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The blessed Buddha once explained: There are these two extremes, which should not be practiced by any one, who has begun purification: The hunt for sensual pleasures, which is low, vulgar, the common way of ordinary worldlings, ignoble, disadvantageous; and any practice of self-torture, which is painful, ignoble, and also quite disadvantageous! Without veering towards either of these extremes, the well-come-well-gone-beyond Buddha has awakened to this Middle Way, which leads to assured vision, to direct knowledge, which leads to ease, to peace, to certain knowledge, to Enlightenment, to Nibbana... And what is that Middle Way awakened to by the Buddha, which leads to assured vision, to direct knowledge, which leads to ease, to peace, to all certain knowledge, to Enlightenment, to Nibbana? It is this very Noble 8-fold Way: That is
Right View Right Motivation Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood Right Effort Right Awareness Right Concentration
That is indeed the very Middle Way awakened to by the Blessed Buddha, which leads to assured vision, to direct knowledge, which leads to ease, to certain knowledge, to Peace, to Bliss, to Enlightenment, to Nibbana...
The Blessed Buddha once said: There are 5 primary mental Abilities:
1: The ability of Faith (saddha) 2: The ability of Energy (viriya) 3: The ability of Awareness (sati) 4: The ability of Concentration (samadhi) 5: The ability of Understanding (pañña)
All these fine abilities culminate in the Deathless Destination, which is their final goal, home, purpose, and resulting effect... When having seen, known, understood, directly experienced, fully realized and touched this through wisdom, then one is quite beyond all doubt, uncertainty, perplexity and confusion!
The Ability to See forms is similar to the ability to Understand ideas!
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!
The Blessed Buddha once said: One whose mind is dominated by greed, lust, desire, and envy or jealously will do, whatever should not be done, and neglect whatever should be done! As a consequence of that, his good reputation is lost and his contentment & happiness falls into ruin. Exactly so with anyone whose mind is overwhelmed by anger and grumbling ill-will or overcome, slowed down & stagnated by the hindrance of lethargy & laziness or agitated, scattered, and worried by the hindrance of restlessness & regret or perplexed, confused and bewildered by the hindrance of doubt & uncertainty... Such one will do what should not be done at all, while neglecting what actually should be done. As a result of that, his good name & status is lost & he is ruined by depressed frustration. But if any Noble Disciple has seen these five as contaminated pollutions of the mind, then he will gradually overcome & eliminate them. When doing so, he becomes known as one of deep understanding, of fine & great knowledge, clear-sighted, endowed with wisdom. This lack of mental hindrance is indeed exactly, what is called endowment with wisdom!
There are these five Mental Hindrances: 1: Sense-Desire & Lust, 2: Hate and Anger, 3: Lethargy & Laziness, 4: Restlessness & Regret, 5: Doubt & Uncertainty.
The Blessed Buddha once said: And how, Bhikkhus, is release of mind by serene equanimity (Upekkha) 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 neutral & imperturbable equanimity? Here, a Bhikkhu dwells pervading first the entire frontal quadrant, with a mind imbued with infinite equanimity, so the second quadrant, the 3rd quadrant, and the 4th quadrant. As above, so below, across, and everywhere, & as to all beings also to himself, he dwells pervading the entire universe with a mind saturated with unlimited equanimity, immense, exalted, measureless, without hostility, without any enmity, without any ill will! Thus prepared and expanded, he then develops:
1: The Awareness Link to Awakening joined with limitless equanimity. 2: The Investigation Link to Awakening fused with such equanimity. 3: The Energy Link to Awakening together with infinite equanimity. 4: The Joy Link to Awakening accompanied with absolute equanimity. 5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening linked with serene equanimity. 6: The Concentration Link to Awakening associated with equanimity. 7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening joined with endless equanimity. Based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and culminating in release.
If he then wishes: May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in any unrepulsive & tempting, then he can dwell experiencing repulsiveness therein. If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in any disgusting & repulsive, then he dwells experiencing pleasing beauty in whatever disgusting! If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in what is both unrepulsive & repulsive, he dwells experiencing repulsive disgust in it. If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in what is both unrepulsive & repulsive, he experiences only unrepulsive beauty by it! If he wishes: Avoiding both the repulsive and the unrepulsive, may I dwell in equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending, then he dwells in equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending! Or else, completely transcending the realm of infinitude of consciousness, only aware that there is nothing, he enters & dwells in the sphere of the void, empty & vacuous nothingness.. I tell you Bhikkhus for a wise Bhikkhu here, who has not yet penetrated to an even more superior mental release, the mental release by imperturbable equanimity has the subtle sphere of the nothingness as its final culmination !
Source of reference (edited extract): The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book [V: 115-21] 46: The Links. 54: Joined by Friendliness... Have a nice & noble day!
How is constant Awareness Established only by Breathing?
Sitting cross-legged, with straight back, elevated chin, in a silent place, the yogi remains focusing all attention on the touch point of air in his nostrils:
Fully aware one inhales and fully aware one exhales... When inhaling a long breath, one notices that... When exhaling a long breath, one notices that... When inhaling a short breath, one notices that... When exhaling a short breath, one notices that... Experiencing the whole body, one inhales... Experiencing the whole body, one exhales... Calming all bodily activity, one inhales... Calming all bodily activity, one exhales...
One trains thus: Experiencing joyous rapture, I will inhale... One trains thus: Experiencing joyous rapture, I will exhale... One trains thus: Experiencing a happy pleasure, I will inhale... One trains thus: Experiencing a happy pleasure, I will exhale... One trains thus: Experiencing all mental activity, I will inhale... One trains thus: Experiencing all mental activity, I will exhale... One trains thus: Calming all mental activity, I will inhale... One trains thus: Calming all mental activity, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing all mentality as mood, I will inhale... One trains thus: Experiencing all mentality as mood, I will exhale... One trains thus: Satisfying and gladdening the mind, I will inhale... One trains thus: Satisfying and gladdening the mind, I will exhale... One trains thus: Focusing the mind by concentration, I will inhale... One trains thus: Focusing the mind by concentration, I will exhale... One trains thus: Releasing the mind from hindrance, I will inhale... One trains thus: Releasing the mind from hindrance, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Considering the impermanence of change, I will inhale... One trains thus: Considering the impermanence of change, I will exhale... One trains thus: Considering the detachment in disillusion, I will inhale... One trains thus: Considering the detachment in disillusion, I will exhale... One trains thus: Considering the stilling within cessation, I will inhale... One trains thus: Considering the stilling within cessation, I will exhale... One trains thus: Considering open and freed relinquishing, I will inhale... One trains thus: Considering open and freed relinquishing, I will exhale...
This is how continuous Awareness is established just by breathing!!! Breathing meditation can bring the yogi into 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Jhana... It is a unique praxis used by all Buddhas at their very Enlightenment!!!
Bhikkhus, the concentration gained by Awareness by Breathing, when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit & advantage. And how, Bhikkhus, is concentration by Awareness by Breathing developed & cultivated so that it is of great fruit & advantage? Bhikkhus, when a Bhikkhu, who have gone to the forest, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, there he sits down cross-legged, having straightened his body and back, & set up awareness around the nostrils, then just plain aware of that itself he breathes in, and then just solely aware of only that breathing itself he breathes out... 1: Breathing in long, he knows, notes & understands: I inhale long! Breathing out long, he knows, notes & understands: I exhale long! ... ... ... (steps 2-15) 16: He trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in! He trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out! It is, Bhikkhus, when Awareness by Breathing is trained, developed & refined in exactly this way that it is of great fruit & advantage! I too, Bhikkhus, before my enlightenment, while still a Bodhisatta, generally dwelt in this dwelling. Then neither did my body, nor did my eyes became tired & my mind, by not clinging, was freed from the mental fermentations... Therefore, Bhikkhus, if a Bhikkhu wishes: May neither my body nor my eyes become tired & may my mind, by not clinging, become freed from the mental fermentations, this same concentration won by Awareness by Breathing should be closely attended to. Therefore, Bhikkhus, if a Bhikkhu wishes: May all the memories and motivations of the household life be left all behind by me, then this same concentration by Awareness by Breathing should be frequently trained and enthusiastically attended to. Therefore, Bhikkhus, if a Bhikkhu should come to wish: May I perceive only disgust in what is attractive & tempting... or May I perceive only beauty in what is repulsive & disgusting... or May I dwell unaffected in equanimity & quite aloof of both the attractive & the repulsive, just aware & clearly comprehending... then this same concentration by Awareness by Breathing should be cultivated often and devoted much wholehearted attention!
The blessed Buddha once explained: Bhikkhus, the concentration gained by Awareness by Breathing, when trained, is of great fruit and advantage. And how, Bhikkhus, is this concentration by Awareness by Breathing developed and cultivated so that it is of great fruit and advantage? Bhikkhus, when one have gone to the forest, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, there one sits down cross-legged, having made one's body and back straight, and set up awareness around the nostrils, then just plain aware of that breathing in itself one breathes in, and just solely aware of only that breathing in itself one breathes out... 1: Breathing in long, one knows, notes and understands: I inhale long! Breathing out long, one knows, notes and understands: I exhale long! ... ... ... (steps 2-15) One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in! One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out! Therefore, Bhikkhus, if a friend wishes: May I become secluded from all sense desires, protected from any detrimental mental state, and thereby enter and dwell in the 1st jhana, which is directed thought and sustained thinking joined with Joy and pleasure born of solitude, then this very same concentration by Awareness by Breathing should be cultivated often & devoted much attention! Furthermore if such friend should wish: By the stilling & fading of all directed and sustained thought, may I enter & dwell in the 2nd jhana, which is a calmed assurance fixed by solid mental unification and joined with Joy & pleasure now born of a concentration devoid of any active thinking, then this same method: Awareness by Breathing should be trained often & devoted sincere attention! Even further; if one should wish: With the fading away of joy, may I dwell in composed equanimity, just open, aware and clearly comprehending, still feeling pleasure in this body, by entering upon and remaining in the 3rd jhana, about which the Noble Ones declare: "In aware Equanimity one dwells in pleasure!", then this very same exercise: Awareness by Breathing should be developed regularly and dedicated much earnest consideration! Finally if one should wish: With the leaving all behind of both pleasure and pain, even as with the prior disappearance of both Joy and sorrow, may I enter and dwell in the 4th jhana, which is an entirely silenced state of utter awareness, purified by Equanimity of neither-pain-nor-pleasure, then this same praxis: Awareness by Breathing should be repeated daily & thus made a primary priority due to its importance!
The Blessed Buddha once explained: Bhikkhus, the concentration gained by Awareness by Breathing, when developed & cultivated, is of great fruit & big advantage... And how, Bhikkhus, is concentration by Awareness by Breathing developed & cultivated so that it is of great fruit & advantage? Bhikkhus, when one have gone to the forest, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, there one sits down cross-legged, having straightened one's body and back, and set up awareness around the nostrils, then just plain aware of that itself one breathes in, & just solely aware of only that breathing itself one breathes out... Breathing in long, one knows, notes and understands: I inhale long! Breathing out long, one knows, notes & understands: I exhale long! ... ... ... (steps 2-15) ... ... ... One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in! One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out! Therefore, Bhikkhus, if a friend wishes: May I, via the complete transcendence of experience of form, with the passing away and silencing of sensory reaction, without giving any attention to any experience of any diversity, detail or any difference whatsoever, just solely aware that this open space is indeed infinite & endless, enter & dwell immersed in the sphere of this infinitude of space, then this same concentration by Awareness by Breathing should be cultivated often and devoted much wholehearted attention! Furthermore if such friend should wish: By the transcendence of this infinitude of space, just singly aware that consciousness is infinite, may I enter and dwell all immersed in that sphere of the infinitude of consciousness; then Awareness by Breathing should also here be trained often and devoted much sincere attention! Even further; if one should wish: May I, by wholly transcending this subtle sphere of the infinity of consciousness, only aware of that there is nothing, enter & dwell in empty void of nothingness, then this very same exercise: Awareness by Breathing should be trained regularly and dedicated much earnest consideration! Even more; if one should wish: May I, by thoroughly transcending this delicate sphere of void nothingness, enter and dwell in the refined sphere of inert neither-perception-nor-non-perception, then this very same exercise: Awareness by Breathing should be trained regularly and dedicated much earnest consideration! Finally; if one should wish: By leaving all behind, and transcending even this placid sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, may I enter & dwell in the ultimate ceasing of perception & feeling then this very same sublime meditation: Awareness by Breathing should be repeated everyday and thus given the primary priority!
Source (edited extract): The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:316-7] section 54: Anapanasamyutta. Thread 8: The simile of the Lamp!
The ongoing upgrade of the Micro-Hydro-Power plant here is progressing well! Transformers, rectifiers and regulators have arrived from USA. The second pipe-line has been digged down and reinforced, where mud-&-stone-slides are prone to occur. However more cement work is needed and some remaining bills needs to be paid. A further ~ 800$ is therefore needed. Donation for this Noble Purpose facilitating the Daily Dhamma sharing is very therefore very Welcome below. Quite Many Thanx in Advance!
The Buddha indeed pointed out Gratitude as an important mental quality: These two people are hard to find in the world. Which two? The one who is first to do a kindness, and the one who is grateful and thankful for a kindness done. Anguttara Nikaya 2.118
I tell you, monks, there are two people who are not easy to repay. Which two? Your mother & father. Even if you were to carry your mother on one shoulder & your father on the other shoulder for 100 years, & were to look after them by anointing, massaging, bathing, & rubbing their limbs, and they were to defecate and urinate right there on your shoulders, you would not thereby repay your parents. Even if you were to establish your mother & father in absolute sovereignty over this great earth, abounding in the seven treasures, you would not in that way repay your parents! Why is that? Mothers and fathers do much for their children. They care for them, they nourish them for long, and they introduce them to this world. But anyone who rouses his unbelieving mother & father, settles & establishes them in faith; rouses his immoral mother & father, establishes them in virtue; rouses his stingy mother & father, settles & establishes them in generosity; rouses his unwise mother & father, settles & establishes them on a new level of understanding: It is in this way that one truly repays one's mother's and father's many longstanding services. Anguttara Nikaya 2.32
Mother & father, compassionate to their family, are called Brahma, first teachers, honour them with food & drink, clothing & bedding, and anointing, bathing, washing their feet. Performing these services to their parents, the wise are praised right here and after death rejoice in heaven. Itivuttaka 106
If this is what you think of me: The Blessed One, is sympathetic, is seeking our well-being, teaches us this Dhamma out of sympathy, then you should train yourself in being in harmony, cordial, and without conflict and train in yourselves cultivation of all the 37 best mental qualities: The 4_Foundations_of_Awareness, the 4 right efforts, the 4_Feet_of_Force, the 5 Abilities, 5 powers, the 7 Links to Awakening, & the Noble_8-Fold_Way. Majjhima Nikaya 103 A Tathagata is worshipped, honoured, respected, thanked & shown gratitude by any follower, who keeps practicing the Dhamma in accordance with true Dhamma, who keeps practicing masterfully, who lives in and by the Dhamma! Digha Nikaya 16
We will undertake & practice those qualities that makes one a contemplative, so that all those who helped us by services of robes, alms-food, lodging, and medicines will bring them great fruit and great future reward. Majjhima Nikaya 39
Comments: In Pali, the word for gratitude = kataññu literally means to have a sense of what was done for one in the past even when long ago. Remembering all help! A network of kindness and gratitude is what sustains whatever goodness there is and ever will be in this - otherwise destitute & impoverished - world!
At Savatthi the Blessed Buddha once explained: Bhikkhus, the uninstructed ordinary person regards his form as self, or self as possessing a form, or form as inside self, or self as inside a frame of form... This, bhikkhus, is called an uninstructed ordinary person, who is bound by bondage to form, who is bound by inner and outer bondage, who neither sees the near shore, nor the far shore, who grows old in bondage, who dies in bondage, who goes from this world to the next other world in bondage... Such one regards feeling, perception, mental construction & consciousness as a self or self as having feeling, perception, construction & consciousness, or feeling, perception, construction & consciousness as being inside the self, or a self as if hidden inside feeling, perception, construction & consciousness! Such one, Bhikkhus, is called an uninstructed ordinary person, who is bound by bondage, clinging, & inner chains to feelings, perceptions, mental constructions, and consciousness... Such one, Bhikkhus, bound by both inner & outer bondage, who neither sees this near shore, nor the far shore, who grows old in bondage, who dies in bondage, will pass on in bondage to the next world, still in bondage!
When Bound by an Ego concept one is linked to a future of repeated Death!
The wanderer Vacchagotta approached the Blessed One and greeted him. Concluding their compliments, he sat down aside and asked the Buddha: Master Gotama, what is the cause, condition and reason, why these various speculative views arise in the world: This Universe is eternal, or the universe is not eternal. This universe is finite, or infinite. Vitality and the body are the same, or biological life, metabolism is one thing, the body is another. The Tathagata exists after death, or he does not exist after death. The Tathagata both exists and does not exist after death. Or finally: The Tathagata neither exists, nor does not exist after death? The Blessed Buddha replied: It is, Vaccha, because of neither knowing form, nor feeling, nor perception, nor mental construction, nor consciousness, nor the cause of origin of form, feeling, perception, mental construction, and consciousness, nor the cause of ceasing of form, feeling, perception, construction, and consciousness, nor the way to cease form, feeling, perception, construction, & consciousness that these various speculative views, such as: "This Universe is eternal, finite etc. " arise in the world! This ignorance, this not seeing, blindness, this not understanding, this not fully knowing, this not breaking through, this not comprehending, this not penetrating, this not discerning, this not discriminating, this not differentiating, this not closely investigating, this not directly experiencing and realizing, friend Vaccha, is the cause, and is the reason, why those various speculative views arise in this world!
If Awareness by Breathing is frequently trained & refined over a period, the 4 Foundations of Awareness are gradually completed and all perfected... If the 4 Foundations of Awareness are frequently trained and fully refined, the 7 Links to Awakening are gradually completed and entirely perfected ... If the 7 Links to Awakening are quite frequently trained and all refined, then Release by Knowing is gradually completed & finally entirely perfected ... Only this release induced by understanding - itself - is the End of Suffering ...
It is a great pity with all those thinking like this: Pleasure is the only good; by that they fall! Terror is a necessary way; by that they fall! Sensuality is innocent; by that they fall! Violence is allowable; by that they fall! Money makes happiness; by that they fall! Power is progress; by that they fall! Falsehood is acceptable; by that they fall! Stealing gives wealth; by that they fall! Conceit can conceal; by that they fall! Science knows all; by that they fall! Killing can be good; by that they fall! Hunting is only fun; by that they fall! Adultery is mature; by that they fall! Paedophilia is harmless; by that they fall! Drugs are fantastic; by that they fall! Booze is medicine; by that they fall! Giving does not help; by that they fall! After death is nothing!; by that they fall! The Hells do not exist; by that they fall! Intentional Action has no effect; by that they fall! I am the better than...; by that they fall! I know better ...; by that they fall! Making merit cannot elevate; by that they fall!
[color=#BF0000][u]It is a great pity with all those poor beings:[/u][/color] who are veiled by wrong view; by that they fall! who are fooled by own opinion; by that they fall! who are gripped by greed and lust; by that they fall! who are stirred by hate and anger; by that they fall! who are clinging to all worldly things; by that they fall! who are confused by not knowing; by that they fall! who prostitute themselves; by that they fall! who cheat and deceives; by that they fall! who pretend what is not; by that they fall! who hide what is actual fact; by that they fall! who destroy beings or things; by that they fall! who pollute the milieu and society; by that they fall! who deliberately do evil willing it; by that they fall! who fail their duties and obligations; by that they fall! who miss the obvious opportunities; by that they fall! It is a great pity with all those blinded by ignorance, bound and dragged by craving, while pushed by aversion: By that they surely fall into states of pain, agony and despair! As if gripped by the arms of two strong men and hurled into a big fire...
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]
Good is Substitution of the 5 Hindrances with their opposites:
1: Desire (kama-chanda ) should be substituted with attention on disgust. 2: Anger (vyapada ) should be substituted with universal friendliness. 3: Lethargy & laziness (thina-middha ) should be substituted with energy. 4: Restlessness & regret (uddhacca-kukkucca ) should be substituted with calm. 5: Skeptical doubt (vicikiccha ) should be substituted with examination.
Substitution of the hindrances works exactly as long, as one is Aware of it... Momentary suppression of the hindrances can be obtained during Meditation... Irreversible elimination by cut-off is achieved only, when attaining Nobility...
Navam Poya day is the full-moon of February. This holy day celebrates the ordination of the Buddha Gotama's main disciples Sariputta and MahaMoggallana. On this day Buddha also later decides his Parinibbana.
The death moment of the Buddha, where he enters Nibbana (Sanskrit Nirvana)...!
On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days: Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head touch the floor. Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites these memorized lines in a loud, calm & steady voice: As long as this life lasts: I hereby take refuge in the Buddha. I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma. I hereby take refuge in the Sangha. I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time. I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time. I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time. I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time. I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time. I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time. I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!
I accept to respect & undertake these 5 training rules: I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty. I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs. As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...
Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's own eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to this world! So is the start towards Nibbana: The Deathless Element! This is the Noble Way to Peace, to Freedom, to Ease, to Happiness, initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and fulfilled by training of Meditation...
Today indeed is Pooya or Uposatha or observance day, where any lay Buddhist normally keeps even the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha, they may simply forward the lines starting with "I hereby ..." signed with name, date, town, & country to me or join here. A public list of this new quite rapidly growing global Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!
When sitting alone, in silence, each early morning, with closed eyes one wishes: May I radiate and meet only never-ending and mutually rejoicing joy! May I & all the various beings on the 31 levels of existence develop and find only celebration and elation in a never-ending mutually rejoicing joy! May I & all beings on the sense-desire, fine-material, and the formless plane develop and encounter this generous, infinite and mutually rejoicing joy! May I & all beings in the front, to the right, the back, the left, and below as above, develop and experience openhearted, sharing, & mutually rejoicing joy! May I and all beings within this city, country, planet and universe always: Be fully aware and deeply mindful of this content and mutually rejoicing joy! Examine all details & aspects of this satisfied and mutually rejoicing joy! Put enthusiastic effort in our praxis of this devoted mutually rejoicing joy! Enjoy enraptured jubilant gladness in this exulting mutually rejoicing joy! Be silenced by the tranquillity of quiet and all smiling mutually rejoicing joy! Be concentrated & absorbed into one-pointedness by genuine rejoicing joy! Dwell in an imperturbable equanimity of pure and mutually rejoicing joy... Yeah! May it be even so, since mutual joy causes the jewel of contentment!
Comment: Mutual Joy is the 3rd infinite mental state (Appamañña): This gradually reduces all envy, jealousy, possessiveness, stinginess, avarice miserliness, green covetousness and unhappiness related with all these states. The cause of Mutual Joy in rejoicing in your child's or boon companion's success. This same joy can then be beamed towards all liked, neutral and hostile beings. Mutual Joy is then the proximate cause of satisfied and fulfilled Contentment... Lack of mutual joy is thus the proximate cause of dissatisfied discontentment... Joined with the 7 links to Awakening it will later cause a formless jhana... Be happy at all and especially other being's success! Then calm comfort grows!
What Qualities initiate development of the Noble 8-fold Way?
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, even as dawn is the forerunner & messenger of the rising sun, similarly is Fulfillment the forerunner & messenger of the emergence of this Noble 8-fold Way. Fulfillment of what?
Fulfillment of Morality... Fulfillment of Motivation... Fulfillment of Determination... Fulfillment of View... Fulfillment of Alertness... Fulfillment of Rational Attention...
When a Bhikkhu is accomplished in these qualities including rational attention, one can expect that he will initiate & refine this Noble 8-fold Way! How does a Bhikkhu, who is accomplished in these mental qualities develop and cultivate this Noble 8-fold Way? In this he develops:
Right View so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance. Right Motivation so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance. Right Speech so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance. Right Action so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance. Right Livelihood so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance. Right Effort so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance. Right Awareness so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance. Right Concentration so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance.
It is in this way, friends, that a Bhikkhu who is fulfilled, consummated and accomplished in morality, motivation, determination, view, alertness & rational attention develops, cultivates, and completes this Noble Eightfold Path…
Buddha spoke on Ghosts (Petas), who walk through walls & who need our help: Outside the walls they stand and wait, and at the junctions and road-forks, Returning to their prior homes, urging! They wait beside the posts of gates. But when a rich feast is set out with food & drink of every kind, remember the fact that few humans do recall: These pellucid ghosts was created from their past own acts. So they who are compassionate, who have a heart to give to their relatives such drink and food as may be pure. And good and fitting at these times: Then let this food be for the ghost relatives; May the ghost relatives have some happiness.! These ghosts of the departed of my family Foregathered and assembled there will eagerly their blessing give. For plentiful rich food and drink: So may our relatives live long, Owing to whom we have this gain, for honour to us has thus been done, No giver ever lacked the sweet fruit. In the dimension of these Ghosts, There is never any ploughing there, nor any cattle-herding found, Nor merchandizing just the same, nor bartering for coin of gold: The ghosts of your departed family, live there on anything given only here; As water showered on the hill, flows down to reach the hollow vale, So giving given here can serve the ghosts of your departed family. As river-beds, when full can bear the water down to fill the sea, So giving given here can serve the ghosts of the departed family there. He gave to me, he worked for me, he was my family, friend, & intimate! Give gifts, then, for departed ones, recalling what they used to do. No weeping, nor yet sorrowing, nor any kind of mourning, helps the Departed Ones, whose family remain unhelpful to them acting thus silly. But when this offering is given and well placed in the Sangha Community For them, then it can serve them long in future and at once as well. The True Dhamma for relatives has here been shown, and how high honour to departed ones is done, and how the Bhikkhus can be given strength as well, And how great merit can be stored away by you.
Therefore: Dedicate the merit of any gift to your hungry Ghost Family! The suffer a lot, wailing in despair, but in vain, repenting their evil deeds. There are ghost who only can feed on: corpses, or excrement, or abortions, or menstruation, or ash, or earth, or glowing embers and many similar pains... Ghost existence is mainly the result of stealing and cheating with values.
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, I will teach you the state of relinquishment... Pay attention & listen... And what, bhikkhus, is the state of overcoming all by leaving behind all??? The eye, form, visual-consciousness, eye-contact, feeling arised from seeing, pleasant, painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, is to be relinquished & left. The ear, sound, hearing-consciousness, ear-contact, feeling arised from hearing, whether painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, are all to be relinquished & left. The nose, smell, smelling-consciousness, nose-contact, feeling arised from smelling, pleasant, painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, all that also should be let go of. The tongue, any flavour, tasting-consciousness, tongue-contact, feeling arised from tongue-contact, pleasant, painful or neutral, that too is to be left behind. The body, touch, tactile-consciousness, body-contact, any feeling arised from body-contact, whether pleasant, painful or neutral, should also be relinquished. The mind, any mental state & phenomenon, mental-consciousness, mental-contact, and whatever feeling arised with mental-contact as origin, whether pleasant, painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, that indeed also is to be relinquished & left behind... This, bhikkhus, is the radically released state of overcoming by leaving behind all...
Back-pack-burden of heavy dependencies all exploded!
Comments: Logically can only relinquishment of all burdens & dependencies gain true freedom! Only true freedom means absence of fear from any event and from any corner... Only freedom from fear and anxiety can ever open up for ease, peace and bliss!
Buddha once asked: How, Bhikkhus and friends, is there full mental control? When seeing a form then one becomes neither attracted by any pleasing form, nor repelled by any displeasing form! When having heard a sound with the ear, one becomes neither entranced by any charming sound, nor opposed by any horrid sound! When having sniffed a smell with the nose, one becomes neither fascinated by any lovely smell, nor held off by any detestable smell! Having tasted a flavour with the tongue, one becomes neither captivated by any likeable taste, nor rejected by unlikable taste! When having felt a touch with the body, one becomes neither allured by any pleasant touch, nor repelled by any unpleasant touch! When having experienced whatever mental state with the mind, one becomes neither obsessed by any agreeable mental phenomenon, nor rebuffed by any disagreeable mental phenomenon whatsoever... Thus does one live on, while having established Awareness of the Body, yet also abiding within an unlimited & infinite mind. Thus does a focused one come to understand, through direct experience, that release of mind, a mental release through understanding, wherein all those evil & disadvantageous mental states irreversibly cease without any remaining trace! It is in exactly this way, that there is full mental control!
Comments: The infinite mind, counteracting hate & anger, is a mind made limitless by the praxis of the 4 sublime & divine dwellings (brahma-vihara), also called the 4 infinite states (appamañña), which are:
Infinite Friendliness (Metta), Endless Pity (Karuna), Mutual Sympathy & Joy (Mudita), and Imperturbable Equanimity (Upekkha).
Once an illuminating deity asked The Buddha: Which good fortune is the best? Whereto he answered: Not associating with fools, but only with the wise, Honouring only those, who really deserves it, Living in suitable climatic and peaceful regions, Great learning, good discipline and exact speech, Service to mother and father, support of wife and sons, — this is supreme good fortune! Giving, and living the just and generous life supporting relatives, Avoidance from all evil behaviour through complete self-control, Abstinence from intoxicating drinks and drugs causing carelessness, Reverence, devoted faith in the Dhamma, humility, and contentment, Grateful hearing and study of the Dhamma, when one is ready for it, — this is supreme good fortune! Forbearance, patience, and humble yet keen attention, when corrected, Seeing ascetics, recluses, sages and bhikkhus, who explain the Dhamma, Living the Noble life, understanding the Noble Truths, & realising quenching, Being unperturbed, when contacted by the manifold phenomena of the world, Having established these exquisite states, one is unconquered everywhere, One goes in safety everywhere — this is verily the supreme good fortune! Sn 258-269
Infinite Friendliness promotes a Peaceful Living in Happiness!
Solitude is happiness for one who is content, who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees. Non-violence is happiness in this world: Harmlessness towards all living beings. Udana 10
Train yourself in doing only good that lasts and brings great happiness. Cultivate generosity, a peaceful living, and a mentality of infinite friendliness. Itivuttaka 16
Let no one deceive another or despise anyone anywhere, or through anger or irritation wish for another to suffer. Sutta Nipata I, 8
May all creatures, all breathing things, all beings one and all, without exception, experience good fortune only. May they not fall into any harm. Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
Who is hospitable, open and friendly, Generous, gentle and unselfish, A guide, an instructor, a leader, Such a one to honour may attain. Digha Nikaya 31
For one who deliberately & aware develops Universal Friendliness Seeing the fading away of clinging, All chains are worn down & broken. Itivuttaka 27
Pleasures obtained by contact at the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or mind all fade away and vanish instantly, when their contact ceases! They are all: Like a drop of honey on the edge of a razor blade: Short joy, but much pain! Like a show seen in a flash of lightening: Momentary and exceedingly brief! Like a drink made thin & tasteless: Dissatisfying, frustrating & disappointing! Like food all rotten inside or poisoned: Afflicting and causing problems later! Like a baited hook: First juicy, later torturing & tormenting and finally Fatal! Like an inner prison: Encaging, punishing, bonding, addicting and making mad! Like sleeping in an enemy's village: Dangerous, hazardous, treacherous & risky! Like a burning hollow tree: Agitated inside, feverish, frantic, violently painful! Like a chain of dry naked bare bones: Not healing any hunger, without nutrition! Like many days of drinking only salt water: Worsening any thirst & drying out! Please note the ceasing of sensation, whenever sensing & remember this danger! This is the primary hindrance to break, the first flood to cross: Sense-Desire!
As the blessed Buddha often pointed out: Blissful is being without passions in this world, Blissful is the overcoming of all sense-desires! Udana II, 1
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
At Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this: Desire & lust for the ability* to see forms obstructs & corrupts the mind! Desire and lust for the ability to hear sounds; Desire and lust for the ability to smell smells; Desire and lust for the ability to taste flavours; are also obstructing corruptions of the mind...! Bhikkhus, the desire and lust for the ability to speculation on mental objects is also an obstructing corruption for the mind...! When a bhikkhu has overcome and all left these obstructing mental corruptions, his mind inclines towards inward withdrawal! A mind prepared by withdrawal becomes fit & open for those higher mental states, that are to be realized by direct experience and immediate knowledge...
Note*: This can & should be freely exchanged, expanded & enhanced by these objects: Visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile & mental consciousness, contact, feeling born of sense contact, perception born of contact, intention for, and craving for whatever sensual object existing or even just imagined ...
Sense desire is variegated and always wants and seeks new ways!
Balanced Equanimity is the Tenth Mental Perfection:
Equanimity characteristically induces & promotes impartial neutrality... Its function is to look upon things with an even unreactive indifference! Its manifestation is the gradual stilling of both attraction & repulsion.. Its proximate cause is seeing, that all inherit the results of their actions. Its effect is utter purification & perfection of all other mental qualities, by ending both discontent & delight, thereby providing the necessary equal calm required for their complete assessment & accomplishment.
Equanimity means Unaffectable.. Equanimity means Unprovokable.. Equanimity means Undisturbable.. Equanimity means Unexcitable.. Equanimity means Imperturbable.. Equanimity means Disengaged.. Equanimity means Disentangled.. Equanimity means Detached.. Equanimity means Immovable.. Equanimity means Unbeatable.. Equanimity means Untemptable.. Equanimity means Wholly Immune.. Equanimity means Indifferent.. Equanimity means Impartial.. Equanimity means Unbiased.. Equanimity means Disinterested.. Equanimity means Balanced.. Even like a smiling mountain! Cool Calm is the ultimate Balm!
The Threefold Equanimity (Upekkha): If Indifferent towards: Internal states & external phenomena, Living beings & lifeless things, Past, present & future events, How can one be hurt, upset, disturbed or distressed?
Calm is his mind. Calm is his speech. Calm is his action. So is the Tranquility; So is the Equanimity; Of one freed by the Insight Of right Knowledge. Dhammapada 96
Although a man is richly dressed and adorned, if he is in peace, at ease, in equanimity, calmed, composed, controlled, celibate and harmless towards all beings, then verily he is a Holy One, a recluse, a sage ... Dhammapada 142
Equanimity towards one's own internal states - that is indeed a link to Enlightenment. Equanimity regarding external phenomena & conditions - that is indeed also a link to Enlightenment. Samyutta Nikaya V Bojjhanga-samyutta.
Such noble friend finally develops the link to awakening that is Equanimity during Awareness of in-&-out breathing, which protects against damaging mental states, tends to detachment, to ceasing, tends to release & culminates in complete self-surrender... If, friends, Awareness of in-&-out breathing, is so cultivated and so made much of, it is indeed of great fruit, of great advantage! One whose Awareness of breathing in-&-out is perfected, well developed, and gradually brought to refined growth thus, according to the teaching of the Buddha, such one illuminates the entire world, just like the full moon freed from clouds. Samyutta Nikaya V Anapana-samyutta.
The Blessed One once said: Now how, Ananda, in the discipline of a Noble One is there the unsurpassable development of the senses? There is the case where, when seeing a form with the eye, there arises in a monk what is agreeable, or what is disagreeable, or what is both agreeable & disagreeable. He recognizes that: This agreeable thing has arisen in me, or this disagreeable thing... or this both agreeable & disagreeable thing, has arisen in me: And that is constructed, conditioned, coarse & dependently co-arisen! But this is peaceful, this is exquisite, namely even & equal equanimity! Instantly, that arisen agreeable or disagreeable thing ceases, and Equanimity takes its calm stance! Just as a man with good eyes, having closed them, might open them; or when open, might close them, that is how quickly, how rapidly, how easily, no matter what it refers to, Equanimity make whatever arisen agreeable thing... or disagreeable thing... or both agreeable & disagreeable thing cease right there, and Equanimity takes its even stance! In the discipline of The Noble One, this is called the unsurpassable development of the senses with regard to visible forms cognizable by the eye. Similar is the supreme development of the other senses. MN 152
With the fading of rapturous joy, he remains in equanimity, aware & alert, still physically sensitive to bodily pleasure. He enters & remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones declare: 'In aware Equanimity, one abides in pleasure...' With the stilling of pleasure & pain as with the earlier disappearance of elation & frustration, he enters & remains in the fourth jhana: sole Awareness purified by equanimity, - neither pleasure nor pain - This is called Right Concentration... The elimination of both sensual desires & of discontent, the ejection of laziness, the calming of all regrets, just this pure Equanimity being aware of all mental properties exactly at the moment they appear: That I call the direct knowledge of release the breakthrough from ignorance. Sutta Nipata V 13: Udaya's Questions
Equanimity is 'Tatra-majjhattata', which designates the evenly balanced keeping to the moderate middle of all things. It has as characteristic, that it affects the balance of consciousness and mental properties as a single function of single taste, which prevents both overt excessiveness and any lack or insufficiency. Equanimity thereby puts an end to biased partiality by manifesting moderation well within range of the properly reasoned midway. Visuddhimagga XIV
The Buddha once explained: I would make my bed in a charnel ground, with a skeleton for my pillow.. And cowherd boys came up and spat on me, urinated on me, threw dirt at me, and poked sticks into my ears! While others, exultant & thrilled brought me offerings of food, caskets of perfume & incense and garlands of flowers! Yet I do not recall, that I ever showed any partiality towards any of them... I was the same to them all! Neither arousing any fondness nor any aversion! This was my ultimate perfection of equanimity... MN 12 Lomahamsanapariyaya The Hair-raising Presentation Cariyapitaka III 15
The Blessed Buddha once said: Sabbadanam dhammadanam jinati Sabbarasam dhammaraso jinati Sabbaratim dhammarati jinati Tanhakkhayo sabbadukkham jinati.
The Supreme Triumph: The gift of Dhamma surpasses all other presents. The taste of Dhamma excels every other flavour. The delight of Dhamma exceeds any other happiness. Eradication of craving conquers all and any suffering...
As one repeats, develops and cultivates that equanimity about constructions, faith becomes more resolute, energy better exerted, awareness much better established, and mind better and deeper concentrated, as a consequence of, that this equanimity around all phenomena & formations grows more refined! This insight, leading to emergence, is called aloofness, which itself can eclipse even the delicate unified equanimity gained from a subtle mental unification... Experiencing disgust makes greed gradually fade away. With the fading away of greed, clinging evaporates. One is thereby liberated by this mental release. Purification by knowledge & vision of this way is the principal factor of purity! It is conforming to what is mentally utterly unpolluted... It is for this precious immaculate integrity, that this Noble life is lived under the Blessed Buddha! DN III 288, MN I 139, 147, III 220
The Greatest Sage did thus proclaim: This insight stilled, refined and purified! This round of rebirth's abysmal pit of pain, Is vast, entangling, deceptive and terrible! Any wise man should strive all the best he can, When hoping emergence from suffering to gain. Vism 671
The brahmin Magandiya asked the Buddha about how to become calmed: Not dwelling in the past, stilled in the present, one prefers no kind of future! Without irritation, without agitation, without regrets, without worry, neither boasting, nor proud, but humble and modest, one is indeed a restrained sage... Withdrawn, not opposed to anything, not wanting anything, all unconcerned, aloof, gentle, independent, for such one there exists neither craving or fear for any kind of existence, nor craving or fear for any form of non-existence... Such calmed one is indifferent to sense pleasures, detached, not clinging to any kind of property! For him there is nothing more to take up or lay down! For whatever others might accuse him, he remains tranquil and not agitated! Neither opposing anything, nor attracted to anything, with nothing of his own, not perturbed by what does not exist, such tranquil one is truly calmed! Sutta-Nipata 849-861 Edited excerpt.
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 Buddha Metteyya, the Friendly One, will be the last & 5th Buddha in this Aeon ! 1: One should give gifts (dana), 2: One should observe morality (sila), 3: One should practice meditation (bhavana), 4: One should be firm and determined (dalha), 5: One should wish sincerely to meet him with agitated mind (ubbigga-manasa), 6: One should be stirred by an acute sense of urgency (samvega), 7: The Observance days (uposatha) should be rigorously kept. 8: Friendliness (metta) should be quite carefully cultivated. 9: Deep Concentration (samadhi) should be regularly trained. 10: Real Understanding should be sought and achieved (pañña). Right behaviour (action=kamma) can be compared to having sound limbs... Right understanding can be compared to being able to see... If one or the other is missing, a person will be unsuccessful. If both is fully present, the person will be fully successful. Meeting the Metteyya Buddha opens the Doors to the Deathless Nibbana...
Gotama Buddha explained this about the Pacceka-Buddhas:
The muni Vedeha (Ananda) bowing his body, asked the Tathagata, who was staying at Jetavana: PaccekaBuddhas exist, yet by what reasons do they arise, 0h wise one? Then the best of the omniscient, the great wise one told the following to Ananda in a sweet voice:
Those who paid honour to all former Buddhas, without attaining liberation during the period in which their teaching was known, who are wise by means of sense of urgency, whose intelligence is very sharp, also without the instruction of Buddhas, these attain insight alone even by means of a tiny limited object of meditation... And furthermore, in this whole world, there is no one except me, equal to these PaccekaBuddhas. I shall clearly express the following, only an short description, of the distinction of these great heroic Munis (silenced ones)...
Listen, all of you, who wish for the highest medicine, your attention should be very calm, always directed to their good words, which are sweet like fine honey of those great wise men, who are fully & perfectly enlightened all by themselves!
These are the explanations of PaccekaBuddhas, who assembled on Mount Gandhamadana, pronounced one after the other, about the sorrow of any desire and the cause of the overcoming of all craving, & how they attained their insight. Conscious of the absence of lust, while being in the midst of the objects of lust, their minds are dispassionate in an infatuated world, having dumped the proliferations, & subdued all obstructions, they all attained insight thus:
Putting aside any violence to all beings, not hurting any of them, good and compassionate, with a mind filled with friendliness, one should live, alone, like the horn of a rhinoceros...
Their morality are pure, their wisdom purified, their minds are concentrated, practicing watchfulness, reflecting, seeing the characteristics of the dhamma, they understand it, having developed all the elements of the Noble Way and the Links to Enlightenment...
Having perfected the fulfillment of merit, with the motive to become a solitary conqueror, they become PaccekaBuddhas, self-existent, independent, such is destination of the wise, who does not attain the state of a disciple during the time in which, there still remains the knowledge of the SammaSamBuddhas teaching...
Their dhamma being great, being all sublime manifestations of the core essential dhamma, powerful are their minds, having overcome the flood of suffering, their minds are exalted, seeing the highest & deepest truth, they are like lions, like the horn of a rhinoceros...
With serene senses, calm, concentrated, remembering all beings in remote border districts, illuminating like lamps in the other world and in this world, thus are these PaccekaBuddhas, always good...
Having destroyed all hindrances, these kings of men, illuminators of the world, shining like pure solid gold, undoubtedly worthy of any gifts in this world, are these PaccekaBuddhas, always good...
There are in this world together with the divine world, good teachings of PaccekaBuddhas. Those fools, who after having heard these, do not act accordingly, whirl round in suffering again and again...
Those who act accordingly, having heard the good words of PaccekaBuddhas, which are like pure streaming honey of small delicate bees, become seers of the truths, possessing Wisdom! Thus spoke the Gotama Buddha about those solitary ones Awakened like a rhinoceros horn...
The Blessed Buddha once said: And how, Bhikkhus, is the mental release by universal pity achieved? What does this liberation have as its destination, what is its culmination, what is its sweet fruit, and what is the goal of release by universal pity? Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu dwells pervading the frontal quadrant with a mind imbued with infinite pity, so the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter. As above, so below, across, and everywhere! To all beings and to himself, he dwells pervading the entire universe with a mind saturated with unlimited pity, immense, exalted, vast, measureless, without hostility, without enmity, without any trace of ill will! Thus prepared & expanded he then develops: 1: The Awareness Link to Awakening joined with this limitless pity. 2: The Investigation Link to Awakening fused with such vast pity. 3: The Energy Link to Awakening together with this infinite pity. 4: The Joy Link to Awakening accompanied with this absolute pity. 5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening linked with this spacious pity. 6: The Concentration Link to Awakening associated with this great pity. 7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening joined with this endless pity. While based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, & culminating in release. If he then wishes: May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in the unrepulsive and tempting, then he can dwell experiencing the repulsive therein. If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in the disgusting and repulsive, then he dwells experiencing pleasing beauty in whatever is disgusting! If he then wishes: May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in what is both unrepulsive and repulsive, he dwells experiencing repulsive disgust in it. If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in what is both unrepulsive and repulsive, he experiences only excessive beauty in it! If he wishes: Avoiding both the repulsive and the unrepulsive, may I dwell in equanimity, just aware & clearly comprehending, then he dwells in this equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending. Or else, by completely transcending of all experience of form, fully stilling any perception of all sense-reaction, non attending to any experience of diversity, only aware that space is infinite, he enters and dwells in the infinitude of space... I tell you Bhikkhus, for a wise Bhikkhu here, who has not yet penetrated to an even more superior mental release, this release of mind by infinite pity has the sublime sphere of the infinitude of space as its culmination!
Source of reference (edited extract): The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book [V: 115-21] 46: The Links. 54: Joined by Friendliness...
Simple Satisfaction, Liberation, and the Ultimate Release!
The Blessed Buddha once said: There is the satisfaction of the flesh. There is a mental liberation not of this world. There is an ultimate release far beyond even subtle unworldly liberation! And what, Bhikkhus, is carnal satisfaction? Satisfaction with whatever form, or sensation that is carnal satisfaction. And what is the mental liberation, which is not of this world? Liberation from any formless state is liberation, which is not of this world. Finally, friends, what is the ultimate release beyond unworldly liberation? When a Bhikkhu, whose mental fermentations are eliminated, reviews his stilled mind released from all lust, freed from all hatred, and completely cleared from all confusion, then there occurs a transcendental deliverance. This is called the release beyond that release, which is not of this world...
1st Perfection: Generosity (Dana): Just as a water pot turned upside down lets all its liquid run out, and takes none of it back, so is the perfection of generosity not having the slightest remorse over what has been given away, even when sacrificing everything! 2nd Perfection: Morality (Sila): Just as a yak whose tail is caught in bush will rather die than to tear it off, so consists the perfection of morality in being meticulously careful about keeping all precepts and promises & not breaking them in any circumstance, even if being threatened with death! 3rd Perfection: Withdrawal (Nekkhamma): Just as one imprisoned in jail does not desire anything more intensely than to get out of there, so the perfection of withdrawing renunciation consists in the longing to get out of the prison of transitory existence & having only this one wish: To spit out the impermanent, to be rid of it once and for all! 4th Perfection: Understanding (Pañña): Just as a monk on alms-round neglects no house, but goes to all the families without exception, so the perfection of understanding consists in leaving no gaps, leaving nothing out, & of being ready to learn from all wise people, who are more advanced, even though they may be younger than oneself. 5th Perfection: Energy (Viriya): Just as a lion marshals his strength whether standing, going, or sitting even so does the perfection of energetic & enthusiastic effort consist in keeping on striving with initiative launching into action, that endures until fulfilment! 6th Perfection: Patience (Khanti): Just as the great earth accepts even the most disgusting things thrown onto it, so consists the perfection of patience in accepting slander, disgrace and every disrespect without aversion, enduring them, while letting them pass. 7th Perfection: Honesty (Sacca): Just as a star never strays from its fixed orbit, so consists the perfection of honest truthfulness in not lying under any circumstances, not moving even an inch from the actual and real truth for any trivial advantage whatsoever. 8th Perfection: Determination (Adhitthana): Just as a mountain stands immoveable even in the strongest storm and is incapable of being thrown over, so consists the perfection of determination in remaining unshakeable in one's advantageous choices and not being able to be distracted by anything when pursuing something good and beneficial. 9th Perfection: Friendliness (Metta): Just as water refreshes and cleanses both just and unjust persons without discrimination, so does the perfection of friendliness include both friends and foes alike and doesn't display any distinction, favouritism, or partiality. 10th Perfection: Equanimity (Upekkha): Just as the great earth remains unmoved and equanimous, avoiding like and dislike whether one throws pure or impure things onto it, even so does the perfection of equanimity consist in always remaining, calm and composed, neither being repulsed nor attracted, whether by any pain or any pleasure. Imperturbable even in strong conflicts as well as in the greatest success!
Sujata perfecting generosity by giving The Buddha his last meal before Awakening!
Source: Buddhavamsa II verses 117-166 (Edited Excerpt): In: Similes of the Buddha: An introduction BP 427S by Hellmuth Hecker. Tr. Ven. Khantipalo and Ven. Piyadhammo. Ed. Ven. Nyanatusita. http://www.bps.lk Have a nice & noble day!
Laziness overcomes one strong in concentration and weak in energy, since concentration favours idle inaction... Agitation and restlessness overpowers one strong in energy and weak in concentration, because energy stimulate agitation... But concentration coupled & ballanced with energy cannot lapse into laziness, & energy coupled & ballanced with concentration cannot provoke restlessness... Therefore should these two abilities be ballanced, since excellence of effort and mental absorption arises out of the even ballancing of the mental abilities.
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...
Medin Poya day is the full-moon of March. This holy day celebrates that the Buddha visits his parental home after his supreme Enlightenment, and ordains his son prince Rahula, & half brother Nanda. This day is also called: The Sangha Day, since on this full-moon 1250 Arahats spontaneously met & assembled around the Buddha without any call. Buddha then spoke the famous Ovada Patimokkha core teaching!
On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days: Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head touch the floor. Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites these memorized lines in a loud, calm & steady voice:
As long as this life lasts: I hereby take refuge in the Buddha. I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma. I hereby take refuge in the Sangha. I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time. I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time. I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time. I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time. I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time. I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time. I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!
I accept to respect, keep & 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 Lying & Cheating. 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...
As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts... Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's own eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to this world! The journey towards Nibbana: The Deathless is hereby started! This is the Noble Way to Absolute Peace, to Complete Freedom, to Ultimate Happiness, initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and fulfilled by training of Meditation...
Today indeed is Pooya or Uposatha or observance day, where any lay Buddhist normally keeps also the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha, they may simply forward the lines starting with "I hereby ..." signed with name, date, town, & country to me or join here. A public list of this new quite rapidly growing global web Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!
The Energy Link to Awakening (Viriya-sambojjhanga) : Is basically the same mental property (viriya-cetasika), as that which performs any effort of action and which also is inherently included in the: The Energy Feet of Force (viriyiddhipada) The Ability of Energy (viriyindriya) The Power of Energy (viriyabala) The Right Effort Path Factor (samma-vayama-magganga) When trained, developed and aroused energy is capable of enlightening!
The Buddha once said: What mental fermentations (asava) should be overcome by development? If a Bhikkhu by careful & rational attention develops the Energy Link to Awakening based on seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, & culminating in relinquishment, then neither can any mental fermentation, nor any fever, or discontent ever arise in him.[i] MN2 [i 11]
In one who examines, finds out why, & comes to assured comprehension, in him his energy link to awakening becomes aroused. He develops it, & for him it goes to the culmination of its development.MN118 [iii 85]
The ability of energy is to initiate, launch into action and to complete any undertaking using persistent endurance. When this ability becomes unshakable and unfailing, it then becomes the mighty Power of Energy!
The function of energy is this four-fold Right Effort of: 1: Eradicating evil & disadvantageous states that have arisen in the mind. 2: Preventing the arising of yet unarisen disadvantageous mental states. 3: Initiating and developing yet unarisen advantageous mental states. 4: Increasing, refining & completing already arisen advantageous states. The characteristic of energy is readiness, willingness, enthusiastic ease, eager and keen vigour. The manifestation of energy is action, exertion, endeavour, industry, struggle, powerful striving and accomplishment!
Lazy: The one, who does not rise, when it is time to rise. Who though young and strong, is weak in mind, soft in will, and lazy by nature, such slow one does never find the way to Nibbana. Dhammapada 280
Get up! Sit up! Of what use are your dreams? How can you sleep, when sick, stabbed by the arrow of craving... Sutta Nipata 331
Get up! Sit up! Push on your training, until reaching sole peace! Do not let the king of death see you sloppy and thus delude and dominate you like a toy doll... Sutta Nipata 332
Feeding the Energy: And what, friends, is feeding the Energy Link to Enlightenment, that has not yet arised, and food too for boosting of any present Energy? 1: The element of mental initiative, 2: The element of launching into action, 3: The element of enduring persistence. Systematic attention to these, is feeding any yet unarisen Energy Link to Awakening, and food too for boosting any present Energy. Samyutta Nikaya XLVI 51 Bojjhanga-samyutta
Fivefold final Energy: Following the Buddha the energy in the disciple culminates, when he finally thinks: Let just this blood and flesh dry up & wither away so only skin, sinews and bones remain, I will not give up my quest and stray from this Noble 8-fold Path before having reached Enlightenment...!
The Tranquillity Link to Awakening (passaddhi-sambojjhanga) has the characteristic of peace, and the function of stilling, which manifests as absence of restless trembling. Stillness of feeling, perception and mental construction is the factor that induces bodily Tranquillity. Stillness of consciousness itself induces mental Tranquillity. The proximate cause of Tranquillity is the satisfaction within Joy! The resulting effect of Tranquillity is the bliss within Happiness!
The Buddha once said: What mental fermentations (asava) should be overcome by development? If a Bhikkhu by careful & rational attention develops the Tranquillity Link to Awakening based on seclusion, based on disillusion, based on ceasing, and culminating in cool relinquishment, then neither can mental fermentation, nor any fever, nor any discontent ever arise in him. MN2 [i 11]
In one who is joyous, the body becomes calm & the mind becomes calm. The Tranquillity Link to Awakening emerges right there. He develops it, & for him it goes to the culmination of its development. MN118 [iii 85]
CALMED Calm is his thought, calm is his speech, and calm is his deed, who, truly knowing, is wholly freed, perfectly tranquil and wise. Dhammapada 96
CONTENT The one who eliminates discontent, tearing it out by the roots, utterly cuts it out, such one spontaneously becomes absorbed in the calm of tranquillity both day & night. Dhammapada 250
COMPOSED The one who is tranquil in movement, calmed in speech, stilled in thought, collected & composed, who sees right through & rejects all allurements of this world, such one is truly a 'Peaceful One'. Dhammapada 378
Generosity means willingness to give and share whatever. Generosity means magnanimous and open-handed liberality. Generosity means freedom from small and stingy pettiness. Generosity means practicing charity for the poor and unfortunate. Generosity means kind bigheartedness towards those worthy of it. Generosity means warmhearted and altruistic unselfishness. Generosity provides the kammic cause for later wealth.. Giving causes Getting... No Giving causes future Poverty!
The Blessed Buddha explained the treasure of generosity like this: When a disciple of the Noble Ones whose mind and mentality is all cleared of disgracing miserliness, living at home, is freely generous and open-handed, delighting in being magnanimous, responsive to every request and, is enjoying the giving of any alms. Such is this treasure called generosity. AN VII 6
Just as a filled pot, which is overturned, pours out all its water, leaving nothing back, even and exactly so should one give to those in need. whether low, middle or high, like the overturned pot, holding nothing back…!!! Jataka Nidana [128-129]
The Generosity of Giving, The Kindness in Speech, The Benefit of Service, The Impartiality of treating all Alike, These 4 threads of Sympathy upholds this world, like the axle do the cart! AN II 32
Giving food, one gives and later gets strength Giving clothes, one gives and later gets beauty Giving light, one gives and later gets vision Giving transportation, one gives and later gets ease. Giving shelter one gives all, Yet one who instructs in the True Dhamma - The supreme Teaching of the Buddhas - Such one gives the quite divine ambrosia! SN I 32
These are these five rewards of generosity: One is liked and charming to people at large, One is admired and respected by wise people, One's good reputation is spread wide about, One does not neglect a householder's true duty, and with the break-up of the body - at the moment of death - one reappears in a happy destination, in the plane of the divine worlds! AN V.35
There are these two kinds of gifts: material gifts and gifts of Dhamma. The supreme gift is that of Dhamma. There are these two kinds of sharing: material sharing and sharing of Dhamma. The supreme sharing is that of Dhamma. There are these two kinds of help: Material help and help with the Dhamma. This is the supreme of the two: help with this subtle Dhamma … It 98
The gift of Dhamma exceeds all other gifts. Dhammapada 354
The Bodhisatta once as king Sivi gave both his eyes to a beggar who was Sakka the king deity in disguise, who desired to test him. He remembered "While I was wishing to give, while I was giving and after this giving there was neither contrariety, nor opposition in my mind since it was for the purpose of awakening itself! Neither were these eyes, nor the rest of myself disagreeable to me. Omniscience was dear to me, therefore I gave both my eyes." The Basket of Conduct Cariyapitaka I-8 Full story: Sivi Jataka no. 499
The Bodhisatta once as the Wise Hare gave his roasted body as alms to a beggar by jumping into a fire: He remembered: "There came a beggar and asked for food. Myself I gave so that he might eat. In alms-giving there was none equal to me. In alms I had thereby reached the absolute ultimate perfection." From then and the rest of this world-cycle the moon will display a characteristic 'hare-in-the-moon' sign! Sasa-Jataka no. 316
Giving of things, treasures, external possessions, job, position, wife, and child is the first perfection of giving. Giving the offer of one's organs, limbs, and senses is the second higher perfection of giving. Giving the sacrifice of one's life is the ultimate perfection of giving. The clarifier of sweet meaning 89 (Commentary on Buddhavamsa) Madhuratthavilasini [59] Venerable Buddhadatta: 5th century.
Generosity is the first mental perfection (parami): Clinging and egoism creates internal panic and social tension. Giving and sharing creates internal elation and external harmony... What is gladly given, returns more than thousandfold! Giving requires Relinquishing! Giving is Anti-Clinging! Giving is the opposite mental state of Greed...
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The ongoing upgrade of the Micro-Hydro-Power plant here at the Hermitage is almost finalized! See also: http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/Hydro_Power_Update.htm The new transformers, rectifiers, regulators, dump-loads and second pipe-line have all been installed. However the hydro-turbine impeller was unexpectedly found to be worn paper-thin by sand & silt over almost 5 years of continuous use. It can last only ~2 months more! Bearings was replaced without hazzle. A new longer-lasting stainless steel Pelton impeller oa. hardware is thus now needed. Donations for this Noble Purpose facilitating the worldwide Daily Dhamma sharing presently reaching out to a growing ~20.000 individuals+ is very Welcome below. :-) Quite Many Thanx in Advance!
If friendship between animal beings can cross even remote species borders, so can and should we humans also make our kind friendship extend beyond any national, religious, cultural, gender, educational, job, and age border! Only in this very good way, can we establish a society, where we can sleep with the doors open, and dance with the children in our arms. So be it :-)
May all creatures, all breathing things, all beings one and all, without exception, experience good fortune only. May they not fall into any harm. Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
With good will for the entire cosmos, cultivate a limitless heart & mind: Beaming above, below, & all around, unobstructed, without trace of hostility. Sutta Nipata I, 8
For one who deliberately & aware develops Universal Friendliness Seeing the fading away of clinging, All chains are worn down & broken. Itivuttaka 27
Let no one deceive another or despise anyone anywhere, or through anger or irritation wish for another to suffer. Sutta Nipata I, 8
I am a friend of the footless, I am a friend of all bipeds; I am a friend of those with four feet, I am a friend of the many-footed! Anguttara Nikaya 4.67
As I am, so are others... As others are, so am I... Having thus identified self and others, Never Harm anyone, nor have any abused. Sutta Nipata 3.710
Among tigers, lions, leopards & bears I lived in the jungle. No one was frightened of me, nor did I fear anyone. Uplifted by such universal friendliness, I enjoyed the forest. Finding great solace in such sweetly silenced solitude… Suvanna-sama Jataka 540
Train yourself in doing good that lasts and brings happiness. Cultivate generosity, the life of peace, and a mind of infinite universal love. Itivuttaka 22
The 9th mental Perfection is Friendliness (Metta): Just as water refreshes and cleanses both just and unjust persons without discrimination, so does the perfection of friendliness include both friends and foes alike, and doesn't enact any distinction, favouritism, or partiality.
What are the 8 Training Rules (Precepts), which brings Divinity?
The Blessed Buddha once said: The habitual praxis of the observance day endowed with eight features brings high reward and blessing, & is of sublime dignity and greatness. And which are these eight features? In this, any Noble Disciple considers within himself: Throughout their life the Arahats avoid all stealing of others' property and abstain from any cheating. Always waiting till whatever thing is freely and only openly given, free from any thievish intent, they remain intact and pure both in mind & moral! May also I, this day and night, avoid all stealing & not cheat anyone. By that I will follow the traits of these perfected Arahats! I shall then have observed the Uposatha observance day perfectly. With this second praxis is the observance day enriched. Observed in this very way, the observance day endowed with eight features brings high - even divine - reward & blessing & is of sublime dignity and immense greatness...
The one, who never takes, what is not freely & openly given, whether long or short, fine or foul, exquisite or ordinary, such one is a Holy One. Dhammapada 409
Behaviour that counts as ways of stealing: Cheating with values, documents, weights or measures, embezzlement, corruption, fraud, misappropriation, robbery, theft, swindling, trickery, forgery, counterfeit, extortion, bribing, blackmail, tax-evasion, false accounting, double book-keeping, over-prizing, pirating, deliberate false valuation of assets, and insurance fraud...!
When one's resentment towards any hostile person has been allayed, then one can deliberately turn mind with loving-kindness towards any person: Both the very dear friend, the neutral person and the hostile opponent! By repeated praxis of meditation on infinite friendliness one gradually breaks down the mental barrier of evil opposition thereby accomplishing mental impartiality towards the 4 persons: oneself, the very dear person, the neutral person and the hostile person. Suppose a trainee is sitting in a place with a dear, a neutral, and a hostile person, himself being the 4th. Then bandits come to him and say, 'Venerable friend, give us a person so that we may kill him and use the blood of his throat as an offering'...! When one does not see a single one among these four people suitable to be given to the bandits and one directs mind impartially towards oneself and towards those three people, then one has broken down the barriers...
Breaking the Barrier to: Impartiality
Therefore the Ancient Nobles said: When he does not discriminates between the 4 persons: That is: Himself, the dear, the neutral, and the hostile one, Then "Skilled" is not the name he gets, nor "Most Friendly", But only "Kind towards all beings". Now when a bhikkhu's barriers towards all the 4 persons have been broken down, Then he treats with equal amity all beings in the whole world; Exalted and distinguished is he, who knows no barriers... Vism 307
Entangled by the bonds of hate, one who seeks his own happiness, by inflicting pain on others, is never ever delivered from neither pain, nor hatred. Dhammapada 291
The Blessed Buddha once said: When attending rationally sense-desire neither arises, nor expand. When attending rationally evil-will neither arises, nor later expand. When attending rationally lethargy & laziness does neither emerge nor grow. When attending rationally restlessness & regret cannot arise or amplify. When attending rationally doubt & uncertainty do not begin or blow up. Furthermore, when attending carefully & rationally to cause and effect: The awareness link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed. The investigation link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed. The energy link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed. The joy link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed. The tranquillity link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed. The concentration link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed. The equanimity link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed!
Comments
Avoiding the Extremes Opens Way to Peace!
The blessed Buddha once explained:
There are these two extremes, which should not be practiced by any one,
who has begun purification: The hunt for sensual pleasures, which is low,
vulgar, the common way of ordinary worldlings, ignoble, disadvantageous;
and any practice of self-torture, which is painful, ignoble, and also quite
disadvantageous! Without veering towards either of these extremes, the
well-come-well-gone-beyond Buddha has awakened to this Middle Way,
which leads to assured vision, to direct knowledge, which leads to ease,
to peace, to certain knowledge, to Enlightenment, to Nibbana...
And what is that Middle Way awakened to by the Buddha, which leads to
assured vision, to direct knowledge, which leads to ease, to peace, to all
certain knowledge, to Enlightenment, to Nibbana?
It is this very Noble 8-fold Way: That is
Right View
Right Motivation
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Awareness
Right Concentration
That is indeed the very Middle Way awakened to by the Blessed Buddha,
which leads to assured vision, to direct knowledge, which leads to ease,
to certain knowledge, to Peace, to Bliss, to Enlightenment, to Nibbana...
Further study on the Noble 8-fold Way:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Noble_8_fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_3-fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Failed_by_Neglect.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Noble_8-Fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fruits_of_the_Noble_Way.htm
Source:
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV [330-1]
Section 42: On The 6 Senses. Rasiya: 12.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Avoiding the Extremes Produces Peace...
The Golden Middle Way!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/Middle_Way.htm
Beyond all Doubt, Perplexity and Confusion!
The Blessed Buddha once said: There are 5 primary mental Abilities:
1: The ability of Faith (saddha)
2: The ability of Energy (viriya)
3: The ability of Awareness (sati)
4: The ability of Concentration (samadhi)
5: The ability of Understanding (pañña)
All these fine abilities culminate in the Deathless Destination,
which is their final goal, home, purpose, and resulting effect...
When having seen, known, understood, directly experienced,
fully realized and touched this through wisdom, then one is
quite beyond all doubt, uncertainty, perplexity and confusion!
The Ability to See forms is similar to the ability to Understand ideas!
More on the 5 prime mental Abilities (indriya):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Five_Abilities_Summary.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_the_Abilities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fruits_of_the_Abilities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Finding_the_Abilities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Final_Abilities.htm
Both is done by human brain neuron cells by transmitting signals!
Source:
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book V [221]
Section 48: On The 6 Abilities. The Eastern Gatehouse: 44.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
Being Beyond Doubt!
5 Abilities Overcome all Doubt, Perplexity and Confusion!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Final_Destination.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
Proof:
The beings above are without many possessions, yet seemingly quite content!
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
Mental Hindrances => Neglect & Ruin:
The Blessed Buddha once said:
One whose mind is dominated by greed, lust, desire, and envy or jealously
will do, whatever should not be done, and neglect whatever should be done!
As a consequence of that, his good reputation is lost and his contentment &
happiness falls into ruin. Exactly so with anyone whose mind is overwhelmed
by anger and grumbling ill-will or overcome, slowed down & stagnated by the
hindrance of lethargy & laziness or agitated, scattered, and worried by the
hindrance of restlessness & regret or perplexed, confused and bewildered
by the hindrance of doubt & uncertainty... Such one will do what should not
be done at all, while neglecting what actually should be done. As a result of
that, his good name & status is lost & he is ruined by depressed frustration.
But if any Noble Disciple has seen these five as contaminated pollutions of
the mind, then he will gradually overcome & eliminate them. When doing so,
he becomes known as one of deep understanding, of fine & great knowledge,
clear-sighted, endowed with wisdom. This lack of mental hindrance is indeed
exactly, what is called endowment with wisdom!
There are these five Mental Hindrances:
1: Sense-Desire & Lust,
2: Hate and Anger,
3: Lethargy & Laziness,
4: Restlessness & Regret,
5: Doubt & Uncertainty.
How to break and overcome these 5 Mental Hindrances (Nivaranas):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_5_Mental_Hindrances.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Feeding_the_Hindrances.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Starving_the_Hindrances.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_5_Become_10.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Canal.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Suitable_Substitution.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4c.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Fire_of_Sense-Desire.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Colourful_but_Muddy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Anger_and_Irritation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Lethargy_and_Laziness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Restlessness_and_Regret.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Doubt_and_Uncertainty.htm
The Hindrances Blocks any Progress and Makes your Future Barren!
Source (edited extract):
The Numerical Sayings of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya.
The Book of Fours 61: Four deeds of Merit... [II: 67]
Really Suffocating, yet not easily Visible!
Unhindered means Freedom!
Mental Hindrances induce Neglect and Ruin!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Endowed_with_Wisdom.htm
How is Release by Equanimity Achieved?
The Blessed Buddha once said:
And how, Bhikkhus, is release of mind by serene equanimity (Upekkha)
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 neutral & imperturbable equanimity?
Here, a Bhikkhu dwells pervading first the entire frontal quadrant,
with a mind imbued with infinite equanimity, so the second quadrant,
the 3rd quadrant, and the 4th quadrant. As above, so below, across,
and everywhere, & as to all beings also to himself, he dwells pervading
the entire universe with a mind saturated with unlimited equanimity,
immense, exalted, measureless, without hostility, without any enmity,
without any ill will! Thus prepared and expanded, he then develops:
1: The Awareness Link to Awakening joined with limitless equanimity.
2: The Investigation Link to Awakening fused with such equanimity.
3: The Energy Link to Awakening together with infinite equanimity.
4: The Joy Link to Awakening accompanied with absolute equanimity.
5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening linked with serene equanimity.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening associated with equanimity.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening joined with endless equanimity.
Based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and culminating in release.
If he then wishes:
May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in any unrepulsive & tempting,
then he can dwell experiencing repulsiveness therein. If he wishes:
May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in any disgusting & repulsive,
then he dwells experiencing pleasing beauty in whatever disgusting!
If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in what is both
unrepulsive & repulsive, he dwells experiencing repulsive disgust in it.
If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in what is both
unrepulsive & repulsive, he experiences only unrepulsive beauty by it!
If he wishes: Avoiding both the repulsive and the unrepulsive, may I
dwell in equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending, then he
dwells in equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending! Or else,
completely transcending the realm of infinitude of consciousness,
only aware that there is nothing, he enters & dwells in the sphere of
the void, empty & vacuous nothingness.. I tell you Bhikkhus for a wise
Bhikkhu here, who has not yet penetrated to an even more superior
mental release, the mental release by imperturbable equanimity has
the subtle sphere of the nothingness as its final culmination !
More on this serene mental state of Equanimity (Upekkha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Even_is_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/High_and_Alert.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Divorced_Freedom.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Serene_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Empty_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Exquisite_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Equanimity_Upekkha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/upekkhaa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unshakable_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Imperturbable_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Serene_Equanimity_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/tatra_majjhattataa.htm
Source of reference (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 115-21] 46: The Links. 54: Joined by Friendliness...
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Imperturbability induces Peace...
Serene is Equanimity!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Empty_Equanimity.htm
How is constant Awareness Established only by Breathing?
Sitting cross-legged, with straight back, elevated chin, in a silent place, the
yogi remains focusing all attention on the touch point of air in his nostrils:
Fully aware one inhales and fully aware one exhales...
When inhaling a long breath, one notices that...
When exhaling a long breath, one notices that...
When inhaling a short breath, one notices that...
When exhaling a short breath, one notices that...
Experiencing the whole body, one inhales...
Experiencing the whole body, one exhales...
Calming all bodily activity, one inhales...
Calming all bodily activity, one exhales...
One trains thus: Experiencing joyous rapture, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing joyous rapture, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing a happy pleasure, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing a happy pleasure, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing all mental activity, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing all mental activity, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Calming all mental activity, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Calming all mental activity, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing all mentality as mood, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing all mentality as mood, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Satisfying and gladdening the mind, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Satisfying and gladdening the mind, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Focusing the mind by concentration, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Focusing the mind by concentration, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Releasing the mind from hindrance, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Releasing the mind from hindrance, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Considering the impermanence of change, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Considering the impermanence of change, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Considering the detachment in disillusion, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Considering the detachment in disillusion, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Considering the stilling within cessation, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Considering the stilling within cessation, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Considering open and freed relinquishing, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Considering open and freed relinquishing, I will exhale...
This is how continuous Awareness is established just by breathing!!!
Breathing meditation can bring the yogi into 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Jhana...
It is a unique praxis used by all Buddhas at their very Enlightenment!!!
Details are found in this Meditation Manual:
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/pdfs/anapanasati.pdf
More on Awareness by Breathing (Anapana-sati):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_I.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_II.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/1_Producing_4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_IV.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_III.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Four_Fulfilling_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Magnificent_Meditation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/anapana_sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Experiencing_the_Breath.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Breathing_Calm_and_Insight.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Peaceful_and_Sublime_on_the_Spot.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unique_Thing_Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
Source:
Middle Length Sayings of the Buddha. Majjhima Nikaya 118 Anapanasati:
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=25072X
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/majjhima/mn118.html
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Breath Meditation!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
Having Free Choice of Emotional Response?
Bhikkhus, the concentration gained by Awareness by Breathing,
when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit & advantage.
And how, Bhikkhus, is concentration by Awareness by Breathing
developed & cultivated so that it is of great fruit & advantage?
Bhikkhus, when a Bhikkhu, who have gone to the forest, or to the
root of a tree, or to an empty hut, there he sits down cross-legged,
having straightened his body and back, & set up awareness around
the nostrils, then just plain aware of that itself he breathes in, and
then just solely aware of only that breathing itself he breathes out...
1: Breathing in long, he knows, notes & understands: I inhale long!
Breathing out long, he knows, notes & understands: I exhale long!
... ... ... (steps 2-15)
16: He trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in!
He trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out!
It is, Bhikkhus, when Awareness by Breathing is trained, developed
& refined in exactly this way that it is of great fruit & advantage!
I too, Bhikkhus, before my enlightenment, while still a Bodhisatta,
generally dwelt in this dwelling. Then neither did my body, nor did
my eyes became tired & my mind, by not clinging, was freed from
the mental fermentations...
Therefore, Bhikkhus, if a Bhikkhu wishes: May neither my body
nor my eyes become tired & may my mind, by not clinging, become
freed from the mental fermentations, this same concentration
won by Awareness by Breathing should be closely attended to.
Therefore, Bhikkhus, if a Bhikkhu wishes: May all the memories
and motivations of the household life be left all behind by me,
then this same concentration by Awareness by Breathing should
be frequently trained and enthusiastically attended to.
Therefore, Bhikkhus, if a Bhikkhu should come to wish:
May I perceive only disgust in what is attractive & tempting... or
May I perceive only beauty in what is repulsive & disgusting... or
May I dwell unaffected in equanimity & quite aloof of both the
attractive & the repulsive, just aware & clearly comprehending...
then this same concentration by Awareness by Breathing should
be cultivated often and devoted much wholehearted attention!
More on this sublime technique used by all Buddhas at Awakening:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unique_Thing_Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Manual/Meditation.Manual.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/anapana_sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/pdfs/anapanasati.pdf
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:316-7]
section 54: Anapanasamyutta. Thread 8: The simile of the Lamp!
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Free Choice of Emotional Response!
The Lamp!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_I.htm
Friends:
Breathing in-&-out can produce Absorption!
The blessed Buddha once explained:
Bhikkhus, the concentration gained by Awareness by Breathing, when trained,
is of great fruit and advantage. And how, Bhikkhus, is this concentration by
Awareness by Breathing developed and cultivated so that it is of great fruit
and advantage? Bhikkhus, when one have gone to the forest, or to the root of
a tree, or to an empty hut, there one sits down cross-legged, having made one's
body and back straight, and set up awareness around the nostrils, then just
plain aware of that breathing in itself one breathes in, and just solely aware
of only that breathing in itself one breathes out...
1: Breathing in long, one knows, notes and understands: I inhale long!
Breathing out long, one knows, notes and understands: I exhale long!
... ... ... (steps 2-15)
One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in!
One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out!
Therefore, Bhikkhus, if a friend wishes: May I become secluded from all sense
desires, protected from any detrimental mental state, and thereby enter and
dwell in the 1st jhana, which is directed thought and sustained thinking joined
with Joy and pleasure born of solitude, then this very same concentration by
Awareness by Breathing should be cultivated often & devoted much attention!
Furthermore if such friend should wish: By the stilling & fading of all directed
and sustained thought, may I enter & dwell in the 2nd jhana, which is a calmed
assurance fixed by solid mental unification and joined with Joy & pleasure now
born of a concentration devoid of any active thinking, then this same method:
Awareness by Breathing should be trained often & devoted sincere attention!
Even further; if one should wish: With the fading away of joy, may I dwell in
composed equanimity, just open, aware and clearly comprehending, still feeling
pleasure in this body, by entering upon and remaining in the 3rd jhana, about
which the Noble Ones declare: "In aware Equanimity one dwells in pleasure!",
then this very same exercise: Awareness by Breathing should be developed
regularly and dedicated much earnest consideration! Finally if one should wish:
With the leaving all behind of both pleasure and pain, even as with the prior
disappearance of both Joy and sorrow, may I enter and dwell in the 4th jhana,
which is an entirely silenced state of utter awareness, purified by Equanimity
of neither-pain-nor-pleasure, then this same praxis: Awareness by Breathing
should be repeated daily & thus made a primary priority due to its importance!
The sublime Awareness by Breathing (Anapana-sati) used by all Buddhas:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_I.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/pdfs/anapanasati.pdf
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_II.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_IV.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/1_Producing_4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_III.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Four_Fulfilling_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Magnificent_Meditation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Experiencing_the_Breath.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/anapana_sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Breathing_Calm_and_Insight.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Peaceful_and_Sublime_on_the_Spot.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unique_Thing_Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:316-7]
section 54: Anapanasamyutta. Thread 8: The simile of the Lamp!
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Mind becomes Exalted, when One-Pointed!
Absorption by Breathing!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_II.htm
If one wish to experience Infinite Formlessness?
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Bhikkhus, the concentration gained by Awareness by Breathing,
when developed & cultivated, is of great fruit & big advantage...
And how, Bhikkhus, is concentration by Awareness by Breathing
developed & cultivated so that it is of great fruit & advantage?
Bhikkhus, when one have gone to the forest, or to the root of a
tree, or to an empty hut, there one sits down cross-legged, having
straightened one's body and back, and set up awareness around
the nostrils, then just plain aware of that itself one breathes in,
& just solely aware of only that breathing itself one breathes out...
Breathing in long, one knows, notes and understands: I inhale long!
Breathing out long, one knows, notes & understands: I exhale long!
... ... ... (steps 2-15) ... ... ...
One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in!
One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out!
Therefore, Bhikkhus, if a friend wishes: May I, via the complete
transcendence of experience of form, with the passing away and
silencing of sensory reaction, without giving any attention to any
experience of any diversity, detail or any difference whatsoever,
just solely aware that this open space is indeed infinite & endless,
enter & dwell immersed in the sphere of this infinitude of space,
then this same concentration by Awareness by Breathing should
be cultivated often and devoted much wholehearted attention!
Furthermore if such friend should wish: By the transcendence of
this infinitude of space, just singly aware that consciousness is
infinite, may I enter and dwell all immersed in that sphere of the
infinitude of consciousness; then Awareness by Breathing should
also here be trained often and devoted much sincere attention!
Even further; if one should wish: May I, by wholly transcending
this subtle sphere of the infinity of consciousness, only aware of
that there is nothing, enter & dwell in empty void of nothingness,
then this very same exercise: Awareness by Breathing should be
trained regularly and dedicated much earnest consideration!
Even more; if one should wish: May I, by thoroughly transcending
this delicate sphere of void nothingness, enter and dwell in the
refined sphere of inert neither-perception-nor-non-perception,
then this very same exercise: Awareness by Breathing should be
trained regularly and dedicated much earnest consideration!
Finally; if one should wish: By leaving all behind, and transcending
even this placid sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception,
may I enter & dwell in the ultimate ceasing of perception & feeling
then this very same sublime meditation: Awareness by Breathing
should be repeated everyday and thus given the primary priority!
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:316-7]
section 54: Anapanasamyutta. Thread 8: The simile of the Lamp!
More on this sublime technique used by all Buddhas at Awakening:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unique_Thing_Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Concentration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Concentration_Samadhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Manual/Meditation.Manual.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/anapana_sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_II.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_I.htm
Mindfulness of Breathing. Meditation manual by Bhikkhu Ñanamoli. BPS. 1998.
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/pdfs/anapanasati.pdf
On the formless (arupa) Jhanas and Ceasing: nirodha-samapatti:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/9_Stillings.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/g_m/jhaana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/nirodha_samaapatti.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Calm and Insight!
Reaching Formlessness by Breathing!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_III.htm
The ongoing upgrade of the Micro-Hydro-Power plant here is progressing well!
Transformers, rectifiers and regulators have arrived from USA. The second pipe-line has been digged down
and reinforced, where mud-&-stone-slides are prone to occur. However more cement work is needed and
some remaining bills needs to be paid. A further ~ 800$ is therefore needed.
Donation for this Noble Purpose facilitating the Daily Dhamma sharing is very therefore very Welcome below.
Quite Many Thanx in Advance!
Some pictures of the process:
Many Thanx in Advance!
Just Click the "Donate" button on one of these pages below:
Single Donation:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/Dhammadhara_Foundation.htm
Automatically Recurring Monthly Donation:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/Subscribe_to_Regular_Donation.htm
All on-line Donations are processed securely by Paypal. Credit cards & bank accounts are OK.
Sabbe Sattâ Bhavantu Sukhi Tatthâ:
May Many Beings Become Thus Happy Thereby!
Cypress Hermitage's Alternative Energy installations photos are here:
http://www.altestore.com/gallery/Bhikkhu-Samahita-gallery/v/7767136956/
An anonymous appreciation will be acknowledged here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/appreciations.htm
About Generosity (Dana): The First Mental Perfection:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Openhanded_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Reviewing_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Glad_Giving.htm
Have a Nice, Noble, & Easy Day :-)
[color=#800000]Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Many Thanx in Advance!
Micro-Hydro-Power Update!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/Hydro_Power_Update.htm
Gratitude appreciates all assistance!
The Buddha indeed pointed out Gratitude as an important mental quality:
These two people are hard to find in the world. Which two?
The one who is first to do a kindness, and
the one who is grateful and thankful for a kindness done.
Anguttara Nikaya 2.118
I tell you, monks, there are two people who are not easy to repay.
Which two? Your mother & father. Even if you were to carry your mother
on one shoulder & your father on the other shoulder for 100 years, & were
to look after them by anointing, massaging, bathing, & rubbing their limbs,
and they were to defecate and urinate right there on your shoulders, you
would not thereby repay your parents. Even if you were to establish your
mother & father in absolute sovereignty over this great earth, abounding in
the seven treasures, you would not in that way repay your parents!
Why is that? Mothers and fathers do much for their children. They care for
them, they nourish them for long, and they introduce them to this world.
But anyone who rouses his unbelieving mother & father, settles & establishes
them in faith; rouses his immoral mother & father, establishes them in virtue;
rouses his stingy mother & father, settles & establishes them in generosity;
rouses his unwise mother & father, settles & establishes them on a new level
of understanding: It is in this way that one truly repays one's mother's and
father's many longstanding services.
Anguttara Nikaya 2.32
Mother & father, compassionate to their family, are called Brahma, first teachers,
honour them with food & drink, clothing & bedding, and anointing, bathing, washing
their feet. Performing these services to their parents, the wise are praised right
here and after death rejoice in heaven. Itivuttaka 106
If this is what you think of me:
The Blessed One, is sympathetic, is seeking our well-being, teaches us this
Dhamma out of sympathy, then you should train yourself in being in harmony,
cordial, and without conflict and train in yourselves cultivation of all the 37
best mental qualities: The 4_Foundations_of_Awareness, the 4 right efforts,
the 4_Feet_of_Force, the 5 Abilities, 5 powers, the 7 Links to Awakening,
& the Noble_8-Fold_Way. Majjhima Nikaya 103
A Tathagata is worshipped, honoured, respected, thanked & shown gratitude
by any follower, who keeps practicing the Dhamma in accordance with true
Dhamma, who keeps practicing masterfully, who lives in and by the Dhamma!
Digha Nikaya 16
We will undertake & practice those qualities that makes one a contemplative,
so that all those who helped us by services of robes, alms-food, lodging, and
medicines will bring them great fruit and great future reward.
Majjhima Nikaya 39
Comments:
In Pali, the word for gratitude = kataññu literally means to have a sense of
what was done for one in the past even when long ago. Remembering all help!
A network of kindness and gratitude is what sustains whatever goodness
there is and ever will be in this - otherwise destitute & impoverished - world!
Thus: Thank you for reading this!
Source (edited extract): The Lessons of Gratitude by Thanissaro Bhikkhu:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/lessonsofgratitude.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Appropriate_Appreciation.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Appropiate Appreciation is Advantageous!
Gracious is Gratitude!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/The_Grace_of_Gratitude.htm
Belief in an Ego is a Bondage linking to Death!
At Savatthi the Blessed Buddha once explained:
Bhikkhus, the uninstructed ordinary person regards his form as self, or self
as possessing a form, or form as inside self, or self as inside a frame of form...
This, bhikkhus, is called an uninstructed ordinary person, who is bound by
bondage to form, who is bound by inner and outer bondage, who neither
sees the near shore, nor the far shore, who grows old in bondage, who dies
in bondage, who goes from this world to the next other world in bondage...
Such one regards feeling, perception, mental construction & consciousness
as a self or self as having feeling, perception, construction & consciousness,
or feeling, perception, construction & consciousness as being inside the self,
or a self as if hidden inside feeling, perception, construction & consciousness!
Such one, Bhikkhus, is called an uninstructed ordinary person, who is bound by
bondage, clinging, & inner chains to feelings, perceptions, mental constructions,
and consciousness... Such one, Bhikkhus, bound by both inner & outer bondage,
who neither sees this near shore, nor the far shore, who grows old in bondage,
who dies in bondage, will pass on in bondage to the next world, still in bondage!
When Bound by an Ego concept one is linked to a future of repeated Death!
On Selflessness, Soullessness and No-Self Anti-Egoism:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Pride.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Conceit_I_Am.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/I-dentification.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Prison_of_Pride.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Anti-EGO-Tool.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/II/Solo_Self-Deception.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Mistaken_Reference.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Selfless_and_Harmless.htm
Source:
The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya 22:117 III 165
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Fatal Folly!
Blind belief in an "I-Me-Mine-Ego" is Death Bondage!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Bondage.htm
Not Examining causes Assumption to Arise:
The wanderer Vacchagotta approached the Blessed One and greeted him.
Concluding their compliments, he sat down aside and asked the Buddha:
Master Gotama, what is the cause, condition and reason, why these various
speculative views arise in the world: This Universe is eternal, or the universe
is not eternal. This universe is finite, or infinite. Vitality and the body are
the same, or biological life, metabolism is one thing, the body is another.
The Tathagata exists after death, or he does not exist after death.
The Tathagata both exists and does not exist after death. Or finally:
The Tathagata neither exists, nor does not exist after death?
The Blessed Buddha replied:
It is, Vaccha, because of neither knowing form, nor feeling, nor perception,
nor mental construction, nor consciousness, nor the cause of origin of form,
feeling, perception, mental construction, and consciousness, nor the cause
of ceasing of form, feeling, perception, construction, and consciousness,
nor the way to cease form, feeling, perception, construction, & consciousness
that these various speculative views, such as: "This Universe is eternal,
finite etc. " arise in the world! This ignorance, this not seeing, blindness,
this not understanding, this not fully knowing, this not breaking through,
this not comprehending, this not penetrating, this not discerning, this not
discriminating, this not differentiating, this not closely investigating, this
not directly experiencing and realizing, friend Vaccha, is the cause, and
is the reason, why those various speculative views arise in this world!
More on Ignorance (Avijja), which is the deepest cause of all Suffering:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ignorance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/avijjaa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Ignorance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Cause_of_Ignorance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Because_of_Not_Knowing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Whenever_and_Wherever.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Causes_of_Ignorance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Indifference_Creates_Ignorance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_the_Cause_of_Ignorance.htm
Source:
The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book III 257-263
The Vacchagotta section 33. Thread on Not Knowing: Aññana Sutta (1-55)
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Not Examining!
[color=#BF0040]Careless and Sloppy is any Assumption...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Because_of_Not_Examining.htm
What is the 3 Final Steps to Peace & Happiness?
If Awareness by Breathing is frequently trained & refined over a period,
the 4 Foundations of Awareness are gradually completed and all perfected...
If the 4 Foundations of Awareness are frequently trained and fully refined,
the 7 Links to Awakening are gradually completed and entirely perfected ...
If the 7 Links to Awakening are quite frequently trained and all refined,
then Release by Knowing is gradually completed & finally entirely perfected ...
Only this release induced by understanding - itself - is the End of Suffering ...
Understanding Frees!
Details are found in the Meditation Manual given below:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/climax_of_calm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Freed_by_Knowing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Awareness_Sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Manual/Meditation.Manual.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Four_Foundations_of_Awareness.htm
Understanding Sees Light!
Source:
The Middle Length Sayings of the Buddha. Majjhima Nikaya. Sutta 118.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=25072X
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/majjhima/mn118.html
The 3 Final Tools!
What are the 3 Steps to irreversible Happiness?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Final_Tools.htm
[size=150][color=#BF0000][i][u]Feel Pity for all those Falling Beings: [/u][/i][/color][/size]
[img]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/compassion.yl2.jpg[/img]
It is a great pity with all those thinking like this:
Pleasure is the only good; by that they fall!
Terror is a necessary way; by that they fall!
Sensuality is innocent; by that they fall!
Violence is allowable; by that they fall!
Money makes happiness; by that they fall!
Power is progress; by that they fall!
Falsehood is acceptable; by that they fall!
Stealing gives wealth; by that they fall!
Conceit can conceal; by that they fall!
Science knows all; by that they fall!
Killing can be good; by that they fall!
Hunting is only fun; by that they fall!
Adultery is mature; by that they fall!
Paedophilia is harmless; by that they fall!
Drugs are fantastic; by that they fall!
Booze is medicine; by that they fall!
Giving does not help; by that they fall!
After death is nothing!; by that they fall!
The Hells do not exist; by that they fall!
Intentional Action has no effect; by that they fall!
I am the better than...; by that they fall!
I know better ...; by that they fall!
Making merit cannot elevate; by that they fall!
[img]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/helper2.jpg[/img]
[color=#BF0000][u]It is a great pity with all those poor beings:[/u][/color]
who are veiled by wrong view; by that they fall!
who are fooled by own opinion; by that they fall!
who are gripped by greed and lust; by that they fall!
who are stirred by hate and anger; by that they fall!
who are clinging to all worldly things; by that they fall!
who are confused by not knowing; by that they fall!
who prostitute themselves; by that they fall!
who cheat and deceives; by that they fall!
who pretend what is not; by that they fall!
who hide what is actual fact; by that they fall!
who destroy beings or things; by that they fall!
who pollute the milieu and society; by that they fall!
who deliberately do evil willing it; by that they fall!
who fail their duties and obligations; by that they fall!
who miss the obvious opportunities; by that they fall!
It is a great pity with all those blinded by ignorance,
bound and dragged by craving, while pushed by aversion:
By that they surely fall into states of pain, agony and despair!
As if gripped by the arms of two strong men and hurled into a big fire...
[img]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/compassionate.novice.b.jpg[/img]
[color=#BF0000][u]More on this caring Great Compassion [i](maha-karuna)![/i][/u][/color]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Endless_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Karuna_is_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Compassionate_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Space_Compassion.htm
[img]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/Blue_Lotus.small.jpg[/img]
[b]Have a [color=#BF0000]nice, noble & compassionate[/color] day![/b]
[color=#BF0000]Friendship is the Greatest! [/color]
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
[b]Feel Infinite Pity for all those Falling beings! [/b]
[color=#BF0000][i][b]Great Compassion![/b][/i][/color]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Great_Compassion.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
Good is Substitution of the 5 Hindrances with their opposites:
1: Desire (kama-chanda ) should be substituted with attention on disgust.
2: Anger (vyapada ) should be substituted with universal friendliness.
3: Lethargy & laziness (thina-middha ) should be substituted with energy.
4: Restlessness & regret (uddhacca-kukkucca ) should be substituted with calm.
5: Skeptical doubt (vicikiccha ) should be substituted with examination.
Substitution of the hindrances works exactly as long, as one is Aware of it...
Momentary suppression of the hindrances can be obtained during Meditation...
Irreversible elimination by cut-off is achieved only, when attaining Nobility...
About the 5 Hindrances (Nivarana) and their cure:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_5_Mental_Hindrances.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4c.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Colourful_but_Muddy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Fire_of_Sense-Desire.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Experiencing_Disgust.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Anger_and_Irritation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Cure_Anger_and_Irritation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Lethargy_and_Laziness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Curing_Lethargy_and_Laziness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Restlessness_and_Regret.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Curing_Restlessness_and_Regret.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Doubt_and_Uncertainty.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Curing_Doubt_and_Uncertainty.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Feeding_the_Hindrances.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Starving_the_Hindrances.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_5_Become_10.htm
Suitable Substitution...
Swapping evil with good is advantageous!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Suitable_Substitution.htm
How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?
Navam Poya day is the full-moon of February. This holy day celebrates
the ordination of the Buddha Gotama's main disciples Sariputta and
MahaMoggallana. On this day Buddha also later decides his Parinibbana.
The death moment of the Buddha, where he enters Nibbana (Sanskrit Nirvana)...!
On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days:
Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the
Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean
bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first
three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head touch the floor.
Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites these memorized lines
in a loud, calm & steady voice:
As long as this life lasts:
I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.
I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!
I accept to respect & undertake these 5 training rules:
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs.
As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...
Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's
own eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much
better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to
this world! So is the start towards Nibbana: The Deathless Element!
This is the Noble Way to Peace, to Freedom, to Ease, to Happiness,
initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and
fulfilled by training of Meditation...
Today indeed is Pooya or Uposatha or observance day, where any lay
Buddhist normally keeps even the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the
next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha,
they may simply forward the lines starting with "I hereby ..." signed with
name, date, town, & country to me or join here. A public list of this new
quite rapidly growing global Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!
The New Noble Community of Buddha's Disciples: 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 light, swift, and sweet. Never give up !!
Bhikkhu Samahita: what.buddha.said@gmail.com
For Details on The Origin of Uposatha Observance Days:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html
Have a nice Poya Observance day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Today is Navam Poya Day!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Navam_Poya_Day.htm
How to train Rejoicing Joy in others Success?
When sitting alone, in silence, each early morning, with closed eyes one wishes:
May I radiate and meet only never-ending and mutually rejoicing joy!
May I & all the various beings on the 31 levels of existence develop and find
only celebration and elation in a never-ending mutually rejoicing joy!
May I & all beings on the sense-desire, fine-material, and the formless plane
develop and encounter this generous, infinite and mutually rejoicing joy!
May I & all beings in the front, to the right, the back, the left, and below as
above, develop and experience openhearted, sharing, & mutually rejoicing joy!
May I and all beings within this city, country, planet and universe always:
Be fully aware and deeply mindful of this content and mutually rejoicing joy!
Examine all details & aspects of this satisfied and mutually rejoicing joy!
Put enthusiastic effort in our praxis of this devoted mutually rejoicing joy!
Enjoy enraptured jubilant gladness in this exulting mutually rejoicing joy!
Be silenced by the tranquillity of quiet and all smiling mutually rejoicing joy!
Be concentrated & absorbed into one-pointedness by genuine rejoicing joy!
Dwell in an imperturbable equanimity of pure and mutually rejoicing joy...
Yeah! May it be even so, since mutual joy causes the jewel of contentment!
Comment: Mutual Joy is the 3rd infinite mental state (Appamañña):
This gradually reduces all envy, jealousy, possessiveness, stinginess, avarice
miserliness, green covetousness and unhappiness related with all these states.
The cause of Mutual Joy in rejoicing in your child's or boon companion's success.
This same joy can then be beamed towards all liked, neutral and hostile beings.
Mutual Joy is then the proximate cause of satisfied and fulfilled Contentment...
Lack of mutual joy is thus the proximate cause of dissatisfied discontentment...
Joined with the 7 links to Awakening it will later cause a formless jhana...
Be happy at all and especially other being's success! Then calm comfort grows!
More on Mutual Joy (Mudita):
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/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Mutual Joy causes Contentment!
Rejoicing Joy!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
What Qualities initiate development of the Noble 8-fold Way?
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, even as dawn is the forerunner & messenger of the rising sun,
similarly is Fulfillment the forerunner & messenger of the emergence of
this Noble 8-fold Way. Fulfillment of what?
Fulfillment of Morality...
Fulfillment of Motivation...
Fulfillment of Determination...
Fulfillment of View...
Fulfillment of Alertness...
Fulfillment of Rational Attention...
When a Bhikkhu is accomplished in these qualities including rational attention,
one can expect that he will initiate & refine this Noble 8-fold Way!
How does a Bhikkhu, who is accomplished in these mental qualities develop
and cultivate this Noble 8-fold Way? In this he develops:
Right View so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance.
Right Motivation so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance.
Right Speech so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance.
Right Action so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance.
Right Livelihood so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance.
Right Effort so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance.
Right Awareness so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance.
Right Concentration so the final goal is the removal of Greed, Hate and Ignorance.
It is in this way, friends, that a Bhikkhu who is fulfilled, consummated and
accomplished in morality, motivation, determination, view, alertness & rational
attention develops, cultivates, and completes this Noble Eightfold Path…
Further study on the Noble 8-fold Way:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Middle_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Noble_8_fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_3-fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Failed_by_Neglect.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Noble_8-Fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fruits_of_the_Noble_Way.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:31-2] section 45: The Way. 57: Fulfilled ...
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Fulfilled First!
Ready to tread The Noble 8-fold Way?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Fulfilled_First_.htm
The Benefit of Giving & Dedication of Merit:
Buddha spoke on Ghosts (Petas), who walk through walls & who need our help:
Outside the walls they stand and wait, and at the junctions and road-forks,
Returning to their prior homes, urging! They wait beside the posts of gates.
But when a rich feast is set out with food & drink of every kind, remember
the fact that few humans do recall: These pellucid ghosts was created from
their past own acts. So they who are compassionate, who have a heart to give
to their relatives such drink and food as may be pure. And good and fitting
at these times: Then let this food be for the ghost relatives; May the ghost
relatives have some happiness.! These ghosts of the departed of my family
Foregathered and assembled there will eagerly their blessing give.
For plentiful rich food and drink: So may our relatives live long,
Owing to whom we have this gain, for honour to us has thus been done,
No giver ever lacked the sweet fruit. In the dimension of these Ghosts,
There is never any ploughing there, nor any cattle-herding found,
Nor merchandizing just the same, nor bartering for coin of gold:
The ghosts of your departed family, live there on anything given only here;
As water showered on the hill, flows down to reach the hollow vale,
So giving given here can serve the ghosts of your departed family.
As river-beds, when full can bear the water down to fill the sea,
So giving given here can serve the ghosts of the departed family there.
He gave to me, he worked for me, he was my family, friend, & intimate!
Give gifts, then, for departed ones, recalling what they used to do.
No weeping, nor yet sorrowing, nor any kind of mourning, helps the
Departed Ones, whose family remain unhelpful to them acting thus silly.
But when this offering is given and well placed in the Sangha Community
For them, then it can serve them long in future and at once as well.
The True Dhamma for relatives has here been shown, and how high honour
to departed ones is done, and how the Bhikkhus can be given strength as well,
And how great merit can be stored away by you.
Therefore: Dedicate the merit of any gift to your hungry Ghost Family!
The suffer a lot, wailing in despair, but in vain, repenting their evil deeds.
There are ghost who only can feed on: corpses, or excrement, or abortions,
or menstruation, or ash, or earth, or glowing embers and many similar pains...
Ghost existence is mainly the result of stealing and cheating with values.
More on this dreadful Ghost existence! From the Canonical Tipitaka:
Minor Anthologies Vol 4, Vimanavatthu & Petavatthu
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=130738
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Hungry_Ghost_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/pu/peta_vatthu.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petavatthu
Video also featuring Ghosts and their sad fate:
The Hungry Peta Ghosts...
Feed the Ghosts and not the Greed!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Ghosts_Petas.htm
Only Relinquishment Wins Freedom!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, I will teach you the state of relinquishment... Pay attention & listen...
And what, bhikkhus, is the state of overcoming all by leaving behind all???
The eye, form, visual-consciousness, eye-contact, feeling arised from seeing,
pleasant, painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, is to be relinquished & left.
The ear, sound, hearing-consciousness, ear-contact, feeling arised from hearing,
whether painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, are all to be relinquished & left.
The nose, smell, smelling-consciousness, nose-contact, feeling arised from smelling,
pleasant, painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, all that also should be let go of.
The tongue, any flavour, tasting-consciousness, tongue-contact, feeling arised
from tongue-contact, pleasant, painful or neutral, that too is to be left behind.
The body, touch, tactile-consciousness, body-contact, any feeling arised from
body-contact, whether pleasant, painful or neutral, should also be relinquished.
The mind, any mental state & phenomenon, mental-consciousness, mental-contact,
and whatever feeling arised with mental-contact as origin, whether pleasant, painful
or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, that indeed also is to be relinquished & left behind...
This, bhikkhus, is the radically released state of overcoming by leaving behind all...
Back-pack-burden of heavy dependencies all exploded!
Comments:
Logically can only relinquishment of all burdens & dependencies gain true freedom!
Only true freedom means absence of fear from any event and from any corner...
Only freedom from fear and anxiety can ever open up for ease, peace and bliss!
More on systematic relinquishment:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Free_from_Fear.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Leaving_All_Behind.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Not_Resisting_Anything.htm
Source:
The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV 15-6
The Salayatana section 35. Thread on Leaving: Pahana Sutta (23)
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Radical Relinquishment!
Only Letting Go can ever set Free...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Leaving_All_Behind.htm
Control makes one Behave like a true Master!
Buddha once asked: How, Bhikkhus and friends, is there full mental control?
When seeing a form then one becomes neither attracted by any pleasing form,
nor repelled by any displeasing form! When having heard a sound with the ear,
one becomes neither entranced by any charming sound, nor opposed by any
horrid sound! When having sniffed a smell with the nose, one becomes neither
fascinated by any lovely smell, nor held off by any detestable smell!
Having tasted a flavour with the tongue, one becomes neither captivated by
any likeable taste, nor rejected by unlikable taste! When having felt a touch
with the body, one becomes neither allured by any pleasant touch, nor repelled
by any unpleasant touch! When having experienced whatever mental state with
the mind, one becomes neither obsessed by any agreeable mental phenomenon,
nor rebuffed by any disagreeable mental phenomenon whatsoever...
Thus does one live on, while having established Awareness of the Body, yet also
abiding within an unlimited & infinite mind. Thus does a focused one come to
understand, through direct experience, that release of mind, a mental release
through understanding, wherein all those evil & disadvantageous mental states
irreversibly cease without any remaining trace! It is in exactly this way, that
there is full mental control!
Comments:
The infinite mind, counteracting hate & anger, is a mind made limitless by
the praxis of the 4 sublime & divine dwellings (brahma-vihara), also called the
4 infinite states (appamañña), which are:
Infinite Friendliness (Metta),
Endless Pity (Karuna),
Mutual Sympathy & Joy (Mudita), and
Imperturbable Equanimity (Upekkha).
For Awareness of the Body, which counteracts greed, lust & desire; see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Awareness_Sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Meditation_On_the_Body_Kayagata-Sati.htm
Having counteracted both greed & lust, which pulls in the mind attracting it
to objects, and having counteracted both hate & anger, which push the mind
repulsing it from objects, mind may stay stilled and ballanced in the middle,
untouched, ballanced and in complete control...
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV [189-]
35: 6 Senses. Salayatana. States that entail Suffering. Dukkha-Dhamma 244.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Neither Attracted, nor Repelled...
Full mental control requires stilling any mind push & pull.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/In_Control.htm
What is the Best Fortune that can be Gained?
Once an illuminating deity asked The Buddha:
Which good fortune is the best? Whereto he answered:
Not associating with fools, but only with the wise,
Honouring only those, who really deserves it,
Living in suitable climatic and peaceful regions,
Great learning, good discipline and exact speech,
Service to mother and father, support of wife and sons,
— this is supreme good fortune!
Giving, and living the just and generous life supporting relatives,
Avoidance from all evil behaviour through complete self-control,
Abstinence from intoxicating drinks and drugs causing carelessness,
Reverence, devoted faith in the Dhamma, humility, and contentment,
Grateful hearing and study of the Dhamma, when one is ready for it,
— this is supreme good fortune!
Forbearance, patience, and humble yet keen attention, when corrected,
Seeing ascetics, recluses, sages and bhikkhus, who explain the Dhamma,
Living the Noble life, understanding the Noble Truths, & realising quenching,
Being unperturbed, when contacted by the manifold phenomena of the world,
Having established these exquisite states, one is unconquered everywhere,
One goes in safety everywhere — this is verily the supreme good fortune!
Sn 258-269
On what is Advantageous (Kusala):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Clever_Action.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/What_is_Advantageous.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Advantageous2.htm
Have a nice fortunate day!
[color=#800000]Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka .
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The Best Fortune!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Best_Fortune.htm
Infinite Friendliness promotes a Peaceful Living in Happiness!
Solitude is happiness for one who is content,
who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees.
Non-violence is happiness in this world:
Harmlessness towards all living beings.
Udana 10
Train yourself in doing only good
that lasts and brings great happiness.
Cultivate generosity, a peaceful living,
and a mentality of infinite friendliness.
Itivuttaka 16
Let no one deceive another
or despise anyone anywhere,
or through anger or irritation
wish for another to suffer.
Sutta Nipata I, 8
May all creatures, all breathing things,
all beings one and all, without exception,
experience good fortune only.
May they not fall into any harm.
Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
Who is hospitable, open and friendly,
Generous, gentle and unselfish,
A guide, an instructor, a leader,
Such a one to honour may attain.
Digha Nikaya 31
For one who deliberately & aware
develops Universal Friendliness
Seeing the fading away of clinging,
All chains are worn down & broken.
Itivuttaka 27
More on this shining, radiating through all everywhere beaming Friendliness:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Harmlessness_and_Tolerance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/All-Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Friendship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
Infinite is Friendliness!
Benevolence promotes a Peaceful & Happy Life :-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bon_Benevolence.htm
Sparse & short pleasure, but long Tribulation!
Pleasures obtained by contact at the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or mind
all fade away and vanish instantly, when their contact ceases! They are all:
Like a drop of honey on the edge of a razor blade: Short joy, but much pain!
Like a show seen in a flash of lightening: Momentary and exceedingly brief!
Like a drink made thin & tasteless: Dissatisfying, frustrating & disappointing!
Like food all rotten inside or poisoned: Afflicting and causing problems later!
Like a baited hook: First juicy, later torturing & tormenting and finally Fatal!
Like an inner prison: Encaging, punishing, bonding, addicting and making mad!
Like sleeping in an enemy's village: Dangerous, hazardous, treacherous & risky!
Like a burning hollow tree: Agitated inside, feverish, frantic, violently painful!
Like a chain of dry naked bare bones: Not healing any hunger, without nutrition!
Like many days of drinking only salt water: Worsening any thirst & drying out!
Please note the ceasing of sensation, whenever sensing & remember this danger!
This is the primary hindrance to break, the first flood to cross: Sense-Desire!
More on the folly vanity of desire for simple Sense Pleasure (Hedonism):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Why_Not.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Craving_is_Pain.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.1-2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Charcoal_Pit.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4c.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Colourful_but_Muddy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Craving_is_Catastrophic.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Fire_of_Sense-Desire.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/What_is_Disadvantageous.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_of_the_Flesch_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Happiness_of_the_Flesh_and_Beyond.htm
Another Addict and yet Another Addiction!
As the blessed Buddha often pointed out:
Blissful is being without passions in this world,
Blissful is the overcoming of all sense-desires!
Udana II, 1
Just a Flash of Delight!
Sense pleasure is treacherously addictive...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Just_a_Flash.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
Urge for Sensing blocks the Way to Freedom:
At Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this:
Desire & lust for the ability* to see forms obstructs & corrupts the mind!
Desire and lust for the ability to hear sounds;
Desire and lust for the ability to smell smells;
Desire and lust for the ability to taste flavours;
are also obstructing corruptions of the mind...!
Bhikkhus, the desire and lust for the ability to speculation on mental objects
is also an obstructing corruption for the mind...! When a bhikkhu has overcome
and all left these obstructing mental corruptions, his mind inclines towards
inward withdrawal! A mind prepared by withdrawal becomes fit & open for
those higher mental states, that are to be realized by direct experience and
immediate knowledge...
Note*:
This can & should be freely exchanged, expanded & enhanced by these objects:
Visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile & mental consciousness, contact,
feeling born of sense contact, perception born of contact, intention for, and
craving for whatever sensual object existing or even just imagined ...
Sense desire is variegated and always wants and seeks new ways!
More on the folly vanity of desire for simple Sense Pleasure (Hedonism):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Why_Not.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Craving_is_Pain.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.1-2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Charcoal_Pit.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4c.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Colourful_but_Muddy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Craving_is_Catastrophic.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Fire_of_Sense-Desire.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/What_is_Disadvantageous.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_of_the_Flesch_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Happiness_of_the_Flesh_and_Beyond.htm
Any kind of greed, desire, & lust has obvious side effects of Pain!
Blissful is being without passions in this world,
Blissful is the overcoming of all sense-desires!
Udana II, 1
Like a moth flying into the flame...
Source:
The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya SN 27(1+2) III 232
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Sense Urge Blocks!
Urge for Sensuality Obstructs the Way to Freedom...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Obstructing_Corruption.htm
Balanced Equanimity is the Tenth Mental Perfection:
Equanimity characteristically induces & promotes impartial neutrality...
Its function is to look upon things with an even unreactive indifference!
Its manifestation is the gradual stilling of both attraction & repulsion..
Its proximate cause is seeing, that all inherit the results of their actions.
Its effect is utter purification & perfection of all other mental qualities,
by ending both discontent & delight, thereby providing the necessary
equal calm required for their complete assessment & accomplishment.
Equanimity means Unaffectable..
Equanimity means Unprovokable..
Equanimity means Undisturbable..
Equanimity means Unexcitable..
Equanimity means Imperturbable..
Equanimity means Disengaged..
Equanimity means Disentangled..
Equanimity means Detached..
Equanimity means Immovable..
Equanimity means Unbeatable..
Equanimity means Untemptable..
Equanimity means Wholly Immune..
Equanimity means Indifferent..
Equanimity means Impartial..
Equanimity means Unbiased..
Equanimity means Disinterested..
Equanimity means Balanced..
Even like a smiling mountain!
Cool Calm is the ultimate Balm!
The Threefold Equanimity (Upekkha):
If Indifferent towards:
Internal states & external phenomena,
Living beings & lifeless things,
Past, present & future events,
How can one be hurt, upset,
disturbed or distressed?
Calm is his mind.
Calm is his speech.
Calm is his action.
So is the Tranquility;
So is the Equanimity;
Of one freed by the Insight
Of right Knowledge.
Dhammapada 96
Although a man is richly dressed and adorned,
if he is in peace, at ease, in equanimity, calmed,
composed, controlled, celibate and harmless
towards all beings, then verily he is a Holy One,
a recluse, a sage ...
Dhammapada 142
Equanimity towards one's own internal states -
that is indeed a link to Enlightenment.
Equanimity regarding external phenomena & conditions -
that is indeed also a link to Enlightenment.
Samyutta Nikaya V Bojjhanga-samyutta.
Such noble friend finally develops
the link to awakening that is Equanimity
during Awareness of in-&-out breathing,
which protects against damaging mental states,
tends to detachment, to ceasing, tends to release
& culminates in complete self-surrender...
If, friends, Awareness of in-&-out breathing,
is so cultivated and so made much of, it is
indeed of great fruit, of great advantage!
One whose Awareness of breathing in-&-out
is perfected, well developed, and gradually
brought to refined growth thus, according to the
teaching of the Buddha, such one illuminates the
entire world, just like the full moon freed from clouds.
Samyutta Nikaya V Anapana-samyutta.
The Blessed One once said:
Now how, Ananda, in the discipline of a Noble One is there
the unsurpassable development of the senses?
There is the case where, when seeing a form with the eye,
there arises in a monk what is agreeable, or what is disagreeable,
or what is both agreeable & disagreeable. He recognizes that:
This agreeable thing has arisen in me, or this disagreeable thing...
or this both agreeable & disagreeable thing, has arisen in me:
And that is constructed, conditioned, coarse & dependently co-arisen!
But this is peaceful, this is exquisite, namely even & equal equanimity!
Instantly, that arisen agreeable or disagreeable thing ceases,
and Equanimity takes its calm stance!
Just as a man with good eyes, having closed them, might open them;
or when open, might close them, that is how quickly, how rapidly,
how easily, no matter what it refers to, Equanimity make
whatever arisen agreeable thing... or disagreeable thing...
or both agreeable & disagreeable thing cease right there,
and Equanimity takes its even stance!
In the discipline of The Noble One, this is called the unsurpassable
development of the senses with regard to visible forms cognizable
by the eye. Similar is the supreme development of the other senses.
MN 152
With the fading of rapturous joy, he remains in equanimity,
aware & alert, still physically sensitive to bodily pleasure.
He enters & remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones
declare: 'In aware Equanimity, one abides in pleasure...'
With the stilling of pleasure & pain as with the earlier disappearance
of elation & frustration, he enters & remains in the fourth jhana:
sole Awareness purified by equanimity, - neither pleasure nor pain -
This is called Right Concentration...
The elimination of both sensual desires & of discontent,
the ejection of laziness, the calming of all regrets,
just this pure Equanimity being aware of all mental
properties exactly at the moment they appear:
That I call the direct knowledge of release
the breakthrough from ignorance.
Sutta Nipata V 13: Udaya's Questions
Equanimity is 'Tatra-majjhattata', which designates the evenly balanced
keeping to the moderate middle of all things. It has as characteristic, that
it affects the balance of consciousness and mental properties as a single
function of single taste, which prevents both overt excessiveness and any
lack or insufficiency. Equanimity thereby puts an end to biased partiality by
manifesting moderation well within range of the properly reasoned midway.
Visuddhimagga XIV
The Buddha once explained:
I would make my bed in a charnel ground, with a skeleton for my pillow..
And cowherd boys came up and spat on me, urinated on me, threw dirt at me,
and poked sticks into my ears! While others, exultant & thrilled brought me
offerings of food, caskets of perfume & incense and garlands of flowers!
Yet I do not recall, that I ever showed any partiality towards any of them...
I was the same to them all! Neither arousing any fondness nor any aversion!
This was my ultimate perfection of equanimity...
MN 12 Lomahamsanapariyaya
The Hair-raising Presentation
Cariyapitaka III 15
More on Equanimity (Upekkha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Serene_Equanimity_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Imperturbable_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unshakable_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Equanimity_Upekkha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Empty_Equanimity.htm
More of the 10 mental perfections (paramis):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_10_mental_perfections_(parami)_in_three_levels.htm
Even is Equanimity...
Balanced Equanimity is the 10th Mental Perfection!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Even_is_Equanimity.htm
Daily Words of the Buddha:
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Sabbadanam dhammadanam jinati
Sabbarasam dhammaraso jinati
Sabbaratim dhammarati jinati
Tanhakkhayo sabbadukkham jinati.
The Supreme Triumph:
The gift of Dhamma surpasses all other presents.
The taste of Dhamma excels every other flavour.
The delight of Dhamma exceeds any other happiness.
Eradication of craving conquers all and any suffering...
More on the Dhamma:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/ontology.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The_Boat.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Discrete_States.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Discrete_States.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dhamma_Presence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/dhamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Dhamma_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Momentary_Consciousness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Omniscient_Quantum_Mind.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/No_Substance_'Out_There'.htm
Have a really nice day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The Supreme Triumph!
Purification by Knowledge & Vision of the Way!
As one repeats, develops and cultivates that equanimity about constructions,
faith becomes more resolute, energy better exerted, awareness much better
established, and mind better and deeper concentrated, as a consequence of,
that this equanimity around all phenomena & formations grows more refined!
This insight, leading to emergence, is called aloofness, which itself can eclipse
even the delicate unified equanimity gained from a subtle mental unification...
Experiencing disgust makes greed gradually fade away. With the fading away
of greed, clinging evaporates. One is thereby liberated by this mental release.
Purification by knowledge & vision of this way is the principal factor of purity!
It is conforming to what is mentally utterly unpolluted... It is for this precious
immaculate integrity, that this Noble life is lived under the Blessed Buddha!
DN III 288, MN I 139, 147, III 220
The Greatest Sage did thus proclaim:
This insight stilled, refined and purified!
This round of rebirth's abysmal pit of pain,
Is vast, entangling, deceptive and terrible!
Any wise man should strive all the best he can,
When hoping emergence from suffering to gain.
Vism 671
More on Mental Purification (Visuddhi):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mental_Purity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ability_Purification.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_7_Purifications.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The_8_Understandings.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/visuddhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Levels_of_Leaving_Behind.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_purpose_of_purification.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_7_stages_of_Purification.htm
Have a nice pure day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Immaculate Integrity!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Immaculate_Integrity.htm
One becomes Calmed by Stilling all Agitation!
The brahmin Magandiya asked the Buddha about how to become calmed:
Not dwelling in the past, stilled in the present, one prefers no kind of future!
Without irritation, without agitation, without regrets, without worry, neither
boasting, nor proud, but humble and modest, one is indeed a restrained sage...
Withdrawn, not opposed to anything, not wanting anything, all unconcerned,
aloof, gentle, independent, for such one there exists neither craving or fear
for any kind of existence, nor craving or fear for any form of non-existence...
Such calmed one is indifferent to sense pleasures, detached, not clinging to
any kind of property! For him there is nothing more to take up or lay down!
For whatever others might accuse him, he remains tranquil and not agitated!
Neither opposing anything, nor attracted to anything, with nothing of his own,
not perturbed by what does not exist, such tranquil one is truly calmed!
Sutta-Nipata 849-861 Edited excerpt.
More on Calm (Samatha) = Tranquil Ease:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Calm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Forest_Bliss.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Silenced.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Calm_Power.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Calm_and_Insight.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Tranquil_One.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/samatha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Breathing_Calm_and_Insight.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Calmed...
Tranquillity slides into Bliss!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Calmed.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
How to Meet Buddha Metteyya in the Future:
The Buddha Metteyya, the Friendly One, will be the last & 5th Buddha in this Aeon !
1: One should give gifts (dana),
2: One should observe morality (sila),
3: One should practice meditation (bhavana),
4: One should be firm and determined (dalha),
5: One should wish sincerely to meet him with agitated mind (ubbigga-manasa),
6: One should be stirred by an acute sense of urgency (samvega),
7: The Observance days (uposatha) should be rigorously kept.
8: Friendliness (metta) should be quite carefully cultivated.
9: Deep Concentration (samadhi) should be regularly trained.
10: Real Understanding should be sought and achieved (pañña).
Right behaviour (action=kamma) can be compared to having sound limbs...
Right understanding can be compared to being able to see...
If one or the other is missing, a person will be unsuccessful.
If both is fully present, the person will be fully successful.
Meeting the Metteyya Buddha opens the Doors to the Deathless Nibbana...
How is The Formal Aspiration to Meet Buddha Ariya Metteyya:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Metteyya/arimet10.htm
Bodhisatta Metteyya
Resources on the next Buddha Metteyya: The Friendly One!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/me_mu/metteyya.htm
The Coming Buddha, Ariya Metteyya. By honourable Sayagyi U Chit Tin:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Metteyya/arimet00.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/pdfs/Metteyya.pdf
The Anagatavamsa Desana: The Chronicle on the Future:
http://books.google.com/books?id=8Eua4CFFGBoC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.amazon.com/Anagatavamsa-Desana-Chronicle-Buddhist-Tradition/dp/812081133X
He will say: "You can come as you like, but you pay as you go..."
Don't miss out on this last one...!
How to meet the next Buddha Metteyya?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/How-2-Meet_Buddha_Metteyya.htm
Gotama Buddha explained this about the Pacceka-Buddhas:
The muni Vedeha (Ananda) bowing his body, asked the Tathagata, who was
staying at Jetavana: PaccekaBuddhas exist, yet by what reasons do they
arise, 0h wise one? Then the best of the omniscient, the great wise one told
the following to Ananda in a sweet voice:
Those who paid honour to all former Buddhas, without attaining liberation
during the period in which their teaching was known, who are wise by means
of sense of urgency, whose intelligence is very sharp, also without the
instruction of Buddhas, these attain insight alone even by means of a tiny
limited object of meditation... And furthermore, in this whole world, there
is no one except me, equal to these PaccekaBuddhas. I shall clearly express
the following, only an short description, of the distinction of these great
heroic Munis (silenced ones)...
Listen, all of you, who wish for the highest medicine, your attention should
be very calm, always directed to their good words, which are sweet like
fine honey of those great wise men, who are fully & perfectly enlightened
all by themselves!
These are the explanations of PaccekaBuddhas, who assembled on Mount
Gandhamadana, pronounced one after the other, about the sorrow of any
desire and the cause of the overcoming of all craving, & how they attained
their insight. Conscious of the absence of lust, while being in the midst of
the objects of lust, their minds are dispassionate in an infatuated world,
having dumped the proliferations, & subdued all obstructions, they all
attained insight thus:
Putting aside any violence to all beings, not hurting any of them, good and
compassionate, with a mind filled with friendliness, one should live, alone,
like the horn of a rhinoceros...
Their morality are pure, their wisdom purified, their minds are
concentrated, practicing watchfulness, reflecting, seeing the
characteristics of the dhamma, they understand it, having developed all the
elements of the Noble Way and the Links to Enlightenment...
Having perfected the fulfillment of merit, with the motive to become a
solitary conqueror, they become PaccekaBuddhas, self-existent,
independent, such is destination of the wise, who does not attain the state
of a disciple during the time in which, there still remains the knowledge of
the SammaSamBuddhas teaching...
Their dhamma being great, being all sublime manifestations of the core
essential dhamma, powerful are their minds, having overcome the flood of
suffering, their minds are exalted, seeing the highest & deepest truth, they
are like lions, like the horn of a rhinoceros...
With serene senses, calm, concentrated, remembering all beings in remote
border districts, illuminating like lamps in the other world and in this world,
thus are these PaccekaBuddhas, always good...
Having destroyed all hindrances, these kings of men, illuminators of the
world, shining like pure solid gold, undoubtedly worthy of any gifts in this
world, are these PaccekaBuddhas, always good...
There are in this world together with the divine world, good teachings of
PaccekaBuddhas. Those fools, who after having heard these, do not act
accordingly, whirl round in suffering again and again...
Those who act accordingly, having heard the good words of
PaccekaBuddhas, which are like pure streaming honey of small delicate
bees, become seers of the truths, possessing Wisdom! Thus spoke the
Gotama Buddha about those solitary ones Awakened like a rhinoceros horn...
Source: The Canonical Apadana I 7-14
More on these solitary and silenced Pacceka-Buddhas:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/pacceka_buddha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/pa/pacceka_buddha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Rhinoceros_Horn.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratyekabuddha
Enlightened without a Teacher!
Solitary and Silenced is the Pacceka-Buddhas!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/PACCEKABUDDHA.htm
How is Release by Infinite Pity Achieved?
The Blessed Buddha once said:
And how, Bhikkhus, is the mental release by universal pity achieved?
What does this liberation have as its destination, what is its culmination,
what is its sweet fruit, and what is the goal of release by universal pity?
Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu dwells pervading the frontal quadrant with a
mind imbued with infinite pity, so the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter. As above,
so below, across, and everywhere! To all beings and to himself, he dwells
pervading the entire universe with a mind saturated with unlimited pity,
immense, exalted, vast, measureless, without hostility, without enmity,
without any trace of ill will! Thus prepared & expanded he then develops:
1: The Awareness Link to Awakening joined with this limitless pity.
2: The Investigation Link to Awakening fused with such vast pity.
3: The Energy Link to Awakening together with this infinite pity.
4: The Joy Link to Awakening accompanied with this absolute pity.
5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening linked with this spacious pity.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening associated with this great pity.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening joined with this endless pity.
While based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, & culminating in release.
If he then wishes:
May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in the unrepulsive and tempting,
then he can dwell experiencing the repulsive therein. If he wishes:
May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in the disgusting and repulsive,
then he dwells experiencing pleasing beauty in whatever is disgusting!
If he then wishes: May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in what is both
unrepulsive and repulsive, he dwells experiencing repulsive disgust in it.
If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in what is both
unrepulsive and repulsive, he experiences only excessive beauty in it!
If he wishes: Avoiding both the repulsive and the unrepulsive, may I dwell
in equanimity, just aware & clearly comprehending, then he dwells in this
equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending. Or else, by completely
transcending of all experience of form, fully stilling any perception of all
sense-reaction, non attending to any experience of diversity, only aware
that space is infinite, he enters and dwells in the infinitude of space...
I tell you Bhikkhus, for a wise Bhikkhu here, who has not yet penetrated
to an even more superior mental release, this release of mind by infinite
pity has the sublime sphere of the infinitude of space as its culmination!
On this infinite Pity (maha-karuna):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Endless_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Karuna_is_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Compassionate_Pity.htm
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
Source of reference (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 115-21] 46: The Links. 54: Joined by Friendliness...
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Pity can open a mental infinitude of space!
Infinite Pity!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/III/Space_Compassion.htm
Simple Satisfaction, Liberation, and the Ultimate Release!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
There is the satisfaction of the flesh.
There is a mental liberation not of this world.
There is an ultimate release far beyond even subtle unworldly liberation!
And what, Bhikkhus, is carnal satisfaction?
Satisfaction with whatever form, or sensation that is carnal satisfaction.
And what is the mental liberation, which is not of this world?
Liberation from any formless state is liberation, which is not of this world.
Finally, friends, what is the ultimate release beyond unworldly liberation?
When a Bhikkhu, whose mental fermentations are eliminated, reviews his
stilled mind released from all lust, freed from all hatred, and completely
cleared from all confusion, then there occurs a transcendental deliverance.
This is called the release beyond that release, which is not of this world...
More on Mental Release (Vimokkha, Vimutti):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Freed_by_Knowing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_8_Deliverances.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/vimutti.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Self-Control_Releases.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/vimokkha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Fulfilling_Release_by_Wisdom.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV [235-7]
Section 36:11 On Feeling: Vedana. Joys beyond this world ...
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Beyond Release!
Mental Liberation comes in grades...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Beyond_Release.htm
The 10 Perfect Qualities Explained:
The 10 Perfect Qualities (Dasa Parami) are:
1st Perfection: Generosity (Dana):
Just as a water pot turned upside down lets all its liquid run out, and takes
none of it back, so is the perfection of generosity not having the slightest
remorse over what has been given away, even when sacrificing everything!
2nd Perfection: Morality (Sila):
Just as a yak whose tail is caught in bush will rather die than to tear it off,
so consists the perfection of morality in being meticulously careful about
keeping all precepts and promises & not breaking them in any circumstance,
even if being threatened with death!
3rd Perfection: Withdrawal (Nekkhamma):
Just as one imprisoned in jail does not desire anything more intensely than
to get out of there, so the perfection of withdrawing renunciation consists
in the longing to get out of the prison of transitory existence & having only
this one wish: To spit out the impermanent, to be rid of it once and for all!
4th Perfection: Understanding (Pañña):
Just as a monk on alms-round neglects no house, but goes to all the families
without exception, so the perfection of understanding consists in leaving
no gaps, leaving nothing out, & of being ready to learn from all wise people,
who are more advanced, even though they may be younger than oneself.
5th Perfection: Energy (Viriya):
Just as a lion marshals his strength whether standing, going, or sitting even
so does the perfection of energetic & enthusiastic effort consist in keeping
on striving with initiative launching into action, that endures until fulfilment!
6th Perfection: Patience (Khanti):
Just as the great earth accepts even the most disgusting things thrown onto
it, so consists the perfection of patience in accepting slander, disgrace and
every disrespect without aversion, enduring them, while letting them pass.
7th Perfection: Honesty (Sacca):
Just as a star never strays from its fixed orbit, so consists the perfection
of honest truthfulness in not lying under any circumstances, not moving even
an inch from the actual and real truth for any trivial advantage whatsoever.
8th Perfection: Determination (Adhitthana):
Just as a mountain stands immoveable even in the strongest storm and is
incapable of being thrown over, so consists the perfection of determination
in remaining unshakeable in one's advantageous choices and not being able
to be distracted by anything when pursuing something good and beneficial.
9th Perfection: Friendliness (Metta):
Just as water refreshes and cleanses both just and unjust persons without
discrimination, so does the perfection of friendliness include both friends
and foes alike and doesn't display any distinction, favouritism, or partiality.
10th Perfection: Equanimity (Upekkha):
Just as the great earth remains unmoved and equanimous, avoiding like and
dislike whether one throws pure or impure things onto it, even so does the
perfection of equanimity consist in always remaining, calm and composed,
neither being repulsed nor attracted, whether by any pain or any pleasure.
Imperturbable even in strong conflicts as well as in the greatest success!
Sujata perfecting generosity by giving The Buddha his last meal before Awakening!
More on these 10 Mental Perfections (Dasa Parami):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/paramii.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The_10_Perfect_Qualities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_10_mental_perfections_(parami)_in_three_levels.htm
Source: Buddhavamsa II verses 117-166 (Edited Excerpt):
In: Similes of the Buddha: An introduction BP 427S by Hellmuth Hecker.
Tr. Ven. Khantipalo and Ven. Piyadhammo. Ed. Ven. Nyanatusita.
http://www.bps.lk
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The 10 Perfect Similes!
Perfecting the Mind Perfects the World!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/The_10_Perfections_Explained.htm
New Buddhist Gallery!
Click link to enter image albums and thereafter triangle
upper right for slideshow or picture for full size. :-)
Buddha images :
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/gallery/index.php/Buddha-Images
Dhamma illustrations :
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/gallery/index.php/Dhamma-illustrations
Sangha pictures:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/gallery/index.php/Sangha-pictures
India Pilgrimage :
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/gallery/index.php/India-Pilgrimage
Sacred Sri Lanka:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/gallery/index.php/Sacred-Sri-Lanka
The Buddha's Life :
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/gallery/index.php/The-Buddha-s-Life
Science
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/gallery/index.php/Science
Cypress Hermitage :
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/gallery/index.php/Cypress-Hermitage
Graphics & Comics:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/gallery/index.php/Graphics-Comics
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/gallery/index.php/
Immaculate Images!
Some Sacred Sights :-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Sacred_Sights.htm
Ballanced Energy is neither Lazy, nor Restless!
Laziness overcomes one strong in concentration and weak in energy,
since concentration favours idle inaction...
Agitation and restlessness overpowers one strong in energy and weak
in concentration, because energy stimulate agitation...
But concentration coupled & ballanced with energy cannot lapse into laziness,
& energy coupled & ballanced with concentration cannot provoke restlessness...
Therefore should these two abilities be ballanced, since excellence of effort
and mental absorption arises out of the even ballancing of the mental abilities.
For a full Study on Energy (Viriya): The root Hero of all Success:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Definition_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Arising_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Ability_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Origin_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Power_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Ballanced_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Chief_Hero.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energetic_Effort.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Avoiding_Effort.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energy_Viriya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Energy.htm
Source:
The Path of Purification: Visuddhimagga by Buddhaghosa 5th century AC.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=771100
Ballanced Energy...
Ballanced Energy is neither Lazy, nor Restless!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Ballanced_Energy.htm
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
How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?
Medin Poya day is the full-moon of March. This holy day celebrates
that the Buddha visits his parental home after his supreme Enlightenment,
and ordains his son prince Rahula, & half brother Nanda. This day is
also called: The Sangha Day, since on this full-moon 1250 Arahats
spontaneously met & assembled around the Buddha without any call.
Buddha then spoke the famous Ovada Patimokkha core teaching!
On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days:
Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the
Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean
bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first
three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head touch the floor.
Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites these memorized lines
in a loud, calm & steady voice:
As long as this life lasts:
I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.
I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!
I accept to respect, keep & 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 Lying & Cheating.
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...
As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...
Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's
own eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much
better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to
this world! The journey towards Nibbana: The Deathless is hereby started!
This is the Noble Way to Absolute Peace, to Complete Freedom, to Ultimate
Happiness, initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and
fulfilled by training of Meditation...
Today indeed is Pooya or Uposatha or observance day, where any lay
Buddhist normally keeps also the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the
next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha,
they may simply forward the lines starting with "I hereby ..." signed with
name, date, town, & country to me or join here. A public list of this new
quite rapidly growing global web Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!
The New Noble Community of Buddha's Disciples: 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 light, swift, and sweet. Never give up !!
Bhikkhu Samahita: what.buddha.said@gmail.com
For Details on The Origin of Uposatha Observance Days:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html
Buddha with his Rahula, who also awakened into enlightenment!
Have a nice observance day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Sangha Poya Day!
Energy (Viriya) is a Link to Awakening!
The Energy Link to Awakening (Viriya-sambojjhanga) : Is basically the
same mental property (viriya-cetasika), as that which performs any
effort of action and which also is inherently included in the:
The Energy Feet of Force (viriyiddhipada)
The Ability of Energy (viriyindriya)
The Power of Energy (viriyabala)
The Right Effort Path Factor (samma-vayama-magganga)
When trained, developed and aroused energy is capable of enlightening!
The Buddha once said: What mental fermentations (asava) should be
overcome by development? If a Bhikkhu by careful & rational attention
develops the Energy Link to Awakening based on seclusion, disillusion,
ceasing, & culminating in relinquishment, then neither can any mental
fermentation, nor any fever, or discontent ever arise in him.[i] MN2 [i 11]
In one who examines, finds out why, & comes to assured comprehension,
in him his energy link to awakening becomes aroused. He develops it,
& for him it goes to the culmination of its development. MN118 [iii 85]
The ability of energy is to initiate, launch into action and to complete any
undertaking using persistent endurance. When this ability becomes
unshakable and unfailing, it then becomes the mighty Power of Energy!
The function of energy is this four-fold Right Effort of:
1: Eradicating evil & disadvantageous states that have arisen in the mind.
2: Preventing the arising of yet unarisen disadvantageous mental states.
3: Initiating and developing yet unarisen advantageous mental states.
4: Increasing, refining & completing already arisen advantageous states.
The characteristic of energy is readiness, willingness, enthusiastic ease,
eager and keen vigour. The manifestation of energy is action, exertion,
endeavour, industry, struggle, powerful striving and accomplishment!
Lazy:
The one, who does not rise, when it is time to rise.
Who though young and strong, is weak in mind,
soft in will, and lazy by nature, such slow one
does never find the way to Nibbana.
Dhammapada 280
Get up! Sit up!
Of what use are your dreams?
How can you sleep, when sick,
stabbed by the arrow of craving...
Sutta Nipata 331
Get up! Sit up!
Push on your training, until reaching sole peace!
Do not let the king of death see you sloppy and
thus delude and dominate you like a toy doll...
Sutta Nipata 332
Feeding the Energy:
And what, friends, is feeding the Energy Link to Enlightenment, that
has not yet arised, and food too for boosting of any present Energy?
1: The element of mental initiative,
2: The element of launching into action,
3: The element of enduring persistence.
Systematic attention to these, is feeding any yet unarisen Energy
Link to Awakening, and food too for boosting any present Energy.
Samyutta Nikaya XLVI 51 Bojjhanga-samyutta
Fivefold final Energy:
Following the Buddha the energy in the disciple culminates, when he
finally thinks: Let just this blood and flesh dry up & wither away so only
skin, sinews and bones remain, I will not give up my quest and stray from
this Noble 8-fold Path before having reached Enlightenment...!
For a full Study on Energy (Viriya): The root Hero of all Success:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Definition_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Arising_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Ability_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Origin_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Power_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Ballanced_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Chief_Hero.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energetic_Effort.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Avoiding_Effort.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energy_Viriya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Energy.htm
The Chief Root Hero!
Energy is the Chief Root Hero of all Success!!!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energy_Viriya.htm
What is the Tranquillity Link to Awakening?
The Tranquillity Link to Awakening (passaddhi-sambojjhanga) has the
characteristic of peace, and the function of stilling, which manifests
as absence of restless trembling. Stillness of feeling, perception and
mental construction is the factor that induces bodily Tranquillity.
Stillness of consciousness itself induces mental Tranquillity.
The proximate cause of Tranquillity is the satisfaction within Joy!
The resulting effect of Tranquillity is the bliss within Happiness!
The Buddha once said: What mental fermentations (asava) should be
overcome by development? If a Bhikkhu by careful & rational attention
develops the Tranquillity Link to Awakening based on seclusion, based
on disillusion, based on ceasing, and culminating in cool relinquishment,
then neither can mental fermentation, nor any fever, nor any discontent
ever arise in him. MN2 [i 11]
In one who is joyous, the body becomes calm & the mind becomes calm.
The Tranquillity Link to Awakening emerges right there. He develops it,
& for him it goes to the culmination of its development. MN118 [iii 85]
CALMED
Calm is his thought, calm is his speech,
and calm is his deed, who, truly knowing,
is wholly freed, perfectly tranquil and wise.
Dhammapada 96
CONTENT
The one who eliminates discontent, tearing it out
by the roots, utterly cuts it out, such one spontaneously
becomes absorbed in the calm of tranquillity both day & night.
Dhammapada 250
COMPOSED
The one who is tranquil in movement, calmed in speech,
stilled in thought, collected & composed, who sees right
through & rejects all allurements of this world, such one
is truly a 'Peaceful One'.
Dhammapada 378
Inspirations on the calming & soothing of serene Tranquillity (Passaddhi):
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
Inner Calm Soothes the Mind!
Tranquillity!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/III/Tranquillity_Passaddhi.htm
Generosity is the first Perfection:
Generosity means willingness to give and share whatever.
Generosity means magnanimous and open-handed liberality.
Generosity means freedom from small and stingy pettiness.
Generosity means practicing charity for the poor and unfortunate.
Generosity means kind bigheartedness towards those worthy of it.
Generosity means warmhearted and altruistic unselfishness.
Generosity provides the kammic cause for later wealth..
Giving causes Getting... No Giving causes future Poverty!
The Blessed Buddha explained the treasure of generosity like this:
When a disciple of the Noble Ones whose mind and
mentality is all cleared of disgracing miserliness,
living at home, is freely generous and open-handed,
delighting in being magnanimous,
responsive to every request and,
is enjoying the giving of any alms.
Such is this treasure called generosity.
AN VII 6
Just as a filled pot, which is overturned,
pours out all its water, leaving nothing back,
even and exactly so should one give to those in need.
whether low, middle or high, like the overturned pot,
holding nothing back…!!!
Jataka Nidana [128-129]
The Generosity of Giving,
The Kindness in Speech,
The Benefit of Service,
The Impartiality of treating all Alike,
These 4 threads of Sympathy
upholds this world, like the axle do the cart!
AN II 32
Giving food, one gives and later gets strength
Giving clothes, one gives and later gets beauty
Giving light, one gives and later gets vision
Giving transportation, one gives and later gets ease.
Giving shelter one gives all,
Yet one who instructs in the True Dhamma
- The supreme Teaching of the Buddhas -
Such one gives the quite divine ambrosia!
SN I 32
These are these five rewards of generosity:
One is liked and charming to people at large,
One is admired and respected by wise people,
One's good reputation is spread wide about,
One does not neglect a householder's true duty,
and with the break-up of the body - at the moment
of death - one reappears in a happy destination,
in the plane of the divine worlds!
AN V.35
There are these two kinds of gifts:
material gifts and gifts of Dhamma.
The supreme gift is that of Dhamma.
There are these two kinds of sharing:
material sharing and sharing of Dhamma.
The supreme sharing is that of Dhamma.
There are these two kinds of help:
Material help and help with the Dhamma.
This is the supreme of the two:
help with this subtle Dhamma …
It 98
The gift of Dhamma exceeds all other gifts.
Dhammapada 354
The Bodhisatta once as king Sivi gave
both his eyes to a beggar who was Sakka the
king deity in disguise, who desired to test him.
He remembered "While I was wishing to give,
while I was giving and after this giving there
was neither contrariety, nor opposition in my mind
since it was for the purpose of awakening itself!
Neither were these eyes, nor the rest of myself
disagreeable to me. Omniscience was dear to me,
therefore I gave both my eyes."
The Basket of Conduct
Cariyapitaka I-8
Full story: Sivi Jataka no. 499
The Bodhisatta once as the Wise Hare gave his roasted body
as alms to a beggar by jumping into a fire:
He remembered: "There came a beggar and asked for food.
Myself I gave so that he might eat. In alms-giving there was
none equal to me. In alms I had thereby reached the absolute
ultimate perfection." From then and the rest of this world-cycle
the moon will display a characteristic 'hare-in-the-moon' sign!
Sasa-Jataka no. 316
Giving of things, treasures, external possessions, job,
position, wife, and child is the first perfection of giving.
Giving the offer of one's organs, limbs, and senses is
the second higher perfection of giving.
Giving the sacrifice of one's life is the ultimate
perfection of giving.
The clarifier of sweet meaning 89
(Commentary on Buddhavamsa)
Madhuratthavilasini [59]
Venerable Buddhadatta: 5th century.
Generosity is the first mental perfection (parami):
Clinging and egoism creates internal panic and social tension.
Giving and sharing creates internal elation and external harmony...
What is gladly given, returns more than thousandfold!
Giving requires Relinquishing! Giving is Anti-Clinging!
Giving is the opposite mental state of Greed...
More of the 10 mental perfections (paramis):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_10_mental_perfections_(parami)_in_three_levels.htm
More on Generosity (Dana) = The 1st mental perfection:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Glad_Giving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/caaga.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/daana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Generosity_Contemplation.htm
Have a nice, noble and generous day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Sharing Elevates Your Future!
Glad Generous Giving!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Openhanded_Generosity.htm
Your essential core website http://What-Buddha-Said.net GREEEN
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The ongoing upgrade of the Micro-Hydro-Power plant here at the Hermitage is almost finalized!
See also: http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/Hydro_Power_Update.htm
The new transformers, rectifiers, regulators, dump-loads and second pipe-line have all been installed.
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Donations for this Noble Purpose facilitating the worldwide Daily Dhamma sharing
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Quite Many Thanx in Advance!
The rest of the Cypress Hermitage's Solar and Hydro-power system photos are here:
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Some pictures of the recent hydro-power upgrade process:
h
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Dam
The Cypress Hermitage's Solar and Hydro-power photos are here:
http://www.altestore.com/solar-showcase/system/system-78/
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May Many Beings Become Thus Happy Thereby!
An anonymous appreciation will be acknowledged here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/appreciations.htm
About Generosity (Dana): The First Mental Perfection:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Openhanded_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Reviewing_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Glad_Giving.htm
Have a Nice, Noble, & Easy Day :-)
Many Thanx in Advance!
Micro-Hydro-Power and Green Web-hosting Update!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/Hydro_Power_Update2.htm
Friendliness can cross any Border!
If friendship between animal beings can cross even remote species borders,
so can and should we humans also make our kind friendship extend beyond
any national, religious, cultural, gender, educational, job, and age border!
Only in this very good way, can we establish a society, where we can sleep
with the doors open, and dance with the children in our arms. So be it :-)
May all creatures, all breathing things,
all beings one and all, without exception,
experience good fortune only.
May they not fall into any harm.
Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
With good will for the entire cosmos,
cultivate a limitless heart & mind:
Beaming above, below, & all around,
unobstructed, without trace of hostility.
Sutta Nipata I, 8
For one who deliberately & aware
develops Universal Friendliness
Seeing the fading away of clinging,
All chains are worn down & broken.
Itivuttaka 27
Let no one deceive another
or despise anyone anywhere,
or through anger or irritation
wish for another to suffer.
Sutta Nipata I, 8
I am a friend of the footless,
I am a friend of all bipeds;
I am a friend of those with four feet,
I am a friend of the many-footed!
Anguttara Nikaya 4.67
As I am, so are others...
As others are, so am I...
Having thus identified self and others,
Never Harm anyone, nor have any abused.
Sutta Nipata 3.710
Among tigers, lions, leopards & bears I lived in the jungle.
No one was frightened of me, nor did I fear anyone.
Uplifted by such universal friendliness, I enjoyed the forest.
Finding great solace in such sweetly silenced solitude…
Suvanna-sama Jataka 540
Train yourself in doing good
that lasts and brings happiness.
Cultivate generosity, the life of peace,
and a mind of infinite universal love.
Itivuttaka 22
The 9th mental Perfection is Friendliness (Metta):
Just as water refreshes and cleanses both just and unjust persons without
discrimination, so does the perfection of friendliness include both friends
and foes alike, and doesn't enact any distinction, favouritism, or partiality.
More on this fabulously fine Friendliness (Metta):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Symbiotic_Sympathy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The-Effective_Saw.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The_11_Advantages.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Evaporated_Enemy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Genuine_Goodwill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Blazing_Goodwill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Cosmic_Goodness.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Unbounded_Mind.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Goodness_Galore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Loving-Kindness.htm
Goodwill Blazes Beyond... :-)
Friendship can cross any Border!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Across_Borders.htm
What are the 8 Training Rules (Precepts), which brings Divinity?
The Blessed Buddha once said:
The habitual praxis of the observance day endowed with eight features brings
high reward and blessing, & is of sublime dignity and greatness. And which are
these eight features? In this, any Noble Disciple considers within himself:
Throughout their life the Arahats avoid all stealing of others' property and
abstain from any cheating. Always waiting till whatever thing is freely and
only openly given, free from any thievish intent, they remain intact and pure
both in mind & moral! May also I, this day and night, avoid all stealing & not
cheat anyone. By that I will follow the traits of these perfected Arahats!
I shall then have observed the Uposatha observance day perfectly. With this
second praxis is the observance day enriched. Observed in this very way,
the observance day endowed with eight features brings high - even divine -
reward & blessing & is of sublime dignity and immense greatness...
The one, who never takes, what is not freely & openly given,
whether long or short, fine or foul, exquisite or ordinary,
such one is a Holy One.
Dhammapada 409
Behaviour that counts as ways of stealing:
Cheating with values, documents, weights or measures, embezzlement, corruption,
fraud, misappropriation, robbery, theft, swindling, trickery, forgery, counterfeit,
extortion, bribing, blackmail, tax-evasion, false accounting, double book-keeping,
over-prizing, pirating, deliberate false valuation of assets, and insurance fraud...!
More on Not Stealing:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Threefold_Right_Action.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Hungry_Ghost_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Action.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Five_Basics.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Virtue.htm
More on this Optimal Buddhist Behaviour of Observance:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fullmoon_Observance_Day.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/atthasila.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html
Source (edited extract):
Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 8:44
Have a nice & $-honest day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Best Buddhist Behaviour: No Theft or Fraud!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_II.htm
The Relief of Relinquishing all Resentment!
When one's resentment towards any hostile person has been allayed, then
one can deliberately turn mind with loving-kindness towards any person:
Both the very dear friend, the neutral person and the hostile opponent!
By repeated praxis of meditation on infinite friendliness one gradually
breaks down the mental barrier of evil opposition thereby accomplishing
mental impartiality towards the 4 persons: oneself, the very dear person,
the neutral person and the hostile person. Suppose a trainee is sitting in
a place with a dear, a neutral, and a hostile person, himself being the 4th.
Then bandits come to him and say, 'Venerable friend, give us a person so
that we may kill him and use the blood of his throat as an offering'...!
When one does not see a single one among these four people suitable to
be given to the bandits and one directs mind impartially towards oneself
and towards those three people, then one has broken down the barriers...
Breaking the Barrier to: Impartiality
Therefore the Ancient Nobles said:
When he does not discriminates between the 4 persons:
That is: Himself, the dear, the neutral, and the hostile one,
Then "Skilled" is not the name he gets, nor "Most Friendly",
But only "Kind towards all beings". Now when a bhikkhu's
barriers towards all the 4 persons have been broken down,
Then he treats with equal amity all beings in the whole world;
Exalted and distinguished is he, who knows no barriers...
Vism 307
Universal friendliness, which cures all resentment, 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
Entangled by the bonds of hate, one who seeks his own happiness, by inflicting
pain on others, is never ever delivered from neither pain, nor hatred.
Dhammapada 291
Breaking down the Barriers!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Release_of_Resentment.htm
Rational Causal Attention Breaks Mental Hindrances:
The Blessed Buddha once said:
When attending rationally sense-desire neither arises, nor expand.
When attending rationally evil-will neither arises, nor later expand.
When attending rationally lethargy & laziness does neither emerge nor grow.
When attending rationally restlessness & regret cannot arise or amplify.
When attending rationally doubt & uncertainty do not begin or blow up.
Furthermore, when attending carefully & rationally to cause and effect:
The awareness link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed.
The investigation link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed.
The energy link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed.
The joy link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed.
The tranquillity link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed.
The concentration link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed.
The equanimity link to awakening arises, and is gradually developed!
More on Attention: (Manasikara):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Careful_Attention.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/g_m/manasikaara.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:93-4] section 46: The Links. 35: Careful Attention...
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Causal Attention!