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These eight things, friends, when developed and cultivated lead to Nibbana, have Nibbana as their ultimate destination, have Nibbana as their final goal! What eight?
1: Right View 2: Right Motivation 3: Right Speech 4: Right Action 5: Right Livelihood 6: Right Effort 7: Right Awareness 8: Right Concentration
Friends, true knowledge is initiating all advantageous states, with a sense of shame and fear of wrongdoing coming after! For a clever person, who has arrived at such true knowledge, right view emerges. For one of right view, right motivation improves. For one of right motivation, right speech evolves. For one of right speech, right action springs up. For one of right action, right livelihood comes into being. For one of right livelihood, right effort arises. For one of right effort, right awareness appears. For one of right Awareness, right Concentration develops. Friends, this is the sign and precursor for arising of the sun: dawn! So too, friends, for a person, this is the sign and precursor for the arising of the Noble 8-fold Way, that is, Good & Noble Friendship! When a person has a Good Noble Friend, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate this Noble 8-fold Way... And how does a person, who has a good friend develop & cultivate this Noble 8-fold Way? Here, friends, a person develops right view, right motivation, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right awareness, and right concentration, which has as its final goal the complete elimination of all greed, the full eradication of all hate, and the final luminous ceasing of all ignorance...
Sariputta once said to the Buddha: It is to be expected, Venerable Sir, that any Noble Disciple who has faith, who has aroused energy & established awareness, and who is concentrated, will understand reality thus: This Samsara is without discoverable beginning! Any first point for beings roaming & wandering on, blinded by ignorance and bound by craving cannot ever be seen! But what can indeed be experienced is the traceless fading and ceasing of ignorance, this massive of darkness: That is the peaceful state, that is the supreme state ... that is, the stilling of all mental construction, the relinquishment of all acquisition, the elimination of all craving, complete disenchanting disillusion, final ceasing, Nibbana! That unique comprehension of his is rooted in his ability to understand Sir! And, Venerable Sir, when he has strived again and again along this very way, repeatedly recollected in that way, again & again concentrated his mind in exactly this way, over and over again understood only this in this very way, then that Noble Disciple gains complete faith thus: Regarding things that I previously had only heard about, now I dwell having contacted them with my body, and having perforated them by understanding; I now see and directly experience! That conviction, Venerable Sir, is his ability of faith working... Good, good. Sariputta! Noted the Buddha...
The Buddha said: "So few as these only, are these supreme mental qualities, which culminates in Awakening. There is nothing elsewhere beyond them! Be thorough, firm and systematic to complete them all..."
These 10 mental perfections can be developed to three levels: I: Those who awakens as disciples = Savaka-Bodhis give all possessions away including wife and kids to perfect generosity. Similar level with the 9 other perfections...
II: Those who awakens as Solitary Buddhas = Pacceka-Buddhas give an organ, limb or eye away to perfect generosity. Similar level with the 9 other perfections...
III: Those who awakens as Perfect Buddhas = Sammasam-Buddhas give even their own life away to perfect generosity. Similar level with the 9 other metal perfections...
The basic perfection of generosity is the relinquishing of one's children, wives, and belongings, such as wealth. The intermediate perfection of giving is the relinquishing of one's own limbs. The ultimate perfection of giving is the relinquishing of one's own life. The 3 stages in the perfection of morality should be understood as the non-transgression of morality on account of the three: children and wife, limbs, and life. The three stages in the perfection of withdrawal, as the withdrawal of those three bases after cutting off attachment to them. The 3 perfections of understanding, as the discrimination between what is advantageous or detrimental to beings after rooting out craving for one's belongings, limbs, and life. The three stages in the perfection of energy, as striving for the relinquishing of these 3things. The three stages in the perfection of patience, as tolerance to obstacles to one's belongings, limbs, and life. The 3 stages of perfection of Honesty, as the non-abandoning of honesty due to one's belongings, limbs, and life. The 3 stages of perfection of determination, as unshakeable determination despite the destruction of one's belongings, limbs, & life, bearing in mind that perfections ultimately succeed through a unflinching determination! The three stages in the perfection of friendliness, as the maintaining of friendliness towards any one, who destroys one's belongings! The 3 stages in the perfection of equanimity, as maintaining an attitude of imperturbable impartial neutrality towards all beings and phenomena, whether they are helpful or harmful in regard to ones belongings, limbs, and life. In this way should the analysis of the mental perfections be understood.
I am a friend and helper to all, I am sympathetic to all living beings. I develop a mind full of love and takes always delight in harmlessness. I gladden my mind, fill it with joy, and make it immovable and unshakable. I develop the divine states of mind not cultivated by simple men. Theragatha. 648-9
I am a friend of the footless, I am a friend of the bipeds; I am a friend of those with four feet, I am a friend of the many-footed. May not the footless harm me, may not the bipeds harm me, may not those with four feet harm me, and may not those with many feet harm me. AN II 72
Thus he who both day and night takes delight in harmlessness sharing love with all that live, finds enmity with none. Samyutta Nikaya. I 208
When one with a mind of love feels compassion for the entire world above, below and across, unlimited everywhere. Jataka 37
Among tigers, lions, leopards & bears I lived on the wood. No one was frightened of me, nor did I fear anyone. Uplifted by such universal friendliness I enjoyed the forest. Finding great solace in silent yet friendly solitude. Suvanna-sama Jataka 540
The Effects of Action (Kamma) is delayed as a Sown Seed!
The Blessed Buddha once explained: Regarding the effects of actions, Ananda, as to the person here who avoids all killing of any living being, who avoids all stealing of what is not given, who avoids any misconduct in sensual pleasures, who avoids all false speech, divisive speech, aggressive speech, and all idle & empty gossip, who is neither envious, nor jealous, is good-willed, and who is of right view, yet who at the breakup of the body, after death, is reborn in a state of deprivation, in a dreadful destination, in the painful purgatory, or even in the hells then it is because either earlier - prior to this - such one also did evil actions to be felt as painful, or later - after this - such one did evil actions to be felt as pain, or at moment of death such one entered into & maintained wrong views! Because of one or more of these, right after death, such one is reborn in a bad state of deprivation, a dreadful destination, in the painful purgatory, or even in the hells. But since such one also - here & now - has been one who avoids all killing of any living being, who avoids taking anything what is not given, who avoids all misconduct in sensual pleasures, who avoids all false speech, divisive speech, aggressive speech, & all idle & empty gossip, who is neither envious, nor jealous, who is of good will, & who holds right views, such one will experience the pleasant results of that good behaviour, either here and now, or in the next rebirth, or in some subsequent later existence... Comments: Behaviour (kamma) is always mixed: Sometimes good, sometimes bad! The effects are therefore similarly mixed: Sometimes pleasure, sometimes pain... Good begets good & dilutes & delays evil. Evil begets evil & dilutes & delays good!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus & friends: There is one contemplation, which when often practised and developed leads to a complete turning away from this captivating world, to detachment, to silencing, to ceasing, to Peace, to penetrating knowledge, to Enlightenment, and thus to Nibbana... Any Noble Disciple, who by progress have understood this Dhamma, dwells frequently in this state. Which is that unique contemplation? The Noble Disciple contemplates on the divine beings in this very way: There are the divine beings on the plane of the Four Great Kings, there are the divine beings of the World of the Thirty-three, there are a Yama World, there are the Contented Devas, there are also those enjoying own creation! There are those with power over others creations, those of the Brahma world, and those still far above them... Now, such faith, morality, wisdom, generosity, concentration and understanding, which these divine beings acted upon and which made them re-appear on a divine plane after leaving this world, such good qualities as these, are also found in me! When a Noble Disciple reflects thus, his mind is neither obsessed by any greed, nor by any hate, nor by any confusion! Uplifted and elated is his mind, and this makes the Noble Disciple gain further deeper understanding of the Dhamma, & thus makes the Noble Disciple delight in the Dhamma! Being delighted, there arises rapturous joy in him. Being filled with rapture & joy, he is inwardly satisfied & he becomes quite calm. Being calmed makes him enjoy bliss and happiness and the mind of the Happy One becomes collected, condensed and concentrated... Of this Noble Disciple, friends, it is said that among many misguided humans, among suffering humankind, he lives freed from suffering! And as one who has entered the stream to Nibbana, he cultivates further his contemplation. When, friends, a Noble Disciple has reached the fruit of understanding the Dhamma, he dwells often with a calm smile in this state! Source: AN 6:10
Sakka king of the 33 devas, hovering about with some of his many nymphs. A devata = goddess
Many devas can attain whatever form and colour at will. Some is made of light! They do not like the smell of humans like we don't like the smell of eg. pigs… There are 31 levels of existence (Human is level 5!). There thus numerous devas. http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html
Urge, incite & teach yourself by yourself! Examine & evaluate yourself by yoursel ! Guard yourself, aware of yourself, by yourself! Bhikkhu & you will live in happiness ... Dhammapada 379
For self is the master of self. For self is the protector of self. For self is the saviour of self. Control therefore yourself by taming, as one who has bought a new horse. Dhammapada 380
Full of Joy, content & satisfied, the Noble friend with perfect confidence in the Teaching of the Buddha, will reach the place of Peace, the unconditionally unconditioned sameness of Free Open Happiness itself ... Dhammapada 381
Cruelty, Mercilessness & Revengefulness are diluted Hate:
How to cure these evil derivatives of Cruelty:
1: Review the Danger in Cruelty like this: This can bring me to a bad destination, the downfall, to pain, even to hell! This is a path of thorns, an evil way, a dark state, conflict, violence, pain!
2: How does a friend dwell pervading all with his heart endued with pity? Just as he would feel pity on seeing an unlucky, unfortunate person, so he pervades all beings with infinite pity. Therefore first of all he imagines a poor man, unlucky, unfortunate, in every way a fit object for pity, ugly, reduced to utter misery, with hands and feet cut off, sitting in the shelter for the helpless, with an empty pot in front of him, with maggots oozing from sores on hands and legs, moaning, infinite pity should be felt for him in this way: 'This being has been reduced to utter misery! If he just could be freed from this misery...' Then later one can arouse the same pity and compassion for a neutral person and later for even a wrong-doing person! This is the complete mastery of pity: Compassion even with the Evil One!
3: All wrong doing is caused by blindness: A real pity for the wrong-doers! All wrong-doers will thus suffer immensely in the future. How sad for them!
4: Begin and Cultivate meditation on Infinite pity: Sit down a silent, empty place with closed eyes & beam this from the heart: May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating awareness of pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating examination of pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating energetic pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating joyous infinite pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating stilled infinite pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating concentrated pity. May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating imperturbable pity. Beaming first out in front, then right, left, down below and also up above: May all beings live happily and free from suffering, pain and frustration. May all beings be free from hate, cruelty, mercilessness & revengefulness!
One who is virtuous and wise Shines like a blazing fire; Like a bee collecting nectar He acquires wealth by harming none! Digha Nikaya III, 188
May all breathing creatures, all living things, All beings, every one without exception, Experience good fortune only! May they not fall into harm. Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
Solitude is happiness for one who is content, Who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees. Non-violence is happiness in the world Harmlessness towards all living beings. Udana 10
JOY Oh let us live happily! Freed from all cruelty! Living even among those, who always flames by hate! Among those dominated by anger, let us live free from anger! Dhammapada 197
By Ven. Chuen Phangcham, Ph.D., Midwest Buddhist Meditation Centre.
When Buddhism was first established in ancient India, there were few monks and nuns. These monks normally did not stay in fixed places or temples but rather spent most of their time moving from one place to another as it was their mission to spread the teachings of the Buddha for the happiness and welfare of all people and living beings.
In those days, there were no paved roads, so during the rainy season when the country experienced heavy and frequent rainfall, their travels were often impeded and interrupted. In this season, the farmers also cultivated their land and planted new crops.
Because travel was inconvenient, The Buddha allowed his disciples to stop wandering and take up temporary abodes during the rainy season.
In Pali, this season is called vassa, meaning the "Rains Retreat" and it extends for three lunar months. It begins on the 15th day of the waxing moon of the 8th Lunar Month, and ends on the 15th day of the waxing moon of the 11th Lunar Month.
This corresponds approximately from early July through late of October in the Gregorian calendar. In this year, 2012, the Rains Retreat started on July 3rd, and ends on October 29th.
Historical Background: About four or five years after attaining Enlightenment, the Buddha was dwelling at Jetavana Mahã Vihãra near Sãvatthi City, the capital of the Kosala kingdom ruled by King Pasenadi.
A group of thirty monks who had been ordained by the Buddha himself came from Sãket city east of Sãvathi just after the three months Rains Retreat Observance to visit the Buddha. The Buddha greeted them, asked them about their retreat and journey, and noticed their wet and torn robes. The lady disciple of the Buddha, Visakha Mahã Upãsikã was also there visiting and listening to the Buddha expounds the Dhamma. When she saw the monks in tattered and worn robes, she asked permission of the Buddha to offer new robes to the monks, and the Buddha granted her request. Since then the Buddha granted the monks the opportunity to search for robes in various places and even to accept robes offered by donors during the period of one month from the middle of the Eleventh Lunar Month to the middle of the Twelfth Lunar Month. This period is called Kathina.
As there were no sewing machines or textile factories in those days, the preparation of robes for monks required a lot of manpower and coordination. It could not be done in a single day.
The Buddha realized this problem and allowed his lay disciples to prepare and make robes for any monks who needed them. The process required searching for appropriate cloth, washing it, cutting it, sewing the pieces together into robes, coloring the robes, and drying them. After that, the robes were distributed to the monks who needed them with the consent of the Sangha, the community of the Monks.
At Present: Nowadays, lay followers prepare robes for the monks but not in the same way as it was done in the time of the Buddha. They are two ways in which monks may obtain robes, namely: (1). by searching for them in various places like cemeteries, cities, and towns, or (2) by accepting offerings of robes from the people.
The Kathina ceremony takes place during the month immediately following the full moon day of October (from the beginning of waning moon of the Eleventh Lunar Month to the beginning of waxing moon of the Twelfth Lunar Month).
According to Vinaya Pitaka, the Theravada Book of Discipline, during the three month period from mid-July to mid-October, monks are required to take up a settled residence and are allowed to leave their encampments only under special conditions.
In this environment, the wandering mendicant nature of the Buddhist monk began to change. In particular, a number of customs and practices of a collective life, including the recitation of rules and the distribution of robes, became incorporated into the annual cycle of monastic life.
These ceremonies have continued through the ages and have evolved from culture to culture. The traditions of Theravada Buddhism spread throughout Southeast Asia as Buddhism won the favor of ruling monarchs in Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Theravada Buddhism expanded greatly in Thailand under the patronage of King Ramkhamhaeng.
Today in Thailand, the Kathina ceremony provides one of the most popular occasions for merit-making. The Buddhist people celebrate this robe- offering ceremony with profound respect and devotion to the monks, who have just spent three months in the monastery observing the Vassã (Khao Pansã in the Thai, Lao, and Cambodian languages) –the Rains Retreat. In rural Thailand, everybody in a village will participate in the Kathina ceremony as a community activity which may last anywhere from one day to as many as three days.
All Buddhist monks and fully ordained nuns in all parts of the world observe the Rains Retreat during this period, though in certain countries the custom has been modified. Buddhist monks in Thailand, Lao, Cambodia, Burma, and Sri Lanka however continue to observe the Rains Retreat in the traditional Theravada way.
The author has proposed the idea to the American Buddhist Congress of shifting the observance of the Rains Retreat to occur from December to March in North America. The American Buddhist Congress has found the idea appealing, but such a change would require approval by senior monks from the Thai Sangha.
Why have I proposed this idea? Because during this period North America experiences heavy snow and bad winter weather which makes it very difficult for monks to travel and perform their missionary duties of spreading the Dhamma to all living beings.
Among the Buddhist of Southeast Asia, there is a very grand festival at the end of the observance of the Rains Retreat. People offer food to the monks in monasteries and prepare the special yellow robes that are offered to the Sangha.
This special offering is called the Kathina Offering Ceremony. It is done only during the period of time starting from the end of Rains Retreat to the first day of the waning moon of the 12th Lunar Month, as previously mentioned.
Benefits of Kathina Offering: 1. Monks who receive the offerings and the members of the Sangha, can go from places to place for their Dhamma works and meditation practice without needing to inform any monk in the monastery.
2. Monks do not need to carry a complete set of robes when they go anywhere to carry out their religious duties.
3. Monks can have their breakfast and lunch in different places offered by different donors without breaking their monastic rules (Vinaya).
4. They can keep other robes according to their wishes for more than ten days without breaking monastic rules.
5. The robes offered to them by donors are suitable and good for them, so they can extend their time to search for another set of robes for four months through out fall and winter.
6. The Buddhist followers support and help the monks to maintain the Buddhist teachings and tradition for world peace.
7. Those who support the Monks and the Sangha are always happy, joyful, and wealthy.
8. They promote Buddhist Teachings in Western society where people are Seeking Spiritual food for their hearts, and need spiritual and moral training.
9. The Monks have no worry about searching for cloth to make their robes, and in this way they have more time to concentrate on their Dhamma study and meditation practice, and can serve more people in their communities.
10. The donors cultivate generosity, perform charity, and exhibit selflessness.
11. The donors follow the noble way of life and maintain a humane society on this planet. They are the source of peace and happiness for the world.
Where is Kathina Ceremony observed? The Kathina ceremony is observed by Buddhist people in all parts of the world, not only in the Asian countries, but also in European countries such as the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Change: According to Buddhist tradition, the robes prepared on this occasion were usually offered to the Monks who had old and torn robes which were insufficient to protect themselves.
The robes were made by the "Sangha", under the idea of coordination collaboration, harmony, and participation in religious and monastic service.
The process of making the robes was completed in one day, beginning with making the cloth, cutting, sewing, washing, coloring, drying, and organizing it into a set of three. Then, with agreement of the Sangha, the robes were offered to the monks through the ceremony. The Kathina Ceremony therefore is a community activity that needs to be performed in a harmonious way.
This is the Buddha’s idea of collaboration and harmony, of care and the loving way of the compassionate heart for community and social development and for human society as a whole.
FEVER BURNING Those absorbed in such accusations as: "He/she/they abused, hurt, did me or us wrong " whether right or wrong!, such foolish ones only prolong own pain by being obsessed and thus possessed by their own anger. However! Those freed of all these accusations: "He/she/they abused, hurt, did me or us wrong " just plainly noting: "Whether right or wrong, so what!" such clever ones stop own pain by relinquishing all anger. Dhammapada 3+4
FUEL ON FIRE? Not by anger is Hate ever quenched. Only by Kindness is Hate always quenched. This Ancient Law is an eternal & absolute Truth ... ! Dhammapada 5
Comments: What good does any accusation, whether right or wrong, do to anybody? Nothing! On the contrary: It scorches mind from inside, inflames ill-will, and infects all with hot-headed hate! In short: The way to the Downfall!
Hate brings great misfortune.. Hate churns up and harms the mind! This fearful danger deep within own mind most beings do not understand at all.. Itivuttaka 84
Once in Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this: Bhikkhus, these four things when developed, cultivated and refined lead: to the Noble Fruit of Stream-Entry (Sotapatti-phala)... to the Noble Fruit of Once-Return (Sakadagami-phala)... to the Noble Fruit of Non-Return (Anagami-phala)... to the Noble Fruit of Arahat-ship (Arahatta-phala)... to absolutely True Understanding... to comprehensive Understanding... to expanding Understanding... to extensive Understanding... to elevated Understanding... to deep Understanding... to wide Understanding... to vast Understanding... to rich Understanding... to quick Understanding... to joyous Understanding... to buoyant Understanding... to sweeping Understanding... to unequalled Understanding... to razor-sharp Understanding... to profound penetrating Wisdom... to incisive transcendent Breakthrough! What four? 1: Friendship with excellent persons, 2: Learning the true Dhamma, 3: Careful and rational attention, 4: Praxis in accordance with the Dhamma. These and the 4 factors of Stream-Entry lead to this pervasive fruition!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, when the 7 Links to Awakening have been developed, completed and refined, the winning of the seven fruits is indeed to be expected. What are the benefits of these 7 fruits?
They are, either: 1: One attains final knowledge early in this very life. Or: 2: One attains final knowledge at the moment of death. Or: Having destroyed the five lower chains and spontaneously re-arisen; 3: One attains Nibbana in the first half of the life as a divine brahma. Or: 4: One attains Nibbana in the second half of the life in these pure abodes. Or: 5: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner without effort. Or: 6: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner with some effort. Or: 7: One is bound upstream, surely heading towards the highest Akanittha realm. When, bhikkhus, these Seven Links to Awakening have been thoroughly developed and cultivated exactly in this way, these seven fruits & benefits may be expected....
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, when the 7 Links to Awakening have been developed, completed and refined, the winning of the seven fruits is indeed to be expected. What are the benefits of these 7 fruits?
They are, either: 1: One attains final knowledge early in this very life. Or: 2: One attains final knowledge at the moment of death. Or: Having destroyed the five lower chains and spontaneously re-arisen; 3: One attains Nibbana in the first half of the life as a divine brahma. Or: 4: One attains Nibbana in the second half of the life in these pure abodes. Or: 5: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner without effort. Or: 6: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner with some effort. Or: 7: One is bound upstream, surely heading towards the highest Akanittha realm. When, bhikkhus, these Seven Links to Awakening have been thoroughly developed and cultivated exactly in this way, these seven fruits & benefits may be expected....
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, when the 7 Links to Awakening have been developed, completed and refined, the winning of the seven fruits is indeed to be expected. What are the benefits of these 7 fruits?
They are, either: 1: One attains final knowledge early in this very life. Or: 2: One attains final knowledge at the moment of death. Or: Having destroyed the five lower chains and spontaneously re-arisen; 3: One attains Nibbana in the first half of the life as a divine brahma. Or: 4: One attains Nibbana in the second half of the life in these pure abodes. Or: 5: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner without effort. Or: 6: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner with some effort. Or: 7: One is bound upstream, surely heading towards the highest Akanittha realm. When, bhikkhus, these Seven Links to Awakening have been thoroughly developed and cultivated exactly in this way, these seven fruits & benefits may be expected....
[color=#BF0000][u]When sitting alone, in silence, each early morning, with closed eyes one wishes:[/u][/color] 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!
[color=#BF0000][u]Comment: Mutual Joy is the 3rd infinite mental state[i] (Appamañña):[/i][/u][/color] 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!
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!
A deity once asked the Buddha What is good even when one is old? What is good when established? What is human's most precious treasure? What is hard for thieves to steal?
The blessed Buddha answered:
1: Morality is good even when one is old!
2: Faith is good when firmly established!
3: Understanding is human's most precious treasure!
4: Merit well earned is hard for thieves to steal!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, if one should call anything a heap of the Disadvantage, then it is these five hindrances, that one could rightly call this. For these are verily only one heap of evil Disadvantage, these five mental hindrances... What five?
1: The Mental Hindrance of Desire for Sensing... 2: The Mental Hindrance of Aversion & Ill-Will... 3: The Mental Hindrance of Lethargy & Laziness… 4: The Mental Hindrance of Restlessness & Regret… 5: The Mental Hindrance of Doubt & Uncertainty…
If one were to call anything a mass of the Disadvantage, then it is about those five hindrances, that one could rightly say this. Since indeed are these five mental hindrances an immense stockpile of damage and loss!!!
However: If, Bhikkhus, one were to call anything a heap of Advantage, then it is these Four Foundations of Awareness, that one could rightly call this. For these are verily a perfect accumulation of sole Advantage, that is, these Four Foundations of Awareness... What four?
1: Awareness of the Body merely as a transient & compounded form.. 2: Awareness of Feeling just as a passing reactive sensation. 3: Awareness of Mind only as a group of habitual & temporary moods.. 4: Awareness of Phenomena simply as momentary mental states..
If, Bhikkhus, one were to call anything an Accumulation of Advantage, then it is these Four Foundations of Awareness, that one could rightly call this. For these are verily a pure & massive abundance of Advantage, that is, these Four Foundations of Awareness... !!!
Source of reference (edited extract): The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book [V: 146] 47 The Foundations of Awareness: 5 Heap of Good...
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, if one should call anything a heap of the Disadvantage, then it is these five hindrances, that one could rightly call this. For these are verily only one heap of evil Disadvantage, these five mental hindrances... What five?
1: The Mental Hindrance of Desire for Sensing... 2: The Mental Hindrance of Aversion & Ill-Will... 3: The Mental Hindrance of Lethargy & Laziness… 4: The Mental Hindrance of Restlessness & Regret… 5: The Mental Hindrance of Doubt & Uncertainty…
If one were to call anything a mass of the Disadvantage, then it is about those five hindrances, that one could rightly say this. Since indeed are these five mental hindrances an immense stockpile of damage and loss!!!
However: If, Bhikkhus, one were to call anything a heap of Advantage, then it is these Four Foundations of Awareness, that one could rightly call this. For these are verily a perfect accumulation of sole Advantage, that is, these Four Foundations of Awareness... What four?
1: Awareness of the Body merely as a transient & compounded form.. 2: Awareness of Feeling just as a passing reactive sensation. 3: Awareness of Mind only as a group of habitual & temporary moods.. 4: Awareness of Phenomena simply as momentary mental states..
If, Bhikkhus, one were to call anything an Accumulation of Advantage, then it is these Four Foundations of Awareness, that one could rightly call this. For these are verily a pure & massive abundance of Advantage, that is, these Four Foundations of Awareness... !!!
Source of reference (edited extract): The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book [V: 146] 47 The Foundations of Awareness: 5 Heap of Good...
Precious yet often wasted is this Dhamma Opportunity!
The Blessed Gotama Buddha once explained: Bhikkhus & friends, imagine a single floating ring drifting in the great oceans! The Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern winds drive it here and there... Imagine also a blind turtle, which surfaces only once every hundred years... What do you think, Bhikkhus, would that blind turtle by chance often dive right up under this randomly drifting single ring & insert its neck in the hole? If it ever would at all, Sir, it would only happen by an exceedingly rare chance! Similarly, Bhikkhus it is by an exceedingly rare chance that one becomes human; it is by an extraordinarily rare chance that a Well-Come-&-Gone-One, an Arahat, a Perfectly Self-Enlightened Buddha arises in this world; and it is thus also by an exceptionally rare chance that the Dhamma and Discipline explained by this Tathagata shines forth in this world and saves it from Barbarism. Bhikkhus: You have now gained that precious & rare human state, a Tathagata, an Arahat, a Perfectly Self-Enlightened Buddha has arisen in the world, & the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata shines out in this world... Therefore, Bhikkhus & friends, an exertion should be made Now to understand: All This is Suffering; This Greedy Craving is the sole Cause of all Suffering; No Craving is the End of Suffering; The Noble 8-fold Way Ends all Suffering, Therefore should effort to fathom these 4 Noble Truths be made NOW!
Comment: It is now or never. May a sense of urgency save many from the ruin of neglect!
Source (edited extract): The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:456-7] section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 48: The Ring and Blind Turtle 2 ...
At Savatthi the blessed Buddha said: Friends, horrible are gain, honour, fame, name and praise! As if they cut through the outer skin, then through the inner skin, then through the flesh, then through the sinews, then right through to the bone! Having cut through the bone, they reach the marrow itself. So terrible indeed friends, are gain, honour, fame, name and praise... They are as if splattering pig bile over a mad dogs nose, bitter, vile, wicked, tricky, obstructive to achieving this incomparable security from domination! Friends, I have known of a certain person here whose mind I penetrated with my own mind and have thereby realized: This venerable one would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of his own life! Yet, sometime later, I see him telling a deliberate lie, because his mind was overwhelmed & obsessed by gain, honour, fame, name & praise... So destructive, friends, are gain, honour, fame, name and praise, so bitter, so vile and blocking any achievement of matchless security from bondage. Therefore, friends, you should train yourselves thus: "We will leave behind any arisen gain, honour, fame, name & praise and we will not let the arisen gain, honour, fame, name and praise remain obsessing or consuming our minds Thus should you train yourselves...!!!"
The Blessed Buddha once explained: And what, Bhikkhus, is then this simple indifference of the flesh? There are these five strings of sense-pleasure. What five? Visible forms experienceable by the eye ... Hearable sounds experienceable by the ear ... Smellable odours experienceable by the nose ... Tastable flavours experienceable by the tongue ... Touchable objects experienceable by the body ... That all are attractive, captivating, desirable, irresistible, lovely, charming, tempting, pleasing, sensually enticing, seductive, alluring, and tantalizing! These are the 5 strings of sense-pleasure. The indifference that arises from these 5 strings of sense-pleasure when bored, is simply indifference of the flesh...
And what, Bhikkhus, is the equanimity, which is not of this world? With the leaving behind of both pleasure and pain, & with the prior fading away of both joy & sorrow, one enters & dwells in the 4th jhana absorption, which is an entirely stilled mental state of utter awareness, purified by the equanimity of neither-pain-nor-pleasure. This is called the equanimity, which is not of this world!
Finally, what is serenity beyond the equanimity, which is not of this world? When a bhikkhu, whose mental fermentations are eliminated, reviews his calmed mind, which is liberated from all lust, freed from all hatred, and released from uncertainty, then there arises a transcendental serenity... This is the serenity beyond that equanimity, which is not of this world!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Sabbadanam dhammadanam jinati sabbarasam dhammaraso jinati sabbaratim dhammarati jinati tanhakkhayo sabbadukkham jinati.
THE SUPREME GIFT The gift of Dhamma surpasses all other gifts. The taste of Truth excels every other taste. The joy of Understanding exceeds any other joy. The elimination of Craving overcomes, quenches & triumphs over all pain, all sorrow, and all suffering ... Dhammapada 354
Be understanding to your perceived enemies. Be loyal to all your good friends. Be strong enough to face the changing world each day. Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone. Be generous to those who need your help. Be frugal with that you need yourself. Be wise enough to know, that you do not know everything. Be foolish enough to believe in the unknown miracle. Be willing to share your joys, resources and riches. Be willing to share and bear the sorrows of others. Be a leader, when you see the path others may have missed. Be a follower, when you are shrouded by the mists of uncertainty. Be the first to congratulate an opponent, who succeeds. Be the last to criticize a colleague, who fails. Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not tumble. Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way. Be loving to those, who love you, and also towards those who don't... Be friendly to those, who do not love you since then they may change. Above all: Be AWARE!
@samahita I was just thinking about how lovely all the dhamma drops are on this site earlier today! I am very happy you have posted more. Thank you very much ^ .^ Namaste and much love.
Dear Friend Sova: Thanx for appreciation. PS: Will make HD Video Dhamma talks on Vimeo. Have OK camcorder, but need some audio gear. Can U or any here support this good purpose? Donation posssible here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net A total of 429$ is needed. Thanx in advance.
The Blessed Buddha once said: If, Bhikkhus and Friends, anyone wishes: Oh, may I in this very life be able to eliminate the mental fermentations, and thereby come to fully experience mental release, release through understanding, by directly realizing it and make it my own! Then he should practise to perfect morality (sila), be devoted to mental tranquillity (samatha), not neglect the mental absorptions, cultivate insight (vipassana), and often frequent remote & peaceful places for training!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Some priests postulate this as the way going upwards: "Get up early and walk facing east. Do not avoid a pit, or a cliff abyss, or a stump, or a thorny place, or a village or a cesspool! You should expect death wherever you fall. Thus, good man, with the breakup of the body, after death, you will be reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world." This the praxis of the priests, Bhikkhus, is a foolish & stupid way, since it does neither lead to revulsion, to disillusion, nor to ceasing, to peace, to direct knowledge, to Enlightenment, nor to Nibbana! However, Bhikkhus, I will explain the very way Going Upwards in the Noble One's Discipline, that way, which leads to utter revulsion, to disillusion, to ceasing, to peace, to safe knowledge, to Enlightenment, to Nibbana: Any Noble Disciple possesses a sure confirmed confidence in the Buddha thus: "Worthy, and perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha!" He possesses confirmed confidence in the Dhamma thus: "Perfectly formulated is the Buddha-Dhamma, visible right here and now.." He possesses confirmed confidence in the Sangha thus: "Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha of the Buddha's disciples..." He also possesses the purity of morality esteemed by the Noble Ones: Unbroken, untorn, unspotted, freeing, praised by the clever, natural, leading to concentration. This, Bhikkhus, is the way going upwards, which leads to utter revulsion, to disillusion, to ceasing, to Peace, to direct knowledge of Enlightenment, and Nibbana!
The Blessed Buddha explained the flowing transience of existence as void: Suppose a man with good sight observed the many bubbles on the Ganges river as they drifted along, by carefully watching and examining them all. Then after he had carefully examined them, they would appear to him as empty, evanescent, and unsubstantial. In exactly the same way does the Bhikkhu observe all the material phenomena, all feelings, all perceptions, all mental constructions, & all states of consciousness, whether they be past, present, or future, far or near. By carefully watching, analysing & examining them all, they appear to him as empty, void, and without a core... Source (edited extract) SN 22:95
Comment: If feeling a bit nausea, or dizziness, or fear, when rigorously attempting to comprehend egolessness, then one is going in the right direction... Worth noticing is that one cannot ever loose a self that never was there in the first place...!
The cream of Teachings are The 4 Noble Truths & the 37 producers of Enlightenment. The cream of Recipients are The Noble Disciples capable of understanding & praxis. The cream of Holy Lives is that lived while developing the Noble 8-fold Path.
Vap Poya day is the full-moon of October. This holy day celebrates the end of the Bhikkhu's three months rains retreat and marks the Kathina month of robes , where lay people donate a set of robes to the Sangha. This also celebrates the day that Buddha began to teach the Abhidhamma!
The Buddha descending from the Tusita Level after having spent a rains retreat there explaining the Abhidhamma to the assembled devas during a single three months long speech! His biological mother Mahamaya, who died 7 days after his birth, and was reborn there as a deva, was present. He is followed down by the deva rulers Sakka and Maha-Brahma.
The Kathina Ceremony of giving robes to the Maha-Sangha and receive blessing merit thereby!
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!
Because of greed one is reborn in eggs of geese, doves or as other animals obsessed by great passion, like also in the womb of a rhinoceros... Because of ignorance one is reborn in the eggs of insects and worms. Because of hate one is reborn as snake. Because of pride and obduracy, one is reborn as lion. Because of arrogance & narcissism one is reborn in the wombs of donkeys and dogs. If miserly & discontented one creates rebirth as a monkey. If foulmouthed, faithless & shameless one is reborn as crow. Those flogging, chaining & injuring elephants, horses, & buffalos become spiders, scorpions, & stinging insects of cruel character. Those who are flesh-eating, angry, & fiery are reborn after death as tigers, jackals, cats, sharks, vultures, wolves & the like. Those who are generous givers, but angry & cruel become Nagas = snake-demons of great iddhi-power... Any deliberate wrongdoing in thought, speech and/or action can produce rebirth as animal! Therefore one should always shun all that is wrongdoing...
The Animal Realm! Source (edited extract): Pañcagatidipani by Ashvaghosa & Saddhammaghosa: 11-12th century AC. Tr. by Ann A. Hazlewood. Journal of the Pali Text Society. Vol. XI 1987: http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=132714
Actually, exactly so, invariable, & not otherwise!
The Blessed Buddha once said this: Bhikkhus, there are these four things, that are actually so, invariable, not otherwise... What four? Suffering is actually so, invariable, not otherwise... The Cause of Suffering is actually so, invariable, not otherwise... The Ending of Suffering is actually so, invariable, and not otherwise... The Way to End all Suffering is actually so, invariable, not otherwise... These 4 Noble Truths are actually & exactly so, invariable, & not otherwise... Therefore, Bhikkhus, an effort should be dedicated now to really understand: All this is Suffering! An effort should be made much of to truly comprehend: Craving is the Cause of Suffering! An effort should be cultivated to realize: No Craving is the End of Suffering! Effort should be made to break through, reinforce, and develop: This Noble 8-fold Way, which ceases all Suffering...
The Blessed Buddha once said: When one attends carefully unarisen Sense-Desire does neither arise, nor later expand. When one attends carefully unarisen Ill-Will does neither arise, nor later expand. When one attends carefully unarisen Lethargy & Laziness does neither arise, nor expand. When one attends carefully unarisen Restlessness & Regret does neither arise, nor expand. When one attends carefully unarisen Doubt & Uncertainty does neither arise, nor expand. Furthermore the Awareness Link to Awakening arises, & is gradually completed by repetition. Any unarisen Investigation Link to Awakening arises, and is completed by gradual evolution. Any unarisen Energy Link to Awakening arises, & is completed by repeated mental refinement. Any unarisen Joy Link to Awakening arises, & is completed by meditative mental improvement. Any unarisen Tranquillity Link to Awakening arises, and is completed by mental silencing. Any unarisen Concentration Link to Awakening arises, & is completed by mental sophistication. Any unarisen Equanimity Link to Awakening arises, and is completed by mental maturation.
The Blessed Buddha once said: These six things are to be remembered in order to Unite any Community in Harmony: Which six? 1: Friendly Behaviour (metta-kaya-kamma=friendly bodily action) both in public and in private. 2: Friendly Speech (metta-vaci-kamma=friendly verbal action) both in public and in private. 3: Friendly Thought (metta-mano-kamma=friendly mental action) both in public and in private. 4: Sharing of Gains (sadharana-bhogi=common wealth) even down to any single lump of food. 5: Moral Harmony (sila-samannagato=uniform morality): All respect the same ethical rules. 6: Harmony in Views (ditthi-samannagato=uniform attitude): All share the same general views. These 6 things are to be considered & remembered both for individual & social Harmony...
Comments: So we can sleep with open doors and dance with the children in our arms :-)
The characteristic of patience is acceptance, its function is to endure, and its manifestation is non-opposing tolerance! The cause of patience is understanding how things really are.. The effect of patience is calm tranquility despite presence of intensely stirring provocation.. Patience of the will produces forgiving forbearance! Patience of the intellect produces faith, confidence and certainty! Patience of the body produces resolute and tenacious endurance! Internal tolerance of states within oneself is patient endurance... External tolerance of other beings is forbearance and forgiveness...
He who patiently protects himself, protects also all other beings! He who patiently protects all other beings, protects also himself!
Not from speaking much is one called clever. The patient one is free from anger and free from fear, only such steady persisting one, is rightly called clever... Dhammapada 258
Patient tolerance is the highest praxis... Nibbana is the supreme Bliss! So say all the Buddhas. Dhammapada 184
The innocent one, who has done nothing wrong, Who endures abuse, flogging and even imprisonment, Such one, armed with stamina, the great force of tolerance, Such stoic one, who self-possessed can accept, I call a Holy One! Dhammapada 399
One should follow those who are determined, tolerant, and enduring, intelligent, wise, diligent, clever, good-willed and evidently Noble. One shall stick to them as the moon remains in its regular orbit. Dhammapada 208
Friends, even if bandits were to cut you up, savagely, limb by limb, with a two-handled saw, you should not get angry, but do my bidding: Remain pervading them and all others with a friendly Awareness imbued with an all-embracing good-will, kind, rich, expansive, and immeasurable! Free from hostility, free from any ill will. Always remembering this very Simile of the Saw is indeed how you should train yourselves. Majjhima Nikaya 21
The five ways of removing irritating annoyance: Bhikkhus, there are these five ways of removing annoyance, by which any irritation can be entirely removed by a Bhikkhu, when it arises in him. What are these five ways? 1: Friendliness can be maintained towards an irritating person or state.. 2: Understanding can be undertaken towards an irritating person or state.. 3: On-looking Equanimity can be kept towards an irritating person or state.. 4: One can forget and ignore the irritating person, mental or physical state.. 5: Ownership of Kamma of the irritating person can be reflected upon thus: This good person is owner of his actions, inherit the result his actions, is indeed born of his actions and only he is responsible for his actions be they good or bad. This too is how annoyance with the irksome can be instantly removed. These are the five ways of removing annoyance, and by which any irritation can be entirely removed in a friend, exactly when it arises... Anguttara Nikaya V 161
Buddha to his son Rahula: Develop an Imperturbable Mind like the elements: Rahula, develop a mind like earth, then contacts of arisen like and dislike will not obsess your mind! Rahula, on the earth is dumped both the pure and the impure: excreta, urine, saliva, pus, blood, but the earth does not detest any of those... Even and exactly so make your mind stable like the earth! Rahula, develop a mind like water, then contacts of arisen pleasure and pain will not seize your mind. Rahula with water both the pure and the impure are cleaned... Washed away with water are excreta, urine, saliva, pus, and blood, yet the water does not despise any of that! Even so make the mind fluid and adaptable like the water! Rahula, develop a mind like fire, then the contacts of any arisen attraction or aversion will neither consume, nor hang on to your mind! Rahula, fire burns both the pure and the impure, burns excreta, urine, saliva, pus, and blood, yet the fire does not loathe any of that.. In the same manner refine the mind into a tool like an all consuming and purifying fire! Rahula, develop a mind similar to space, then contacts of arisen delight and frustration does neither take hold of, nor remain in your mind. Space does not settle anywhere! Similarly make the mind unsettled and unestablished like open space. When you expand mind like space, contacts of delight and frustration will neither be able to dominate, nor obsess your mind... Majjhima Nikaya 62
There might be the case, where one gives wealth, but without joy! Then, the later result is, that one gets wealth, but without any joy!
Illustration: A multi-billionaire at Buddha's time was known as neither enjoying himself, nor sharing any of his wealth. He lived alone in an old house, which were falling apart, wore rag clothes, ate only broken rice and drove a ramshackle ox-cart. When he died, then it took 2 weeks to move his gold & silver to the kings treasury... This king then approached and asked the Blessed Gotama Buddha: How come this man neither ever enjoyed, nor shared out of his wealth? The Buddha then reviewed his case and explained that 8 generations back this man had given a single meal to a Solitary Pacceka-Buddha! Yet after he had given, he felt no joy from it and even regretted that he did it. For 7 consecutive lives he was reborn as multi-billionaire, but without ever being able to enjoy any of it. Having now used up his accumulated merit, without ever doing any refilling good action, he had now, at the break-up of his body, re-arised in a bad state... Apparently, he had never asked anybody about cause and effect!
The Opposite Case: When old, the Noble Disciple recollects his own generosity thus: "I am truly Blessed, highly fortunate am I who joyous, among beings defiled with the mental stain of stinginess, live with a mind freed from stinginess, liberal, open-handed, rejoicing in giving, ready to give anything asked for, glad to give and happy to share with others. Such Noble One not only later gets much wealth, but also enjoys it. Why so? Not only does he give, but he also enjoys it both be and aft er the giving!
Most Gods actually became Divine Beings as a result of Giving!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus & friends: There is one contemplation which when often practised and much developed leads to the complete turning away from the world, to detachment, to stilling, to ceasing, to peace, to final penetrating knowledge, to Enlightenment, and thus to Nibbana... Any Noble Disciple who by progress have understood the true Dhamma dwells frequently in this state. Which is that one contemplation? It is reflecting over the qualities of the Buddha exactly like this: Worthy, honourable & perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha! Consummated in knowledge and behaviour, totally transcended, expert in all dimensions, knower of all worlds, unsurpassable trainer of those who can be tamed, both teacher & guide of gods as well as of humans, blessed, exalted, awakened, and perfectly enlightened is the Buddha! Source: AN 1:16.1 + 6:10
How does a Bhikkhu dwell pervading one direction with his mind endued with compassion? Just as he would feel compassion on seeing an unlucky, unfortunate person, so he pervades all beings with boundless compassion! Therefore first of all, on eyeing a wretched man, deplorable, unfortunate, in every way a fit object for compassion, horrid, reduced to utter misery, with hands and feet cut off, sitting in the shelter for the weak & helpless with an empty dirty pot placed before him, with maggots in all his wounds, moaning, compassionate pity should be felt for him in this way: This being has been reduced to misery: If only he could be freed from his suffering! Similarly too should a Bhikkhu whose meditation subject is compassion also arouse compassion for an evil-wrong-doing person, even if he is happy now: Though this poor wretch is now happy, cheerful, & enjoying his wealth, but still, since he has neglected to do even one single good deed, he can come to experience untold suffering anytime after a downfall to the states of loss! Such infinitely compassionate pity he feels towards all beings and especially both towards himself, the dear friend, the neutral one, & the hostile person, thereby breaking down the wrong attitude barrier separating these objects. Vbh 273, Vism I 315
What is the proximate cause of Pity? The proximate cause of Compassionate Pity (Karuna), which induces this fine mental state, is seeing, knowing and understanding the HELPLESSNESS of most beings, since they do the wrong that cause their misery influenced by ignorance, which blind and obstruct their understanding of right & wrong, and influenced by greed, lust and desire, which bind and drag them despite their struggles, and influenced by hate, aversion and opposition, which push and burn them from inside. Out of self-control they are thus bound to commit wrong repeatedly and thus later experience the resulting downfall!
One should often contemplate the inevitable fact of DEATH! Why so? Because it makes one approach Nibbana – The Deathless Dimension! Neglecting thinking about death makes one accumulate future rebirths, and thereby also future rounds of ageing, decay and inevitable death! Considering death is therefore quite advantageous, but not pleasant… Neglecting death is therefore quite disadvantageous, though more pleasant… One looses all (again & again) at the moment of death including this body… Death itself is painless and should not be feared. Life is painful & dreadful! The only way to escape the fact of death is not to be (re)-born… Only this is Peace ! Only this is Freedom from all future suffering! Only this - in itself - is lasting Happiness !
Really Rich are those who have gained a fine future!
Anathapindika was a millionaire banker (setthi) of Savatthi, who donated the famous Jetavana Monastery to the Buddha, the Dhamma and his Sangha! He had to cover the entire ground with gold to pay for it to prince Jetakumara!
Venerable Sariputta thanked the householder Anathapindika with these verses: When one has faith in the Tathagata, Unshakable and well established, And good conduct built on virtue, dear to the Noble ones and praised; When one has confidence in the Sangha and a view that has been rectified, They say, that one is not poor then, that one's life has not been in vain! Therefore the person of intelligence, remembering the Buddha's Teaching, Should be devoted to faith and purity, to confidence in & vision if the Dhamma! Just as the many rivers flow downstream and finally reach the mighty ocean, As these rivers carry their waters to the sea. the great boundless mass of water, Exactly so do the streams of merit reach any donor, any good & wise man, giver of food, drink, & clothes, provider of housing, beds, seats, and coverlets... Just as the rivers carry their waters to the sea! One who has Faith in the Three Jewels, who purifies his behaviour by Morality Having given to those, who seek the absolute, is Really Rich - most wealthy - even without a penny!
Anathapindika was a millionaire banker (setthi) of Savatthi, who became famous because of his unparalleled generosity to the Buddha. As kammic result, he was later reborn in the Tusita heaven! The place of those who are content :-) http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/ay/anaathapindika.htm
A certain Bhikkhu once asked the Blessed Buddha: Venerable Sir, how should one know and see, in order to eliminate all ignorance and to facilitate the emergence of real and true knowledge? Bhikkhu, when one has heard that: Nothing is worth clinging to, then one directly knows everything! Having directly known everything, one fully understands everything! Having fully understood everything, one sees & regards all aspects, signs & phenomena quite differently: As something remote, as something alien, as something other, & neither as something that is 'me' nor 'mine', nor as an 'I', a 'self, or an 'Ego'! One regards the eye, forms, visual consciousness, eye-contact, feelings & experiences caused seeing quite differently... As something remote... One regards the ear, sounds, auditory consciousness, ear-contact, and feelings & experiences by hearing differently... As something foreign... One regards the nose, all smells, olfactory consciousness, nose-contact, & smelled feelings & experiences differently. As something quite alien! One regards the tongue, taste, gustatory consciousness, tongue-contact, tasted feelings & experiences differently... As something superficial... One regards the body, touch, tactile consciousness, body-contacts and touched feelings & experiences very differently... As something external! One regards the mind, thought, mental consciousness, mental-contacts, & thought feelings & experiences differently... As something all detached!!! When, Bhikkhu, whoever knows & sees all signs thus, ignorance is left behind by him and real and true knowledge has emerged...
Detached Alien Remoteness: Nothing is worth clinging to!
Since sensual pleasures, variegated, sweet and delightful, agitate the mind with their varied forms, thus seeing danger in the streams of sense pleasure, one should wander alone, solitary as a rhinoceros horn... This for me is a calamity, a tumour, a setback, a dis-ease, a barb, & danger: Seeing the vulnerability in the pitfall of these strands of sensual pleasure, one should wander mentally secluded and reclusive as a rhinoceros horn... Cold, heat, hunger, thirst, wind, scorching sun, gadflies and snakes, having endured all these adversities patiently, one should wander alone, withdrawn, and as imperturbable as a rhinoceros horn! (The Indian Rhinoceros Unicornis has only one solitary horn!) Sn 50-52
Whoever is addicted to society and worldly bustle, he will not partake of the happiness of quiet withdrawal, detached aloofness, peace or enlightenment! AN VII 86
The solitary Rhinoceros teaches how to be comfortable within yourself!
The wanderer Sabhiya once asked the Blessed Buddha: What defines a Bhikkhu, a gentle one, a self-controlled, and an enlightened one? The Blessed Buddha Gotama answered: He who has reached calm stilling by a path developed by himself, who has crossed over all doubt and uncertainty, who by giving up both this life & any new becoming, who has lived the Noble life, whose renewed existence has become fully destroyed, such one is a Bhikkhu.... Any recluse, who does not harm anyone in the whole world, who just looks on every object in aware equanimity, imperturbable, humble, without pride, is a gentle one... Any one whose senses are all controlled, whether the object is internal or external, who has understood both this world and the next, who being developed just awaits his last moment, like a waiter waits for his salary, such quiet one, is self-controlled! Having comprehended all fabrications, journeying-on, dying here & re-arising there, whose mental pollutions have faded away, who is without blemish, stainless, purified, arrived at the destruction of the regeneration of birth, him they call enlightened... This elated the mind of Sabhiya, who approving, delighted, glad, enraptured by joy, asked for permission to join the Buddha's Sangha. After the usual probationary period of four months, Sabhiya in this very life awakened himself as an Arahat. Sutta-Nipata verses 513-517 Edited excerpt.
Thought solidifies into kammically effective behaviour!
The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests into acted out behaviour! The deed develops into habit, which hardens into deep-grown stubborn character! So watch the thought and its ways with care and let it spring from infinite friendliness; Born out of kindness for all sentient beings. Ignorance leads to ego, Ego leads selfishness, Selfishness leads to aversion, Aversion leads to anger, Anger leads to hatred, Hatred leads to Suffering… The creator of man was greed, For countless lives this was his drive. With Ignorance at its helm, it grows! No end for it until he knows...
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be untrue and incorrect, disadvantageous, and which also is unwelcome and disagreeable to others, that he does not speak. (No need at all...) Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be true and correct, yet still disadvantageous, and which also is unwelcome and disagreeable to others, that neither does he speak. (No advantage for listener!) Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be both true and correct, and also advantageous, yet still unwelcome & disagreeable to others, that speech the Perfect One waits for the right time to speak! (Correct constructive critique should fall, when it does not hurt!) Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be untrue and incorrect, disadvantageous, but pleasing, agreeable and welcome to others, that he does neither speak. (Empty and false flatter is all out...) Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be both true and correct, but disadvantageous, though pleasing, agreeable & welcome to others, that he does not speak. (No speech, when no advantage for listener!) Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be both true and correct, advantageous, and also pleasing, agreeable and welcome, that speech the Perfect One knows and picks the exact right time to speak. (Making well timed maximum impact of advantage for listener!) MN 58
By seeing that: If only happy at one's own success, such egoistic Joy is rare and limited! If happy at others success also, the Joy is more frequent & even infinite!
By observing that: It starts with basic sympathy, develops into acceptance, genuine approval, & appreciation. It culminates in rejoicing altruistic sympathy by directing mind to initiation, much cultivation & boundless expansion of Mutual Joy!
By knowing that: Mutual Joy is the proximate cause of sweet, fully satisfied contentment! Lack of mutual joy is therefore the proximate cause of discontentment! Mutual Joy instantly eliminates acidic jealousy, grudge and green envy! Mutual Joy is an infinite, truly divine, elevating and sublime mental state! Mutual Joy is 1 of the 4 mental states of the Brahma-devas (Brahmavihara)
The Blessed Buddha pointed out: If it were impossible to cultivate this Good , I would not tell you to do so!
Buddhaghosa: See how this worthy being is very Happy! How fine! How excellent! How sweet!
Let there be Happiness. Let there be open Freedom. Let there be Peace. Let there be Bliss from cultivating this. Let there be Understanding of this mental state of Mutual Joy!
The Blessed Buddha once said: There are 5 kinds of mental barrenness, that obstruct any mental growth and any spiritual progress. What are they?
1: Skeptical doubt about the perfect Awakening of the Buddha is the first mental barrenness. 2: Skeptical doubt about the absolute Truth of the ancient Dhamma is the second mental barrenness. 3: Skeptical doubt about the Purity of the Noble part of the Sangha is the third mental barrenness. 4: Skeptical doubt about the Efficacy of the mental Training is the fourth mental barrenness. 5: Angry opposition towards one's friends and fellows on the Noble Path is the fifth mental barrenness.
These 5 kinds of mental barrenness disable all initiative, enthusiasm, energy, effort, exertion, and endurance... Therefore do they eliminate any effective training & thereby also all the advantageous fruit of such mental training... Review the mind regularly so to recognize these obstructions and cure them with faith, investigation, and friendliness.
The Buddha once explained the profundity of causality like this:
Arising of Nutriment induces the emergence of the Body... Ceasing of Nutriment induces the passing away of the Body...
Arising of Contact induces the emergence of Feeling... Ceasing of Contact induces the passing away of Feeling...
Arising of Naming-&-forming induces the emergence of Mind... Ceasing of Naming-&-forming induces the passing away of Mind...
Arising of Attention induces the emergence of Phenomena... Ceasing of Attention induces the passing away of Phenomena...
Therefore is considering, contemplating, analyzing, and recollecting: 1: Body merely as a transient form grown up on food; 2: Feeling only as passing emotion arisen from sense-contact; 3: Mind just as changing mood emerged from naming-&-forming; 4: Phenomena only as momentary mental states created by attention... a crucial necessity! Reflecting on these 4 facts repeatedly, & thoroughly, is called initiating and developing the Four_Foundations_of_Awareness, which, in itself, is the mental treasure par excellence, leading steadily, and directly to the Deathless Element: Nibbana...
The Blessed Buddha once said: The days and nights are flying past, Life shrinks & dwindles hurriedly away, The life of mortals ebbs, and runs away, Vanishes, like water in a tiny stream. SN 4:10
As every morning one may worry & fear The sudden falling of the ripened fruits, So all mortals in this and any other world, Have to live in constant fear of abrupt dying. Sn 576
Death looks over your shoulder to see how you fool around...
All beings are subject to death, will die end in death, can never ever escape death. As absolutely every earthen pot that has been shaped & born by the potter's hand, whether big or small, firm or frail, each one, All will crack up & fall to pieces in the end! Exactly so are all beings subject to death, come to death, can never escape death... All beings at due time have to pass away, Their life one day will finish and perish, Then they all fare according to their deeds, Thus good or bad fruits they all will earn. The evil-doer fares all screaming to hell, The good man smiling to a happy world. Hence, Noble deeds one should perform As a supplying store for the next life! For good deeds in the next world give living beings their only strong support! Without that there is only the free fall! SN 3:22
END-MAKER Neither in the distant space, nor in the deepest ocean, nor in the darkest cave, can anyone escape the crushing fact of Death ...!!! Dhammapada 128
Comments
What is this Noble Eightfold Way?
These eight things, friends, when developed and cultivated lead to Nibbana,
have Nibbana as their ultimate destination, have Nibbana as their final goal!
What eight?
1: Right View
2: Right Motivation
3: Right Speech
4: Right Action
5: Right Livelihood
6: Right Effort
7: Right Awareness
8: Right Concentration
Friends, true knowledge is initiating all advantageous states, with a sense of
shame and fear of wrongdoing coming after! For a clever person, who has
arrived at such true knowledge, right view emerges. For one of right view,
right motivation improves. For one of right motivation, right speech evolves.
For one of right speech, right action springs up. For one of right action, right
livelihood comes into being. For one of right livelihood, right effort arises.
For one of right effort, right awareness appears. For one of right Awareness,
right Concentration develops.
Friends, this is the sign and precursor for arising of the sun: dawn!
So too, friends, for a person, this is the sign and precursor for the arising of
the Noble 8-fold Way, that is, Good & Noble Friendship! When a person has
a Good Noble Friend, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate
this Noble 8-fold Way... And how does a person, who has a good friend develop
& cultivate this Noble 8-fold Way? Here, friends, a person develops right view,
right motivation, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right
awareness, and right concentration, which has as its final goal the complete
elimination of all greed, the full eradication of all hate, and the final luminous
ceasing of all ignorance...
Source: The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha on the Way. SN V (56)
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Further study on this Noble 8-fold Way:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Middle_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Fulfilled_First_.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Noble_8_fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_3-fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Failed_by_Neglect.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Noble_8-Fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Golden_Middle_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fruits_of_the_Noble_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4th_Noble_Truth_on_The_Way_to_Cease_Suffering.htm
What is the Noble 8-fold Way?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Noble_8-Fold_Way.htm
How does Direct Experience confirm Faith?
Sariputta once said to the Buddha:
It is to be expected, Venerable Sir, that any Noble Disciple who has faith,
who has aroused energy & established awareness, and who is concentrated,
will understand reality thus: This Samsara is without discoverable beginning!
Any first point for beings roaming & wandering on, blinded by ignorance and
bound by craving cannot ever be seen! But what can indeed be experienced
is the traceless fading and ceasing of ignorance, this massive of darkness:
That is the peaceful state, that is the supreme state ... that is, the stilling of
all mental construction, the relinquishment of all acquisition, the elimination
of all craving, complete disenchanting disillusion, final ceasing, Nibbana!
That unique comprehension of his is rooted in his ability to understand Sir!
And, Venerable Sir, when he has strived again and again along this very way,
repeatedly recollected in that way, again & again concentrated his mind in
exactly this way, over and over again understood only this in this very way,
then that Noble Disciple gains complete faith thus: Regarding things that I
previously had only heard about, now I dwell having contacted them with my
body, and having perforated them by understanding; I now see and directly
experience! That conviction, Venerable Sir, is his ability of faith working...
Good, good. Sariputta! Noted the Buddha...
More on Direct Experience:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/4_Realizations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Escape.htm
Venerable Sariputta
More on this mighty general of the Dhamma: Venerable Sariputta
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/sa/saariputta.htm
Venerable Sariputta
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:226] section 48: The Abilities. 50: At Apana ...
Have a nice direct day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Direct Experience!
Insisting on Direct Personal Experience Confirms Conviction!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Direct_Experience.htm
The 3 Stages of Mental Perfection:
The 10 Mental Perfections (paramis = paramitas) are:
1: Generosity (Dana)
2: Morality (Sila)
3: Withdrawal (Nekkhamma)
4: Understanding (Pañña)
5: Enthusiastic Energy (Viriya)
6: Patient Forbearance (Khanti)
7: Honesty & Truthfulness (Sacca)
8: Resolute Determination (Adhitthana)
9: Kind Friendliness (Metta)
10: Balanced Equanimity (Upekkha)
The Buddha said:
"So few as these only, are these supreme mental qualities, which culminates
in Awakening. There is nothing elsewhere beyond them! Be thorough, firm
and systematic to complete them all..."
These 10 mental perfections can be developed to three levels:
I: Those who awakens as disciples = Savaka-Bodhis give all possessions away
including wife and kids to perfect generosity. Similar level with the 9 other
perfections...
II: Those who awakens as Solitary Buddhas = Pacceka-Buddhas give an
organ, limb or eye away to perfect generosity. Similar level with the 9 other
perfections...
III: Those who awakens as Perfect Buddhas = Sammasam-Buddhas give
even their own life away to perfect generosity. Similar level with the 9
other metal perfections...
The basic perfection of generosity is the relinquishing of one's children,
wives, and belongings, such as wealth. The intermediate perfection of
giving is the relinquishing of one's own limbs. The ultimate perfection of
giving is the relinquishing of one's own life. The 3 stages in the perfection
of morality should be understood as the non-transgression of morality on
account of the three: children and wife, limbs, and life. The three stages in
the perfection of withdrawal, as the withdrawal of those three bases after
cutting off attachment to them. The 3 perfections of understanding, as the
discrimination between what is advantageous or detrimental to beings after
rooting out craving for one's belongings, limbs, and life. The three stages in
the perfection of energy, as striving for the relinquishing of these 3things.
The three stages in the perfection of patience, as tolerance to obstacles
to one's belongings, limbs, and life. The 3 stages of perfection of Honesty,
as the non-abandoning of honesty due to one's belongings, limbs, and life.
The 3 stages of perfection of determination, as unshakeable determination
despite the destruction of one's belongings, limbs, & life, bearing in mind
that perfections ultimately succeed through a unflinching determination!
The three stages in the perfection of friendliness, as the maintaining of
friendliness towards any one, who destroys one's belongings! The 3 stages
in the perfection of equanimity, as maintaining an attitude of imperturbable
impartial neutrality towards all beings and phenomena, whether they are
helpful or harmful in regard to ones belongings, limbs, and life. In this way
should the analysis of the mental perfections be understood.
More on the 10 Mental Perfections:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/paramii.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Perfection!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_10_mental_perfections_(parami)_in_three_levels.htm
The Blessed Buddha Once said:
I am a friend and helper to all,
I am sympathetic to all living beings.
I develop a mind full of love
and takes always delight in harmlessness.
I gladden my mind, fill it with joy,
and make it immovable and unshakable.
I develop the divine states of mind
not cultivated by simple men.
Theragatha. 648-9
I am a friend of the footless,
I am a friend of the bipeds;
I am a friend of those with four feet,
I am a friend of the many-footed.
May not the footless harm me,
may not the bipeds harm me,
may not those with four feet harm me,
and may not those with many feet harm me.
AN II 72
Thus he who both day and night
takes delight in harmlessness
sharing love with all that live,
finds enmity with none.
Samyutta Nikaya. I 208
When one with a mind of love
feels compassion for the entire world
above, below and across,
unlimited everywhere.
Jataka 37
Among tigers, lions, leopards & bears I lived on the wood.
No one was frightened of me, nor did I fear anyone.
Uplifted by such universal friendliness I enjoyed the forest.
Finding great solace in silent yet friendly solitude.
Suvanna-sama Jataka 540
On this Fine Friendliness (Metta):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Hey_Friend.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Mothers_Love.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kalyanamitta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unique_Unity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Loving-Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Calm_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Across_Borders.htm
Blessing all Beings by Bliss
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Blessing_all_Beings_by_Bliss.htm
The Effects of Action (Kamma) is delayed as a Sown Seed!
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Regarding the effects of actions, Ananda, as to the person here who avoids
all killing of any living being, who avoids all stealing of what is not given,
who avoids any misconduct in sensual pleasures, who avoids all false speech,
divisive speech, aggressive speech, and all idle & empty gossip, who is neither
envious, nor jealous, is good-willed, and who is of right view, yet who at the
breakup of the body, after death, is reborn in a state of deprivation, in a
dreadful destination, in the painful purgatory, or even in the hells then it is
because either earlier - prior to this - such one also did evil actions to be
felt as painful, or later - after this - such one did evil actions to be felt as
pain, or at moment of death such one entered into & maintained wrong views!
Because of one or more of these, right after death, such one is reborn in a
bad state of deprivation, a dreadful destination, in the painful purgatory,
or even in the hells. But since such one also - here & now - has been one who
avoids all killing of any living being, who avoids taking anything what is not given,
who avoids all misconduct in sensual pleasures, who avoids all false speech,
divisive speech, aggressive speech, & all idle & empty gossip, who is neither
envious, nor jealous, who is of good will, & who holds right views, such one
will experience the pleasant results of that good behaviour, either here and
now, or in the next rebirth, or in some subsequent later existence...
Comments: Behaviour (kamma) is always mixed: Sometimes good, sometimes bad!
The effects are therefore similarly mixed: Sometimes pleasure, sometimes pain...
Good begets good & dilutes & delays evil. Evil begets evil & dilutes & delays good!
Source:
The Moderate speeches of the Buddha: The great speech on Action. MN 136
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=25072X Full Text:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/majjhima/mn136.html
An illustration of the delayed, overlapping & interfering result of mixed kamma:
For details on the mechanics of Kamma = Intentional Action see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_is_intention.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Intention_is_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Unintentional_Action.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Buddha_on_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Kamma_and_Fruit.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Kamma_is_improvable.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Inevitable_Consequences.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_dilutes_Evil_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_short_&_long_life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Health_&_Sickness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Low_or_High_Birth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Wealth_or_Poverty.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Beauty_&_Ugliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Effect_of_Action_is_Delayed.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Power_or_Disrespect.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Evil_Kamma_enhances_other_Evil_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_enhances_other_Good_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Stupidity_or_Intelligence.htm
Mixed cause => Mixed Effect!
Variable are the Delayed Effects of Mixed Kamma!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Effect_of_Action_is_Delayed.htm
10 Contemplations is Daily Buddhist Routine!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus & friends: There is one contemplation, which when often practised
and developed leads to a complete turning away from this captivating world,
to detachment, to silencing, to ceasing, to Peace, to penetrating knowledge,
to Enlightenment, and thus to Nibbana...
Any Noble Disciple, who by progress have understood this Dhamma, dwells
frequently in this state. Which is that unique contemplation?
The Noble Disciple contemplates on the divine beings in this very way:
There are the divine beings on the plane of the Four Great Kings, there are
the divine beings of the World of the Thirty-three, there are a Yama World,
there are the Contented Devas, there are also those enjoying own creation!
There are those with power over others creations, those of the Brahma world,
and those still far above them... Now, such faith, morality, wisdom, generosity,
concentration and understanding, which these divine beings acted upon and
which made them re-appear on a divine plane after leaving this world, such
good qualities as these, are also found in me! When a Noble Disciple reflects
thus, his mind is neither obsessed by any greed, nor by any hate, nor by any
confusion! Uplifted and elated is his mind, and this makes the Noble Disciple
gain further deeper understanding of the Dhamma, & thus makes the Noble
Disciple delight in the Dhamma! Being delighted, there arises rapturous joy
in him. Being filled with rapture & joy, he is inwardly satisfied & he becomes
quite calm. Being calmed makes him enjoy bliss and happiness and the mind of
the Happy One becomes collected, condensed and concentrated...
Of this Noble Disciple, friends, it is said that among many misguided humans,
among suffering humankind, he lives freed from suffering! And as one who
has entered the stream to Nibbana, he cultivates further his contemplation.
When, friends, a Noble Disciple has reached the fruit of understanding the
Dhamma, he dwells often with a calm smile in this state! Source: AN 6:10
Sakka king of the 33 devas, hovering about with some of his many nymphs. A devata = goddess
More on the many various types of gods (Devas= lit: 'Shining ones'):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Remembering_Deities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/deva.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/brahmaloka.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/t/taavatimsa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/y/yaamaa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/t/tusita.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/index.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/n/nimmanarati.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/jootla/wheel414.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/c/caatummahaaraajikaa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/pa/paranimmita_vasavatti.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/aa/aakaasaanancaayatana.htm
Many devas can attain whatever form and colour at will. Some is made of light!
They do not like the smell of humans like we don't like the smell of eg. pigs…
There are 31 levels of existence (Human is level 5!). There thus numerous devas.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Focusing on the next rebirth destination is Clever!
Divine Guiding!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/IV/Divinity_Contemplation.htm
Who can do it ?
Urge, incite & teach yourself by yourself!
Examine & evaluate yourself by yoursel !
Guard yourself, aware of yourself, by yourself!
Bhikkhu & you will live in happiness ...
Dhammapada 379
For self is the master of self.
For self is the protector of self.
For self is the saviour of self.
Control therefore yourself by taming,
as one who has bought a new horse.
Dhammapada 380
Full of Joy, content & satisfied, the Noble friend
with perfect confidence in the Teaching of the Buddha,
will reach the place of Peace, the unconditionally
unconditioned sameness of Free Open Happiness itself ...
Dhammapada 381
More here:
http://what-buddha-said.net/Canon/Sutta/KN/Dhammapada.htm
Who can do it?
U can do it! Do it Urself!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Who_can_do_it.htm
Cruelty, Mercilessness & Revengefulness are diluted Hate:
How to cure these evil derivatives of Cruelty:
1: Review the Danger in Cruelty like this:
This can bring me to a bad destination, the downfall, to pain, even to hell!
This is a path of thorns, an evil way, a dark state, conflict, violence, pain!
2: How does a friend dwell pervading all with his heart endued with pity?
Just as he would feel pity on seeing an unlucky, unfortunate person, so he
pervades all beings with infinite pity. Therefore first of all he imagines a
poor man, unlucky, unfortunate, in every way a fit object for pity, ugly,
reduced to utter misery, with hands and feet cut off, sitting in the shelter
for the helpless, with an empty pot in front of him, with maggots oozing
from sores on hands and legs, moaning, infinite pity should be felt for him
in this way: 'This being has been reduced to utter misery! If he just could
be freed from this misery...' Then later one can arouse the same pity and
compassion for a neutral person and later for even a wrong-doing person!
This is the complete mastery of pity: Compassion even with the Evil One!
3: All wrong doing is caused by blindness: A real pity for the wrong-doers!
All wrong-doers will thus suffer immensely in the future. How sad for them!
4: Begin and Cultivate meditation on Infinite pity:
Sit down a silent, empty place with closed eyes & beam this from the heart:
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating awareness of pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating examination of pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating energetic pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating joyous infinite pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating stilled infinite pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating concentrated pity.
May I & all beings be free from cruelty by cultivating imperturbable pity.
Beaming first out in front, then right, left, down below and also up above:
May all beings live happily and free from suffering, pain and frustration.
May all beings be free from hate, cruelty, mercilessness & revengefulness!
One who is virtuous and wise
Shines like a blazing fire;
Like a bee collecting nectar
He acquires wealth by harming none!
Digha Nikaya III, 188
May all breathing creatures, all living things,
All beings, every one without exception,
Experience good fortune only!
May they not fall into harm.
Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
Solitude is happiness for one who is content,
Who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees.
Non-violence is happiness in the world
Harmlessness towards all living beings.
Udana 10
JOY
Oh let us live happily! Freed from all cruelty!
Living even among those, who always flames by hate!
Among those dominated by anger, let us live free from anger!
Dhammapada 197
Regarding Pity and Compassion (Karuna) see also:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Endless_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Karuna_is_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Wrong.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/harris/bl141.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Great_Compassion.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Compassionate_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Space_Compassion.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/anguttara/an05-161.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/anguttara/an06-013.html
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Mercy, Pity & Compassion Soften the Mind!
Cure your Cruelty!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Cure_Cruelty_and_Revengefulness.htm
What is the Kathina Ceremony and its meaning?
By Ven. Chuen Phangcham, Ph.D., Midwest Buddhist Meditation Centre.
When Buddhism was first established in ancient India, there were few monks and nuns.
These monks normally did not stay in fixed places or temples but rather spent most of their
time moving from one place to another as it was their mission to spread the teachings of the
Buddha for the happiness and welfare of all people and living beings.
In those days, there were no paved roads, so during the rainy season when the country
experienced heavy and frequent rainfall, their travels were often impeded and interrupted.
In this season, the farmers also cultivated their land and planted new crops.
Because travel was inconvenient, The Buddha allowed his disciples to stop wandering and
take up temporary abodes during the rainy season.
In Pali, this season is called vassa, meaning the "Rains Retreat" and it extends for three
lunar months. It begins on the 15th day of the waxing moon of the 8th Lunar Month, and
ends on the 15th day of the waxing moon of the 11th Lunar Month.
This corresponds approximately from early July through late of October in the Gregorian
calendar. In this year, 2012, the Rains Retreat started on July 3rd, and ends on October
29th.
Historical Background:
About four or five years after attaining Enlightenment, the Buddha was dwelling at
Jetavana Mahã Vihãra near Sãvatthi City, the capital of the Kosala kingdom ruled by King
Pasenadi.
A group of thirty monks who had been ordained by the Buddha himself came from Sãket
city east of Sãvathi just after the three months Rains Retreat Observance to visit the
Buddha. The Buddha greeted them, asked them about their retreat and journey, and noticed
their wet and torn robes. The lady disciple of the Buddha, Visakha Mahã Upãsikã was also
there visiting and listening to the Buddha expounds the Dhamma. When she saw the monks in
tattered and worn robes, she asked permission of the Buddha to offer new robes to the
monks, and the Buddha granted her request. Since then the Buddha granted the monks the
opportunity to search for robes in various places and even to accept robes offered by
donors during the period of one month from the middle of the Eleventh Lunar Month to the
middle of the Twelfth Lunar Month. This period is called Kathina.
As there were no sewing machines or textile factories in those days, the preparation of
robes for monks required a lot of manpower and coordination. It could not be done in a
single day.
The Buddha realized this problem and allowed his lay disciples to prepare and make robes
for any monks who needed them. The process required searching for appropriate cloth,
washing it, cutting it, sewing the pieces together into robes, coloring the robes, and drying
them. After that, the robes were distributed to the monks who needed them with the
consent of the Sangha, the community of the Monks.
At Present:
Nowadays, lay followers prepare robes for the monks but not in the same way as it was
done in the time of the Buddha. They are two ways in which monks may obtain robes, namely:
(1). by searching for them in various places like cemeteries, cities, and towns, or (2) by
accepting offerings of robes from the people.
The Kathina ceremony takes place during the month immediately following the full moon day
of October (from the beginning of waning moon of the Eleventh Lunar Month to the
beginning of waxing moon of the Twelfth Lunar Month).
According to Vinaya Pitaka, the Theravada Book of Discipline, during the three month
period from mid-July to mid-October, monks are required to take up a settled residence
and are allowed to leave their encampments only under special conditions.
In this environment, the wandering mendicant nature of the Buddhist monk began to change.
In particular, a number of customs and practices of a collective life, including the
recitation of rules and the distribution of robes, became incorporated into the annual cycle
of monastic life.
These ceremonies have continued through the ages and have evolved from culture to culture.
The traditions of Theravada Buddhism spread throughout Southeast Asia as Buddhism won
the favor of ruling monarchs in Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Theravada Buddhism
expanded greatly in Thailand under the patronage of King Ramkhamhaeng.
Today in Thailand, the Kathina ceremony provides one of the most popular occasions for
merit-making. The Buddhist people celebrate this robe- offering ceremony with profound
respect and devotion to the monks, who have just spent three months in the monastery
observing the Vassã (Khao Pansã in the Thai, Lao, and Cambodian languages) –the Rains
Retreat. In rural Thailand, everybody in a village will participate in the Kathina ceremony as
a community activity which may last anywhere from one day to as many as three days.
All Buddhist monks and fully ordained nuns in all parts of the world observe the Rains
Retreat during this period, though in certain countries the custom has been modified.
Buddhist monks in Thailand, Lao, Cambodia, Burma, and Sri Lanka however continue to
observe the Rains Retreat in the traditional Theravada way.
The author has proposed the idea to the American Buddhist Congress of shifting the
observance of the Rains Retreat to occur from December to March in North America. The
American Buddhist Congress has found the idea appealing, but such a change would require
approval by senior monks from the Thai Sangha.
Why have I proposed this idea? Because during this period North America experiences
heavy snow and bad winter weather which makes it very difficult for monks to travel and
perform their missionary duties of spreading the Dhamma to all living beings.
Among the Buddhist of Southeast Asia, there is a very grand festival at the end of the
observance of the Rains Retreat. People offer food to the monks in monasteries and
prepare the special yellow robes that are offered to the Sangha.
This special offering is called the Kathina Offering Ceremony. It is done only during the
period of time starting from the end of Rains Retreat to the first day of the waning moon
of the 12th Lunar Month, as previously mentioned.
Benefits of Kathina Offering:
1. Monks who receive the offerings and the members of the Sangha, can go from places to
place for their Dhamma works and meditation practice without needing to inform any monk
in the monastery.
2. Monks do not need to carry a complete set of robes when they go anywhere to carry out
their religious duties.
3. Monks can have their breakfast and lunch in different places offered by different
donors without breaking their monastic rules (Vinaya).
4. They can keep other robes according to their wishes for more than ten days without
breaking monastic rules.
5. The robes offered to them by donors are suitable and good for them, so they can extend
their time to search for another set of robes for four months through out fall and winter.
6. The Buddhist followers support and help the monks to maintain the Buddhist teachings
and tradition for world peace.
7. Those who support the Monks and the Sangha are always happy, joyful, and wealthy.
8. They promote Buddhist Teachings in Western society where people are Seeking Spiritual
food for their hearts, and need spiritual and moral training.
9. The Monks have no worry about searching for cloth to make their robes, and in this way
they have more time to concentrate on their Dhamma study and meditation practice, and
can serve more people in their communities.
10. The donors cultivate generosity, perform charity, and exhibit selflessness.
11. The donors follow the noble way of life and maintain a humane society on this
planet. They are the source of peace and happiness for the world.
Where is Kathina Ceremony observed?
The Kathina ceremony is observed by Buddhist people in all parts of the world, not only in
the Asian countries, but also in European countries such as the United States of America,
Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Change:
According to Buddhist tradition, the robes prepared on this occasion were usually offered
to the Monks who had old and torn robes which were insufficient to protect themselves.
The robes were made by the "Sangha", under the idea of coordination collaboration,
harmony, and participation in religious and monastic service.
The process of making the robes was completed in one day, beginning with making the cloth,
cutting, sewing, washing, coloring, drying, and organizing it into a set of three. Then, with
agreement of the Sangha, the robes were offered to the monks through the ceremony. The
Kathina Ceremony therefore is a community activity that needs to be performed in a
harmonious way.
This is the Buddha’s idea of collaboration and harmony, of care and the loving way of the
compassionate heart for community and social development and for human society as a
whole.
The Crucial Elimination of Anger:
FEVER BURNING
Those absorbed in such accusations as:
"He/she/they abused, hurt, did me or us wrong "
whether right or wrong!, such foolish ones only prolong own pain
by being obsessed and thus possessed by their own anger.
However!
Those freed of all these accusations:
"He/she/they abused, hurt, did me or us wrong "
just plainly noting: "Whether right or wrong, so what!"
such clever ones stop own pain by relinquishing all anger.
Dhammapada 3+4
FUEL ON FIRE?
Not by anger is Hate ever quenched.
Only by Kindness is Hate always quenched.
This Ancient Law is an eternal & absolute Truth ... !
Dhammapada 5
Comments:
What good does any accusation, whether right or wrong, do to anybody?
Nothing! On the contrary: It scorches mind from inside, inflames ill-will,
and infects all with hot-headed hate! In short: The way to the Downfall!
Hate brings great misfortune..
Hate churns up and harms the mind!
This fearful danger deep within own mind
most beings do not understand at all..
Itivuttaka 84
The Elimination of Anger:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Slaying_Anger.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/bps/leaves/bl068.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Boiling_but_burnt.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Appeasing_Anger.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Hot_Hostile_Hate.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Subduing_Irritation.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/How_to_Cure_Cruelty_and_Revengefulness.htm
Furious inner Danger...
Crucial is Elimination of all Anger!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Elimination_of_Anger.htm
Sweet is the Fruits of the Advantageous:
Once in Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this:
Bhikkhus, these four things when developed, cultivated and refined lead:
to the Noble Fruit of Stream-Entry (Sotapatti-phala)...
to the Noble Fruit of Once-Return (Sakadagami-phala)...
to the Noble Fruit of Non-Return (Anagami-phala)...
to the Noble Fruit of Arahat-ship (Arahatta-phala)...
to absolutely True Understanding...
to comprehensive Understanding...
to expanding Understanding...
to extensive Understanding...
to elevated Understanding...
to deep Understanding...
to wide Understanding...
to vast Understanding...
to rich Understanding...
to quick Understanding...
to joyous Understanding...
to buoyant Understanding...
to sweeping Understanding...
to unequalled Understanding...
to razor-sharp Understanding...
to profound penetrating Wisdom...
to incisive transcendent Breakthrough!
What four?
1: Friendship with excellent persons,
2: Learning the true Dhamma,
3: Careful and rational attention,
4: Praxis in accordance with the Dhamma.
These and the 4 factors of Stream-Entry lead to this pervasive fruition!
More on this long-term destiny assuring Stream Entry:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/No_Fear.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_6_Keys.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Doors.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Internal_Bath.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Divine_Tracks.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Enter.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Going_Upwards.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Stream-Enterer.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Stream_Entrance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Stream-Entry_Tools.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Assured_Destination.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Impossible_Alteration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fruits_of_the_Noble_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Links_to_Stream_Entry.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Helpers_to_Stream_Entry.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Entering_the_Stream_Supreme.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:411-13]
section 55: Sotapattisamyutta. Thread 55-74: The Fruits...
Have a nice reflecting day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Far-Reaching Fruition!
The Way to to incisive transcendent Breakthrough!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/IV/Extensive_Fruit.htm
The 7 Fruits of the 7 Links to Awakening!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, when the 7 Links to Awakening have been developed, completed
and refined, the winning of the seven fruits is indeed to be expected.
What are the benefits of these 7 fruits?
They are, either:
1: One attains final knowledge early in this very life. Or:
2: One attains final knowledge at the moment of death. Or:
Having destroyed the five lower chains and spontaneously re-arisen;
3: One attains Nibbana in the first half of the life as a divine brahma. Or:
4: One attains Nibbana in the second half of the life in these pure abodes. Or:
5: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner without effort. Or:
6: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner with some effort. Or:
7: One is bound upstream, surely heading towards the highest Akanittha realm.
When, bhikkhus, these Seven Links to Awakening have been thoroughly developed
and cultivated exactly in this way, these seven fruits & benefits may be expected....
On the 7 Links to Awakening (Sambojjhanga):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Sun.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Peak.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Clothes.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rare_Emergence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Sequential_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Vast_Penetration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Fruits.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unsurpassable_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/When_7_becomes_14.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leading_to_Enlightenment.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Cause_of_Knowledge_and_Vision.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Meaning_of_the-7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
On the 31 Planes of Existence:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:69-70] section 46: The Links.
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The 7 Fruits!
Winning a Transcendental Victory...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Fruits.htm
The 7 Fruits of the 7 Links to Awakening!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, when the 7 Links to Awakening have been developed, completed
and refined, the winning of the seven fruits is indeed to be expected.
What are the benefits of these 7 fruits?
They are, either:
1: One attains final knowledge early in this very life. Or:
2: One attains final knowledge at the moment of death. Or:
Having destroyed the five lower chains and spontaneously re-arisen;
3: One attains Nibbana in the first half of the life as a divine brahma. Or:
4: One attains Nibbana in the second half of the life in these pure abodes. Or:
5: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner without effort. Or:
6: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner with some effort. Or:
7: One is bound upstream, surely heading towards the highest Akanittha realm.
When, bhikkhus, these Seven Links to Awakening have been thoroughly developed
and cultivated exactly in this way, these seven fruits & benefits may be expected....
On the 7 Links to Awakening (Sambojjhanga):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Sun.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Peak.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Clothes.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rare_Emergence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Sequential_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Vast_Penetration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Fruits.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unsurpassable_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/When_7_becomes_14.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leading_to_Enlightenment.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Cause_of_Knowledge_and_Vision.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Meaning_of_the-7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
On the 31 Planes of Existence:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:69-70] section 46: The Links.
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The 7 Fruits!
Winning a Transcendental Victory...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Fruits.htm
The 7 Fruits of the 7 Links to Awakening!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, when the 7 Links to Awakening have been developed, completed
and refined, the winning of the seven fruits is indeed to be expected.
What are the benefits of these 7 fruits?
They are, either:
1: One attains final knowledge early in this very life. Or:
2: One attains final knowledge at the moment of death. Or:
Having destroyed the five lower chains and spontaneously re-arisen;
3: One attains Nibbana in the first half of the life as a divine brahma. Or:
4: One attains Nibbana in the second half of the life in these pure abodes. Or:
5: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner without effort. Or:
6: One attains Nibbana as a Noble non-returner with some effort. Or:
7: One is bound upstream, surely heading towards the highest Akanittha realm.
When, bhikkhus, these Seven Links to Awakening have been thoroughly developed
and cultivated exactly in this way, these seven fruits & benefits may be expected....
On the 7 Links to Awakening (Sambojjhanga):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Sun.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Peak.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Clothes.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rare_Emergence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Sequential_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Vast_Penetration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Fruits.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unsurpassable_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/When_7_becomes_14.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leading_to_Enlightenment.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Cause_of_Knowledge_and_Vision.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Meaning_of_the-7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
On the 31 Planes of Existence:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:69-70] section 46: The Links.
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The 7 Fruits!
Winning a Transcendental Victory...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Fruits.htm
[size=150][color=#BF0000][i][u]How to train Rejoicing Joy in others Success?[/u][/i][/color][/size]
[img]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/wishyourjoy-bg2.jpg[/img]
[color=#BF0000][u]When sitting alone, in silence, each early morning, with closed eyes one wishes:[/u][/color]
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!
[img]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/rejoice.b1.jpg[/img][img]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/joy.g.jpg[/img]
[color=#BF0000][u]Comment: Mutual Joy is the 3rd infinite mental state[i] (Appamañña):[/i][/u][/color]
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!
[img]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/joy.y2.jpg[/img][img]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/joy.y3.jpg[/img]
[color=#BF0000][u]More on Mutual Joy [i](Mudita): [/i][/u][/color]
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
[b]Have a [color=#BF0000]nice & noble [/color]day![/b]
[color=#BF0000]Friendship is the Greatest! [/color]
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
[b]Mutual Joy causes Contentment! [/b]
[color=#BF0000][i][b]Rejoicing Joy![/b][/i][/color]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.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.htmhannah hannah
The 4 Hard-core-real Lasting Advantages:
A deity once asked the Buddha
What is good even when one is old?
What is good when established?
What is human's most precious treasure?
What is hard for thieves to steal?
The blessed Buddha answered:
1: Morality is good even when one is old!
2: Faith is good when firmly established!
3: Understanding is human's most precious treasure!
4: Merit well earned is hard for thieves to steal!
More on these 4 Everlasting Advantages:
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/Mighty_is_Morality.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/III/Faith_Summary.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/Understanding_is_the_Chief.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/punna.htm
Source: Samyutta Nikaya I 36
Have a nice advantageous day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The 4 x Good!
Morality, Faith, Understanding, and Merit....
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/4_Goods.htm
How does one Accumulate a Heap of Advantage?
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, if one should call anything a heap of the Disadvantage, then
it is these five hindrances, that one could rightly call this. For these are
verily only one heap of evil Disadvantage, these five mental hindrances...
What five?
1: The Mental Hindrance of Desire for Sensing...
2: The Mental Hindrance of Aversion & Ill-Will...
3: The Mental Hindrance of Lethargy & Laziness…
4: The Mental Hindrance of Restlessness & Regret…
5: The Mental Hindrance of Doubt & Uncertainty…
If one were to call anything a mass of the Disadvantage, then it is about
those five hindrances, that one could rightly say this. Since indeed are
these five mental hindrances an immense stockpile of damage and loss!!!
However:
If, Bhikkhus, one were to call anything a heap of Advantage, then it is
these Four Foundations of Awareness, that one could rightly call this.
For these are verily a perfect accumulation of sole Advantage, that is,
these Four Foundations of Awareness... What four?
1: Awareness of the Body merely as a transient & compounded form..
2: Awareness of Feeling just as a passing reactive sensation.
3: Awareness of Mind only as a group of habitual & temporary moods..
4: Awareness of Phenomena simply as momentary mental states..
If, Bhikkhus, one were to call anything an Accumulation of Advantage,
then it is these Four Foundations of Awareness, that one could rightly
call this. For these are verily a pure & massive abundance of Advantage,
that is, these Four Foundations of Awareness... !!!
On the 4 Foundations of Awareness (Sati):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Causes_of_sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Awareness_Sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Clear_Comprehension.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Awareness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Manual/Meditation.Manual.htm
On the 5 Mental Hindrances (Nivarana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_5_Mental_Hindrances.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Colourful_but_Muddy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Boiling_but_burnt.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
Source of reference (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 146] 47 The Foundations of Awareness: 5 Heap of Good...
The Heap of Good!
A perfect accumulation of pure Advantage!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Accumulating_Advantage.htm
How does one Accumulate a Heap of Advantage?
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, if one should call anything a heap of the Disadvantage, then
it is these five hindrances, that one could rightly call this. For these are
verily only one heap of evil Disadvantage, these five mental hindrances...
What five?
1: The Mental Hindrance of Desire for Sensing...
2: The Mental Hindrance of Aversion & Ill-Will...
3: The Mental Hindrance of Lethargy & Laziness…
4: The Mental Hindrance of Restlessness & Regret…
5: The Mental Hindrance of Doubt & Uncertainty…
If one were to call anything a mass of the Disadvantage, then it is about
those five hindrances, that one could rightly say this. Since indeed are
these five mental hindrances an immense stockpile of damage and loss!!!
However:
If, Bhikkhus, one were to call anything a heap of Advantage, then it is
these Four Foundations of Awareness, that one could rightly call this.
For these are verily a perfect accumulation of sole Advantage, that is,
these Four Foundations of Awareness... What four?
1: Awareness of the Body merely as a transient & compounded form..
2: Awareness of Feeling just as a passing reactive sensation.
3: Awareness of Mind only as a group of habitual & temporary moods..
4: Awareness of Phenomena simply as momentary mental states..
If, Bhikkhus, one were to call anything an Accumulation of Advantage,
then it is these Four Foundations of Awareness, that one could rightly
call this. For these are verily a pure & massive abundance of Advantage,
that is, these Four Foundations of Awareness... !!!
On the 4 Foundations of Awareness (Sati):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Causes_of_sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Awareness_Sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Clear_Comprehension.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Awareness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Manual/Meditation.Manual.htm
On the 5 Mental Hindrances (Nivarana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_5_Mental_Hindrances.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Colourful_but_Muddy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Boiling_but_burnt.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
Source of reference (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 146] 47 The Foundations of Awareness: 5 Heap of Good...
The Heap of Good!
A perfect accumulation of pure Advantage!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Accumulating_Advantage.htm
Precious yet often wasted is this Dhamma Opportunity!
The Blessed Gotama Buddha once explained:
Bhikkhus & friends, imagine a single floating ring drifting in the great oceans!
The Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern winds drive it here and there...
Imagine also a blind turtle, which surfaces only once every hundred years...
What do you think, Bhikkhus, would that blind turtle by chance often dive
right up under this randomly drifting single ring & insert its neck in the hole?
If it ever would at all, Sir, it would only happen by an exceedingly rare chance!
Similarly, Bhikkhus it is by an exceedingly rare chance that one becomes human;
it is by an extraordinarily rare chance that a Well-Come-&-Gone-One, an Arahat,
a Perfectly Self-Enlightened Buddha arises in this world; and it is thus also by
an exceptionally rare chance that the Dhamma and Discipline explained by this
Tathagata shines forth in this world and saves it from Barbarism.
Bhikkhus: You have now gained that precious & rare human state, a Tathagata,
an Arahat, a Perfectly Self-Enlightened Buddha has arisen in the world, & the
Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata shines out in this world...
Therefore, Bhikkhus & friends, an exertion should be made Now to understand:
All This is Suffering; This Greedy Craving is the sole Cause of all Suffering;
No Craving is the End of Suffering; The Noble 8-fold Way Ends all Suffering,
Therefore should effort to fathom these 4 Noble Truths be made NOW!
Comment:
It is now or never. May a sense of urgency save many from the ruin of neglect!
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:456-7]
section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 48: The Ring and Blind Turtle 2 ...
The Blind Turtle...
Precious yet often wasted is this human Opportunity!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/By_Chance.htm
Sliced by Praise, Fame, Name, Gain and Honour:
At Savatthi the blessed Buddha said: Friends, horrible are gain, honour,
fame, name and praise! As if they cut through the outer skin, then through
the inner skin, then through the flesh, then through the sinews, then right
through to the bone! Having cut through the bone, they reach the marrow
itself. So terrible indeed friends, are gain, honour, fame, name and praise...
They are as if splattering pig bile over a mad dogs nose, bitter, vile, wicked,
tricky, obstructive to achieving this incomparable security from domination!
Friends, I have known of a certain person here whose mind I penetrated with
my own mind and have thereby realized: This venerable one would not tell a
deliberate lie even for the sake of his own life! Yet, sometime later, I see him
telling a deliberate lie, because his mind was overwhelmed & obsessed by gain,
honour, fame, name & praise... So destructive, friends, are gain, honour, fame,
name and praise, so bitter, so vile and blocking any achievement of matchless
security from bondage. Therefore, friends, you should train yourselves thus:
"We will leave behind any arisen gain, honour, fame, name & praise and we will
not let the arisen gain, honour, fame, name and praise remain obsessing or
consuming our minds Thus should you train yourselves...!!!"
Source:
The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya II 238
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
Cut down by Name and Fame!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Skin_Name_and_Fame.htm
Equanimity of the Mind, Serenity & Beyond!
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
And what, Bhikkhus, is then this simple indifference of the flesh?
There are these five strings of sense-pleasure. What five?
Visible forms experienceable by the eye ...
Hearable sounds experienceable by the ear ...
Smellable odours experienceable by the nose ...
Tastable flavours experienceable by the tongue ...
Touchable objects experienceable by the body ...
That all are attractive, captivating, desirable, irresistible, lovely, charming,
tempting, pleasing, sensually enticing, seductive, alluring, and tantalizing!
These are the 5 strings of sense-pleasure. The indifference that arises
from these 5 strings of sense-pleasure when bored, is simply indifference
of the flesh...
And what, Bhikkhus, is the equanimity, which is not of this world?
With the leaving behind of both pleasure and pain, & with the prior fading
away of both joy & sorrow, one enters & dwells in the 4th jhana absorption,
which is an entirely stilled mental state of utter awareness, purified by
the equanimity of neither-pain-nor-pleasure. This is called the equanimity,
which is not of this world!
Finally, what is serenity beyond the equanimity, which is not of this world?
When a bhikkhu, whose mental fermentations are eliminated, reviews his
calmed mind, which is liberated from all lust, freed from all hatred, and
released from uncertainty, then there arises a transcendental serenity...
This is the serenity beyond that equanimity, which is not of this world!
More one the fine mental state of Equanimity (Upekkha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Even_is_Equanimity.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/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/tatra_majjhattataa.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
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Tranquillity is a prerequisite for Happiness!
Serene is Equanimity!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/Serene_Equanimity_and_Beyond.htm
Regarding the Best Way to Be:
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Sabbadanam dhammadanam jinati
sabbarasam dhammaraso jinati
sabbaratim dhammarati jinati
tanhakkhayo sabbadukkham jinati.
THE SUPREME GIFT
The gift of Dhamma surpasses all other gifts.
The taste of Truth excels every other taste.
The joy of Understanding exceeds any other joy.
The elimination of Craving overcomes, quenches &
triumphs over all pain, all sorrow, and all suffering ...
Dhammapada 354
Be understanding to your perceived enemies.
Be loyal to all your good friends.
Be strong enough to face the changing world each day.
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone.
Be generous to those who need your help.
Be frugal with that you need yourself.
Be wise enough to know, that you do not know everything.
Be foolish enough to believe in the unknown miracle.
Be willing to share your joys, resources and riches.
Be willing to share and bear the sorrows of others.
Be a leader, when you see the path others may have missed.
Be a follower, when you are shrouded by the mists of uncertainty.
Be the first to congratulate an opponent, who succeeds.
Be the last to criticize a colleague, who fails.
Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not tumble.
Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way.
Be loving to those, who love you, and also towards those who don't...
Be friendly to those, who do not love you since then they may change.
Above all: Be AWARE!
Be Good!
The Best Way to Be :-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Be_Good.htm
PS: Will make HD Video Dhamma talks on Vimeo.
Have OK camcorder, but need some audio gear.
Can U or any here support this good purpose?
Donation posssible here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net
A total of 429$ is needed.
Thanx in advance.
http://www.fgs.org.nz/english/content.aspx?id=7613
What 5 things causes Awakening in this very Life?
The Blessed Buddha once said:
If, Bhikkhus and Friends, anyone wishes: Oh, may I in this very life be able
to eliminate the mental fermentations, and thereby come to fully experience
mental release, release through understanding, by directly realizing it and
make it my own! Then he should practise to perfect morality (sila), be devoted
to mental tranquillity (samatha), not neglect the mental absorptions, cultivate
insight (vipassana), and often frequent remote & peaceful places for training!
More on Insight (Vipassana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Calm_and_Insight.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Highway_to_Nibbana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_18_Principal_Insights.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Breathing_Calm_and_Insight.htm
Source Text (extract): Majjhima Nikaya 6
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/siila.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/g_m/jhaana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/samatha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/vipassanaa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/samatha_vipassanaa.htm
What to Do?
In this very life...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/In_this_very_Life.htm
There is only One really good Noble Way!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Some priests postulate this as the way going upwards: "Get up early and walk
facing east. Do not avoid a pit, or a cliff abyss, or a stump, or a thorny place,
or a village or a cesspool! You should expect death wherever you fall.
Thus, good man, with the breakup of the body, after death, you will be reborn
in a good destination, in a heavenly world." This the praxis of the priests, Bhikkhus,
is a foolish & stupid way, since it does neither lead to revulsion, to disillusion, nor
to ceasing, to peace, to direct knowledge, to Enlightenment, nor to Nibbana!
However, Bhikkhus, I will explain the very way Going Upwards in the Noble One's
Discipline, that way, which leads to utter revulsion, to disillusion, to ceasing, to peace,
to safe knowledge, to Enlightenment, to Nibbana: Any Noble Disciple possesses a
sure confirmed confidence in the Buddha thus:
"Worthy, and perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha!"
He possesses confirmed confidence in the Dhamma thus:
"Perfectly formulated is the Buddha-Dhamma, visible right here and now.."
He possesses confirmed confidence in the Sangha thus:
"Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha of the Buddha's disciples..."
He also possesses the purity of morality esteemed by the Noble Ones: Unbroken,
untorn, unspotted, freeing, praised by the clever, natural, leading to concentration.
This, Bhikkhus, is the way going upwards, which leads to utter revulsion, to disillusion,
to ceasing, to Peace, to direct knowledge of Enlightenment, and Nibbana!
On the Noble Way:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Sun.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Middle_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Noble_Purpose.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Seed_of_Good.htm
Going Upwards!
There is only One really good Noble Way!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Going_Upwards.htm
Imploding Vacuum Personality Void of any Self!
The Blessed Buddha explained the flowing transience of existence as void:
Suppose a man with good sight observed the many bubbles on the Ganges
river as they drifted along, by carefully watching and examining them all.
Then after he had carefully examined them, they would appear to him as
empty, evanescent, and unsubstantial. In exactly the same way does the
Bhikkhu observe all the material phenomena, all feelings, all perceptions,
all mental constructions, & all states of consciousness, whether they be
past, present, or future, far or near. By carefully watching, analysing &
examining them all, they appear to him as empty, void, and without a core...
Source (edited extract) SN 22:95
Comment:
If feeling a bit nausea, or dizziness, or fear, when rigorously attempting
to comprehend egolessness, then one is going in the right direction...
Worth noticing is that one cannot ever loose a self that never was there
in the first place...!
For more on this universality of selfless impersonality (anatta) see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Anatta_Doctrine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Anatta_No_Self.htm
Ownerless is all being!
All Phenomena is an imploding vacuum void of any self or core!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Just_Passing_Bubbles.htm
The 3 Kinds of Sublime Quintessence:
The cream of Teachings are The 4 Noble Truths & the 37 producers of Enlightenment.
The cream of Recipients are The Noble Disciples capable of understanding & praxis.
The cream of Holy Lives is that lived while developing the Noble 8-fold Path.
Check it out!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Noble_Truths.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/modern/thanissaro/wings/index.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sangha_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Understanding_Ability.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Best_Buddhist_Praxis.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Noble_8-Fold_Way.htm
Source:
Path of Discrimination: Patisambhidamagga by Sariputta...
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=133494
The Buddha-Dhamma is the Quintessence!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Supreme_Stream_of_Essence.htm
How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?
Vap Poya day is the full-moon of October. This holy day celebrates the
end of the Bhikkhu's three months rains retreat and marks the Kathina
month of robes , where lay people donate a set of robes to the Sangha.
This also celebrates the day that Buddha began to teach the Abhidhamma!
The Buddha descending from the Tusita Level after having spent a rains
retreat there explaining the Abhidhamma to the assembled devas during
a single three months long speech! His biological mother Mahamaya, who
died 7 days after his birth, and was reborn there as a deva, was present.
He is followed down by the deva rulers Sakka and Maha-Brahma.
More about this Higher Abhidhamma Science:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/abhi/index.html
More about the Kathina Ceremony:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Kathina_Ceremony.htm
The Kathina Ceremony of giving robes to the Maha-Sangha and receive blessing merit thereby!
On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days:
Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the
Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean
bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first
three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head touch the floor.
Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites these memorized lines
in a loud, calm & steady voice:
As long as this life lasts:
I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.
I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!
I accept to respect & undertake these 5 training rules:
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs.
As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...
Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's
own eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much
better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to
this world! So is the start towards Nibbana: the Deathless Element!
This is the Noble Way to Peace, to Freedom, to Ease, to Happiness,
initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and
fulfilled by training of Meditation...
Today indeed is Pooya or Uposatha or observance day, where any lay
Buddhist normally keeps even the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the
next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha,
they may simply forward the lines starting with "I hereby ..." signed with
name, date, town & country to me or join here. A public list of this new
quite rapidly growing global Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!
The True Noble Community of Buddha's Disciples: Saddhamma Sangha:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm
Can quite advantageously be Joined Here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm
May your journey hereby be light, swift and sweet. Never give up !!
Bhikkhu Samahita: what.buddha.said@gmail.com
For Details on The Origin of Uposatha Observance Days:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html
For the 2010 Calendar of Uposatha Observance Days:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/Poya.Uposatha.Observance_days.2010.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Respecting Uposatha Days Purifies and Elevates!
Today is Vap Poya Observance Day!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/III/Vap_Poya_Day.htm
If Blinded by Ignorance one takes Animal Rebirth!
Because of greed one is reborn in eggs of geese, doves or as other animals
obsessed by great passion, like also in the womb of a rhinoceros...
Because of ignorance one is reborn in the eggs of insects and worms.
Because of hate one is reborn as snake. Because of pride and obduracy,
one is reborn as lion. Because of arrogance & narcissism one is reborn in
the wombs of donkeys and dogs. If miserly & discontented one creates
rebirth as a monkey. If foulmouthed, faithless & shameless one is reborn
as crow. Those flogging, chaining & injuring elephants, horses, & buffalos
become spiders, scorpions, & stinging insects of cruel character. Those who
are flesh-eating, angry, & fiery are reborn after death as tigers, jackals,
cats, sharks, vultures, wolves & the like. Those who are generous givers,
but angry & cruel become Nagas = snake-demons of great iddhi-power...
Any deliberate wrongdoing in thought, speech and/or action can produce
rebirth as animal! Therefore one should always shun all that is wrongdoing...
Animal rebirth induced by cruelty!
Please enjoy study here for details on Rebirth:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Rare_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Divine_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Animal_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Endless_Round.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Samsaric_Dread.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Minor_Hells.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/One_BIG_Family.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Hell_Destiny.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Five_Destinations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_5_Destinations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Kamma_and_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Samsaric_Round.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mad_Demon_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Human_Being_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Hungry_Ghost_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/What_passes_on_by_Rebirth-Linking.htm
The Animal Realm!
Source (edited extract):
Pañcagatidipani by Ashvaghosa & Saddhammaghosa: 11-12th century AC.
Tr. by Ann A. Hazlewood. Journal of the Pali Text Society. Vol. XI 1987:
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=132714
Have a nice human day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Animal Rebirth!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Animal_Rebirth.htm
Actually, exactly so, invariable, & not otherwise!
The Blessed Buddha once said this:
Bhikkhus, there are these four things, that are actually so, invariable,
not otherwise... What four?
Suffering is actually so, invariable, not otherwise...
The Cause of Suffering is actually so, invariable, not otherwise...
The Ending of Suffering is actually so, invariable, and not otherwise...
The Way to End all Suffering is actually so, invariable, not otherwise...
These 4 Noble Truths are actually & exactly so, invariable, & not otherwise...
Therefore, Bhikkhus, an effort should be dedicated now to really understand:
All this is Suffering! An effort should be made much of to truly comprehend:
Craving is the Cause of Suffering! An effort should be cultivated to realize:
No Craving is the End of Suffering! Effort should be made to break through,
reinforce, and develop: This Noble 8-fold Way, which ceases all Suffering...
More on these 4 Noble Truths (Cattari Ariya Saccani):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ignorance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/True_Wisdom.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Clustered_Truths.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ultimate_Fact.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Simple_yet_Complex.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Noble_Truths.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_1st_Noble_Truth_on_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_2nd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Cause_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_3rd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Ceasing_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4th_Noble_Truth_on_The_Way_to_End_Suffering.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:430-1]
section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 19: Actually So...
Have a nice true day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Actually So!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Actually_So.htm
Careful Attention weakens the Mental Hindrances:
The Blessed Buddha once said:
When one attends carefully unarisen Sense-Desire does neither arise, nor later expand.
When one attends carefully unarisen Ill-Will does neither arise, nor later expand.
When one attends carefully unarisen Lethargy & Laziness does neither arise, nor expand.
When one attends carefully unarisen Restlessness & Regret does neither arise, nor expand.
When one attends carefully unarisen Doubt & Uncertainty does neither arise, nor expand.
Furthermore the Awareness Link to Awakening arises, & is gradually completed by repetition.
Any unarisen Investigation Link to Awakening arises, and is completed by gradual evolution.
Any unarisen Energy Link to Awakening arises, & is completed by repeated mental refinement.
Any unarisen Joy Link to Awakening arises, & is completed by meditative mental improvement.
Any unarisen Tranquillity Link to Awakening arises, and is completed by mental silencing.
Any unarisen Concentration Link to Awakening arises, & is completed by mental sophistication.
Any unarisen Equanimity Link to Awakening arises, and is completed by mental maturation.
More on the 5 Mental Hindrances and 7 Links to Awakening:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_5_Mental_Hindrances.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Links_to_Awakening.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:93-4] section 46: The Links. 35: Careful Attention...
Careful Attention Protects!
The best umbrella, life-buoy, and armour...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Careful_Attention.htm
The 6 Things Uniting in Harmony to be Remembered:
The Blessed Buddha once said:
These six things are to be remembered in order to Unite any Community in Harmony:
Which six?
1: Friendly Behaviour (metta-kaya-kamma=friendly bodily action) both in public and in private.
2: Friendly Speech (metta-vaci-kamma=friendly verbal action) both in public and in private.
3: Friendly Thought (metta-mano-kamma=friendly mental action) both in public and in private.
4: Sharing of Gains (sadharana-bhogi=common wealth) even down to any single lump of food.
5: Moral Harmony (sila-samannagato=uniform morality): All respect the same ethical rules.
6: Harmony in Views (ditthi-samannagato=uniform attitude): All share the same general views.
These 6 things are to be considered & remembered both for individual & social Harmony...
Comments:
So we can sleep with open doors and dance with the children in our arms :-)
On Harmony:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unique_Unity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Milk_and_Water.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Numerical Sayings of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya.
The Book of Sixes 11: To be Remembered... [III: 288-9]
United in Harmony :-)
Blending like Milk and Water...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/United_in_Harmony.htm
Patience is the 6th Perfection:
The characteristic of patience is acceptance, its function is to endure,
and its manifestation is non-opposing tolerance! The cause of patience
is understanding how things really are.. The effect of patience is calm
tranquility despite presence of intensely stirring provocation..
Patience of the will produces forgiving forbearance!
Patience of the intellect produces faith, confidence and certainty!
Patience of the body produces resolute and tenacious endurance!
Internal tolerance of states within oneself is patient endurance...
External tolerance of other beings is forbearance and forgiveness...
He who patiently protects himself, protects also all other beings!
He who patiently protects all other beings, protects also himself!
Not from speaking much is one called clever.
The patient one is free from anger and free from fear,
only such steady persisting one, is rightly called clever...
Dhammapada 258
Patient tolerance is the highest praxis...
Nibbana is the supreme Bliss!
So say all the Buddhas.
Dhammapada 184
The innocent one, who has done nothing wrong,
Who endures abuse, flogging and even imprisonment,
Such one, armed with stamina, the great force of tolerance,
Such stoic one, who self-possessed can accept, I call a Holy One!
Dhammapada 399
One should follow those who are determined, tolerant, and enduring,
intelligent, wise, diligent, clever, good-willed and evidently Noble.
One shall stick to them as the moon remains in its regular orbit.
Dhammapada 208
Friends, even if bandits were to cut you up, savagely, limb by limb,
with a two-handled saw, you should not get angry, but do my bidding:
Remain pervading them and all others with a friendly Awareness imbued
with an all-embracing good-will, kind, rich, expansive, and immeasurable!
Free from hostility, free from any ill will. Always remembering this very
Simile of the Saw is indeed how you should train yourselves.
Majjhima Nikaya 21
The five ways of removing irritating annoyance:
Bhikkhus, there are these five ways of removing annoyance, by which any
irritation can be entirely removed by a Bhikkhu, when it arises in him.
What are these five ways?
1: Friendliness can be maintained towards an irritating person or state..
2: Understanding can be undertaken towards an irritating person or state..
3: On-looking Equanimity can be kept towards an irritating person or state..
4: One can forget and ignore the irritating person, mental or physical state..
5: Ownership of Kamma of the irritating person can be reflected upon thus:
This good person is owner of his actions, inherit the result his actions, is
indeed born of his actions and only he is responsible for his actions be they
good or bad. This too is how annoyance with the irksome can be instantly
removed. These are the five ways of removing annoyance, and by which any
irritation can be entirely removed in a friend, exactly when it arises...
Anguttara Nikaya V 161
Buddha to his son Rahula: Develop an Imperturbable Mind like the elements:
Rahula, develop a mind like earth, then contacts of arisen like and dislike
will not obsess your mind! Rahula, on the earth is dumped both the pure and
the impure: excreta, urine, saliva, pus, blood, but the earth does not detest
any of those... Even and exactly so make your mind stable like the earth!
Rahula, develop a mind like water, then contacts of arisen pleasure and pain
will not seize your mind. Rahula with water both the pure and the impure
are cleaned... Washed away with water are excreta, urine, saliva, pus, and
blood, yet the water does not despise any of that! Even so make the mind
fluid and adaptable like the water!
Rahula, develop a mind like fire, then the contacts of any arisen attraction
or aversion will neither consume, nor hang on to your mind! Rahula, fire burns
both the pure and the impure, burns excreta, urine, saliva, pus, and blood,
yet the fire does not loathe any of that.. In the same manner refine the mind
into a tool like an all consuming and purifying fire!
Rahula, develop a mind similar to space, then contacts of arisen delight and
frustration does neither take hold of, nor remain in your mind. Space does
not settle anywhere! Similarly make the mind unsettled and unestablished
like open space. When you expand mind like space, contacts of delight and
frustration will neither be able to dominate, nor obsess your mind...
Majjhima Nikaya 62
More on the 10 mental perfections (paramis):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm
Have a nice, noble & patient day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Very Advantageous is Patience, Tolerance & Endurance!
Patience is the Highest Praxis!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Patient_is_Tolerance.htm
How to Give with only Good & Joyous Result :-)
There might be the case, where one gives wealth, but without joy!
Then, the later result is, that one gets wealth, but without any joy!
Illustration:
A multi-billionaire at Buddha's time was known as neither enjoying
himself, nor sharing any of his wealth. He lived alone in an old house,
which were falling apart, wore rag clothes, ate only broken rice and
drove a ramshackle ox-cart. When he died, then it took 2 weeks to
move his gold & silver to the kings treasury...
This king then approached and asked the Blessed Gotama Buddha:
How come this man neither ever enjoyed, nor shared out of his wealth?
The Buddha then reviewed his case and explained that 8 generations
back this man had given a single meal to a Solitary Pacceka-Buddha!
Yet after he had given, he felt no joy from it and even regretted that
he did it. For 7 consecutive lives he was reborn as multi-billionaire,
but without ever being able to enjoy any of it. Having now used up
his accumulated merit, without ever doing any refilling good action,
he had now, at the break-up of his body, re-arised in a bad state...
Apparently, he had never asked anybody about cause and effect!
The Opposite Case:
When old, the Noble Disciple recollects his own generosity thus:
"I am truly Blessed, highly fortunate am I who joyous, among beings
defiled with the mental stain of stinginess, live with a mind freed from
stinginess, liberal, open-handed, rejoicing in giving, ready to give anything
asked for, glad to give and happy to share with others. Such Noble One
not only later gets much wealth, but also enjoys it. Why so?
Not only does he give, but he also enjoys it both be and aft
er the giving!
Most Gods actually became Divine Beings as a result of Giving!
More on Generosity (Dana) = The 1st mental perfection:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Glad_Giving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_3_Gifts.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Kathina_Ceremony.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/Openhanded_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Generosity_Contemplation.htm
Glad Giving :-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Glad_Giving.htm
The 10 Contemplations are Daily Buddhist Routine!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus & friends: There is one contemplation which when often practised
and much developed leads to the complete turning away from the world, to
detachment, to stilling, to ceasing, to peace, to final penetrating knowledge,
to Enlightenment, and thus to Nibbana...
Any Noble Disciple who by progress have understood the true Dhamma dwells
frequently in this state. Which is that one contemplation? It is reflecting over
the qualities of the Buddha exactly like this:
Worthy, honourable & perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha! Consummated
in knowledge and behaviour, totally transcended, expert in all dimensions,
knower of all worlds, unsurpassable trainer of those who can be tamed,
both teacher & guide of gods as well as of humans, blessed, exalted, awakened,
and perfectly enlightened is the Buddha! Source: AN 1:16.1 + 6:10
More on the Deathless Dimension: Nibbana:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Nibbana_Still.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_2_Nibbanas.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless_Dimension.htm
Unsurpassable Perfect ...
Contemplating the Qualities of the Buddha!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddha_Contemplation.htm
Compassionate Pity cures all bitter Cruelty:
How does a Bhikkhu dwell pervading one direction with his mind endued
with compassion? Just as he would feel compassion on seeing an unlucky,
unfortunate person, so he pervades all beings with boundless compassion!
Therefore first of all, on eyeing a wretched man, deplorable, unfortunate,
in every way a fit object for compassion, horrid, reduced to utter misery,
with hands and feet cut off, sitting in the shelter for the weak & helpless
with an empty dirty pot placed before him, with maggots in all his wounds,
moaning, compassionate pity should be felt for him in this way: This being
has been reduced to misery: If only he could be freed from his suffering!
Similarly too should a Bhikkhu whose meditation subject is compassion also
arouse compassion for an evil-wrong-doing person, even if he is happy now:
Though this poor wretch is now happy, cheerful, & enjoying his wealth, but
still, since he has neglected to do even one single good deed, he can come to
experience untold suffering anytime after a downfall to the states of loss!
Such infinitely compassionate pity he feels towards all beings and especially
both towards himself, the dear friend, the neutral one, & the hostile person,
thereby breaking down the wrong attitude barrier separating these objects.
Vbh 273, Vism I 315
Compassionate Pity (Karuna), which cures all cruelty, is a divine state!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Endless_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Karuna_is_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Wrong.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Great_Compassion.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Space_Compassion.htm
What is the proximate cause of Pity?
The proximate cause of Compassionate Pity (Karuna), which induces this
fine mental state, is seeing, knowing and understanding the HELPLESSNESS
of most beings, since they do the wrong that cause their misery influenced
by ignorance, which blind and obstruct their understanding of right & wrong,
and influenced by greed, lust and desire, which bind and drag them despite
their struggles, and influenced by hate, aversion and opposition, which push
and burn them from inside. Out of self-control they are thus bound to commit
wrong repeatedly and thus later experience the resulting downfall!
Have a nice compassionate day :-)
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Compassionate Pity!
There are many in worse circumstances than ourselves!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Compassionate_Pity.htm
An Advantageous Daily Routine:
One should often contemplate the inevitable fact of DEATH!
Why so? Because it makes one approach Nibbana – The Deathless Dimension!
Neglecting thinking about death makes one accumulate future rebirths,
and thereby also future rounds of ageing, decay and inevitable death!
Considering death is therefore quite advantageous, but not pleasant…
Neglecting death is therefore quite disadvantageous, though more pleasant…
One looses all (again & again) at the moment of death including this body…
Death itself is painless and should not be feared. Life is painful & dreadful!
The only way to escape the fact of death is not to be (re)-born…
Only this is Peace ! Only this is Freedom from all future suffering!
Only this - in itself - is lasting Happiness !
On daily Death-Contemplation as advised by the Buddha:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Death.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Game_Over.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Problem.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Unborn_State.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Death_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Desireless_is_Deathless.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless_Dimension.htm
Stopping the Spin...
About End-Making!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/End_Making.htm
Really Rich are those who have gained a fine future!
Anathapindika was a millionaire banker (setthi) of Savatthi, who donated
the famous Jetavana Monastery to the Buddha, the Dhamma and his Sangha!
He had to cover the entire ground with gold to pay for it to prince Jetakumara!
Venerable Sariputta thanked the householder Anathapindika with these verses:
When one has faith in the Tathagata, Unshakable and well established,
And good conduct built on virtue, dear to the Noble ones and praised;
When one has confidence in the Sangha and a view that has been rectified,
They say, that one is not poor then, that one's life has not been in vain!
Therefore the person of intelligence, remembering the Buddha's Teaching,
Should be devoted to faith and purity, to confidence in & vision if the Dhamma!
Just as the many rivers flow downstream and finally reach the mighty ocean,
As these rivers carry their waters to the sea. the great boundless mass of water,
Exactly so do the streams of merit reach any donor, any good & wise man, giver
of food, drink, & clothes, provider of housing, beds, seats, and coverlets...
Just as the rivers carry their waters to the sea!
One who has Faith in the Three Jewels, who purifies his behaviour by Morality
Having given to those, who seek the absolute, is Really Rich - most wealthy -
even without a penny!
Anathapindika was a millionaire banker (setthi) of Savatthi, who became
famous because of his unparalleled generosity to the Buddha. As kammic result,
he was later reborn in the Tusita heaven! The place of those who are content :-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/ay/anaathapindika.htm
Sariputta : The chief disciple (aggasavaka) of Buddha Gotama.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/sa/saariputta.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:384]
section 55: Sotapattisamyutta. Thread 26: Anathapindika
Who are Really Rich?
Really Rich are those who have gained a fine future!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Really_Rich.htm
Nothing is ever Worth Clinging to!
A certain Bhikkhu once asked the Blessed Buddha:
Venerable Sir, how should one know and see, in order to eliminate all
ignorance and to facilitate the emergence of real and true knowledge?
Bhikkhu, when one has heard that: Nothing is worth clinging to,
then one directly knows everything! Having directly known everything,
one fully understands everything! Having fully understood everything,
one sees & regards all aspects, signs & phenomena quite differently:
As something remote, as something alien, as something other, & neither
as something that is 'me' nor 'mine', nor as an 'I', a 'self, or an 'Ego'!
One regards the eye, forms, visual consciousness, eye-contact, feelings
& experiences caused seeing quite differently... As something remote...
One regards the ear, sounds, auditory consciousness, ear-contact, and
feelings & experiences by hearing differently... As something foreign...
One regards the nose, all smells, olfactory consciousness, nose-contact,
& smelled feelings & experiences differently. As something quite alien!
One regards the tongue, taste, gustatory consciousness, tongue-contact,
tasted feelings & experiences differently... As something superficial...
One regards the body, touch, tactile consciousness, body-contacts and
touched feelings & experiences very differently... As something external!
One regards the mind, thought, mental consciousness, mental-contacts, &
thought feelings & experiences differently... As something all detached!!!
When, Bhikkhu, whoever knows & sees all signs thus, ignorance is left
behind by him and real and true knowledge has emerged...
Detached Alien Remoteness: Nothing is worth clinging to!
More on Clinging:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Without_Clinging.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Without_Possessions.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Stilling_of_Clinging.htm
Source:
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV [50]
Section 35: On The 6 Senses. The Elimination of Ignorance: 80.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Nothing is ever worth clinging to!
Detached and released is Alien Remoteness ...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Alien_Remote_and_Other.htm
Sense Seclusion produces Peace!
Since sensual pleasures, variegated, sweet and delightful, agitate the mind
with their varied forms, thus seeing danger in the streams of sense pleasure,
one should wander alone, solitary as a rhinoceros horn...
This for me is a calamity, a tumour, a setback, a dis-ease, a barb, & danger:
Seeing the vulnerability in the pitfall of these strands of sensual pleasure,
one should wander mentally secluded and reclusive as a rhinoceros horn...
Cold, heat, hunger, thirst, wind, scorching sun, gadflies and snakes, having
endured all these adversities patiently, one should wander alone, withdrawn,
and as imperturbable as a rhinoceros horn! (The Indian Rhinoceros Unicornis
has only one solitary horn!) Sn 50-52
Whoever is addicted to society and worldly bustle, he will not partake of the
happiness of quiet withdrawal, detached aloofness, peace or enlightenment!
AN VII 86
The solitary Rhinoceros teaches how to be comfortable within yourself!
On the secluded (Viveka) rhinoceros:
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/viveka.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/IV/The_Rhinoceros_Horn.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/The_Rhinocero's_Horns_1.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/The_Rhinocero's_Horns_2.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/The_Rhinocero's_Horns_3.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/The_Rhinocero's_Horns_4.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/The_Rhinocero's_Horns_5.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/The_Rhinocero's_Horns_6.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/The_Rhinocero's_Horns_7.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/viveka_sukha.htm
Have a nice secluded day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Sense Seclusion...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Sense_Seclusion.htm
Gentleness and Self-Control Balances the Mind!
The wanderer Sabhiya once asked the Blessed Buddha:
What defines a Bhikkhu, a gentle one, a self-controlled, and an enlightened one?
The Blessed Buddha Gotama answered:
He who has reached calm stilling by a path developed by himself, who has crossed
over all doubt and uncertainty, who by giving up both this life & any new becoming,
who has lived the Noble life, whose renewed existence has become fully destroyed,
such one is a Bhikkhu....
Any recluse, who does not harm anyone in the whole world, who just looks on every
object in aware equanimity, imperturbable, humble, without pride, is a gentle one...
Any one whose senses are all controlled, whether the object is internal or external,
who has understood both this world and the next, who being developed just awaits
his last moment, like a waiter waits for his salary, such quiet one, is self-controlled!
Having comprehended all fabrications, journeying-on, dying here & re-arising there,
whose mental pollutions have faded away, who is without blemish, stainless, purified,
arrived at the destruction of the regeneration of birth, him they call enlightened...
This elated the mind of Sabhiya, who approving, delighted, glad, enraptured by joy,
asked for permission to join the Buddha's Sangha. After the usual probationary
period of four months, Sabhiya in this very life awakened himself as an Arahat.
Sutta-Nipata verses 513-517 Edited excerpt.
More on these events, institutions and individualities:
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/IV/Sangha_Contemplation.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/SammaSambuddho.short.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/IV/In_this_very_Life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/sa/sabhiya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/g/gotama.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/buddha.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/The_Sage.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Gentle and Controlled!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Gentle_and_Controlled.htm
Thought solidifies into kammically effective behaviour!
The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests into acted out behaviour!
The deed develops into habit, which hardens into deep-grown stubborn character!
So watch the thought and its ways with care and let it spring from infinite friendliness;
Born out of kindness for all sentient beings.
Ignorance leads to ego, Ego leads selfishness,
Selfishness leads to aversion, Aversion leads to anger,
Anger leads to hatred, Hatred leads to Suffering…
The creator of man was greed, For countless lives this was his drive.
With Ignorance at its helm, it grows! No end for it until he knows...
Watch the Thought Manifestation!
Thought solidifies into words, which manifest as behaviour!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Manifestation.htm
What, when and how to Speak!
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be untrue and incorrect,
disadvantageous, and which also is unwelcome and disagreeable to
others, that he does not speak. (No need at all...)
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be true and correct, yet
still disadvantageous, and which also is unwelcome and disagreeable
to others, that neither does he speak. (No advantage for listener!)
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be both true and correct,
and also advantageous, yet still unwelcome & disagreeable to others,
that speech the Perfect One waits for the right time to speak!
(Correct constructive critique should fall, when it does not hurt!)
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be untrue and incorrect,
disadvantageous, but pleasing, agreeable and welcome to others,
that he does neither speak. (Empty and false flatter is all out...)
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be both true and correct,
but disadvantageous, though pleasing, agreeable & welcome to others,
that he does not speak. (No speech, when no advantage for listener!)
Such speech as the Perfect One knows to be both true and correct,
advantageous, and also pleasing, agreeable and welcome, that speech
the Perfect One knows and picks the exact right time to speak.
(Making well timed maximum impact of advantage for listener!)
MN 58
More on Right Speech (Samma-Vaca):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_IV.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Fourfold_Right_Speech.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Speech.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Deceiving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Splitting.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Gossiping.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Scolding.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Truth_Triumphs.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/samma-vaca.html
Have a nice well spoken day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
What to Say?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/What_to_Say.htm
Unselfish Joy! How to Rejoice in Others Success:
By seeing that:
If only happy at one's own success, such egoistic Joy is rare and limited!
If happy at others success also, the Joy is more frequent & even infinite!
By observing that:
It starts with basic sympathy, develops into acceptance, genuine approval,
& appreciation. It culminates in rejoicing altruistic sympathy by directing
mind to initiation, much cultivation & boundless expansion of Mutual Joy!
By knowing that:
Mutual Joy is the proximate cause of sweet, fully satisfied contentment!
Lack of mutual joy is therefore the proximate cause of discontentment!
Mutual Joy instantly eliminates acidic jealousy, grudge and green envy!
Mutual Joy is an infinite, truly divine, elevating and sublime mental state!
Mutual Joy is 1 of the 4 mental states of the Brahma-devas (Brahmavihara)
The Blessed Buddha pointed out:
If it were impossible to cultivate this Good , I would not tell you to do so!
Buddhaghosa:
See how this worthy being is very Happy!
How fine! How excellent! How sweet!
Let there be Happiness. Let there be open Freedom.
Let there be Peace. Let there be Bliss from cultivating this.
Let there be Understanding of this mental state of Mutual Joy!
Cultivation of Mutual Joy is the specific medicine against Envy & Jealousy:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm
Mudita: The Buddha's Teaching on Unselfish Joy: BPS Wheel Publication No. 170
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/various/wheel170.html
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Mutual Joy Rejoices in Other's Success...
Mutually Rejoicing Bliss!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
The Five Obstructing Obstacles:
The Blessed Buddha once said:
There are 5 kinds of mental barrenness, that obstruct any mental growth
and any spiritual progress. What are they?
1: Skeptical doubt about the perfect Awakening of the Buddha
is the first mental barrenness.
2: Skeptical doubt about the absolute Truth of the ancient Dhamma
is the second mental barrenness.
3: Skeptical doubt about the Purity of the Noble part of the Sangha
is the third mental barrenness.
4: Skeptical doubt about the Efficacy of the mental Training
is the fourth mental barrenness.
5: Angry opposition towards one's friends and fellows on the Noble Path
is the fifth mental barrenness.
These 5 kinds of mental barrenness disable all initiative, enthusiasm, energy,
effort, exertion, and endurance... Therefore do they eliminate any effective
training & thereby also all the advantageous fruit of such mental training...
Review the mind regularly so to recognize these obstructions and cure them
with faith, investigation, and friendliness.
See also:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Doubt_and_Uncertainty.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Overcome_Doubt.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Curing_Doubt_and_Uncertainty.htm
The Moderated Speeches by the Buddha. Majjhima Nikaya [I 101]
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=25072X
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/majjhima/index.html
Barren Stagnation...
The Five Obstructing Obstacles!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Barren_Stagnation.htm
Emergence of the Four Frames of Reference:
The Buddha once explained the profundity of causality like this:
Arising of Nutriment induces the emergence of the Body...
Ceasing of Nutriment induces the passing away of the Body...
Arising of Contact induces the emergence of Feeling...
Ceasing of Contact induces the passing away of Feeling...
Arising of Naming-&-forming induces the emergence of Mind...
Ceasing of Naming-&-forming induces the passing away of Mind...
Arising of Attention induces the emergence of Phenomena...
Ceasing of Attention induces the passing away of Phenomena...
Therefore is considering, contemplating, analyzing, and recollecting:
1: Body merely as a transient form grown up on food;
2: Feeling only as passing emotion arisen from sense-contact;
3: Mind just as changing mood emerged from naming-&-forming;
4: Phenomena only as momentary mental states created by attention...
a crucial necessity! Reflecting on these 4 facts repeatedly, & thoroughly,
is called initiating and developing the Four_Foundations_of_Awareness,
which, in itself, is the mental treasure par excellence, leading steadily,
and directly to the Deathless Element: Nibbana...
More on these Four Foundations of Awareness (Satipatthana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Awareness_Sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Awareness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Awareness_Ability.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/satipatthaana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Four_Foundations_of_Awareness.htm
Source: The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya V 184
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Causes of Emergence...
The Four Frames of Reference
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/Causes_of_sati.htm
Contemplation on Death is Advantageous!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
The days and nights are flying past,
Life shrinks & dwindles hurriedly away,
The life of mortals ebbs, and runs away,
Vanishes, like water in a tiny stream.
SN 4:10
As every morning one may worry & fear
The sudden falling of the ripened fruits,
So all mortals in this and any other world,
Have to live in constant fear of abrupt dying.
Sn 576
Death looks over your shoulder to see how you fool around...
All beings are subject to death, will die
end in death, can never ever escape death.
As absolutely every earthen pot that has
been shaped & born by the potter's hand,
whether big or small, firm or frail, each one,
All will crack up & fall to pieces in the end!
Exactly so are all beings subject to death,
come to death, can never escape death...
All beings at due time have to pass away,
Their life one day will finish and perish,
Then they all fare according to their deeds,
Thus good or bad fruits they all will earn.
The evil-doer fares all screaming to hell,
The good man smiling to a happy world.
Hence, Noble deeds one should perform
As a supplying store for the next life!
For good deeds in the next world give
living beings their only strong support!
Without that there is only the free fall!
SN 3:22
END-MAKER
Neither in the distant space, nor in the deepest ocean,
nor in the darkest cave, can anyone escape the crushing
fact of Death ...!!!
Dhammapada 128
[color=#BF0040]More on the inevitable fact of Death:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Death.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/amata.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Death_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless_Dimension.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Desireless_is_Deathless.htm
Game Over!
Contemplation on Death is Advantageous!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Game_Over.htm