possessing all the things they ever desired, can still be very discontent! And vice versa: Poor people not having much, can still be very content and very much smiling!
How to cure these agonizing mental states of Envy & Jealousy:
1: Review the Danger in Envy and Jealousy like this: ThisAcidis eating up my mind from within! All joy & happiness is destroyed!
2: Know that Envy arises because one wants something that others have! The aversion towards these persons arise due to greed for a desired object. Wanting=greed is craving towards an object, while aversion=hate is craving away from an object. All forms of Craving causes Suffering! Know that Envy and Jealousy is the proximate cause of Discontent and Dissatisfaction!
3: Envy is cured by rejoicing in others success= Mutual Joy! (Mudita) like: How good that this being, having done good in the past, now earns the well deserved fruit!!! Thus one substitutes a disadvantageous mental state with an advantageous mental state. Know that this subtle Mutual Joy! (Mudita) is the proximate cause of Contentment! Contentment is the highest Treasure...
4: Begin and Cultivate meditation on Infinite Mutual Joy: Sit down a silent & empty place with closed eye and beam from the heart: May I be successful, rich, beautiful, famous, intelligent, popular & praised! May my friends be successful, rich, beautiful, famous, intelligent, & praised! May my enemies be successful, rich, beautiful, famous, intelligent, & praised! May all in this village be successful, beautiful, famous, intelligent, & praised! May all in this country be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, & praised! May all on this earth be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, and praised! May all in this galaxy be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, and praised! May all in the universe be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, and praised! Beaming this tender sympathy out from the heart first out in front, the right, left, back, above as below, so gradually expanding beyond the limitations of space and into the infinitude! When a cause is infinite, so will be the effect!
5: Keep on doing that 15-45 min every day. Note the difference in day joy! May all beings rejoice in Mutual Joy celebrating all beings success & progress!
One should not despise any giving. One should neither envy others. One who envy others cannot attain absorption and will never enter any concentrated trance. Dhammapada 365
Neither nice speech, nor serene behaviour Makes one accomplished, if one is still Possessed of envy, miserliness or deceit. Dhammapada 262
Absorbed in distractions, Not paying appropriate attention, Giving up the goal, following after the pleasant, One comes to envy those, who enjoy right effort! Dhammapada 209
By seeing that: If only happy at one's own success, such egoistic Joy is rare and limited! If happy at others success also, the Joy is more frequent & even infinite!
By observing that: It starts with basic sympathy, develops into acceptance, genuine approval, & appreciation. It culminates in rejoicing altruistic sympathy by directing mind to initiation, much cultivation & boundless expansion of Mutual Joy!
By knowing that: Mutual Joy is the proximate cause of sweet, fully satisfied contentment! Lack of mutual joy is therefore the proximate cause of discontentment! Mutual Joy instantly eliminates acidic jealousy, grudge and green envy! Mutual Joy is an infinite, truly divine, elevating and sublime mental state! Mutual Joy is 1 of the 4 mental states of the Brahma-devas (Brahmavihara)
The Blessed Buddha pointed out: If it were impossible to cultivate this Good , I would not tell you to do so!
Buddhaghosa: See how this worthy being is very Happy! How fine! How excellent! How sweet!
Let there be Happiness. Let there be open Freedom. Let there be Peace. Let there be Bliss from cultivating this. Let there be Understanding of this mental state of Mutual Joy!
Suppose an enemy has hurt you now, in what is his domain, his house etc... Why try yourself additionally to hurt your mind? That is not his domain! In tears you have left your family, though they had been both kind & nice. So why not leave your 'enemy': The anger that brings you internal harm? This anger that we harbour is gnawing at the very roots of all the qualities and virtues, that we otherwise try to guard and protect! Anger is foolish! Another behaves badly... Then stirred one becomes angry! But how is this? Does one really want to copy the bad behaviour, that he just committed? Suppose another, to annoy, provokes you with some offensive behaviour: Why suffer then by letting anger spring up? One is certainly punished so... If anger-blinded enemies plans conflict, getting angry one-self only grows even more hostility. Therefore put this bitter anger down, since why should one be harassed groundlessly? Since all states last only a moment's time, this 'enemy' has already evaporated, when the sweet revenge is planned... But why then attack an 'absence', that is only an image maintained inside? The 'enemy' never really was there 'outside', but only became interpreted so, by an inner mental pollution called hate, anger, aversion, irritation etc...
Which Four Foundations? 1: Only if and when the Noble Friend resides regarding any Body -own or other- simply as a heaped up group, just as a transient, compounded and complex form, only as a fragile, accumulated and alien assemblage, while being alert, aware and thereby clearly comprehending, then will he cause effective removal of all urge and frustration rooted in this world…!!!
2: Only if and when a Noble Friend dwells observing any Feeling –from within or from without– simply as an affective emotional reaction, as an assigned response, only as a fleeting sensation, while being keen, fully conscious and continuously attentive, then will he thereby consequently eliminate all desire and discontent caused simply by being in and contacting this world…!!!
3: Only if and when a Noble Friend abides viewing any Mood –present or remote- simply as a fancy temper, just as a made up mentality, only as a conscious moment, while being ready, actively investigating and deliberately discriminating, then will he thereby naturally eradicate all longing and sadness inherent in this world…!!!
4: Only if and when a Friend lives interpreting any Phenomenon –internal or external – simply as a passing mental state, just as a mentally created and conditioned construct, only as an experienced appearance, merely as a created imaginary reflected imprint, while being acutely awake, mindful and carefully understanding, then will he thereby overcome all attraction and repulsion entrenched and ingrained in this world…!!!
Without any even single exception: Whoever in the distant and ancient past has Awakened to full Enlightenment; Whoever in the present, right now is Awakening to complete Enlightenment; Whoever in the near and far future will Awaken to perfect Enlightenment; All those have been freed, is being freed, and will be freed only through and by: Initiating, Cultivating & Establishing these unique 4 Foundations of Awareness! The single and sole cause of really Being Mentally Present …!!!
The Blessed Buddha once noted: It is by clinging, friends, that the notion: 'I am' occurs, not without clinging! And by clinging to what does the notion: 'I am' occur, not without clinging? It is by clinging to form, to feeling, to perception, to mental constructions, & to consciousness that the notion: 'I am' occurs, and not without this clinging! Suppose, friends, a young woman, or a young man, fond of fashion & jewelry, would examine her own facial image in a mirror or in a bowl filled with pure, clear, clean water: She would look at it with clinging, not without clinging... Even and exactly so too, it is by clinging to form, to feeling, to perception, to mental constructions, & to consciousness that the notion: 'I am' occurs! It is not without this subconscious, quite detrimental, deep and rigid clinging! Clinging to what is impermanent, transient and prone to decay is very painful.. What is changing & painful cannot be 'Mine', nor 'What I Am', nor 'My Self'! Understanding this, the intelligent Noble disciple is disgusted with all forms, all feelings, all perceptions, all mental constructions, and every consciousness. Being disgusted induces disillusion. This disillusion launches into mental release! When released, then mind becomes unagitated! By being entirely imperturbable one attains Awakening right there and then, and one instantly understands: This mind is irreversibly freed! Rebirth is ended, this Noble Life is concluded, done is what should be done, there is no state of being after or beyond this...
Comments: Let's take a closer look at the seemingly self-evident statement "I Am"... There are two components: An "I" and an "Am"... Which is the wrong here? The "Am" part designating existence cannot be denied. This "existence" is however neither static, nor being of an entity, nor presence of an "I"...! What is it then that "Ams"=IS? It is just these 5 dynamic & ever-changing processes (& not entities!): Of form, feeling, perception, construction and consciousness, that arise and cease according to their conditioned causes! What is it then, that have a form, a body to be seen there in the mirror? It is the process of form itself, that has this frame of appearance... What is it then, that feels pleasure, pain and neutral feeling? It is the process of feeling itself, that feels pleasure, pain and neither! What is it then, that perceives, that experiences, if it is not "Me"? It is the process of perception itself, that perceives various 'objects'! What is it then, that constructs, intends, plans, & hopes, if it is not "I"? It is the process of mental construction itself, that creates tendencies! What is it then, that is conscious, if it is not "myself", "my ego or soul"? It is the process of consciousness itself, that arises & ceases ever again... Nothing else......, than these ownerless conditions, these selfless states, these coreless phenomena without independent substance, is ever there!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Just as dawn is the forerunner and the precursor of the rising of the Sun, exactly so is good and Noble friendship for any disciple the forerunner and the precursor of the mental emergence of the Seven Links to Awakening! When a Bhikkhu has a good and Noble friend, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate these 7 Links to Awakening. And how does a Bhikkhu who has a good & Noble friend develop & cultivate these 7 Links to Awakening? Here, friends, this Bhikkhu trains, develops, deepens, reinforces and refines: 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 Tranquillity Link to Awakening: passaddhi-sambojjhanga. 6: The Concentration Link to Awakening: samadhi-sambojjhanga. 7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening: upekkha-sambojjhanga. based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing of craving, and culminating in release! It is in exactly in this way that any Bhikkhu, who has a good and Noble Friend, truly trains, grows, intensifies, reinforces & refines the 7 Links to Awakening...
All health ends in sickness, all youth ends in ageing, all life ends in assured death! All world existence begins with birth, is haunted by ageing, surprised by sickness, and struck down by death, often in a state of desperate panic and frantic fear... As though if huge mountains made of rock so vast that they reach up into the sky, were to attack from every side, grinding & crunching beneath them all that lives, so indeed do Ageing and Death roll over all beings, whether gods, kings, warriors, priests, merchants, craftsmen, poor, or animals, crushing all beings, sparing none! And neither armies, nor guards, nor medicines, nor spells, or riches, can even delay them by a single second! (SN I 102 ). Death should thus be remembered as the ruin of success by seeing it as death's final & unavoidable wrecking any life's success! Vism I 232
The Blessed Buddha once explained the means and method to escape pain: One should respect an intelligent one, from whom one can learn the Dhamma, just as the deities respect & honour their divine god Indra. Then with clear and elevated mind, he will reveal the Dhamma to one, when he is respected! If anyone cultivates such a great man carefully, making it his aim to listen and learn attentively, entering upon the Dhamma, and upon what conforms with the Dhamma, then his understanding will become intelligent and subtle! However, if one associates with the petty & envious fool, who has no direct experience of the aim, then one will die still pestered by perplexing doubts! Since how can a man, who has been dragged down into a swift-flowing river, who is been carried along with the current, ever help any others to cross? Similarly, how can one who has not learned the Dhamma, & has not listened to the explanations given by the learned ones, who is ignorant of it himself, and has not overcome doubt, help others to realize the stainless certainty? Just as one embarking upon a strong boat, with well build oars and rudder, could bring many others across there, being clever, considerate, knowing well how to do it. In exactly the same way can one, who is self-developed, who understands, who is learned and imperturbable make others realize it, if they have got the capacity to understand, and the willingness to listen... Therefore should one cultivate only a good man, who is clever and learned! Understanding the meaning, walking the Way by knowing the true Dhamma, one will thereby plunge into happiness...Sn 316-323
The Boat of Dhamma ferries beings across suffering to Happiness!
The True Dhamma Makes U Safe! The Buddha-Dhamma is a Torch , since it guides beings through the Darkness! The Buddha-Dhamma is a Boat , since it brings beings across to the far Shore! The Buddha-Dhamma is a Mirror , since it shows beings, how they Actually are! The Buddha-Dhamma is a Medicine , since it cures beings from deep Diseases!
The Blessed Gotama Buddha once explained: Bhikkhus & friends, see this little dust, I have taken up upon the nail of my little-finger, what do you think is most: This tiny dust or this great planet Earth? The Bhikkhus then responded: Venerable Sir, this great planet Earth is much more, incomparable more... The minute speck of dust is trifling, microscopic, negligible in comparison. The Blessed Gotama Buddha then succinctly and importantly pointed out: Similarly and exactly so too, Bhikkhus & friends, those beings are few and quite rare, who are reborn among humans or devas! Beings who are reborn elsewhere, lower, as non-humans, in the screaming hell, as scared animals, as hungry ghosts, or as angry demons are much more numerous and common... Why is it so? Because: Few are those beings who avoid destruction of life, who avoid all killing... Few are those beings who avoid mutilating, murder, robbery, and violence... Few are those beings who avoid taking what is not given by not stealing... Few are those beings who avoid using false weights, cheating with papers... Few are those beings who avoid being crooked by bribery, deceit, & fraud... Few are those beings who avoid sexual misconduct and all forms of abuse... Few are those beings who avoid booze and drugs making careless & negligent... Few are those beings who avoid false lying, pretending and double-dealing... Few are those beings who avoid divisive speech, slandering and defamation... Few are those beings who avoid harsh and aggressive scolding and blaming... Few are those beings who avoid idle chatter, gossiping, and empty hear-say... Few are those beings who avoid damaging the nature, seeds and plant life... Few are those beings who respect father, mother, elders, and recluses... Few are those beings who possess the Noble Eye of Dhamma-Understanding! But those beings, who are immersed in ignorance, are much more numerous! Why is it so? Because, Bhikkhus, they have not yet seen the 4 Noble Truths! What four? This is Suffering; Craving is the Cause of all this Suffering; No Craving is the End of Suffering; The Noble 8-fold Way Ends all Suffering, Therefore, Bhikkhus & friends, exertion should be made Now to understand: All This is Suffering; This Greedy Craving is the sole Cause of all Suffering; No Craving is the End of Suffering; The Noble 8-fold Way Ends all Suffering, Therefore should effort to fathom these 4 Noble Truths be made now!
Comments
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Kamma and Fruit = Action and Reaction!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Beings are owners of their actions (kamma = karma), inheritor of
their actions, are created by their actions, linked to their actions,
their actions produce their destiny. Whatever actions they do;
good as evil, the resulting reaction and effect will be only theirs!
There is one who kills living beings, steals what belongs to others,
commits adultery with other's partners; speaks lies, uses divisive
and aggressive speech, prattle empty gossip; is covetous, envious,
jealous, wicked-minded, & of evil views. Such one is creeping in all
actions both bodily, verbal, and mental. Hidden & secret are such
one's actions, words, & thoughts, of ulterior & concealed motives.
But I tell you: Whoever pursues hidden ways and objects will have
to expect one of these two results: Either the torture of hell, or
birth among the creeping animals. Thus is it with all rebirth of any
being: They will be reborn according to their actions (kamma)...
When reborn, they experience the exact effects of their actions.
Therefore I declare: Beings are owners of their actions (kamma),
inheritor of their actions, are created by their actions, linked to
their actions, as a shadow that never leaves! Their actions produce
and condition their future destiny. Whatever action they perform;
good as evil, the resulting reaction and effects will be only theirs!
Kamma causes and creates rebirth! A shadow that never leaves!
Source:
Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 10:205
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm
For details on the mechanics of Kamma = Intentional Action see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_is_intention.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Buddha_on_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Inevitable_Consequences.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_dilutes_Evil_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_short_&_long_life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Health_&_Sickness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Low_or_High_Birth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Wealth_or_Poverty.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Beauty_&_Ugliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Effect_of_Action_(kamma)_is_Delayed.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Power_or_Disrespect.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Evil_Kamma_enhances_other_Evil_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_enhances_other_Good_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Stupidity_or_Intelligence.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Every Secret has a Price...
Kamma + Fruit = Action + Reaction = Cause + Effect!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Kamma_and_Fruit.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Exceptionally Rare is the arising of the Links to Awakening!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, the exquisitely refined & sophisticated 7 Links to Awakening do
never arise apart from the appearance of a Well-Come-Well-Gone One,
an Arahat, a Perfectly Self-Enlightened Buddha! They never emerge outside
the discipline of a thus Happy & Successful One! Which seven?
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 Tranquillity Link to Awakening: passaddhi-sambojjhanga.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening: samadhi-sambojjhanga.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening: upekkha-sambojjhanga.
These uniquely advanced, delicate & intricate Seven Factors of Awakening
do never emerge other than after the arrival of a Tathagata, an Arahat,
a Perfectly Self-Enlightened Buddha! They never emerge outside the
discipline of a Fortunate One!
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/Unsurpassable_Seven.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
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 77] section 46: The Links. 9+10: Arising...
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Rare Emergence...
The 7 Links to Awakening do rarely arise!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rare_Emergence.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Disentangling both the inner and the outer Knot:
The Blessed Buddha once said:
When a wise man well established in moral purity,
Develops his mind and his understanding,
Then as Bhikkhu, earnest and intelligent,
He disentangles this entangled knot...
SN I 13
Just as a man standing firm on the ground and taking up a well-sharpened
sword might disentangle a great mesh of bamboos, so too, does this Bhikkhu
possessing 4 things: Morality, Concentration, Energy, and Understanding cut
away the maze of mess and demolish all the labyrinthine snarls of confusion!
Vism I 4
Disentangling from the world by withdrawal unravels the outer complication...
Disentangling from name-&-form, body and mind, releases the inner intricacy...
Thus freed from fermentations of all what is physical and all what is mental,
one disengages & detaches from this enmeshed, ensnaring & perplexing puzzle!
On Detachment:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Final_Fundamental_Freedom.htm
Have a nice unfoiled day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Disentangling the Knot...
Detaching brings Freedom!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Disentangling.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
The 7 Links to Awakening develop Sequentially!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/sequential_access.jpg
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Whenever withdrawn in body and withdrawn in mind one reflects on the
Buddha-Dhamma, then the Awareness Link to Awakening arises and develops.
Thus acutely aware one examines that!
Whenever examining a mind state, then the Investigation Link to Awakening
arises and develops. While thus being curious & enthusiastically investigating,
keen energy is aroused!
Whenever energy is aroused in one who is enthusiastic, then the Energy Link
to Awakening arises and develops. While energetic & enthusiastic one succeeds:
Therefore Joy is born!
Whenever succeeding in eager joy, then the Joy Link to Awakening arises and
develops. One thus joyous becomes mentally satisfied and therefore calmed
both in body and in mind!
Whenever calmed in body and mind, then the Tranquillity Link to Awakening
arises & develops. One thus satisfied, calmed, serene, settled and tranquil in
both body and mind becomes Happy!
Whenever calmed & comfortable in the body and tranquil & happy in the mind,
then the Concentration Link to Awakening arises and develops. When mentally
concentrated one reviews all states rationally & reasonably as if from above!
Whenever one well balanced reviews all mental states rationally & reasonably,
then the Equanimity Link to Awakening arises and develops. In Equanimity one
knows and sees things right as they really are and later become.
It is in this very way that The Seven Links to Awakening develop sequentially,
one after the other; successively one leading to, and producing the next...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/Sequential_7.png
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/sequential-blue.jpg
On these 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/Unsurpassable_Seven.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
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/sequential_wall.jpg
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 67-69] section 46: The Links.3: Morality....
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/buddha-1bw.jpg
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The Sequential Seven!
Successively one leading to, and producing the next...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Sequential_Seven.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
How is the Mental Release by Mutual Joy?
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
How is the release of mind by infinite mutual joy (Mudita) achieved?
What does this liberation have as its destination, what is its culmination,
what is its sweet fruit, and what is the ultimate goal of mental release
by universally mutual, unselfish, altruistic, appreciative & rejoicing joy?
Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu dwells pervading the frontal quadrant with a
mind imbued with infinite mutual joy, so the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quadrant.
As above, so below, across, and everywhere to all beings as for himself,
he dwells pervading the entire cosmos with a mind fully saturated with
unlimited mutual joy, immense, exalted, measureless, without hostility,
without any enmity, without any trace of ill will, of jealousy or of envy!
Thus prepared and mentally quite expanded, he then develops:
1: The Awareness Link to Awakening joined with limitless mutual joy.
2: The Investigation Link to Awakening fused with such mutual joy.
3: The Energy Link to Awakening together with infinite mutual joy.
4: The Joy Link to Awakening accompanied with absolute mutual joy.
5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening linked with noble mutual joy.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening associated with mutual joy.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening joined with endless mutual joy.
Based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and culminating in release...
If he then wishes:
May I dwell experiencing repulsion by any attractive & tempting object,
then he can dwell experiencing repulsiveness therein. If he wishes: May I
dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in any disgusting and repulsive object,
then he experiences pleasing beauty in whatever disgusting & ugly thing!
If he wishes: Avoiding both the repulsive & the unrepulsive, may I dwell
in equanimity, just aware & clearly comprehending, then he experiences
equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending! When meditating he
can completely transcend the realm of infinitude of space, only aware
that consciousness is infinite, he can enter and dwell in the sphere of the
infinitude of consciousness.. I tell you Bhikkhus for a quite wise Bhikkhu
here, who has not yet penetrated to an even more superior mental release,
the mental release by infinite, altruistic and mutual joy has the sphere of
the infinitude of consciousness as its culmination!
More on Mutual Joy (Mudita):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/brahma_vihaara.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Wrong.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
Comments: Are you Discontent? Here is Why!
Mutual joy is the proximate cause of contentment.
Consequentially: Lack of mutual joy produces frustrated discontent!
Mutual joy also eliminates jealousy and envy! Absence of mutual joy
therefore induces the acid like mental pain called envy and jealousy!
Source of reference (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 115-21] 46: The Links. 54: Joined by Friendliness...
Rejoice!
Mutual joy is the cause of contentment!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Purity of Virtue is the root of Perfection!
His virtue is immaculate. His wearing the bowl and robe pleases and inspires trust.
His going forth will bear its fruit. A pure Bhikkhu never fears that self-reproach
will obsess and consume his mind, since there is indeed no darkness inside the sun...
A Bhikkhu of bright virtue shines forth even in the forest of reclusive ascetics,
by the radiance of his past deeds, just like the moon lights up the clear night sky...
Now if the body smell of pure Bhikkhus can succeed in pleasing even the deities,
what then of the perfume of their virtue? It is a far more splendid scent than all
the other perfumes in the world, because the fragrance of pure morality spreads
unhindered in all directions! The favours done for a pure & virtuous one, even when
only few, will bear great fruit! The pure one thus becomes a fountain of advantage!
No fetid fermentations plagues a virtuous one, since his pure behaviour digged out
the root of future suffering in lives to come. Excellence among humans & also even
among deities, if longed for, is not hard to gain for one whose morality is perfected!
However, when ethics is fully perfected, then mind seeks only the supreme Nibbana:
The state where utterly pure peace prevails! Such is the blessed fruit of clean virtue,
ethics, rectitude, goodness, integrity, righteousness, and high-mindedness: It awards
fulfilment, so let a wise one know it well: This root of all the branches of perfection!
More on Virtue (Sila):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Happy_Habbit.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Virtue.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Best_Protection.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Mighty_is_Morality.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Five_Basics.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
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_V.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_1.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_3.htm
Have a nice pure and virtuous day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Purity means Integrity...
Immaculate Virtue is the Root of Perfection!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/immaculate_virtue.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Remote & Solitary is Forest Bliss!
The forest bhikkhu pays much attention to the experience of forest.
Thereby he enters deeper yet unattained depths of concentration.
By living remote he is not distracted by any unsuitable phenomena.
He is free from anxiety and stress. He abandons attachment to life.
He enjoys a taste of the bliss of seclusion, and the silenced peace.
He lives secluded and apart. Calm and remote abodes delight his heart.
The hermit that in woods can dwell alone, may gain the bliss as well.
Whose savour is beyond the price of royal bliss even in any paradise.
So let the forest delight a wise man for his precious dwelling's site.
Sources: MN 121, AN III 343, Vism I 73
ALONE
The one who sits and lives solitary,
& walks alone finds great delight
in the silence of the forest...
Dhammapada 305
SUCH ONE
The One wearing only 3 robes,
who is thin with veins showing,
who meditates alone in the forest,
such one is a Holy One...
Dhammapada 395
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Forest_Bliss.htm
Have a nice day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The Bliss of the Forest!
Sweet, Calm and Silent is Forest Bliss...
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/forest_bliss.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Sariputta explains the 7 Links to Awakening!
Venerable Sariputta once said: Friends!
Friend; the Bhikkhus replied. Venerable Sariputta then explained this:
Friends, there are these Seven Links to Awakening. What seven?
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 Tranquillity Link to Awakening: passaddhi-sambojjhanga.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening: samadhi-sambojjhanga.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening: upekkha-sambojjhanga.
These are the Seven Links to Awakening!
In whichever of these 7 Links to Awakening, I wish to dwell in the morning,
in that I abide in the morning; in whichever I wish to dwell at noon, in that
I abide at noon; in whichever I wish to dwell in the evening, in that I abide
in the evening... Suppose a king or a minister had a cupboard full of clothes
of many various colours, then whichever pair of clothes he wished to put on
in the morning, that he would put on in the morning; whichever clothes he
wished to put on at noon, that he would put on at noon; & whichever clothes
he wished to put on in the evening, that he would put on in the evening: so too,
in whichever of these 7 Links to Awakening, I wish to abide in for whatever
period, in that indeed I easily abide dwelling fully absorbed by that aspect...
If it occurs to me that now there is The Awareness Link to Awakening present
in me, then it occurs to me that it is measureless, & it occurs to me that it is
well established; and while it is remaining I know that it remains; and if it falls
away in me, then I know instantly that it faded away caused by this or that
specific condition or definable circumstance! So too with the other six links
to awakening. I notice and know both their presence, ceasing and absence!
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/Unsurpassable_Seven.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
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 70-1] section 46: The Links.4: The Clothes...
The Clothes...
Dressing yourself in Mental Quality!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Clothes.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
How are the 7 Links leading to Awakening?
Venerable Sariputta once explained:
They conduce and lead to the state of enlightenment; in this sense are they
links to awakening! They are in, of and by themselves enlightening; also in
this sense are they indeed links to awakening!
Establishing as the meaning of Awareness has to be directly experienced.
Examination as the meaning of Investigation has to be directly experienced.
Exertion of Effort as the meaning of Energy has to be directly experienced.
Intense Contentment as the meaning of Joy has to be directly experienced.
Stilled Peace as the meaning of Tranquillity has to be directly experienced.
Non-Distraction as the meaning of Concentration has to be directly experienced.
Even Ballance as the meaning of Equanimity has to be directly experienced.
They are enlightening as a root, thus are they links to awakening.
They are enlightening as a cause, thus are they links to awakening.
They are enlightening as a requisite, thus are they links to awakening.
They are enlightening as a purification, thus are they links to awakening.
They are enlightening as blamelessness, thus are they links to awakening.
They are enlightening as withdrawal exit, thus are they links to awakening.
They are enlightening as delivering freedom, thus are they links to awakening.
They are enlightening as lack of fermentation, thus are they links to awakening.
They are enlightening as silent solitary seclusion, thus are they links to awakening.
They are enlightening as a releasing relinquishment, thus are they links to awakening.
On these 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/Unsurpassable_Seven.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
Source (edited extract): Sariputta
Path of Discrimination: Patisambhidamagga.
Treatise on the Links to Awakening XIII.
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
How do 7 states cause Enlightenment?
The Meaning of the 7 link tyo Awakening:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Meaning_of_the-7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Sincere Motivation, Dedication and Determination!
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for non-greed sees the danger in all greed...
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for non-hate recognizes the error in all hate.
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for understanding realizes a fault in ignorance.
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for renunciation knows the pain of house life.
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for seclusion perceives the stress of society.
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for release comprehends the wrong in clinging.
Any well motivated Buddhist inclined for awakening is dedicated to ending rebirth!
The degree of whole-hearted sincerity, dedication and resolute determination does
indeed determine the remaining time in Samsara before finally reaching Nibbana...
More on this crucial issue of Motivation:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Samsara.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Signless_Nibbana.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Motivation.htm
Have a nice well motivated day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Sincere Motivation!
Dedication enhances Determination!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Sincere_Motivation.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
Inclining, sloping, bending and falling towards Enlightenment!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, just as all the rafters in a peaked house slant, slant, slope, tilt, tend,
incline & veer towards the roof peak, even so, when a bhikkhu begin to develop
and cultivate the Seven Links to Awakening, then he indeed slants, slopes, tilts,
tends, inclines & veers towards Nibbana... Why and how is this convergence so?
When, friends, a Bhikkhu trains, develops, expands, consolidates and refines:
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 Tranquillity Link to Awakening: passaddhi-sambojjhanga.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening: samadhi-sambojjhanga.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening: upekkha-sambojjhanga.
based upon seclusion, disillusion, and ceasing, maturing & culminating in release,
then these 7 Links to Awakening and the repeated training of them, in and by
themselves, make him slant, slope, tilt, tend, veer and incline towards Nibbana...
On these 7 Links to Awakening (Sambojjhanga):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Sun.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/Unsurpassable_Seven.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
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
[V: 75-6] section 46: The Links. 7: The Peaked House....
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The Peak!
Doing right leads upwards...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Peak.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
How to be a Real True Buddhist through Observance?
This Esala Poya day is the full-moon of July, which is noteworthy since on this celebrated day:
1: The Blessed Buddha preached his First Sermon: The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta.
2: The Bodhisatta was conceived in Queen Maya who dreamt a white elephant entered her side.
3: The Blessed Buddha made the Great Withdrawal from the world at the age of 29 years.
4: The Blessed Buddha performed the Twin Miracle (yamaka-patihariya) of dual appearance.
5: The Blessed Buddha explained the Abhi-Dhamma in the Tavatimsa heaven to his mother.
6: The ordination of Prince Arittha at Anuradhapura, under Arahat Mahinda on Sri Lanka.
7: The foundation of the celebrated Mahastupa & enshrinement of relics by King Dutugemunu.
8: The next day the yearly 3 months rains retreat (vassa) of Buddhist Bhikkhus start.
The Buddha performing the Twin Miracle of simultaneously producing water & flames from his body.
On such Uposatha Observance days:
Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes
the Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed,
with clean bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue,
and bows first three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees and
head touch the floor. Then, with joined palms in front of the heart,
one recite these memorized lines in a loud, calm & steady voice:
As long as this life lasts:
I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
I request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
I request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd …
I request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.
I will respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!
I accept to respect & undertake these 5 training rules:
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs.
As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...
Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's own
eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much better
than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to this world!
This is the very start on the path towards Nibbana -the Deathless Element-
This is the Noble Way to Peace, to Freedom, to Bliss, initiated by Morality,
developed further by Dhamma-Study and fulfilled by training of Meditation...
Today indeed is Pooya or Uposatha or observance day, where any lay Buddhist
normally keeps the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the next dawn...
If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha, they may simply
forward the lines starting with "I..." signed with name, date, town & country
to me or join here. A public list of this new Saddhamma-Sangha is here!
The New Noble Community of Disciples: The Saddhamma Sangha:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm
Can quite advantageously be Joined Here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm
May your journey hereby be eased, light, swift and sweet. Never give up !!!
Bhikkhu Samahita: what.buddha.said@gmail.com
For Details on Uposatha Observance Days
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.htm
Friendship is the Greatest
Bhikkhu Samahita Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net">
Today Esala Full-Moon Poya day!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Esala_Poya_Day.htm
If glad-2-get Early Buddhism by e-mail including pictures
and embedded links (recommended) then click subscribe here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Have a nice, noble and easy day!
Bhikkhu Samahita :-)
The 10 Tricks in the Art of Jhãna Concentration:
1: Making the basis pure: Means clean body, clean room and clean morality.
2: Balanced abilities = Energy equals concentration. Faith equals understanding.
3: Skill in the sign: Any moment of absorption is remembered exactly for recollection.
4: One exerts the mind on all occasions, it advantageously should be pushed forth.
5: One controls the mind on all occasions, it advantageously should be held back.
6: One encourages mind on occasions it advantageously should be incited and cheered.
7: One observes the mind with calm equanimity, when things proceed appropriately.
8: One avoids all distracted, agitated, frantic, unconcentrated, and stressed persons.
9: One cultivates company with well focused, determined and concentrated persons.
10: One is resolutely determined upon that absorption level of jhana concentration.
Vism I 128.
More on this penetrating and thrilling absorption Concentration (Samadhi):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Samma-Samadhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Jhana_Absorption.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Concentration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Concentration_Samadhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_Beyond_This_World.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Concentration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Concentration_Ability.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Requisites_for_Jhana_Absorption.htm
Have a nice well focused day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The Art of Absorption!
The 7 Fruits of the 7 Links to Awakening!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, when the 7 Links to Awakening have been developed, completed
and refined, the winning of the seven fruits is indeed to be expected.
What are the benefits of these 7 fruits?
They are, either:
1: One attains final knowledge early in this very life. Or:
2: One attains final knowledge at the moment of death. Or:
Having destroyed the five lower chains and spontaneously re-arisen;
3: One attains Nibbana in the first half of the life as a divine brahma. Or:
4: One attains Nibbana in the second half of the life in these pure abodes. Or:
5: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner without effort. Or:
6: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner with some effort. Or:
7: One is bound upstream, surely heading towards the highest Akanittha realm.
When, bhikkhus, these Seven Links to Awakening have been thoroughly developed
and cultivated exactly in this way, these seven fruits & benefits may be expected....
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/Unsurpassable_Seven.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
On the 31 Planes of Existence:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:69-70] section 46: The Links.
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The 7 Fruits!
Winning a Transcendental Victory...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Fruits.htm
The Body is a bone-frame plastered with fat and skin:
The body's nature: 300 bones, jointed by 180 joints, sewn into a chain by 900 sinews,
plastered over with pieces of flesh, enveloped by inner membrane, fat and outer skin,
with 9 openings constantly dribbling and trickling with tears, snot, saliva, slime, urine
and excrement. Its bowels are inhabited by many fold bacteria, parasites and worms,
the home of disease, the source of painful states, perpetually oozing from the nine
orifices like a chronic open boil, and from thousands skin pores the stale sweat seeps,
with bluebottles and their like buzzing round it, which when untended with tooth brush,
washing, shaving, bathing, underclothing and dressing up looks just like a living corpse!
In its natural wild then a body is a stinking nauseating repulsiveness, but by concealing
its private parts under several cloths, by daubing it with various perfumes and salves,
by pranking it with jewellery, it is faked up into a state being mistaken as 'I' & 'mine'!
So men delight in women, and women in men, without perceiving the true nature of this
body's characteristic foulness, now masked by this adventitious adornment. But in the
ultimate sense, there is no place on any body even the size of an atom fit to lust after!
Comically we loove the whole of this 'our precious temple, but when any such bits of it
as head hairs, body hairs, nails, teeth, spittle, snot, excrement or urine have dropped
off the body, then beings will not touch them! Though somewhat absurd, they are now
ashamed, humiliated & disgusted with exactly the same matter as they adored before!
But as long as any one of these disgusting things remains inside the body, though it is
just as repulsive when inside, they take this body as agreeable, desirable, permanent,
pleasant, & 'my beautiful self', since they are wrapped in the murk of ignorance and
dyed with unseen and unrecognised affective greed for a physical self... Vism I 196
More on this seeing this body (Kaya) as it really is: A foul frame of bones & flesch:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Skeleton.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_32_Parts.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Evil-smelling_body.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Corpse_Meditation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Body_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Body_as_only_Form.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_9_Corpse_Meditations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Immersing_the_Body_in_the_Mind.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Meditation_On_the_Body_Kayagata-Sati.htm
Have a nice noticing day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Foul Flesh Frame!
Sweet is Verbal, Bodily & Mental Silence!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Kayamunim vacamunim,
manomunimanasavam,
munim moneyyasampannam.
Ahu ninhatapapakam.
Silenced in body, silenced in speech,
silenced in mind, without inner noise,
blessed with silence is the sage!
He is truly washed of all evil...
Itivuttaka 3.67
Calm is his mind.
Calm is his speech.
Calm is his action.
So is the tranquillity;
So is the serenity;
of one freed by the insight
of right understanding...
Dhammapada 96
More on Mental Tranquillity:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Tranquillity_Passaddhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Tranquillity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Tranquil_One.htm
Have a nice calm day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Silenced!
Contemplating the Qualities of the Buddha:
Worthy, honourable and perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha!
Consummated in knowledge and behaviour, totally transcended,
expert in all dimensions, knower of all worlds, unsurpassable
trainer of those who can be tamed, both teacher and guide of gods
as well as of humans, blessed, exalted, awakened and enlightened
is the Buddha!!!
When a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of the Buddha, he is
respectful and deferential towards the Master. He attains fullness
of faith, awareness, understanding and merit. He has much happiness
and gladness. He conquers fear and dread. He is able to endure pain.
He comes to feel as if he were living in the Master's presence...!
And his body, when dwelling in he recollection of the Buddha's special
qualities, becomes as worthy of veneration, just like as a shrine room.
His mind tends towards the plane of the Buddhas. When he encounters
an opportunity for transgression, he has acute awareness of conscience
and shame as vivid as though he were face to face with the Master.
If he penetrates no higher, he is at least headed for a happy destiny.
Now when a man is truly wise,
His constant task will surely be
This recollection of the Buddha
Blessed with such mighty potency.
Vism I 213
Remembering these perfectly Well Gone Ones (Samma-SamBuddha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/buddha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Three_Jewels.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddha_Contemplation.htm
Have a nice remembering day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The Safe Zone...
As if in the Master's Presence!
Contemplating the Qualities of the Dhamma:
Perfectly formulated is this Buddha-Dhamma, visible right here and now,
immediately effective, timeless, inviting each & everyone to come and see
for themselves, inspect, examine and verify. Leading each and everyone
through progress towards perfection. Directly observable, experienceable
and realizable by each intelligence...
When a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of the Dhamma, he thinks:
I never in the past met a master, who taught a law that led onward thus,
who possessed this talent, nor do I now see any such a master other than
the Blessed One. Seeing the Dhamma's special qualities in this very way,
he is respectful and deferential towards the Master. He entertains great
reverence for the Dhamma and attains the fullness of faith and insight.
He has much happiness and gladness. He conquers fear and dread.
He is able to endure pain. He comes to feel as if he were living in the
Dhamma's presence. When recollecting the Dhamma's special qualities,
dwelling in this remembrance, his body becomes as worthy of worship
as a shrine room. His mind tends towards the realization of the peerless
Dhamma. When he encounters an opportunity for transgression, then he
has vivid awareness of conscience and shame induced by recollecting the
well-regulatedness of the Dhamma. And if he penetrates no higher, he is
at least headed for a happy destiny...
Now when a man is truly wise,
His constant task will surely be,
This recollection of the Dhamma,
Blessed with such mighty potency!
Vism I 218
The blessed Buddha said:
Sabbadanam dhammadanam jinati;
Sabbarasam dhammaraso jinati;
Sabbaratim dhammarati jinati;
Tanhakkhayo sabbadukkham jinati.
THE SUPREME GIFT
The gift of Dhamma surpasses all other gifts.
The taste of Truth excels all other tastes.
The joy of Understanding exceeds all other joys.
The Elimination of craving overcomes and quenches
all ill, all pain, all sorrow, and all suffering ...
Dhammapada 354
Remembering this perfect ever returning Dhamma Doctrine:
http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Dhamma
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Three_Jewels.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/dhamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Dhamma_Contemplation.htm
In the Dhamma's Presence!
The Joy of Understanding exceeds all other Joys. :-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dhamma_Presence.htm
Contemplating the Unique Qualities of the Sangha:
Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples!
Training the right way, the true way, the good way, the direct way! Therefore do
these eight kinds of individuals, these four Noble pairs, deserve both gifts, sacrifice,
offerings, hospitality & reverential salutation with joined palms, since this Noble Sangha
community of the Buddha's Noble disciples, is an unsurpassable and forever unsurpassed
field of merit, in this world, for this world, to honour, support, respect and protect...
The blessed Buddha said:
As long as he recollects these special qualities of the Sangha in this way, defined
as 'having entered on the good way', then: On that occasion his mind cannot be
obsessed by greed, or obsessed by hate, or obsessed by delusion; his mind possess
an unassailable integrity, when being inspired by this Noble Sangha (AN III 286).
When a bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of the Community, he is respectful
and deferential towards the Community. He attains fullness of faith! He has much
happiness and bliss. He conquers fear & dread. He is able to endure pain. He feels
as if he were living in the Sangha's presence. When dwelling in the recollection of
the Sangha's special qualities his body becomes indeed as worthy of veneration as
an Uposatha house, where the Sangha has met. His mind inclines only towards the
attainment of this Community's special qualities. Furthermore: When he encounters
an opportunity for transgression, he has awareness of conscience and shame as vivid
as if he were face to face with the elder Theras of the Noble Sangha. And if he can
penetrate no higher, he is at least headed for a happy destiny. Vism I 221
Now when a man is truly wise,
His constant task will surely be,
This recollection of the Sangha,
Blessed with such mighty potency!
Vism I 218
EMERGENCE OF HARMONY
Pleasant is the arising of a Buddha.
Pleasant is the teaching of the Dhamma.
Pleasant is peace and unity in the Sangha.
Pleasant is the harmony of those united therein.
Dhammapada 194
MEDITATION
Ever are the true disciples of the Buddha
well awake & quite aware. Constantly they
meditate both day and night on the Sangha.
Dhammapada 298
Remembering this Sangha Community of Disciples:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangha
http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Sangha
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Lay_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Divine_Refuge.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Three_Jewels.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/sangha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Refuges_and_Precepts.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sangha_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/ti_sarana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fullmoon_Observance_Day.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
In the Sangha's Presence!
The Community of Noble Disciples...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Sangha_Presence.htm
Freeing from Sense-Addiction are the Links to Awakening!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, I do not see even one other single thing that, when developed and
cultivated, leads to the elimination of the things that bind, so effectively &
quickly as these Seven Links to Awakening! What seven?
1: The Awareness Link to Awakening.
2: The Investigation Link to Awakening.
3: The Energy Link to Awakening.
4: The Joy Link to Awakening.
5: The Tranquillity to Awakening.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening.
How, Bhikkhus, are Seven Links to Awakening developed and refined so that
they lead to the giving up & letting go of those things that bind?
Here, when a Bhikkhu develops these seven links to awakening, joined with and
dependent upon seclusion, disillusion, and ceasing, culminating in release, then
these seven links to awakening, are refined and matured in a way, so that they
lead to the abandoning of the things that bind, grip, addict and obsess beings!
And what, Bhikkhus, are the things that bind, grip, addict and obsess all beings?
The eye, ear, nose, mouth, body, & mind are things that addict & obsess beings!
Form, sound, smell, taste, touch, & idea are things that addict & obsess beings!
Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and thinking bind, grip, addict and
obsess beings! These are called the things that bind, ensnares, entrap, enslaves,
enchain and consume beings...
On these 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/Unsurpassable_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/When_7_becomes_14.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
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 88-9] section 46: The Links. 29: One Thing...
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The 7 Links to Awakening!
Freeing from all addiction and obsession...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Links_to_Awakening.htm
Serene Equanimity promotes imperturbable Peace:
Equanimity just looks on and observes, while calmly settled in composed neutrality.
Equanimity is characterized as promoting the aspect of impartiality among beings.
Its function is to see the equality of all beings. It is manifested as the quieting of
both resentment and approval. Its proximate cause is seeing and comprehending
the ownership and efficacy of kamma thus: All beings are owners of their actions,
born, created and conditioned by the accumulated effect of their past intentions!
Whose, if not theirs, is the choice by which they have become happy, or unhappy,
or will break free from suffering, or have fallen down from their past good state?
Equanimity succeeds, when it makes both resentment and approval subside, and it
fails, when it instead produces a bored, indifferent, & careless state of negligence!
Vism I 318
Comments:
Non-involved and even Equanimity is a subtle form of happiness... By stabilization
it perfects and consummates all the other six links to awakening: Awareness,
Investigation, Energy, Joy and Concentration. Equanimity is the proximate cause
for knowing and seeing it, as it really is. Equanimity quenches any upset agitation!
When seeing and noting: 'All this is constructed, conditioned, coarse and transient!
But this state of serene equanimity is indeed exquisitely peaceful...', then instantly
ceases any arisen agreeable or nasty feeling, when Equanimity takes its stance
Power of Equanimity: Not much agitation, wavering or panic here!
Equanimity (Upekkha) is indeed a divine state and itself a link to Awakening!
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/The_7_Links_to_Awakening.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
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Even_is_Equanimity.htm
Have a nice serene day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Serene Equanimity...
Absence of Agitation means Zero Stress!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Serene_Equanimity.htm
The Joy (Pîti) Link to Awakening!
The Joy Link to Awakening (Piti-sambojjhanga) has the characteristic
of suffusing contentment, and the property of gladdening satisfaction.
This Joy Link to Awakening manifests as mental elation, which can reach
five successively increasing degrees of intensity:
1: Minor Joy, which can raise the hair on the body when thrilled.
2: Momentary Joy, which is flashing like lightning at various occasions.
3: Showering Joy, which breaks over the body repeatedly like sea-waves.
4: Uplifting Joy, which can be strong enough to even levitate the body.
5: Pervading Joy, which is like a heavy sponge all saturated with water.
Visuddhimagga IV 94-9
The Buddha once said: What mental fermentations (asava) should be
overcome by development? If a Bhikkhu by careful & rational attention
develops the Joy Link to Awakening based on seclusion, on disillusion,
on ceasing, & culminating in relinquishment, then neither can any mental
fermentation, nor any fever, or discontent ever arise in him. MN2 [i 11]
In one who has aroused enthusiastic energy, there arises a joy not of
this world & the Joy Link to Awakening emerges there. He develops it,
& for him it goes to the culmination of its development. MN118 [iii 85]
Any one convinced by understanding of Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha,
gets an enthusiastic sense of the sublime good goal of Nibbana &
gains gladness connected, joined, and fused with this Dhamma...!
In any one gladdened, Joy is born. The body of the Joyous is calmed.
One of calm body experiences pleasure and happiness! The mind of
one who is happy becomes concentrated. The concentrated mind
sees and knows things as they really are. This brings disgust and
disillusion, which enables full direct experience of mental release.
It is in this way that Joy indeed is a factor leading to Awakening!
MN [i 37-8], AN [iii 21-3], DN [iii 21-3]
Further inspirations on the elevating & ecstatic quality of Joy (Piti):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Happiness_of_the_Flesh_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_of_the_Flesch_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_Beyond_This_World.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Alert_Elevated_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Joy.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Joy is a link to Enlightenment!
Floated by Joy :-)
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/III/Joy_Piti.htm
Friendly Loving Kindness Beams, Blazes and Shines!
Metta is defined thus: Loving-Kindness has the mode of friendliness as characteristic.
Its natural function is to promote friendliness. It manifests as disappearance of ill-will.
Its source is seeing with kindness. When succeeding, then it eliminates all angry enmity.
When it fails, then it degenerates into egocentric lust and desire. It can be practiced
anywhere and at anytime, but ideally sitting cross-legged in a quiet secluded place and
then whole-heartedly wishing, first beaming it out in front, then to the right, then back,
then to the left and finally below and above in this very effective and exhaustive way:
May I be happy and free from suffering...
May I keep myself free from hostility, trouble and thereby live happily...
May I become happy in this way by repeated training of this excellent goodwill praxis...
Just as I want happiness, absence of pain, life and not death, so do all other beings!
Therefore: May all beings become thus happy...
May all breathing things become thus happy...
May all creatures become thus happy...
May all deities become thus happy...
May all human beings become thus happy...
May all who have form become thus happy...
May all the Noble and not Noble become thus happy...
May all those in the states of deprivation become thus happy...
By being freed from all enmity, distress & anxiety, may they thus guide themselves to bliss."
The blessed Buddha often pointed out:
Bhikkhus, whatever kinds of worldly merit there are, all are not worth one 16th part of the
release of mind by infinitely universal friendliness: In shining, beaming, glow & radiance the
release of mind by infinite, immeasurable and inexhaustible friendliness far excels them all!
Itivuttaka 27
More on Loving-Kindness (Metta):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unique_Unity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Blazing_Goodwill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Genuine_Goodwill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Universal_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Grace_of_Goodwill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
Source: BPS Wheel no 7:
The Practice of Loving-Kindness (Metta) as taught by the Buddha in the Pali Canon.
Compiled and translated by Ñanamoli Thera:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/wheel007.html
Have a nice ultra-friendly day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Friendly Kindness Beams, Blazes and Shines!
Infinite Loving-Kindness!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Loving-Kindness.htm
To whom should one give, to gain most Merit?
The gods became gods as a result of their giving!
The young brahman Magha once asked the Blessed Buddha:
When giving food, where would this offering be most purified for the donor?
The Blessed One answered: If any open-handed householder, a lordly giver,
Magha, seeking merit, looking for merit, sacrifices, giving food and drink to
others, such one would achieve most merit, if the recipient is pure and Noble.
Such, who indeed wander unattached in the world, having & wanting nothing,
fully accomplished, in complete self-control, upon them, at the right time one
should bestow an offering. Those who have cut all mental bonds and fetters,
who are tamed, completely released, without affliction, without desire, upon
them, at the right time, should one bestow an offering. Upon these purified &
Noble Ones should any brahman, who is looking for merit, place his sacrifice!
Sutta-Nipata verses 488-491 Edited excerpt.
Pure giving cut short: Give 2 those who don't want anything!
More on Giving (Dana) and Merit (Puñña), which is the main next life support:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/giving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/4_Goods.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Glad_Giving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/punna.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/caaga.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Kathina_Ceremony.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/daana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Reviewing_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Openhanded_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Generosity_Contemplation.htm
Giving is getting, since this kamma wealth, will be reflected back as a future echo :-)
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Giving is Future Getting!
Pure Merit!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Pure_Merit.htm
Cruelty, Mercilessness & Revengefulness are diluted Hate:
How to cure these evil derivatives of Cruelty:
1: Review the Danger in Cruelty like this:
This can bring me to a bad destination, the downfall, to pain, even to hell!
This is a path of thorns, an evil way, a dark state, conflict, violence, pain!
2: How does a friend dwell pervading all with his heart endued with pity?
Just as he would feel pity on seeing an unlucky, unfortunate person, so he
pervades all beings with infinite pity. Therefore first of all he imagines a
poor man, unlucky, unfortunate, in every way a fit object for pity, ugly,
reduced to utter misery, with hands and feet cut off, sitting in the shelter
for the helpless, with an empty pot in front of him, with maggots oozing
from sores on hands and legs, moaning, infinite pity should be felt for him
in this way: 'This being has been reduced to utter misery! If he just could
be freed from this misery...' Then later one can arouse the same pity and
compassion for a neutral person and later for even a wrong-doing person!
This is the complete mastery of pity: Compassion even with the Evil One!
3: All wrong doing is caused by blindness: A real pity for the wrong-doers!
All wrong-doers will thus suffer immensely in the future. How sad for them!
4: Begin and Cultivate meditation on Infinite pity:
Sit down a silent, empty place with closed eyes & beam this from the heart:
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating awareness of pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating examination of pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating energetic pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating joyous infinite pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating stilled infinite pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating concentrated pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating imperturbable pity.
Beaming first out in front, then right, left, down below and also up above:
May all beings live happily and free from suffering, pain and frustration.
May all beings be free from hate, cruelty, mercilessness & revengefulness!
One who is virtuous and wise
Shines like a blazing fire;
Like a bee collecting nectar
He acquires wealth by harming none!
Digha Nikaya III, 188
May all breathing creatures, all living things,
All beings, every one without exception,
Experience good fortune only!
May they not fall into harm.
Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
Solitude is happiness for one who is content,
Who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees.
Non-violence is happiness in the world
Harmlessness towards all living beings.
Udana 10
JOY
Oh let us live happily! Freed from all cruelty!
Living even among those, who always flames by hate!
Among those dominated by anger, let us live free from anger!
Dhammapada 197
Regarding Pity and Compassion (Karuna) see also:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Endless_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Karuna_is_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Wrong.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/harris/bl141.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Great_Compassion.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Compassionate_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Space_Compassion.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/anguttara/an05-161.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/anguttara/an06-013.html
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Mercy, Pity & Compassion Soften the Mind!
Cure your Cruelty!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Cure_Cruelty_and_Revengefulness.htm
How is the Ability of Faith Outstanding?
With the development of the Ability of Faith, Enthusiasm arises.
With the elimination of all Skeptical Doubt, Enthusiasm also arises,
With the fading of the frustration inherent in all Skeptical Doubt,
enthusiasm arises, with the eradication of all mental obstructions
linked with wrong view, enthusiasm arises, with the removal of the
gross mental obstructions, enthusiasm arises, with the dying out
of subtle mental obstructions, enthusiasm arises, with extinction
of all mental obstructions, enthusiasm arises as a Thunderbolt!!!
When via this hilarious and energetic Enthusiasm, gladness arises,
then the Ability of Faith is outstanding as Faith due to Gladness...
When through gladness, happiness arises, then the Ability of Faith
is outstanding as Faith due to Happiness...When through happiness,
tranquillity emerges, then the Ability of Faith is outstanding due to
calmed & stilled Tranquillity... When tranquil, sweet pleasure arises,
then the Faith Ability is quite outstanding as Faith due to Pleasure...
When through pleasure illumination arises, then the Ability of Faith
is outstanding as Faith due to Illumination... When through revealing
illumination a sense of urgency arises, then this single Faith Ability
is outstanding as Faith due to the acute and vivid Sense of Urgency...
When sensing urgency one concentrates the mind, then this Ability of
Faith is outstanding as Faith due to Concentration... When one now
thoroughly trains the mind thus concentrated, then this Ability of
Faith is outstanding as Faith due to Effort. When one looks on with
complete equanimity at mind thus wielded into solid focus, then the
Faith Ability is outstanding as Faith due to Equanimity. When as a
result of equanimity, mind is liberated from many kinds of mental
obstructions, then the Faith Ability is outstanding as Faith due to
Liberation. When mind is all liberated, this mentally unified state
come to have a single function and taste, then the Faith Ability is
outstanding as Faith due to development of single function & taste!
When mind is being cultivated and refined, it therefore turns away
to what is superior, namely towards Nibbana, then the Faith Ability
is outstanding as Faith due to Turning Away. Then, because of mind
remains turned away, one is now possessed of the Path! When one,
as a consequence, relinquishes both all mental obstructions and all
clusters of clinging, then the Faith Ability is outstanding as Faith
due to Relinquishment. When due to mental release, all the mental
obstructions and the clusters of clinging therefore cease with no
re-arising trace remaining, then the Ability of Faith is outstanding
as Faith due to Ceasing...
For further Faith (Saddha) please see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Buddha_on_Faith.htm
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/Highest_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leaping_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fruitful_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
Source: Sariputta - The General of the Dhamma -
The Canonical: Path of Discrimination: Patisambhidamagga. IV.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=133494
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Outstanding is Faith!
With the Ability of Faith, Enthusiasm arises :-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Outstanding_Faith.htm
What is the Cause of Contentment?
The blessed Buddha once said:
Contentment is the Highest Treasure!
Dhammapada 204
Solitude is happiness for one who is content,
Who understands & clearly sees the Dhamma.
Udana 10
What is the proximate cause of contentment?
Mutual joy with others success is the proximate cause of contentment...
Therefore: If one is always gladdened by other's success, one will always be content!
Therefore: If one is never gladdened by other's success, one will always be discontent!
Therefore is contentment caused by an altruistic mental state & not by external richness...
Example: Rich people possessing all the things they ever desired, can still be very discontent!
And vice versa: Poor people not having much, can still be very content and very much smiling!
Contentment even with almost nothing!
More on the Contentment:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Contentment.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Cause_of_Contentment.htm
How to cultivate mutual joy & thus increase contentment:
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
Have a nice content day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Calm and Content!
Contentment is the Highest Treasure!
If one is always gladdened by other's success, one will always be content!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Calm_and_Content.htm
Envy and Jealousy is a mix of Greed and Hate!
How to cure these agonizing mental states of Envy & Jealousy:
1: Review the Danger in Envy and Jealousy like this:
This Acid is eating up my mind from within! All joy & happiness is destroyed!
2: Know that Envy arises because one wants something that others have!
The aversion towards these persons arise due to greed for a desired object.
Wanting=greed is craving towards an object, while aversion=hate is craving
away from an object. All forms of Craving causes Suffering! Know that Envy
and Jealousy is the proximate cause of Discontent and Dissatisfaction!
3: Envy is cured by rejoicing in others success= Mutual Joy! (Mudita) like:
How good that this being, having done good in the past, now earns the well
deserved fruit!!! Thus one substitutes a disadvantageous mental state with
an advantageous mental state. Know that this subtle Mutual Joy! (Mudita) is
the proximate cause of Contentment! Contentment is the highest Treasure...
4: Begin and Cultivate meditation on Infinite Mutual Joy:
Sit down a silent & empty place with closed eye and beam from the heart:
May I be successful, rich, beautiful, famous, intelligent, popular & praised!
May my friends be successful, rich, beautiful, famous, intelligent, & praised!
May my enemies be successful, rich, beautiful, famous, intelligent, & praised!
May all in this village be successful, beautiful, famous, intelligent, & praised!
May all in this country be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, & praised!
May all on this earth be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, and praised!
May all in this galaxy be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, and praised!
May all in the universe be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, and praised!
Beaming this tender sympathy out from the heart first out in front, the right,
left, back, above as below, so gradually expanding beyond the limitations of
space and into the infinitude! When a cause is infinite, so will be the effect!
5: Keep on doing that 15-45 min every day. Note the difference in day joy!
May all beings rejoice in Mutual Joy celebrating all beings success & progress!
One should not despise any giving.
One should neither envy others.
One who envy others cannot attain absorption
and will never enter any concentrated trance.
Dhammapada 365
Neither nice speech, nor serene behaviour
Makes one accomplished, if one is still
Possessed of envy, miserliness or deceit.
Dhammapada 262
Absorbed in distractions,
Not paying appropriate attention,
Giving up the goal, following after the pleasant,
One comes to envy those, who enjoy right effort!
Dhammapada 209
How to cure envy and jealousy by substitution with the opposite see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Wrong.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm
Have a nice rejoicing & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Envy and Jealousy is a Mix of Greed and Hate!
Envy and Jealousy!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Cure_Envy_and_Jealousy.htm
Unselfish Joy! How to Rejoice in Others Success:
By seeing that:
If only happy at one's own success, such egoistic Joy is rare and limited!
If happy at others success also, the Joy is more frequent & even infinite!
By observing that:
It starts with basic sympathy, develops into acceptance, genuine approval,
& appreciation. It culminates in rejoicing altruistic sympathy by directing
mind to initiation, much cultivation & boundless expansion of Mutual Joy!
By knowing that:
Mutual Joy is the proximate cause of sweet, fully satisfied contentment!
Lack of mutual joy is therefore the proximate cause of discontentment!
Mutual Joy instantly eliminates acidic jealousy, grudge and green envy!
Mutual Joy is an infinite, truly divine, elevating and sublime mental state!
Mutual Joy is 1 of the 4 mental states of the Brahma-devas (Brahmavihara)
The Blessed Buddha pointed out:
If it were impossible to cultivate this Good , I would not tell you to do so!
Buddhaghosa:
See how this worthy being is very Happy!
How fine! How excellent! How sweet!
Let there be Happiness. Let there be open Freedom.
Let there be Peace. Let there be Bliss from cultivating this.
Let there be Understanding of this mental state of Mutual Joy!
Cultivation of Mutual Joy is the specific medicine against Envy & Jealousy:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm
Mudita: The Buddha's Teaching on Unselfish Joy: BPS Wheel Publication No. 170
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/various/wheel170.html
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Mutual Joy Rejoices in Other's Success...
Mutually Rejoicing Bliss!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
Evaporate the Enemy inside by Friendliness!
Suppose an enemy has hurt you now, in what is his domain, his house etc...
Why try yourself additionally to hurt your mind? That is not his domain!
In tears you have left your family, though they had been both kind & nice.
So why not leave your 'enemy': The anger that brings you internal harm?
This anger that we harbour is gnawing at the very roots of all the qualities
and virtues, that we otherwise try to guard and protect! Anger is foolish!
Another behaves badly... Then stirred one becomes angry! But how is this?
Does one really want to copy the bad behaviour, that he just committed?
Suppose another, to annoy, provokes you with some offensive behaviour:
Why suffer then by letting anger spring up? One is certainly punished so...
If anger-blinded enemies plans conflict, getting angry one-self only grows
even more hostility. Therefore put this bitter anger down, since why should
one be harassed groundlessly? Since all states last only a moment's time,
this 'enemy' has already evaporated, when the sweet revenge is planned...
But why then attack an 'absence', that is only an image maintained inside?
The 'enemy' never really was there 'outside', but only became interpreted
so, by an inner mental pollution called hate, anger, aversion, irritation etc...
Source: The Path of Purification: (Visuddhimagga) 301
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=771100
Universal friendliness which cures all anger is a divine state:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The-Effective_Saw.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Universal_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/All-Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Grace_of_Goodwill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Infinite_and_Divine_Classic.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Selfless_Friendship_is_Sweetest.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
Have a nicely vaporized day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Evaporate the inner Enemy!
The danger is not outside, but... ;-)
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Evaporated_Enemy.htm
The 4 Foundations of Awareness:
Which Four Foundations?
1: Only if and when the Noble Friend resides regarding any Body -own or other-
simply as a heaped up group, just as a transient, compounded and complex form,
only as a fragile, accumulated and alien assemblage, while being alert, aware and
thereby clearly comprehending, then will he cause effective removal of all urge
and frustration rooted in this world…!!!
2: Only if and when a Noble Friend dwells observing any Feeling –from within or
from without– simply as an affective emotional reaction, as an assigned response,
only as a fleeting sensation, while being keen, fully conscious and continuously
attentive, then will he thereby consequently eliminate all desire and discontent
caused simply by being in and contacting this world…!!!
3: Only if and when a Noble Friend abides viewing any Mood –present or remote-
simply as a fancy temper, just as a made up mentality, only as a conscious moment,
while being ready, actively investigating and deliberately discriminating, then will
he thereby naturally eradicate all longing and sadness inherent in this world…!!!
4: Only if and when a Friend lives interpreting any Phenomenon –internal or external –
simply as a passing mental state, just as a mentally created and conditioned construct,
only as an experienced appearance, merely as a created imaginary reflected imprint,
while being acutely awake, mindful and carefully understanding, then will he thereby
overcome all attraction and repulsion entrenched and ingrained in this world…!!!
Without any even single exception:
Whoever in the distant and ancient past has Awakened to full Enlightenment;
Whoever in the present, right now is Awakening to complete Enlightenment;
Whoever in the near and far future will Awaken to perfect Enlightenment;
All those have been freed, is being freed, and will be freed only through and by:
Initiating, Cultivating & Establishing these unique 4 Foundations of Awareness!
The single and sole cause of really Being Mentally Present …!!!
Check it Out: It pays off inestimably!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Crucial_Foundation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/One_and_only_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Four_Foundations_of_Awareness.htm
Have a nice aware in presence day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Clever Presence!
The 4 Foundations of Awareness:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Clever_Presence.htm
Releasing the Misconception "I Am" is Freedom!
The Blessed Buddha once noted:
It is by clinging, friends, that the notion: 'I am' occurs, not without clinging!
And by clinging to what does the notion: 'I am' occur, not without clinging?
It is by clinging to form, to feeling, to perception, to mental constructions, &
to consciousness that the notion: 'I am' occurs, and not without this clinging!
Suppose, friends, a young woman, or a young man, fond of fashion & jewelry,
would examine her own facial image in a mirror or in a bowl filled with pure,
clear, clean water: She would look at it with clinging, not without clinging...
Even and exactly so too, it is by clinging to form, to feeling, to perception,
to mental constructions, & to consciousness that the notion: 'I am' occurs!
It is not without this subconscious, quite detrimental, deep and rigid clinging!
Clinging to what is impermanent, transient and prone to decay is very painful..
What is changing & painful cannot be 'Mine', nor 'What I Am', nor 'My Self'!
Understanding this, the intelligent Noble disciple is disgusted with all forms,
all feelings, all perceptions, all mental constructions, and every consciousness.
Being disgusted induces disillusion. This disillusion launches into mental release!
When released, then mind becomes unagitated! By being entirely imperturbable
one attains Awakening right there and then, and one instantly understands:
This mind is irreversibly freed! Rebirth is ended, this Noble Life is concluded,
done is what should be done, there is no state of being after or beyond this...
Comments:
Let's take a closer look at the seemingly self-evident statement "I Am"...
There are two components: An "I" and an "Am"... Which is the wrong here?
The "Am" part designating existence cannot be denied. This "existence"
is however neither static, nor being of an entity, nor presence of an "I"...!
What is it then that "Ams"=IS? It is just these 5 dynamic & ever-changing
processes (& not entities!): Of form, feeling, perception, construction and
consciousness, that arise and cease according to their conditioned causes!
What is it then, that have a form, a body to be seen there in the mirror?
It is the process of form itself, that has this frame of appearance...
What is it then, that feels pleasure, pain and neutral feeling?
It is the process of feeling itself, that feels pleasure, pain and neither!
What is it then, that perceives, that experiences, if it is not "Me"?
It is the process of perception itself, that perceives various 'objects'!
What is it then, that constructs, intends, plans, & hopes, if it is not "I"?
It is the process of mental construction itself, that creates tendencies!
What is it then, that is conscious, if it is not "myself", "my ego or soul"?
It is the process of consciousness itself, that arises & ceases ever again...
Nothing else......, than these ownerless conditions, these selfless states,
these coreless phenomena without independent substance, is ever there!
On clinging to 'personality' view (Sakkaya Ditthi) and selflessness (Anatta):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/I-dentification.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Ego-Projection.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Anatta_No_Self.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/No_Agent_is_Inside.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Anatta_Doctrine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Just_Passing_Bubbles.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Neither_Agent_nor_Actor.htm
Source:
The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya 22:83 III 105
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
What is the worst idea ever fancied?
Clinging to the Concept "I Am"!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Clinging_to_the_notion_I_Am.htm
Friendship is seeding the 7 links to Awakening!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Just as dawn is the forerunner and the precursor of the rising of the Sun,
exactly so is good and Noble friendship for any disciple the forerunner and
the precursor of the mental emergence of the Seven Links to Awakening!
When a Bhikkhu has a good and Noble friend, it is to be expected that he will
develop and cultivate these 7 Links to Awakening. And how does a Bhikkhu who
has a good & Noble friend develop & cultivate these 7 Links to Awakening?
Here, friends, this Bhikkhu trains, develops, deepens, reinforces and refines:
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 Tranquillity Link to Awakening: passaddhi-sambojjhanga.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening: samadhi-sambojjhanga.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening: upekkha-sambojjhanga.
based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing of craving, and culminating in release!
It is in exactly in this way that any Bhikkhu, who has a good and Noble Friend,
truly trains, grows, intensifies, reinforces & refines the 7 Links to Awakening...
On these 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/Unsurpassable_Seven.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
Source edited extract:
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 101] section 46: The Links. 48: The Sun....
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
How to become One who Shines?
The Sun!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Sun.htm
The inevitable and ever returning problem: Death!
All health ends in sickness, all youth ends in ageing, all life ends in assured death!
All world existence begins with birth, is haunted by ageing, surprised by sickness,
and struck down by death, often in a state of desperate panic and frantic fear...
As though if huge mountains made of rock so vast that they reach up into the sky,
were to attack from every side, grinding & crunching beneath them all that lives,
so indeed do Ageing and Death roll over all beings, whether gods, kings, warriors,
priests, merchants, craftsmen, poor, or animals, crushing all beings, sparing none!
And neither armies, nor guards, nor medicines, nor spells, or riches, can even delay
them by a single second! (SN I 102 ). Death should thus be remembered as the ruin
of success by seeing it as death's final & unavoidable wrecking any life's success!
Vism I 232
More on these inevitable Facts: Ageing - Sickness - Decay - and Death (Marana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Death.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Game_Over.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/End_Making.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Problem.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Momentary_Life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Death_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Inevitable_but_not_the_End.htm
Have a sober ultra realistic day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Ageing and Death!
The inevitable Problem...
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Ageing_and_Death.htm
What brings beings over the Sea of Suffering?
The Blessed Buddha once explained the means and method to escape pain:
One should respect an intelligent one, from whom one can learn the Dhamma,
just as the deities respect & honour their divine god Indra. Then with clear
and elevated mind, he will reveal the Dhamma to one, when he is respected!
If anyone cultivates such a great man carefully, making it his aim to listen
and learn attentively, entering upon the Dhamma, and upon what conforms
with the Dhamma, then his understanding will become intelligent and subtle!
However, if one associates with the petty & envious fool, who has no direct
experience of the aim, then one will die still pestered by perplexing doubts!
Since how can a man, who has been dragged down into a swift-flowing river,
who is been carried along with the current, ever help any others to cross?
Similarly, how can one who has not learned the Dhamma, & has not listened
to the explanations given by the learned ones, who is ignorant of it himself,
and has not overcome doubt, help others to realize the stainless certainty?
Just as one embarking upon a strong boat, with well build oars and rudder,
could bring many others across there, being clever, considerate, knowing
well how to do it. In exactly the same way can one, who is self-developed,
who understands, who is learned and imperturbable make others realize it,
if they have got the capacity to understand, and the willingness to listen...
Therefore should one cultivate only a good man, who is clever and learned!
Understanding the meaning, walking the Way by knowing the true Dhamma,
one will thereby plunge into happiness... Sn 316-323
The Boat of Dhamma ferries beings across suffering to Happiness!
One this Dhamma as Teaching, Tool, Bridge and Vehicle:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Be_Good.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Simple_Core123.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dhamma_Presence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Supreme_Triumph.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/dhamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Dhamma_Contemplation.htm
Have a nice Dhamma day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The Boat...
What brings beings over the Sea of Suffering?
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/The_Boat.htm
The True Dhamma Makes U Safe!
The Buddha-Dhamma is a Torch , since it guides beings through the Darkness!
The Buddha-Dhamma is a Boat , since it brings beings across to the far Shore!
The Buddha-Dhamma is a Mirror , since it shows beings, how they Actually are!
The Buddha-Dhamma is a Medicine , since it cures beings from deep Diseases!
More on this genuine Law (Dhamma):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Dhamma_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dhamma_Presence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Supreme_Triumph.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Simple_Core123.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Be_Good.htm
Have a nice Dhamma day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The True Torch!
There is some light outside this cave...
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/The_True_Torch.htm
Few are those who can Avoid all Evil Action!
The Blessed Gotama Buddha once explained:
Bhikkhus & friends, see this little dust, I have taken up upon the nail of
my little-finger, what do you think is most: This tiny dust or this great
planet Earth? The Bhikkhus then responded:
Venerable Sir, this great planet Earth is much more, incomparable more...
The minute speck of dust is trifling, microscopic, negligible in comparison.
The Blessed Gotama Buddha then succinctly and importantly pointed out:
Similarly and exactly so too, Bhikkhus & friends, those beings are few and
quite rare, who are reborn among humans or devas! Beings who are reborn
elsewhere, lower, as non-humans, in the screaming hell, as scared animals,
as hungry ghosts, or as angry demons are much more numerous and common...
Why is it so? Because:
Few are those beings who avoid destruction of life, who avoid all killing...
Few are those beings who avoid mutilating, murder, robbery, and violence...
Few are those beings who avoid taking what is not given by not stealing...
Few are those beings who avoid using false weights, cheating with papers...
Few are those beings who avoid being crooked by bribery, deceit, & fraud...
Few are those beings who avoid sexual misconduct and all forms of abuse...
Few are those beings who avoid booze and drugs making careless & negligent...
Few are those beings who avoid false lying, pretending and double-dealing...
Few are those beings who avoid divisive speech, slandering and defamation...
Few are those beings who avoid harsh and aggressive scolding and blaming...
Few are those beings who avoid idle chatter, gossiping, and empty hear-say...
Few are those beings who avoid damaging the nature, seeds and plant life...
Few are those beings who respect father, mother, elders, and recluses...
Few are those beings who possess the Noble Eye of Dhamma-Understanding!
But those beings, who are immersed in ignorance, are much more numerous!
Why is it so? Because, Bhikkhus, they have not yet seen the 4 Noble Truths!
What four? This is Suffering; Craving is the Cause of all this Suffering;
No Craving is the End of Suffering; The Noble 8-fold Way Ends all Suffering,
Therefore, Bhikkhus & friends, exertion should be made Now to understand:
All This is Suffering; This Greedy Craving is the sole Cause of all Suffering;
No Craving is the End of Suffering; The Noble 8-fold Way Ends all Suffering,
Therefore should effort to fathom these 4 Noble Truths be made now!
On Kamma (In Sanskrit=Karma=intentional action) and it's result (vipaka)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Buddha_on_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_dilutes_Evil_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_short_&_long_life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Health_&_Sickness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Low_or_High_Birth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Wealth_or_Poverty.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Beauty_&_Ugliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Effect_of_Action_(kamma)_is_Delayed.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Power_or_Disrespect.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Evil_Kamma_enhances_other_Evil_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_enhances_other_Good_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Stupidity_or_Intelligence.htm
Further Literature on the efficacy of Kamma = Karma:
Karma and Rebirth, by Nyanatiloka (WHEEL 9);
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/Wheels/wh394.pdf
Survival & Karma in Buddhist Perspective, by K.N. Jayatilleke (WHEEL 141/143);
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/Wheels/wh141.pdf
Kamma and its Fruit (WHEEL 221/224).
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/Wheels/wh221.pdf
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:467-70]
section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 63-78: Killing living beings & etc...
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Few are Fine!
Cause & Effect. Seed & Fruit. Kamma & Vipaka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Few_are_Fine.htm