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The Buddha said: May all creatures, all breathing things, all beings everyone without exception, experience joy & good fortune only. May they not fall into any harm! Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
Let no one deceive another or despise anyone anywhere, or through anger or irritation wish for another to suffer! Sutta Nipata I, 8
For one who deliberately & aware Fully develops Universal Friendliness Fading away of clinging is realized, All chains are worn down & broken! Itivuttaka 27
The golden Buddhist's life standards make harmony for oneself and others. This layman's code of discipline = (gihi-vinaya) organize social relationships so that they produce a society of happy being and beings in sweet harmony... :-)
Law 1: Avoid the 14 kinds of Wrong Behaviour:
A. Refraining from the 4 actions that defile mentality (kammakilesa): 1: Killing, violence, harming, breaking, or taking of any life (panatipata). 2: Stealing, theft, misappropriation, and violating property rights (adinnadana). 3: Sexual misconduct such as adultery and paedophilia (kamesumicchacara). 4: Speaking false, lying, misleading, deceiving, and pretending (musavada).
B. Desisting from the 4 kinds of badly twisted behaviour (agati): 5: Biased and skewed behaviour based on desire, lust, and greed (chandagati). 6: Biased and skewed behaviour based on anger, hate, and opposition (dosagati). 7: Biased and skewed behaviour based on fear, anxiety, and timidity (bhayagati). 8: Biased and skewed behaviour based on ignorance, confusion, and doubt (mohagati).
C. Avoiding the six channels leading to ruin apaya-mukha, lit: The mouth of the downfall: 9: Being addicted to drinking alcohol and/or taking drugs. 10: Always revelling in party, nightlife, and careless company. 11: Being restlessly bent on empty entertainments and amusements. 12: Being addicted to gambling, betting, and gaming. 13: Associating with evil friends. 14: Being chronically lazy.
Source: A constitution for Living. Buddhist Principles for a Fruitful and Harmonious Life. Ven. P.A. Payutto. Buddhist Publication Society 2007: BP 620S http://www.bps.lk
All is ONE Connectedness! Entanglement means that all phenomena are connected! This universal inter-dependence is the physical basis of the Kammic principle...
The Blessed Buddha often said: With good will for the entire cosmos, Cultivate an infinite & boundless heart: Above, below, all across and all around, Beaming, without any hostility or hate! Sutta Nipata I, 8
May all creatures, all breathing things, all beings one and all, without exception, experience joyous good fortune only! May they never fall into any harm. Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
Let no one deceive another or despise anyone anywhere, or through anger or irritation wish for another to suffer. Sutta Nipata I, 8
The golden Buddhist's life standards make harmony for oneself and others. This layman's code of discipline = (gihi-vinaya) organize social relationships so that they produce a society of happy beings being in sweet harmony...
Law 2: Choose only True Friends & Prudent Money Planning:
A. Choosing only good people as true friends will make life constructive!
How to recognize the 4 kinds of false imitating friends (mitta-patirupaka)?
I. The habitual cheater who only takes from friends, has four features: 1. He thinks only of getting and rarely of giving 2. He gives only little when in the hope of getting much. 3. Only when he is pressed in danger does he help his friend. 4. He imitates friendliness only to promote his own advantage.
II. The smooth talker has four features: 1. He talks only of what is already done & now gone. 2. He talks only of what has not yet come. 3. He offers only help that has no true effect. 4. When his friend needs a hand, he then makes many excuses.
III. The empty flatterer has four features: 1. He agrees even, when his friend is doing some wrong. 2. He also agrees, when his friend is doing right. 3. He sings only his beguiling praises, when the friend is present. 4. He runs him down behind his back, when the friend is absent.
IV. The leader to ruin has four features: 1. He is a companion only when drinking. 2. He is a companion only when partying. 3. He is a companion only in frequenting shows and amusements. 4. He is a companion only in gambling, gaming and betting.
How to recognize the 4 kinds of true friends with a genuine goodness (suhada-mitta)?
I. The helping friend has four features: 1. When his friend is off guard, then he guards & protects him. 2. When his friend is off guard, he guards & protects his property. 3. In times of danger, he is always a refuge of help & ready assistance. 4. In times of need, then he gives much more than asked for.
II. The friend through thick and thin has four features: 1. He confess his own secrets to his friend. 2. He keeps his friend's secrets safe and sound. 3. He does not desert or betray his friend in times of danger. 4. He will give even his own life for his friend's sake.
III The good counsellor has four features: 1. He restrains his friend from doing evil or harm. 2. He encourages him to do good & accumulate merit. 3. He explain to his friend, what he has not heard before. 4. He points out the way to prosperity, progress and happiness.
IV. The loving friend has four features: 1. When his friend is unhappy, he sympathizes in pity. 2. When his friend is happy, he is also happy for him. 3. When others criticize his friend, he comes to his defence. 4. When others praise his friend, he joins in their praise.
Such are the 4 false and the 4 true friends. Please take note of that!
B. Allocating one's wealth rightly by intelligent earning, spending & saving: 1. One portion is to be used for supporting oneself, family, dependents, and for charity. 2. Two portions to be used for investment in one's business or owned structures. 3. Another portion to be put aside as savings for future needs.
Source: A constitution for Living. Buddhist Principles for a Fruitful and Harmonious Life. Ven. P.A. Payutto. Thailand. Buddhist Publication Society 2007: BP 620S http://www.bps.lk
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!
The Golden Buddhist Life Standards 3! The golden Buddhist's life standards make harmony for oneself and others. This layman's code of discipline = (gihi-vinaya) organize social relationships so that they produce a society of happy beings being in sweet harmony...
Law 3: Maintain good and sound social relations in all 6 directions:
1st direction: How should Children behave towards Parents and Parents behave towards children? Children should honour their parents by: 1. Having been raised by them, one looks after them in return. 2. One helps them in their business and work. 3. One continues & maintains the family line. 4. One conducts oneself as is proper for an heir. 5. After their death, one makes offerings, dedicating the merit to them. Parents should help their children by: 1. Cautioning and protecting them from evil. 2. Nurturing and training them in goodness. 3. Providing a suitable and proper education. 4. Seeing to it that they obtain suitable spouses. 5. Bequeathing the inheritance to them at the right time.
2nd direction: How should Students behave towards Teachers and Teachers behave towards students? Students should respect their teachers by: 1. One rises to greet the teacher when he arrives and shows respect towards the teacher. 2. One approaches the teacher to attend & serve, to consult, to query & to receive advice. 3. One listens well & pay full undivided attention so as to gain complete understanding. 4. One performs any practical task and runs errands for the teacher. 5. One learns the subject earnestly, giving this task of learning right priority. Teachers should support his students by: 1. Teaching and training them to be good and skilful. 2. Guiding them to thorough & penetrating understanding. 3. Teaching the subject in full, holding nothing back. 4. Encouraging and praising the student's qualities and abilities. 5. Providing learning that both can make a living & induce behaviour entailing happy prosperity.
3rd direction: How should Husband behave towards Wife and Wife behave towards Husband? A husband, one should honour and support the wife by: 1. One honours her in accordance with her status as a wife. 2. One does not disparage, criticize, undervalue or belittle her. 3. One does not commit adultery with any other women. 4. One gives her control of & responsibility for all the household affairs. 5. One gives her occasional gifts of ornaments and clothing. A wife supports her husband by: 1. Keeping the household clean, proper and tidy. 2. Helping the relations and friends of both family sides. 3. Not committing adultery with any other men. 4. Safeguarding any wealth that has been acquired. 5. Being energetic and enduring in all her works.
4th direction: How should Friend behave towards Friend? A real friend maintains his friendships by: 1. He shares with them. 2. He speaks kindly to and about them. 3. He helps them whenever needed. 4. He is constant & faithful despite their ups and downs. 5. He is understanding and sincere. Friends then reciprocate by: 1. Protecting their friend when he is off guard. 2. Protecting their friend's property when one is off guard. 3. Being a safe refuge and shelter in times of danger. 4. Not desert or leave their good friend in times of need. 5. Respecting all their friend's family and relations.
5th direction: How should Employer behave towards employees, and Employees towards employer? 1. The Employer assigns the work in accordance with the workers strength, sex, age, and abilities. 2. He pays them wages compatible with their work and adequate for their livelihood. 3. He grants them fringe benefits and provides medical care in times of sickness. 4. He shares with them a portion of any special profits that may arise. 5. He gives them appropriate holidays and suitable time to rest. The Employee helps the employer by: 1. Starting work before the employer. 2. Stopping work after the employer. 3. Taking only what is given by his employer. 4. Doing the job well and always seeking ways to improve on it. 5. Spreading a good reputation about the employer and his business.
6th direction: How should the lay Buddhist behave towards monks and nuns, and they towards him? The Lay Buddhist honours and respects the ordained Sangha by: 1. He acts towards them in goodwill. 2. He speaks to them with goodwill. 3. He thinks of them with goodwill. 4. He receives them willingly. 5. He supports them with the four requisites of almsfood, robes, shelter and medicine. All Monks and nuns help the lay people by: 1. Protecting them from evil actions which inevitably produces painful consequences. 2. Encouraging them in goodness, which inevitably produces pleasurable consequences. . 3. Assisting them in all activities with kind intentions. 4. Making known to them the things they have not heard before. 5. Enhancing and clarifying those things they have already heard. 6. Pointing out the way to heaven, & teaching them the way to happy prosperity here & now.
Source: A constitution for Living. Buddhist Principles for a Fruitful and Harmonious Life. Ven. P.A. Payutto. Thailand. Buddhist Publication Society 2007: BP 620S http://www.bps.lk
The Blessed Buddha once explained: Monks, there are seven types of noble persons existing in the world. What seven?
1: The one freed both ways (ubhato-bhaga-vimutta), 2: The one freed by understanding (pañña-vimutta), 3: The direct experience body-witness (kaya-sakkhi), 4: The one having won view and vision (ditthippatta), 5: The one freed by faith (saddhavimutta), 6: The follower of Dhamma (dhammanusari), 7: The follower of faith (saddhanusari).
And how, monks, is the person freed Both Ways? As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, having directly experienced with both body and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and having seen by understanding all his mental fermentations are utterly eliminated. He is freed both ways and has done what should be done! He can therefore never become negligent ever again...
And how, monks, is the person freed by Understanding? As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, yet having seen by understanding all his mental fermentations are utterly destroyed. He is freed by understanding and has done what should be done. He can therefore never become negligent ever again...
And how monks, is the person who is a Body-Witness? As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, having indeed directly experienced with both body and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, yet having seen by understanding only some of his mental fermentations are fully annihilated. He is a body-witness and he has still something to do. If he trains hard, lives remote with good friends, & balances his mental abilities, then he may realise here & now, by his own super-knowledge, that matchless goal of the Noble Life for which young men of good family go forth into homelessness, entering into and remaining in it, he might dwell in the bliss of that sublime fruit...
And how monks, is the person who has Won View and Vision? As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, but having seen by understanding only some of his mental fermentations are utterly eradicated. However, those things explained by the Tathagata are fully understood & fully practised by him. He has won view & vision, but has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in the sublime fruit.
And how monks, is the person who is Freed by Faith? As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, but having seen by understanding only some of his mental fermentations are utterly eradicated. But his faith in the Tathagata is settled, fixed, genuine, & established. This, monks, is called a person, who is Freed by Faith, but he has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in the sublime fruit.
And how monks, is the person who is Striving for and following after Dhamma? As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and although having seen some by understanding his mental fermentations are not yet utterly destroyed! Furthermore: All those things explained by theTathagata are still only moderately approved of and practiced by him... However, he possesses the ability of faith, energy, awareness, concentration, & understanding! This, monks, is called the person, who is striving for Dhamma, but he has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in the sublime fruit.
And how monks, is the person who is Striving for and following after Faith? As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and although having seen some by understanding his mental fermentations are not yet utterly destroyed, but he has enough faith in the Tathagata, enough affection for the Buddha to develop his mental ability of faith, energy, awareness, of concentration, & of understanding. This, monks, is called the person, who is striving out of Faith, but he has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he will come to dwell in the supreme fruit in the future.
I, monks, do not say that the attainment of profound knowledge suddenly comes straightaway! Gaining final knowledge is achieved gradually through steady progress by study, and meditation..
Source: Majjhima Nikaya 70 . May this Way by our one-pointed effort become swift!
The golden Buddhist's life standards make harmony for oneself and others. This layman's code of discipline = (gihi-vinaya) organize social relationships so that they produce a society of happy beings being in sweet harmony...
Law 4: Helping all beings achieve their advantageous goals! One should help oneself, one should help others and one should help both oneself and others... Helping oneself will develop one's life towards progress, prosperity, and happiness. Helping others by inducing and encouraging them to develop their lives, gives same benefits. Helping oneself and others creates a mutual goal and advantage for both parties. This collective benefit, leads to happiness and virtue of the community & society. An example is environmental conditions, which we all should help create and conserve in order to help both ourselves and others to a happy & better future. Helping all people is joining in constructively creating a social harmony and unity... Helping all beings is expanding this gentle and subtle harmony universally!
The Four Principles for Help: 1. Dana: Giving and sharing (helping through money and material goods). 2. Piyavaca: Kind, friendly & polite speech (helping through words & explanation). 3. Atthacariya: Helpful bodily action (helping attaining goals through physical effort). 4. Samanattata: Participation & assistance (helping with collective construction & problem solving).
The 3 Levels of Goals:
1. First level: Present benefits to be seen & utilized here and now (ditthadhammikattha): a) Having good health, a strong body, freedom from disease, pleasant appearance, and long life. b) Having work and income, honest livelihood, and economic self-reliance. c) Having good status, being of good standing in the community. d) Having a happy family worthy of admiration & respect.
2. Second level: Religious goals for further advantages (samparayikattha): a) Warmth, deep appreciation and happiness through faith of having a true ideal. b) Pride in having a clean life, in having done only morally irreproachable deeds. c) Gratification in a worthwhile life, in having made sacrifices and done much good. d) Courage & confidence by having understanding to deal with problems & guide own & other's life. e) Security and freedom from worry in having done good as an investment for the future life.
3. Third level: The absolute and ultimate Goal (paramattha): a) Not wavering in face of common vicissitudes and inevitable changes. b) Not being depressed, despaired, or distressed because of clinging to attachments. c) Being assured, secure, calm, clear, cheerful, and mentally buoyant at all times. d) Living and acting with wisdom, which looks rationally at all causes and conditions. e) Approaching Nibbana - the deathless element - the highest bliss - the final peace - the highest goal
One who is able to attain the second level of goals & upwards is known as a wise man (pandita).
Source: A constitution for Living. Buddhist Principles for a Fruitful and Harmonious Life. Ven. P.A. Payutto. Thailand. Buddhist Publication Society 2007: BP 620S http://www.bps.lk
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, the absence of all greed, all hate, and all ignorance: This, friends, is called the Uncreated, the Unconditioned, the Uninclined, the Unattracted, the Unmanifested, the Infinite, the absolute Freedom, the Further Shore, the Subtle, the Inconceivable, the Ageless, the Unity, the Permanent, the Beyond of all diversity, the Peaceful, the Deathless..., the Sublime Sameness, the Wonderful, the Sweet Safety, the Fantastic, the Sorrowless, the Refuge, the Unoppressed, the Detached, the Release, the Island..., the Shelter..., the Final State..., the Highest Bliss: Nibbana... Samyutta Nikaya. 43:12-44
There exists indeed, Bhikkhus, that which is unborn, unbecome, uncreated, that which is uncaused and unconditioned… For if there were not, Bhikkhus, that which is unborn, unbecome, uncreated, that which is uncaused & unconditioned, there could not be known here the absolute escape from that, which is born, from that which is become, from that which is created, from that which is conditioned... However, since there indeed exists, this still sublime state, which is unborn, which is unbecome, which is uncreated, and absolutely unconditioned, there can therefore right now be made known the complete escape from all that, which is born, from that, which is created, from that, which is conditioned... Itivuttaka: 43
The Blessed Buddha once said this: Those who do not understand Suffering Who do not know how Suffering comes into being, Nor where Suffering ceases without remaining trace! Who do not know this Noble Way & unique Method, Which leads straight to stilling of all Suffering! They are indeed incapable of any mental release; They are neither released through understanding; Thus incapable of making an end, stranded, helpless, They tumble on in birth, aging and eternal decay... But those who do understand this Suffering, Who also know Craving as The Cause of Suffering, And where Suffering ceases completely, Who do indeed understand the method of This Noble Way Which surely leads straight to The End of all Suffering! They are endowed both with mental release (ceto-vimutti) And also release through understanding (Paññavimutto) Being thus ready and able of making an irreversible end, They stop tumbling on in birth, aging and decay...
It is because he all alone has fully awakened to these 4 Noble Truths as they really and actually are, that the Tathagata is called a worthy Arahat, is called a Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, is called a SammaSamBuddha... Therefore, Bhikkhus, an effort should be dedicated 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...
Comments: Only a SammaSamBuddha can rediscover and teach these Four Noble Truths!
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus and Friends: Once the mental release by infinite Friendliness has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded, made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be impossible for ill-will to take possession of and obsess the mind, for the mental release by infinite Friendliness is the release from all ill-will! Once the mental release by compassionate Pity & tender understanding has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded, made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be impossible for violence to take possession of and obsess the mind, for the mental release by compassionate Pity is the release from all violence! Once the mental release by mutual Joy rejoicing in other being's success has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded, made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be impossible for discontent to take possession of & obsess the mind, for the mental release by mutual Joy is the release from all discontent! Once the mental release by serene, still and imperturbable Equanimity has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded, made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be impossible for greed & lust to take possession of & obsess the mind, for release by imperturbable Equanimity is the deliverance from all greed!
The venerable Upasiva once requested the Buddha: Sir, I am alone, dependent, helpless, I can neither cross the flood of sense desire, nor the flood of becoming, nor the flood of ignorance, nor the flood of views! Please, All-Seeing-One, tell me the meditation object by which, I may cross this flood.
Aware, direct mind towards Nothingness, replied the Buddha, be helped by relying on the notion: 'Nothing really is...'! Thus by relinquishing all desires, by stilling all speculative opinions & by reviewing the elimination of craving day & night, you may cross this flood…!
Crossing into Nothingness... Source: Sutta Nipata 1069-70
When one continually notes the breakup of all constructions, then contemplation of Dissolution grows strong & habitual! This brings these 8 advantages into being:
1: Elimination of false view of permanence, constancy & eternal (re)becoming. 2: Letting go of attachment to life itself and any form of being in existence! 3: Constant and continuous improving mental release... 4: Victory over both Attraction & Aversion. 5: Purified livelihood and morality. 6: Patience and Gentleness. 7: Freedom from Anxiety! 8: Absence of Fear!
Regarding which the Ancient Elders remarked: On realizing these 8 perfect qualities, One comprehends constructions fully, Continually Noting their Breakup in order To swiftly attain the Deathless State of Bliss, as urgent as the Sage with a burning turban. SN 56:34 [V,440]
The Blessed Buddha was a great friend of tolerance & harmlessness: 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. A. II, 72
Among tigers, lions, leopards & bears I lived in 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 sweet silent solitude. Suvanna-sama Jataka 540
I am a friend and helper to all, I am sympathetic to all living beings. I develop a mind full of love and delights always in harmlessness. I gladden my mind, fill it with joy, makes it immovable and unshakable. I develop the divine states of mind not cultivated by simple men. Theragatha. 648-9
Thus he who both day and night takes delight in harmlessness sharing love with all that live, finds enmity with none. SN I 208
He who does not strike nor makes others strike, who robs not nor makes others rob, sharing love with all that lives, finds enmity with none. Itivuttaka 22
As a mother even with her life protects her only son, so let one cultivate infinite, yeah universal, friendliness towards all sentient, living & breathing beings.
When one with a mind of true affection feels compassion for this entire world, above, below and across, unlimited everywhere.
The one who has left violence, who never harm any being, who never kill nor causes to kill, such one, mild, is a Holy Noble One. Dhammapada 405
The one who is friendly among the hostile, who is harmless among the violent, who is detached among the greedy, such one is a Holy Noble One. Dhammapada 406
He is not Noble who injures living beings. He is called Noble because he is gentle & kind towards all living beings. Dhammapada 270
Tolerance is the highest training. Patience is the best praxis. So all Buddhas say. Dhammapada 184
Let no one deceive another or despise anyone anywhere, or through anger or irritation wish for another to suffer. [color=#BF0040]Khuddakapatha 9
Solitude is happiness for one who is content, who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees. Cordial non-violence is happiness in this world harmlessness towards all living beings. Udana 10
1: Redirect attention to a different advantageous object: Like when driving out a coarse peg from a piece of wood, using a fine peg, one can substitute and thereby replace : A: Desire for living forms with thinking on a disgusting rotting corpse... B: Desire for inanimate things with thinking on their impermanence... C: Aversion towards living beings with the mental release of friendliness... Aversion towards inanimate things with noting their composition... E: Delusion, doubt, uncertainty & confusion with thorough investigation...
2: Consider the Danger in thoughts mixed with hate, greed & ignorance: These thoughts of mine are disgusting, dangerous, bringing much misery now & later, just like a young man or woman is disgusted & humiliated, if somebody hang a rotting carcass of a snake, dog or human around their neck, so should one regard disturbing distractions!
3: Stopping all flow of thought by Non-Attention and Non-Reflection: Like a man not wishing to see close his eyes & turn away from the object.
4: Repeat reflection of the Root Cause of these Distractions: Searching for the reason of these mental afflictions can cure them: Like a running man wishing calm finding no reason to run, starts walking... Then finding no reason to walk, he sits down, finding no reason to sit, he lies down... Now cured!
5: Beating the evil mind down with the force of the good mind: By clenching the lower teeth against the upper teeth, and pressing the tongue up against the palate, like a strong man holds down a weak man by the shoulders so should one beat down mind with mind. Then these evil, ill & detrimental thoughts rooted in greed, hate, & ignorance are eliminated, and they vanish. By their evaporation mind settles down, becomes focused, concentrated and unified on the purely good thought!
Attention Deficit occurs, when following after Distracting Thoughts!
The Blessed Buddha once said: As a mother would, even with risk for her own life, protect her only child, so let us cultivate immeasurable loving-kindness towards all living beings!
Any form, materiality or body whatsoever, whether past, future or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far or near is only impermanent, painful and not-self: these are 3 kinds of deep comprehension. Any feeling whatsoever ... Any perception whatsoever ... Any construction whatsoever ... Any consciousness whatsoever is impermanent, miserable and not-self! Any eye, any ear, any nose, any tongue, any body and any mind is impermanent, suffering and not-self! Any visible form, any sound, any smell, any taste, any touch and any idea whether past, future or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far or near remains always transient, painful and impersonal: These are 3 kinds of real comprehension. One can understand it in this way: Any object is impermanent in the sense of destruction, painful in the sense of terror, and not-self in the sense of having no core: These 3 characteristics can be generalized to all things... Full comprehension is understanding: Any object whatsoever whether past, future or present, is impermanent, constructed, dependently arisen, thus inevitably it will be destroyed, unambiguously it will fade away by decay, unavoidably it will be lost, inescapably it will all cease, perish and vanish ... Vism 608
The dear companion can be the proximate cause for Mutual Joy, where one rejoices in another being's success... One thus rejoicing in others fortune is called a 'boon companion', for he is constantly glad: He laughs first and speaks afterward! So he should be the first to be pervaded with gladness. Or on seeing a dear person being happy, cheerful and glad, mutual joy can be aroused thus: 'See this being is indeed glad! How good, how excellent!' Just as one would be glad at seeing a dear and beloved person very happy, exactly so does one pervade all other beings in all directions with mutual joy... Rejoicing mutual joy can also be aroused by remembering others happiness in the past and recollecting the elated joy aspect in this way: 'In the past he had great wealth, a great following and he was always glad'. Or mutual joy can be aroused by apprehending the future glad aspect of his in this way: 'In the future he will again enjoy similar success and will go about in gold palanquins, on the backs of elephants or on horseback'. Having thus aroused mutual joy regarding a dear person, one can then direct the very same feeling successively towards a neutral one, and gradually towards any hostile person. Vbh 274, Vism I 316
Comments: Mutual joy causes Contentment! No mutual joy thus means Discontentment! Therefore: If being generally dissatisfied, then be happy over other's success. Secondly: Mutual joy causes all envy & jealousy to evaporate into equanimity!
Precious yet often wasted is this Human Opportunity!
The Blessed Gotama Buddha once explained: Bhikkhus & friends, imagine a single floating ring drifting in the great oceans! 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 after an incredibly long time! Yet, Bhikkhus & friends, I tell you, that this would happen sooner, than a fool, who has fallen into the lower worlds would again regain this rare human state... Why so? Because down there exists neither behaviour guided by the Dhamma, nor any honesty, nor any morality, nor any good doing or meritorious activity... There prevails only this evil: beat or be beaten, eat or be eaten, cruel merciless killing and voraciously swallowing up of any weak. Why is it so primitive there? Because, Bhikkhus, there nobody have seen these 4 Noble Truths! What four? 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 an effort be made NOW to understand the 4 Noble Truths!
Comment: Despite the fact that downfall is a common event occurring at most deaths (>97%) many beings think that the downfall either not happen to them (sic!), or that it does not exist at all... They cannot remember the last nasty surprise... Learning anything about cause and effect is thus effectively disabled! The very same mistakes are thus repeated, life after life, almost endlessly!
The Blind Sea-Turtle Simile...
Source (edited extract): The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:455-6] section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 47: The Ring and Blind Turtle ...
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus & friends: There is one contemplation, which when often practised and 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 Dhamma dwells frequently in this state. Which is that unique contemplation? It is reflecting over the qualities of own charity exactly like this: A Noble Disciple reviews & recollects his own generosity Caga thus: Truly, blessed am I, highly lucky: Among beings all polluted by evil, stingy and mean niggardliness, I am living with a mind freed from avarice, open-handed, liberal, in high-minded largesse, all inviting to all beggars, rejoicing in giving and sharing all I have with others! Source: AN 6:10
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus & friends: There is one contemplation, which when often practised and 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 has understood the Dhamma dwells frequently in this state. Which is that one contemplation? It is reflecting over the qualities of the Dhamma exactly like this: "Perfectly formulated is this Buddha-Dhamma, visible right here & now, immediately effective, timeless, inviting each & everyone to come and see for themselves, inspect, examine and verify. Leading each & everyone through progress towards perfection. Directly observable, experiencable and realizable by each intelligence... Source: Anguttara Nikaya 1:16.1 + 6:10
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: Anguttara Nikaya 1:16.1 + 6:10
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus & friends: There is one contemplation which when often practised and 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 Dhamma dwells frequently in this state. Which is that one contemplation? It is reflecting over the qualities of the Noble Sangha like this: "Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble Disciples. Training the right way, the true way, the good way, the direct way! Therefore do these eight kinds of individuals, these four Noble pairs, deserve both gifts, self-sacrifice, offerings, much hospitality and reverential salutation with joined palms, since this Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples, is indeed an unsurpassable & forever unsurpassed field of merit, in this world, for this world, to honour, support, uphold, respect and protect..." Source: AN 1:16.3 + 6:10
Higher Education just of Another Kind - details inside...
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
Doing much Good & No Evil produces a Divine Rebirth!
Whoever is never looking only for his own comfort & who does not enjoy his house, job, & social status, this one as chief of planets will be reborn at the level of the Maharajika gods. Whoever venerates mother, father, clan elders and recluses, is charitable, patient and takes no pleasure in quarrelling will be reborn among the Thirty-three gods. Whoever neither like dispute, nor engage in quarrels, but only cherish righteousness go to the Yama gods. Those who are very learned, who know Dhamma by heart, are very wise, longing for release, completely content with the virtue of pure morality goes to the Tusita gods. Those who spontaneously are based on right behaviour, giving, and monastic discipline, and are full of effort, inevitably go to the Nimmanarati gods. Those who are of superior virtue, are open-minded and devoted to giving, self-control and mental refinery will be reborn among the Paranimitta gods. One attains to the Tavatimsa heaven by right conduct, to the blessing of Brahmas fine material world by jhana meditation and to Nibbana by knowing things as they really are. The fruit of ones behaviour is pleasant or unpleasant. Pleasing behaviour produce a comfortable future state, while unpleasant behaviour has pain and suffering as future effect. These 3 should be reflected much upon: Death, disease, decay and old age, separation from all one likes, and the inevitable fruit of each particular type of action. Thus will one gradually reach the destruction of greed. Whoever is free from greed, progresses to performing much merit! Thus one discards all evil. You must all listen carefully to this summary. This has been explained by the Great Seer! Doing what is beneficial for others & avoiding what is harmful to others is advantageous action, while detrimental action is doing the opposite... Five rebirth-destinations as god, human, ghost, animal, or hell being have been explained by Buddha himself to be the possible states of existence!
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=13271
One should be grateful towards one's Parents! Why so? They have worked hard and very long raising one into being!
One should be grateful towards one's Teachers! Why so? They do much to make one learn and understand the good...
One should be grateful towards one's Friends! Why so? They have shown one an open kindness and much goodwill!
One should be grateful towards one's Spouse! Why so? They have loyally accompanied one along a long way...
What is the future kammic effect of gratitude or ungratefulness? The one who is grateful will receive gifts and favours ever again! The one who is ungrateful will never again receive gifts or favours! Thankfulness wisely invested thus pays back quite a lot!
5th May 2012 Vesak Day celebrates birth, Enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha Gotama. Rejoice! Keep clean, calm, cool, clever, and caring... About this Buddhist Vesak Festival: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesak This May full moon also celebrates the Buddha's third visit to Sri Lanka in the eighth year after his Enlightenment where he journeyed to Kelaniya on the invitation of the Naga King Maniakkhika (Mahavamsa i,72ff.). The day also celebrates the crowning of king Devanampiyatissa (Mhv.Xi.42), and the laying of the foundation stone of the Maha Stupa (Mhv.Xxix.1)
Please Remember: At this very May full moon in year 528 BC the Blessed Buddha awakened by completely perfect and utterly unsurpassable self-Enlightenment! At that time a girl named Sujata Senani lived in Uruvela. When adult she prayed before a certain Banyan tree, that she might get a good husband equal to herself in caste & that her firstborn may be a son. Her prayer was successful. Since indeed it did happen. At the full moon day of the Wesak month, she rose at early dawn and milked the cows. As soon as new buckets were placed under the cows, the milk poured spontaneously in streams all by itself! Seeing this miracle, she knew something special was happening! That same night the Future Buddha dreamt 5 dreams making him conclude: "Surely, truly, without any doubt, today I will reach perfect Enlightenment!" His 5 colored radiance illuminated the whole tree. Then Sujata came and offered the cooked milk rice into the hands of this Great Being.
Later a local grass-cutter came going with a bundle of grass just harvested from nearby. He offered the Great Being 8 handfuls of Kusa grass, when he saw that this Sage was a Holy Man. The Future Buddha accepted the grass and proceeded to the foot of the Bodhi-tree. Reaching the imperturbable Eastern side, where all the Buddhas take their seat, he sat down saying to himself: This is the immovable spot, where all the prior supreme Buddhas have planted themselves! This is the place for destroying this net of desire! Then the Future Buddha turned his back to the trunk and thus faced east. Right there, he then resolutely settled on this mighty decision: Let just blood and flesh of this body dry up & let skin and sinews fall from the bones. I will not leave this seat before having attained the absolute and Supreme Self-Enlightenment!
So determined did he seat himself in this unconquerable seat, from which not a 100 lightning strikes could make him waver from. At this very moment the rebel deity Mara -The Evil One- raised exclaiming: Prince Siddhattha will pass beyond my power, but I will never allow it! And sounding the Mara's war shout, he summoned his mighty army for battle. Then Mara warned his evil militia: This Sakyamuni, son of Suddhodana, is far greater than any other man, so we will never succeed to fight him up front. We must thus attack him from the rear. Frustrated, being unable even to touch this big wielder of power also with 9 mighty hurricanes of wind, rain, rocks, weapons, red coals, hot ashes, sand, mud, and darkness Mara somewhat in panic shouted at his army: "Why do you all stand still? Seize, kill & drive away this prince!"
Mara then yelled: "Siddhattha, leave this seat. It is not yours, but mine!" Hearing this, the Well-gone One replied: Mara, neither have you fulfilled the 10 perfections to the third degree, nor have you given the 5 great donations. Neither have you striven for insight, nor for the welfare of all the world, nor for supreme self-enlightenment! Therefore does this very seat surely not belong to you, but truly indeed only to me. Suddenly overpowered by fear Mara's followers fled helter-skelter in all directions. Not two went in the same direction, but leaving their weapons in a chaos, they all fled terrified by metaphysical panic. Seeing them flee thus, the great assembly of deities triumphantly shouted: Mara is defeated. Prince Siddhattha has won! Let us celebrate this truly sublime, wonderful and unique victory! It was before the sun had set that the Tathagata conquered Mara and defeated his army. That same night, after having bathed, while the Bo tree rained red sprigs onto his robe, The Consummate One gained knowledge of his prior lives during the 1st watch of the night: "With the mind thus concentrated, purified, bright, unified, focused, tractable, compliant, steady & imperturbable, I directed mind to remembrance of my past lives. I recollected many past lives, i.e., one re-birth, two...five, ten... 50, a hundred, a thousand, 100 thousand, many eons of cosmic contraction, & many eons of cosmic expansion: There I had such a name, belonged to such a clan & species, had such a body. Such was my food, such my life of pleasures and pains. Such was the end of my life. Passing away from that state, I re-arose there. There I had such name, belonged to such a sort & family, had such a form. Such was my food, such my experience of pleasures & pains. Such was the end of my life. Passing away from that state, I re-arose here. Thus I remembered my various past lives in all their various modes and manifold details. This was the first knowledge I attained in the first watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed; the knowledge arose; darkness was destroyed; light arose as happens in one who is alert, aware, and determined. But the very pleasant feeling that arose by this did neither invade my mind, nor remain. With the mind thus concentrated, purified, bright, intact, pliant, malleable, steady, and totally imperturbable, I directed it to the knowledge of the passing away and reappearance of beings. I saw by means of the divine eye, purified & surpassing the human eye! I saw beings passing away & re-appearing, and I realized how & why they are high or low, beautiful or ugly, fortunate and unfortunate all in exact accordance with the intentions of their prior actions: These beings who were endowed with bad behaviour of body, speech, and mind, who reviled the Noble Ones, held wrong views & acted under the influence of wrong views, with the break-up of the body, after death, have re-appeared in the plane of misery, the bad painful destination, the lower realms, even in hell. But the beings who were gifted with good behaviour of body, speech and mind, who did not revile the Noble Ones, who held right views and acted under the influence of right views after the break-up of the body, after the death, have re-appeared in happy destinations, even in a divine world! Thus by means of the divine eye, purified and surpassing the human I saw beings passing away & re-appearing, all in accordance with their particular mixture of good and bad kamma... But the satisfaction that arose here did neither invade my mind, nor remain. With the mind thus concentrated and completely absorbed, I then directed it towards understanding the ending of mental fermentation. I realized how it actually comes to be, that: This is Suffering... Such is the Cause of Suffering... Such is the End of Suffering... Such is the Way to End Suffering...
Such was the mental fermentations... Such is the Cause of mental fermentation... Such is the End of mental fermentation... Such is the Way leading to the end of mental fermentation.
When my mind saw that, it was instantly freed of the fermentation of all sense-desire, it was released from the fermentation of becoming, and it became fully uncovered from the fermentation of ignorance. Thus fully and perfectly Enlightened - The Buddha - perceiving this immense glory, spoke these 2 solemn verses, which never has been omitted by any of countless billions of prior Buddhas:
Through this round of countless existences have I searched, but yet failed to find "the Creator", who framed this construction: What Suffering indeed is such endless birth, ageing, decay, sickness and ever repeated death! Now I see that "the Constructor" of this structure is Craving...!!! Never shall this construction be built again, since all the rafters are shattered and the main beam is busted and completely broken... At this calming of all Craving, the mind was finally, irreversibly and ultimately stilled… Then, friends, this revelation of certainty arose in me: This release is indeed immutable, this is the very last rebirth, this endless reappearance has finally come to a happy end...Nibbana is verily the Highest Bliss!
Three kinds of gift are mentioned in Buddhism, namely:
1: Amisa dana: The gift of material things, 2: Abhaya dana: The fearless gift of life, 3: Dhamma dana: The gift of real Truth...
Amisa dana: – or the gift of material things is practised by people of all religions and is very common. Food, clothes and houses are given to people of little means or to refugees through various religious and social organizations. It is, no doubt, a good thing to satisfy the hunger of the starving & the yearning of the thirsty. This type of donation is highly recommended in Buddhism and is called the Amisa dana. (The donation of material things). Next comes the Abhaya dana: - or giving life to those whose lives are in danger caused by fire, water or enemies. Sometimes we hear of people, who are about to die due to lack of blood. To donate blood and save another human's life is indeed a great thing. Donation of eyes and kidneys is also highly appreciated and comes under Abhaya dana – fearless donation of life. The last one: Dhamma dana: - or the gift of Truth of the Doctrine is said to be the highest of all donations on earth. Why so? Because it opens the Door to the Deathless Dimension! There is no other giving, which is even remotely comparable.
The gift of Dhamma surpasses all other Gifts. The flavour of Dhamma surpasses all other flavours. The delight in Dhamma surpasses all other delights. He who has destroyed craving overcomes all sorrow. Dhammapada 354
What 4 Objects of Thinking are always Advantageous?
Once in Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this: Bhikkhus do not accept to think any evil disadvantageous thought such as:
1: Thoughts mixed with Sense-Desire... 2: Thoughts mixed with Ill Will or Anger... 3: Thoughts mixed with Harm & Violence...
Since all these thoughts are irrelevant and even detrimental to the basics of the Noble life & they furthermore do neither induce revulsion, nor disillusion, nor ceasing, nor Peace, nor any true knowledge of Enlightenment or Nibbana! When you think, Bhikkhus, you should only think thoughts like these:
1: This is Suffering; 2: This is the Cause of Suffering; 3: This is the End of Suffering; 4: This is the Way leading to the End of Suffering...
Why so? Such thoughts are of prime relevance and highly advantageous to the basics of the Noble life & they furthermore gradually induce both revulsion, detachment, stilling, Peace, and direct knowledge of Enlightenment & Nibbana. Therefore, Bhikkhus, an effort should be made much of so to completely understand: This is Suffering; This is the Cause of Suffering; This is the End of Suffering; This is the Way leading to the End of Suffering... An effort should be made to understand, comprehend, penetrate, recognize & realize these 4 Noble Truths!
Comments: Keep mind focused on these 4 facts whenever it strays into fun, wrath or ill...
The Blessed Buddha once explained: Who is welcoming and friendly, Generous, open and unselfish, A guide, an instructor, a leader, Such one will gain much honour! Digha Nikaya 31
The friend who is a helping companion, The friend both in happiness and misery, The friend who gives good & sound advice, The friend who really cares & understands... These four, the clever knows as good Friends! These 4 heroes, one should cherish devotedly, as a mother nurses her own only child. Digha Nikaya 31
If one finds a wise and intelligent friend, who lives a good, correct & fully pure life, Then, overcoming all obstacles, one should always keep his joyous and alert company... Dhammapada 328
The Blessed Buddha once pointed out: This dependent origination is profound, Ananda, and profound it appears. Moreover, Ananda, it is through not knowing it, due to not comprehending it, that this generation has become a tangled coil, like a knotted ball of thread, snarled and twisted like creepers. It is because of not understanding that subtle causality of dependent origination, that this generation cannot find any way out of this Samsaric round of rebirths, with its many states of loss, painful unhappy destinies, and even purgatory hells. DN II 55
There is no one, not even in a dream, who has ever got out of this fearful round of rebirths, always destroying beings, unless he he has cut through this wheel of becoming with the razor blade of understanding well whetted on the stone of sublime concentration. This cyclic sequence of cause of effect offers no footing owing to its great profundity, and is therefore hard to get a handle on due to the maze of complex details. Vism 586
Therefore, practising for his own and others' advantage and welfare, let any wise man practise deliberately and fully aware, so that he may begin to find a footing in the abysmal deeps of the profound principle of dependent origin!
In Quantum-Mechanics this Dependence is called Entanglement or Non-Locality!
Buddha once explained existence as a chain of dependent emergence: Some recluses & priests declare these excessively speculative views: 'Everything Exists'; which is the one extreme (Sarvastavadin Eternalism). Other recluses & priests declare a just as hypothetical opposite extreme view: 'Everything does Not Exist' (Sunyatavadin Annihilationism). Avoiding both these extremes the Well-Gone-Beyond Buddha teaches this Dhamma from the Middle:
When this is present, that also exists. When this emerges, that also arises. When this is absent, that neither exists. When this ceases, that also vanishes.
From ignorance arises mental construction. From mental construction arises consciousness. From consciousness arises naming-&-forming. From name-&-form arises the six senses. From the six senses arises contact. From contact arises feeling. From feeling arises craving. From craving arises clinging. From clinging arises becoming. From becoming arises birth. From birth arises ageing, decay, sickness & death. From ageing, decay & death arises Suffering! This is the origin of this entire mass of Pain... When ignorance ceases, mental construction stops. When mental construction ceases, consciousness stops. When consciousness ceases, naming-&-forming stops. When name-&-form ceases, the six senses stops. When the six senses ceases, contact stops. When contact ceases, feeling stops. When feeling ceases, craving stops. When craving ceases, clinging stops. When clinging ceases, becoming stops. When becoming ceases, birth stops. When birth ceases, ageing, decay, & death stops... When ageing, decay & death ceases, Suffering stops! This is the Disappearance of this entire mass of Pain... This - only this supremely stilled silence - is Nibbana!
Existence is thus: Neither a static substance out there, nor a mental illusion in here, But a chain of dependent states arising and ceasing momentarily...
The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus and Friends: Once the mental release by infinite Friendliness has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded, made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be impossible for ill-will to take possession of and obsess the mind, for the mental release by infinite Friendliness is the release from all ill-will! Once the mental release by compassionate Pity & tender understanding has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded, made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be impossible for violence to take possession of and obsess the mind, for the mental release by compassionate Pity is the release from all violence! Once the mental release by mutual Joy rejoicing in other being's success has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded, made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be impossible for discontent to take possession of & obsess the mind, for the mental release by mutual Joy is the release from all discontent! Once the mental release by serene, still and imperturbable Equanimity has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded, made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be impossible for greed & lust to take possession of & obsess the mind, for release by imperturbable Equanimity is the deliverance from all greed!
In short: Because the concept of a “self” – itself! – prescribe that this “ego” remains exactly the same over a prolonged time! So also do we subjectively indeed experience it: "Though older "I" am the same ‘person’ with the same ‘name’..." we say and automatically tend to think… However only the name, which is an empty designation or ‘label’ remains the same, but nothing of what that this label ‘names’ or signifies, whether mental or physical remains the same even for a millisecond! All mental states and also all bodily material states change momentarily! Thus "we" are never exactly the same from one moment to the next. Nor is anything external...!
There exists no 'Ego', 'Self', 'Agent', 'Operator', 'I-Me' or little man (homunculus) inside any being...
Secondly: A true ‘Self’ is assumed to be in full power over itself… Otherwise: If this self have no power over itself: Who or what has then power of this self? If anything has power over the self then this actually deserves more to be called a 'self'. However realistically all events depend on specific causes and not any imaginary ‘self’! Nothing is the same. Everything is changing. Nothing is a static entity. Everything is a dynamic process. Nothing is therefore under full control of any self. And nothing can ever be under full control of self since everything is dependent on its own specific causes.
The "Ego-Me-I-Self" is a mere recursive auto-projection or "self"-imagination of a non-real entity!
Thirdly: There is individuality: Only a single process of the 5 clusters of clinging (khandha) conventionally called ‘a person’ experiences the kammic after effects of it ‘own’ past activities… Other clusters of clinging conventionally called ‘other persons’ do not run into or experience these kammic effects. But there is no identity: Nothing within or outside of this ever re-arising process of these 5 clusters of clinging is ever the ‘same’ or therefore ‘identical’, or therefore an ‘identity’… The ‘person’ is thus neither ever the ‘same’, nor ever ‘another’, but just a selfless process of ever changing momentary states… Nothing of such ephemeral transience is ever worth clinging to!
As the Buddha said (and only the Buddhas can re-discover this): "Sabbe Dhamma Anatta!" = All phenomena are no-self and core-less! All states are Impersonal! There is no Agent, or Substance neither behind, nor within, nor without any Appearance...
'Blissful is solitude for one who is content, learned & who see the True Dhamma. Blissful is harmlessness towards all beings without exception. Blissful is freedom from any sensual urge whatsoever. Yet, the supreme bliss, is the elimination of this abysmal conceit “I am”!’ Udana – Inspiration: II – 1
Jhana is Pali: In Sanskrit = Dhyana, in Chinese = Chan, in Japanese = Zen.
Preliminaries: Purified Morality => Clear Conscience, innocence and the mental elation thereof. Guarding the Senses => Absence of Temptation, greed, desire, and attraction. Clear Comprehension => Acute Awareness and Absolute Mental Presence. Contentment => Calm and Stilled Satisfaction even with nothing. Joy and Happiness.
Mental Factors of Entry: 1: Absence of any Urge of Desire 2: Absence of any Aversion of Ill Will 3: Absence of any Lethargy and Laziness 4: Absence of any Restlessness and Regret 5: Absence of any Doubt and Uncertainty 1: Presence of Directed Thought 2: Presence of Sustained Thought 3: Presence of Rapturous Joy 4: Presence of Pleasurable Bliss 5: Presence of Single-Pointed Focus
Subjective Experience: Intense presence and awareness. Effortless, undistracted, and focused thinking. Attention anchored even at ease at any chosen object. Mind is fixed and unified. Result of chain of reasoning arguments is always reached quickly and successfully. Body is without any pain and is felt like being a feather inside a big empty silent hall. There is Joy, Bliss and Happiness mixed into Solid Calm like a Smiling Mountain!
Stages: 1: Directing (adverting to sign of serenity). 2: Attaining entrance and stabilizing that. 3: Prolonging and controlling duration. 4: Emergence from absorption. 5: Reviewing (looking back on).
Grades: I: Access Concentration like in neighbourhood approaching (upacara-samadhi). II: Full Absorption Concentration fixed and anchored on object (appana-samadhi).
Techniques which can induce Jhana Absorption: Awareness of Breathing (AnapanaSati) Basic Entirety Object (Kasina) Inner Organs and Corpses (KayagataSati) The 4 Infinite and Divine States (Metta) The 4 Formless States (Aruppa)
Buddha Said: Having momentarily eliminated the five mental hindrances of: Sense Desire, Ill Will, Lethargy and Laziness, Restlessness and Regret, and Doubt and Uncertainty, defiling imperfections of the mind that obstruct concentration and understanding, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, separated from disadvantageous mental states, one enters and dwells in the first Jhana absorption of directed and sustained thought joined with joy and pleasure born of secluded solitude. One makes this joy and pleasure born of secluded solitude pervade, perfuse and fill the entire body so that all parts is thrilled by this joy and pleasure born of secluded solitude. Even as a clever barber or his apprentice would put soap powder in a brass basin, sprinkle it with water, gradually knead and moist it into a ball of foam soaked thoroughly everywhere inside out yet without dripping so too he pervade, perfuse and fill his entire body so that all parts is completely drenched with joy and pleasure born of secluded solitude.
The Blessed Buddha once said: The days and nights are flying past. Life dwindles hurriedly away: The life of mortals vanishes like water in a tiny stream. SN 4:10
FUTURE FALL As in the morning one may fear the falling of the ripened fruits; So do all mortals in this world live in constant fear of death... Since they know: Certain is their future death! Sn 576
CERTAIN All beings are subject to death, end in death, can never escape death. As every earthenware pot that has been fashioned by the potter's hand, No matter whether small or great will fall & break to pieces in the end: Just so are all beings subject to death, end in death, can never escape death. All beings some time have to die, their life one day will end in death, And they will fare after their doings: The good or bad fruits they will earn. The evil-doer fares to the burning hell. The good Noble man to a happy world. Hence, Noble doings you should perform as a safe provision for the next life, For good doings for the next world give to all living beings their only support On the other side! SN 3:22
CRUSHED Just as the mighty rocky mountains are stretching high up in the sky, Extending wide on all the land around and weighing heavily down on it! Just so do old age and Death suppress all living beings in this universe, whether warriors, priests, traders, workers, sweepers & all animals too. Not sparing anyone or anything whatsoever, crushing all life to be found. SN 3:25
MOMENTARY Whosoever knows this body to be as temporary as a bubble, as insubstantial as the mirror image, such one will break the flower tipped arrows of Mara and cannot be seen by this King of Death ... Dhammapada 46
SURPRISE (again)! Death carries off the man while distracted by gathering flowers of sensual pleasures, exactly and even so as a great flood carries away a sleeping village. Dhammapada 47
The Blessed Buddha once explained Loving-Kindness like this: This is what should be done by a clever one to arouse the advantageous: Having attained a peaceful state: He should be capable, straight, and very upright, easy to speak to, gentle and not proud, contented & easy to support, with few duties, living simple, with calmed senses, devoted, and neither angry, nor greedy. He should not do any mean thing, which wise men would criticize. He always should wish: Let all beings be happy, joyous, glad, safe and secure. Whatever living creatures there exist, still or moving, small or large, seen or unseen, far or near, already existing or coming into being, let all these living beings without any even single exception be perfectly happy! One should never despise anyone anywhere, nor humiliate anyone anywhere, nor ever wish for any being misery or harm, because of anger or irritation. Just as a mother would protect her only little son even risking her own life, exactly so should one cultivate an unbounded mentality towards all beings; loving-kindness towards all in this universe. One should cultivate an infinite mind, above, below and across, without barriers, without enmity, matchless. Whether standing, going, sitting, or lying down, even when slumbering should one practise this exalted infinite goodwill. This is said to be a Sacred State! Sn 143-151
Tranquillity comes due to insight. As he is sitting, whether by night or by day, then he experiences neither fatigue, heaviness, rigidity, slowness, nor sickness in his body, nor in his mind, but rather his body and mind are tranquil, very light, adaptable, pliable, quite sharp and ultra-clear! With his body and mind aided by such tranquillity, he experiences a superhuman delight, about which it is said:
A Bhikkhu with his mind all quiet... Retired to a remote & empty place. There right insight in the Dhamma, Awards him a superhuman delight! It is because he really comprehends The rise and fall of all phenomena That he relishes this high happiness: A silent joy not of this world! A bliss transcending the human! And knows it to be the deathless... Dhammapada 373-74
The initiation of deliberately directing mind for the sole purpose of exertion, is the very first initiating sprouting arising of the mental ability of energy . The growing of keen eagerness and enthusiasm under the influence of the success of the exertion itself, expands the arising of the energy ability. Presence of focused attention and fixed consideration conditioned by the guided control of exertion, increases the emergence of the energy ability. The unification of one-pointed concentration under the condensing influence of this effort, adds to the arising of the energy ability. Non-appearance of laziness, is the advantage of the energy ability. Absence of the frustration of laziness, is the charm of this ability. Entering mental absorption is the motive behind the energy ability. Assured stability of effort is the very power of the energy ability. Enthusiastic pleasure & joy is the fascination of the energy ability. The emergence of laziness is the danger for the ability of energy. Through bold striving this ability of energy escapes from laziness!
The brahmin Magandiya once asked the Buddha some subtle questions:
Question: How does quarrels and disputes arise? Answer: From what is liked and beloved arise quarrels and disputes. Question: How does these likes, longings and hopes emerge? Answer: Likes, longings and hopes all have desire as their origin. Question: How does this desire come into being? Answer: Desire arises depending on pleasure and pain.
Question: How does pleasure and pain then appear? Answer: Pleasure and pain arises depending on contact.
Question: How does this event of contact happen? Answer: Contact arises dependent upon name and form.
Question: How does such sensed contact completely cease? Answer: When form has disappeared, contacts cannot make contact....
Question: In which mental state does all forms of form disappear? Answer: In neither-perception-nor-non-perception does all form disappear!
Question: Is this state the supreme mental purity? Answer: The state of quenching without remaining clinging is the supreme! The recluse does neither dispute that, nor does he renew any existence...
Which Intentional Actions (Kamma) influence Social Position?
A student once asked the Buddha: Master Gotama, what is the cause and condition why some human beings are influential and prominent, while others are neglected and disrespected?
The Blessed Buddha then explained: Here, friend, some man or woman is envious, is one who is jealous, resents, and begrudges the gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutations, fame, name or veneration that is rightly received by others... Because of intending and performing such action, at the breakup of the body, right after death, such one is reborn in a state of difficulty, in a wretched destination, in the painful purgatory, or even in the hells... But if such one at the breakup of the body, right after death, is not reborn in an state of deprivation, a painful destination, the purgatory, or in the hells, but instead comes back to the human state, then wherever such one is reborn, such one is not influential, unimportant, neglected and disrespected #! These are the actions, friend, leading to future disrespect: Being envious, being one who is jealous, resents, and begrudges the gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutations, fame, name or veneration that is rightly received by others... However, friend, any man or woman, who is neither envious, jealous, resenting, nor begrudging the gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutations, fame, name and veneration rightly received by others, because of intending and undertaking such good mental action, at breakup of the body, after death, such one reappears in a pleasurable and happy destination, even in one of the many divine dimensions! But if at the breakup of the body, right after death, such one is not reborn in a happy destination, in the heavenly worlds, but instead comes back to a human state, then wherever such one reappears, such one is influential, and respected !!! This is the way, friend, leading to prominence and influence, namely neither being envious, jealous, resenting, nor begrudging the gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutations, fame, name or veneration that is rightly received by others...
#: Such one escapes hell, because the evil present kamma is modified by past good! %: Such one miss heaven, because the good present kamma is modified by past evil!
The Joy Link to Awakening (Piti-sambojjhanga) has the characteristic of suffusing contentment, and the property of gladdening satisfaction. This Joy Link to Awakening manifests as mental elation, which can reach five successively increasing degrees of intensity:
1: Minor Joy, which can raise the hair on the body when thrilled. 2: Momentary Joy, which is flashing like lightning at various occasions. 3: Showering Joy, which breaks over the body repeatedly like sea-waves. 4: Uplifting Joy, which can be strong enough to even levitate the body. 5: Pervading Joy, which is like a heavy sponge all saturated with water. Visuddhimagga IV 94-9
The Buddha once said: What mental fermentations (asava) should be overcome by development? If a Bhikkhu by careful & rational attention develops the Joy Link to Awakening based on seclusion, on disillusion, on ceasing, & culminating in relinquishment, then neither can any mental fermentation, nor any fever, or discontent ever arise in him. MN2 [i 11]
In one who has aroused enthusiastic energy, there arises a joy not of this world & the Joy Link to Awakening emerges there. He develops it, & for him it goes to the culmination of its development. MN118 [iii 85]
Any one convinced by understanding of Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, gets an enthusiastic sense of the sublime good goal of Nibbana & gains gladness connected, joined, and fused with this Dhamma...! In any one gladdened, Joy is born. The body of the Joyous is calmed. One of calm body experiences pleasure and happiness! The mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. The concentrated mind sees and knows things as they really are. This brings disgust and disillusion, which enables full direct experience of mental release. It is in this way that Joy indeed is a factor leading to Awakening! MN [i 37-8], AN [iii 21-3], DN [iii 21-3]
Having heard the Buddha speak, a householder or a householder's son or one born in some other family, hears that Buddha-Dhamma. On hearing this sublime Dhamma, he acquires faith in the Tathagata. Possessing that faith, he considers thus: Household life is crowded, cramped, frustrating & dusty! The Life gone forth is out in the wide open... It is not easy, while living in a home, to live this Noble life utterly perfect and pure, as a polished shell... Suppose I shave off my hair and beard, put on the yellow robe, and go forth from the home life into homelessness. On a later occasion, leaving behind any small or large fortune, leaving behind a small or a large circle of relatives, he shaves off his hair and beard, puts on the ochre robe, & then goes forth from the home life into the free and open homelessness... So is the faith of those, who after countless lives finally have accumulated and possesses the right and ripe conditions for attaining the advantageous state of a Bhikkhu under a Buddha! This is indeed the quickest step towards winning the Bliss of the deathless Nibbana!
Relinquishing what is Not Ownable produces Calmed Ease!
The Blessed Buddha once explained: Bhikkhus, leave whatever is not yours, give it up! Having left it, relinquished it and in every respect released it, that will lead to your lasting welfare, ease and happiness! And what is it, Bhikkhus, that is not yours? The eye is not yours... Forms are not yours... The ear is not yours... Sounds are not yours... The nose is not yours... Smells are not yours... The tongue is not yours... Tastes are not yours... The body is not yours... Touches are not yours... The mind is not yours... Mental States are not yours... When you have left it, given it up, relinquished it, and fully released it, then that will indeed lead to your welfare, ease and happiness for a long time... Imagine, Bhikkhus, that people were to carry off any dry grass and sticks in this entire forest and then burn it all to ashes! Would you then think: 'People are carrying us all off, and burning us all up into nothing...'? No! Why not? Because that grass is neither our self, nor belonging to us! Exactly so too, Bhikkhus: The eye is not yours. Forms are not yours. The ear is not yours. Sounds are not yours. The nose is not yours. Smells are not yours. The tongue is not yours. Tastes are not yours. The body is not yours. Touches are not yours. The mind is not yours. Mental States are not yours. These are neither your self, nor what you are, nor belonging to any self! When you have left these, given them all up, released them, & relinquished them, then that will indeed lead to your welfare, safety, ease & happiness for a long, long, long time...
Comments: All states -internal as external, physical as mental- are empty of stability! Their nature is to arise and cease. Neither can they therefore ever be kept, nor ever owned by anybody... Clinging to what never can be kept, is Pain...! Relinquishing it all, is therefore indeed happiness...
Thanx. If U wish to support kindly let me know. Are planning to produce and provide Audio-Dhamma-Books and short feature Dhamma films, yet need some audio equipment.
A Brahmin Priest once asked the Blessed Buddha: Master Gotama, what is the cause of being unable to remember even something that has been memorized over a long period & also that which has not been memorized? Brahmin, when mind is retarded by lethargy & laziness, dimmed, detained & dominated by lethargy and laziness, and one does not understand any actual safe escape from this arisen lethargy and laziness, in that very moment, one can neither see, nor understand, what is advantageous, neither for oneself, nor for others, nor for both oneself and others. Consequently, whatever have been memorized, cannot be remembered… Why is this neglect so? Imagine a bowl of water covered with moss, water plants and algae. If a man with good eye-sight were to inspect the reflection of his own face in it, he would neither see, nor recognize it, as it really is! So too, brahmin, when mind is slowed down by lethargy and laziness, dimmed, detained and handicapped by lethargy & laziness, on such occasions even texts long memorized do not recur to the mind, not to speak of those texts, events and information, that have not been actively memorized at all…
How to cure Laziness: Attention to these 3 elements of: initiative, launching and endurance!
Comments
Universal Friendliness (Mettâ) Outshines All!
The Buddha said:
May all creatures, all breathing things,
all beings everyone without exception,
experience joy & good fortune only.
May they not fall into any harm!
Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
Let no one deceive another
or despise anyone anywhere,
or through anger or irritation
wish for another to suffer!
Sutta Nipata I, 8
For one who deliberately & aware
Fully develops Universal Friendliness
Fading away of clinging is realized,
All chains are worn down & broken!
Itivuttaka 27
More Metta:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/One_BIG_Family.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Selfless_Friendship_is_Sweetest.htm
Friendliness Outshines All !
Good-Will Encore!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
The Golden Buddhist Life Standards 1
The golden Buddhist's life standards make harmony for oneself and others.
This layman's code of discipline = (gihi-vinaya) organize social relationships
so that they produce a society of happy being and beings in sweet harmony... :-)
Law 1: Avoid the 14 kinds of Wrong Behaviour:
A. Refraining from the 4 actions that defile mentality (kammakilesa):
1: Killing, violence, harming, breaking, or taking of any life (panatipata).
2: Stealing, theft, misappropriation, and violating property rights (adinnadana).
3: Sexual misconduct such as adultery and paedophilia (kamesumicchacara).
4: Speaking false, lying, misleading, deceiving, and pretending (musavada).
B. Desisting from the 4 kinds of badly twisted behaviour (agati):
5: Biased and skewed behaviour based on desire, lust, and greed (chandagati).
6: Biased and skewed behaviour based on anger, hate, and opposition (dosagati).
7: Biased and skewed behaviour based on fear, anxiety, and timidity (bhayagati).
8: Biased and skewed behaviour based on ignorance, confusion, and doubt (mohagati).
C. Avoiding the six channels leading to ruin apaya-mukha, lit: The mouth of the downfall:
9: Being addicted to drinking alcohol and/or taking drugs.
10: Always revelling in party, nightlife, and careless company.
11: Being restlessly bent on empty entertainments and amusements.
12: Being addicted to gambling, betting, and gaming.
13: Associating with evil friends.
14: Being chronically lazy.
Source:
A constitution for Living. Buddhist Principles for a Fruitful and Harmonious Life.
Ven. P.A. Payutto. Buddhist Publication Society 2007: BP 620S http://www.bps.lk
Sound Ethics Makes Harmony!
The Golden Buddhist Life Standards 1:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_1.htm
Entanglement means that all phenomena are connected! This universal inter-dependence is the physical basis of the Kammic principle...
More on Quantum-Buddhism:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The_Fact_of_No-Self_Anatta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Quantum_Buddhist_Agreements.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Observation_induces_the_Object.htm
Calm Kindness Protects All Beings!
The Blessed Buddha often said:
With good will for the entire cosmos,
Cultivate an infinite & boundless heart:
Above, below, all across and all around,
Beaming, without any hostility or hate!
Sutta Nipata I, 8
May all creatures, all breathing things,
all beings one and all, without exception,
experience joyous good fortune only!
May they never fall into any harm.
Anguttara Nikaya II, 72
Let no one deceive another
or despise anyone anywhere,
or through anger or irritation
wish for another to suffer.
Sutta Nipata I, 8
More on All-Embracing Kindness!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/United_in_Harmony.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kalyanamitta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
Have a nice Calm & Kind day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Goodwill fused with Tranquillity makes Safe Ease!
Calm Kindness!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Calm_Kindness.htm
The Golden Buddhist Life Standards 2
The golden Buddhist's life standards make harmony for oneself and others.
This layman's code of discipline = (gihi-vinaya) organize social relationships
so that they produce a society of happy beings being in sweet harmony...
Law 2: Choose only True Friends & Prudent Money Planning:
A. Choosing only good people as true friends will make life constructive!
How to recognize the 4 kinds of false imitating friends (mitta-patirupaka)?
I. The habitual cheater who only takes from friends, has four features:
1. He thinks only of getting and rarely of giving
2. He gives only little when in the hope of getting much.
3. Only when he is pressed in danger does he help his friend.
4. He imitates friendliness only to promote his own advantage.
II. The smooth talker has four features:
1. He talks only of what is already done & now gone.
2. He talks only of what has not yet come.
3. He offers only help that has no true effect.
4. When his friend needs a hand, he then makes many excuses.
III. The empty flatterer has four features:
1. He agrees even, when his friend is doing some wrong.
2. He also agrees, when his friend is doing right.
3. He sings only his beguiling praises, when the friend is present.
4. He runs him down behind his back, when the friend is absent.
IV. The leader to ruin has four features:
1. He is a companion only when drinking.
2. He is a companion only when partying.
3. He is a companion only in frequenting shows and amusements.
4. He is a companion only in gambling, gaming and betting.
How to recognize the 4 kinds of true friends with a genuine goodness (suhada-mitta)?
I. The helping friend has four features:
1. When his friend is off guard, then he guards & protects him.
2. When his friend is off guard, he guards & protects his property.
3. In times of danger, he is always a refuge of help & ready assistance.
4. In times of need, then he gives much more than asked for.
II. The friend through thick and thin has four features:
1. He confess his own secrets to his friend.
2. He keeps his friend's secrets safe and sound.
3. He does not desert or betray his friend in times of danger.
4. He will give even his own life for his friend's sake.
III The good counsellor has four features:
1. He restrains his friend from doing evil or harm.
2. He encourages him to do good & accumulate merit.
3. He explain to his friend, what he has not heard before.
4. He points out the way to prosperity, progress and happiness.
IV. The loving friend has four features:
1. When his friend is unhappy, he sympathizes in pity.
2. When his friend is happy, he is also happy for him.
3. When others criticize his friend, he comes to his defence.
4. When others praise his friend, he joins in their praise.
Such are the 4 false and the 4 true friends. Please take note of that!
B. Allocating one's wealth rightly by intelligent earning, spending & saving:
1. One portion is to be used for supporting oneself, family, dependents, and for charity.
2. Two portions to be used for investment in one's business or owned structures.
3. Another portion to be put aside as savings for future needs.
Source:
A constitution for Living. Buddhist Principles for a Fruitful and Harmonious Life.
Ven. P.A. Payutto. Thailand. Buddhist Publication Society 2007: BP 620S http://www.bps.lk
Clever Driving Pays Back ...
The Golden Buddhist Life Standards are the Primary Laws!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_2.htm
How to train Rejoicing Joy in others Success?
When sitting alone, in silence, each early morning, with closed eyes one wishes:
May I radiate and meet only never-ending and mutually rejoicing joy!
May I & all the various beings on the 31 levels of existence develop and find
only celebration and elation in a never-ending mutually rejoicing joy!
May I & all beings on the sense-desire, fine-material, and the formless plane
develop and encounter this generous, infinite and mutually rejoicing joy!
May I & all beings in the front, to the right, the back, the left, and below as
above, develop and experience openhearted, sharing, & mutually rejoicing joy!
May I and all beings within this city, country, planet and universe always:
Be fully aware and deeply mindful of this content and mutually rejoicing joy!
Examine all details & aspects of this satisfied and mutually rejoicing joy!
Put enthusiastic effort in our praxis of this devoted mutually rejoicing joy!
Enjoy enraptured jubilant gladness in this exulting mutually rejoicing joy!
Be silenced by the tranquillity of quiet and all smiling mutually rejoicing joy!
Be concentrated & absorbed into one-pointedness by genuine rejoicing joy!
Dwell in an imperturbable equanimity of pure and mutually rejoicing joy...
Yeah! May it be even so, since mutual joy causes the jewel of contentment!
Comment: Mutual Joy is the 3rd infinite mental state (Appamañña):
This gradually reduces all envy, jealousy, possessiveness, stinginess, avarice
miserliness, green covetousness and unhappiness related with all these states.
The cause of Mutual Joy in rejoicing in your child's or boon companion's success.
This same joy can then be beamed towards all liked, neutral and hostile beings.
Mutual Joy is then the proximate cause of satisfied and fulfilled Contentment...
Lack of mutual joy is thus the proximate cause of dissatisfied discontentment...
Joined with the 7 links to Awakening it will later cause a formless jhana...
Be happy at all and especially other being's success! Then calm comfort grows!
More on Mutual Joy (Mudita):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Mutual Joy causes Contentment!
Rejoicing Joy!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
The Golden Buddhist Life Standards 3!
The golden Buddhist's life standards make harmony for oneself and others.
This layman's code of discipline = (gihi-vinaya) organize social relationships
so that they produce a society of happy beings being in sweet harmony...
Law 3: Maintain good and sound social relations in all 6 directions:
1st direction: How should Children behave towards Parents and Parents behave towards children?
Children should honour their parents by:
1. Having been raised by them, one looks after them in return.
2. One helps them in their business and work.
3. One continues & maintains the family line.
4. One conducts oneself as is proper for an heir.
5. After their death, one makes offerings, dedicating the merit to them.
Parents should help their children by:
1. Cautioning and protecting them from evil.
2. Nurturing and training them in goodness.
3. Providing a suitable and proper education.
4. Seeing to it that they obtain suitable spouses.
5. Bequeathing the inheritance to them at the right time.
2nd direction: How should Students behave towards Teachers and Teachers behave towards students?
Students should respect their teachers by:
1. One rises to greet the teacher when he arrives and shows respect towards the teacher.
2. One approaches the teacher to attend & serve, to consult, to query & to receive advice.
3. One listens well & pay full undivided attention so as to gain complete understanding.
4. One performs any practical task and runs errands for the teacher.
5. One learns the subject earnestly, giving this task of learning right priority.
Teachers should support his students by:
1. Teaching and training them to be good and skilful.
2. Guiding them to thorough & penetrating understanding.
3. Teaching the subject in full, holding nothing back.
4. Encouraging and praising the student's qualities and abilities.
5. Providing learning that both can make a living & induce behaviour entailing happy prosperity.
3rd direction: How should Husband behave towards Wife and Wife behave towards Husband?
A husband, one should honour and support the wife by:
1. One honours her in accordance with her status as a wife.
2. One does not disparage, criticize, undervalue or belittle her.
3. One does not commit adultery with any other women.
4. One gives her control of & responsibility for all the household affairs.
5. One gives her occasional gifts of ornaments and clothing.
A wife supports her husband by:
1. Keeping the household clean, proper and tidy.
2. Helping the relations and friends of both family sides.
3. Not committing adultery with any other men.
4. Safeguarding any wealth that has been acquired.
5. Being energetic and enduring in all her works.
4th direction: How should Friend behave towards Friend?
A real friend maintains his friendships by:
1. He shares with them.
2. He speaks kindly to and about them.
3. He helps them whenever needed.
4. He is constant & faithful despite their ups and downs.
5. He is understanding and sincere.
Friends then reciprocate by:
1. Protecting their friend when he is off guard.
2. Protecting their friend's property when one is off guard.
3. Being a safe refuge and shelter in times of danger.
4. Not desert or leave their good friend in times of need.
5. Respecting all their friend's family and relations.
5th direction: How should Employer behave towards employees, and Employees towards employer?
1. The Employer assigns the work in accordance with the workers strength, sex, age, and abilities.
2. He pays them wages compatible with their work and adequate for their livelihood.
3. He grants them fringe benefits and provides medical care in times of sickness.
4. He shares with them a portion of any special profits that may arise.
5. He gives them appropriate holidays and suitable time to rest.
The Employee helps the employer by:
1. Starting work before the employer.
2. Stopping work after the employer.
3. Taking only what is given by his employer.
4. Doing the job well and always seeking ways to improve on it.
5. Spreading a good reputation about the employer and his business.
6th direction: How should the lay Buddhist behave towards monks and nuns, and they towards him?
The Lay Buddhist honours and respects the ordained Sangha by:
1. He acts towards them in goodwill.
2. He speaks to them with goodwill.
3. He thinks of them with goodwill.
4. He receives them willingly.
5. He supports them with the four requisites of almsfood, robes, shelter and medicine.
All Monks and nuns help the lay people by:
1. Protecting them from evil actions which inevitably produces painful consequences.
2. Encouraging them in goodness, which inevitably produces pleasurable consequences. .
3. Assisting them in all activities with kind intentions.
4. Making known to them the things they have not heard before.
5. Enhancing and clarifying those things they have already heard.
6. Pointing out the way to heaven, & teaching them the way to happy prosperity here & now.
Source:
A constitution for Living. Buddhist Principles for a Fruitful and Harmonious Life.
Ven. P.A. Payutto. Thailand. Buddhist Publication Society 2007: BP 620S http://www.bps.lk
Sound Ethics make Harmony. On these golden Buddhist Life Standards:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_1.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_3.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_4.htm
Good Ethics Makes Social Harmony.
The Golden Buddhist Life Standards 3
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_3.htm
Who & How are the 7 types of Noble Persons?
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Monks, there are seven types of noble persons existing in the world. What seven?
1: The one freed both ways (ubhato-bhaga-vimutta),
2: The one freed by understanding (pañña-vimutta),
3: The direct experience body-witness (kaya-sakkhi),
4: The one having won view and vision (ditthippatta),
5: The one freed by faith (saddhavimutta),
6: The follower of Dhamma (dhammanusari),
7: The follower of faith (saddhanusari).
And how, monks, is the person freed Both Ways?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, having directly experienced with both body and
mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and having seen by understanding
all his mental fermentations are utterly eliminated. He is freed both ways and has done
what should be done! He can therefore never become negligent ever again...
And how, monks, is the person freed by Understanding?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, yet having seen by understanding
all his mental fermentations are utterly destroyed. He is freed by understanding and has done
what should be done. He can therefore never become negligent ever again...
And how monks, is the person who is a Body-Witness?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, having indeed directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, yet having seen by understanding
only some of his mental fermentations are fully annihilated. He is a body-witness and he has still
something to do. If he trains hard, lives remote with good friends, & balances his mental abilities,
then he may realise here & now, by his own super-knowledge, that matchless goal of the Noble
Life for which young men of good family go forth into homelessness, entering into and remaining
in it, he might dwell in the bliss of that sublime fruit...
And how monks, is the person who has Won View and Vision?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, but having seen by understanding
only some of his mental fermentations are utterly eradicated. However, those things explained
by the Tathagata are fully understood & fully practised by him. He has won view & vision, but
has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in the sublime fruit.
And how monks, is the person who is Freed by Faith?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, but having seen by understanding
only some of his mental fermentations are utterly eradicated. But his faith in the Tathagata is
settled, fixed, genuine, & established. This, monks, is called a person, who is Freed by Faith, but
he has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in the sublime fruit.
And how monks, is the person who is Striving for and following after Dhamma?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and although having seen some by
understanding his mental fermentations are not yet utterly destroyed! Furthermore: All those
things explained by theTathagata are still only moderately approved of and practiced by him...
However, he possesses the ability of faith, energy, awareness, concentration, & understanding!
This, monks, is called the person, who is striving for Dhamma, but he has still something to do.
If he trains hard ... then he might come to dwell in the sublime fruit.
And how monks, is the person who is Striving for and following after Faith?
As to this, monks, some person is dwelling, without having directly experienced with both body
and mind those peaceful mental releases, which are formless, and although having seen some by
understanding his mental fermentations are not yet utterly destroyed, but he has enough faith
in the Tathagata, enough affection for the Buddha to develop his mental ability of faith, energy,
awareness, of concentration, & of understanding. This, monks, is called the person, who is striving
out of Faith, but he has still something to do. If he trains hard ... then he will come to dwell in the
supreme fruit in the future.
I, monks, do not say that the attainment of profound knowledge suddenly comes straightaway!
Gaining final knowledge is achieved gradually through steady progress by study, and meditation..
Source: Majjhima Nikaya 70 . May this Way by our one-pointed effort become swift!
The Noble Person Shines Uniquely of Pure Good!
More on Buddhist Personality Classification:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Human_Types.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_7_Persons.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Nine_Supremes.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Four_Personalities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ideal_Person.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_9_Supremes_Explained.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Persons_similar_to_Trees.htm
The 7 Nobles...
Who & How are the 7 types of Noble Persons?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_7_Persons.htm
The Golden Buddhist Life Standards 4!
The golden Buddhist's life standards make harmony for oneself and others.
This layman's code of discipline = (gihi-vinaya) organize social relationships
so that they produce a society of happy beings being in sweet harmony...
Law 4: Helping all beings achieve their advantageous goals!
One should help oneself, one should help others and one should help both oneself and others...
Helping oneself will develop one's life towards progress, prosperity, and happiness.
Helping others by inducing and encouraging them to develop their lives, gives same benefits.
Helping oneself and others creates a mutual goal and advantage for both parties.
This collective benefit, leads to happiness and virtue of the community & society.
An example is environmental conditions, which we all should help create and conserve
in order to help both ourselves and others to a happy & better future.
Helping all people is joining in constructively creating a social harmony and unity...
Helping all beings is expanding this gentle and subtle harmony universally!
The Four Principles for Help:
1. Dana: Giving and sharing (helping through money and material goods).
2. Piyavaca: Kind, friendly & polite speech (helping through words & explanation).
3. Atthacariya: Helpful bodily action (helping attaining goals through physical effort).
4. Samanattata: Participation & assistance (helping with collective construction & problem solving).
The 3 Levels of Goals:
1. First level: Present benefits to be seen & utilized here and now (ditthadhammikattha):
a) Having good health, a strong body, freedom from disease, pleasant appearance, and long life.
b) Having work and income, honest livelihood, and economic self-reliance.
c) Having good status, being of good standing in the community.
d) Having a happy family worthy of admiration & respect.
2. Second level: Religious goals for further advantages (samparayikattha):
a) Warmth, deep appreciation and happiness through faith of having a true ideal.
b) Pride in having a clean life, in having done only morally irreproachable deeds.
c) Gratification in a worthwhile life, in having made sacrifices and done much good.
d) Courage & confidence by having understanding to deal with problems & guide own & other's life.
e) Security and freedom from worry in having done good as an investment for the future life.
3. Third level: The absolute and ultimate Goal (paramattha):
a) Not wavering in face of common vicissitudes and inevitable changes.
b) Not being depressed, despaired, or distressed because of clinging to attachments.
c) Being assured, secure, calm, clear, cheerful, and mentally buoyant at all times.
d) Living and acting with wisdom, which looks rationally at all causes and conditions.
e) Approaching Nibbana - the deathless element - the highest bliss - the final peace - the highest goal
One who is able to attain the second level of goals & upwards is known as a wise man (pandita).
Source:
A constitution for Living. Buddhist Principles for a Fruitful and Harmonious Life.
Ven. P.A. Payutto. Thailand. Buddhist Publication Society 2007: BP 620S http://www.bps.lk
Sound Ethics make Harmony. On these golden Buddhist Life Standards:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_1.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_3.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_4.htm
Ideal Help and Goals..
The Golden Buddhist Life Standards 4!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_4.htm
How is the Unconditioned State?
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, the absence of all greed, all hate, and all ignorance:
This, friends, is called the Uncreated, the Unconditioned, the Uninclined,
the Unattracted, the Unmanifested, the Infinite, the absolute Freedom,
the Further Shore, the Subtle, the Inconceivable, the Ageless, the Unity,
the Permanent, the Beyond of all diversity, the Peaceful, the Deathless...,
the Sublime Sameness, the Wonderful, the Sweet Safety, the Fantastic,
the Sorrowless, the Refuge, the Unoppressed, the Detached, the Release,
the Island..., the Shelter..., the Final State..., the Highest Bliss: Nibbana...
Samyutta Nikaya. 43:12-44
There exists indeed, Bhikkhus, that which is unborn, unbecome, uncreated,
that which is uncaused and unconditioned…
For if there were not, Bhikkhus, that which is unborn, unbecome, uncreated,
that which is uncaused & unconditioned, there could not be known here the
absolute escape from that, which is born, from that which is become, from
that which is created, from that which is conditioned...
However, since there indeed exists, this still sublime state, which is unborn,
which is unbecome, which is uncreated, and absolutely unconditioned, there
can therefore right now be made known the complete escape from all that,
which is born, from that, which is created, from that, which is conditioned...
Itivuttaka: 43
More on this Sublime and Supreme Bliss:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Final_Freedom.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Reaching_Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/climax_of_calm.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/What_is_Nibbana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Unborn_State.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Signless_Nibbana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Imperturbable_Equanimity.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Sweet is Singular Sameness!
The Uncreated!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/IV/The_Uncreated.htm
What does Perfectly Self-Enlightened Mean?
The Blessed Buddha once said this:
Those who do not understand Suffering
Who do not know how Suffering comes into being,
Nor where Suffering ceases without remaining trace!
Who do not know this Noble Way & unique Method,
Which leads straight to stilling of all Suffering!
They are indeed incapable of any mental release;
They are neither released through understanding;
Thus incapable of making an end, stranded, helpless,
They tumble on in birth, aging and eternal decay...
But those who do understand this Suffering,
Who also know Craving as The Cause of Suffering,
And where Suffering ceases completely,
Who do indeed understand the method of This Noble Way
Which surely leads straight to The End of all Suffering!
They are endowed both with mental release (ceto-vimutti)
And also release through understanding (Paññavimutto)
Being thus ready and able of making an irreversible end,
They stop tumbling on in birth, aging and decay...
It is because he all alone has fully awakened to these 4 Noble Truths as
they really and actually are, that the Tathagata is called a worthy Arahat,
is called a Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, is called a SammaSamBuddha...
Therefore, Bhikkhus, an effort should be dedicated 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...
Comments:
Only a SammaSamBuddha can rediscover and teach these Four Noble Truths!
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/Actually_So.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/True_Wisdom.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Four_but_One.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/IV/Sour_Sense_Sources.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:433]
section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 22-3: Kotigama & Perfectly Enlightened ...
Perfectly Self-Enlightened!
Only SammaSamBuddhas discovers the 4 Noble Truths!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Perfectly_Enlightened.htm
The Evaporator of all Evil States of Mind!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus and Friends: Once the mental release by infinite Friendliness
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will
be impossible for ill-will to take possession of and obsess the mind, for
the mental release by infinite Friendliness is the release from all ill-will!
Once the mental release by compassionate Pity & tender understanding
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will
be impossible for violence to take possession of and obsess the mind, for
the mental release by compassionate Pity is the release from all violence!
Once the mental release by mutual Joy rejoicing in other being's success
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be
impossible for discontent to take possession of & obsess the mind, for
the mental release by mutual Joy is the release from all discontent!
Once the mental release by serene, still and imperturbable Equanimity
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be
impossible for greed & lust to take possession of & obsess the mind, for
release by imperturbable Equanimity is the deliverance from all greed!
The 4 supreme mental attitudes (Brahmavihara) are thus:
Friendliness, Pity, Mutual Joy and Equanimity!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmavihara
More on this effective medicine of the 4 infinite and divine states:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Harmlessness_and_Tolerance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/All-Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Friendship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
Have a nice day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Infinite Friendliness = Safe Medicine!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
How to Cross Samsara by a Meditation Object?
The venerable Upasiva once requested the Buddha:
Sir, I am alone, dependent, helpless, I can neither cross the flood of sense desire,
nor the flood of becoming, nor the flood of ignorance, nor the flood of views!
Please, All-Seeing-One, tell me the meditation object by which, I may cross this flood.
Aware, direct mind towards Nothingness, replied the Buddha, be helped by relying on the
notion: 'Nothing really is...'! Thus by relinquishing all desires, by stilling all speculative
opinions & by reviewing the elimination of craving day & night, you may cross this flood…!
Crossing into Nothingness...
Source: Sutta Nipata 1069-70
Nothing really is...
Crossing into Emptiness...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Nothing_really_is.htm
The 8 Advantages of contemplating Dissolution:
When one continually notes the breakup of all constructions, then contemplation
of Dissolution grows strong & habitual! This brings these 8 advantages into being:
1: Elimination of false view of permanence, constancy & eternal (re)becoming.
2: Letting go of attachment to life itself and any form of being in existence!
3: Constant and continuous improving mental release...
4: Victory over both Attraction & Aversion.
5: Purified livelihood and morality.
6: Patience and Gentleness.
7: Freedom from Anxiety!
8: Absence of Fear!
Regarding which the Ancient Elders remarked:
On realizing these 8 perfect qualities,
One comprehends constructions fully,
Continually Noting their Breakup in order
To swiftly attain the Deathless State of Bliss,
as urgent as the Sage with a burning turban. SN 56:34 [V,440]
Source: The Path of Purification XXI-28: Visuddhimagga-Magga [645]:
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=771100
As free book here: http://www.budaedu.org/en/book/II-02main.php3
As free PDF here: http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/pdfs/PathofPurification2011.pdf
Noting the Dissolution!
On Impermance Anicca
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Evident_Facts.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rise_and_Fall.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rough_Realism.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Trap.htm
Noting the Dissolution..
Any state and phenomena will evaporate!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Noting_the_Breakup.htm
Harmlessness & Tolerance Protects all Beings!
The Blessed Buddha was a great friend of tolerance & harmlessness:
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.
A. II, 72
Among tigers, lions, leopards & bears I lived in 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 sweet silent solitude.
Suvanna-sama Jataka 540
I am a friend and helper to all,
I am sympathetic to all living beings.
I develop a mind full of love and
delights always in harmlessness.
I gladden my mind, fill it with joy,
makes it immovable and unshakable.
I develop the divine states of mind
not cultivated by simple men.
Theragatha. 648-9
Thus he who both day and night
takes delight in harmlessness
sharing love with all that live,
finds enmity with none.
SN I 208
He who does not strike nor makes
others strike, who robs not nor makes
others rob, sharing love with all that lives,
finds enmity with none.
Itivuttaka 22
As a mother even with her life protects
her only son, so let one cultivate infinite,
yeah universal, friendliness towards
all sentient, living & breathing beings.
When one with a mind of true affection
feels compassion for this entire world,
above, below and across,
unlimited everywhere.
The one who has left violence,
who never harm any being,
who never kill nor causes to kill,
such one, mild, is a Holy Noble One.
Dhammapada 405
The one who is friendly among the hostile,
who is harmless among the violent,
who is detached among the greedy,
such one is a Holy Noble One.
Dhammapada 406
He is not Noble who injures living beings.
He is called Noble because he is
gentle & kind towards all living beings.
Dhammapada 270
Tolerance is the highest training.
Patience is the best praxis.
So all Buddhas say.
Dhammapada 184
Let no one deceive another
or despise anyone anywhere,
or through anger or irritation
wish for another to suffer.
[color=#BF0040]Khuddakapatha 9
Solitude is happiness for one who is content,
who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees.
Cordial non-violence is happiness in this world
harmlessness towards all living beings.
Udana 10
How to become harmless:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Blessing_all_Beings_by_Bliss.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Patient_is_Tolerance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bon_Benevolence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
Happy & Holy is the Harmless :-)
Harmlessness is the Best Protection!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Harmlessness_and_Tolerance.htm
How to stop recurring Distracting Thoughts?
1: Redirect attention to a different advantageous object:
Like when driving out a coarse peg from a piece of wood, using a fine peg,
one can substitute and thereby replace :
A: Desire for living forms with thinking on a disgusting rotting corpse...
B: Desire for inanimate things with thinking on their impermanence...
C: Aversion towards living beings with the mental release of friendliness...
E: Delusion, doubt, uncertainty & confusion with thorough investigation...
2: Consider the Danger in thoughts mixed with hate, greed & ignorance:
These thoughts of mine are disgusting, dangerous, bringing much misery
now & later, just like a young man or woman is disgusted & humiliated, if
somebody hang a rotting carcass of a snake, dog or human around their
neck, so should one regard disturbing distractions!
3: Stopping all flow of thought by Non-Attention and Non-Reflection:
Like a man not wishing to see close his eyes & turn away from the object.
4: Repeat reflection of the Root Cause of these Distractions:
Searching for the reason of these mental afflictions can cure them:
Like a running man wishing calm finding no reason to run, starts walking...
Then finding no reason to walk, he sits down, finding no reason to sit,
he lies down... Now cured!
5: Beating the evil mind down with the force of the good mind:
By clenching the lower teeth against the upper teeth, and pressing the
tongue up against the palate, like a strong man holds down a weak man by
the shoulders so should one beat down mind with mind. Then these evil, ill
& detrimental thoughts rooted in greed, hate, & ignorance are eliminated,
and they vanish. By their evaporation mind settles down, becomes focused,
concentrated and unified on the purely good thought!
Attention Deficit occurs, when following after Distracting Thoughts!
Source: Moderate speeches of the Buddha: Majjhima Nikaya 21:
The Removal of Distracting Thoughts Full text and commentary is here:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wheel021.html
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Distractions Disturb Delight!
Habitual Attention Deficit Scatters the Mind!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/How_to_Remove_Distracting_Thoughts.htm
Mettã is likened to a Mother's Love:
The Blessed Buddha once said:
As a mother would, even with risk for her own life, protect her only child,
so let us cultivate immeasurable loving-kindness towards all living beings!
On this mighty Friendly Goodwill (Metta):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
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
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Goodness_Galore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Cosmic_Goodness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Wrong.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Unbounded_Mind.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Friendship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Blazing_Goodwill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Good-Will_Again.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bon_Benevolence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Genuine_Goodwill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_vs_Bright.htm
Symbiotic Sympathy :-)
Metta is as a Mother's Love...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Mothers_Love.htm
The 3 Stigmata are Universal Characteristics!
Any form, materiality or body whatsoever, whether past, future or present,
internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far or near is only
impermanent, painful and not-self: these are 3 kinds of deep comprehension.
Any feeling whatsoever ... Any perception whatsoever ... Any construction
whatsoever ... Any consciousness whatsoever is impermanent, miserable and
not-self! Any eye, any ear, any nose, any tongue, any body and any mind is
impermanent, suffering and not-self! Any visible form, any sound, any smell,
any taste, any touch and any idea whether past, future or present, internal
or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far or near remains always
transient, painful and impersonal: These are 3 kinds of real comprehension.
One can understand it in this way: Any object is impermanent in the sense
of destruction, painful in the sense of terror, and not-self in the sense of
having no core: These 3 characteristics can be generalized to all things...
Full comprehension is understanding: Any object whatsoever whether past,
future or present, is impermanent, constructed, dependently arisen, thus
inevitably it will be destroyed, unambiguously it will fade away by decay,
unavoidably it will be lost, inescapably it will all cease, perish and vanish ...
Vism 608
More on these 3 Universal Characteristics of Existence (Ti-lakkhana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_3_Universal_Characteristics.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/ti_lakkhana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_3_Ultimate_Facts.htm
Anything Whatsoever...
There are 3 Universal Characteristics of all Existence!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Anything_Whatsoever.htm
Mutual Joy cures all vicious Envy and Jealousy!
The dear companion can be the proximate cause for Mutual Joy, where one
rejoices in another being's success... One thus rejoicing in others fortune
is called a 'boon companion', for he is constantly glad: He laughs first and
speaks afterward! So he should be the first to be pervaded with gladness.
Or on seeing a dear person being happy, cheerful and glad, mutual joy can
be aroused thus: 'See this being is indeed glad! How good, how excellent!'
Just as one would be glad at seeing a dear and beloved person very happy,
exactly so does one pervade all other beings in all directions with mutual joy...
Rejoicing mutual joy can also be aroused by remembering others happiness
in the past and recollecting the elated joy aspect in this way: 'In the past he
had great wealth, a great following and he was always glad'. Or mutual joy
can be aroused by apprehending the future glad aspect of his in this way:
'In the future he will again enjoy similar success and will go about in gold
palanquins, on the backs of elephants or on horseback'. Having thus aroused
mutual joy regarding a dear person, one can then direct the very same feeling
successively towards a neutral one, and gradually towards any hostile person.
Vbh 274, Vism I 316
Comments:
Mutual joy causes Contentment! No mutual joy thus means Discontentment!
Therefore: If being generally dissatisfied, then be happy over other's success.
Secondly: Mutual joy causes all envy & jealousy to evaporate into equanimity!
Mutual Joy (Mudita), which cures all envy and jealousy, is a divine state!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Rejoicing Joy!
Mutual Joy Causes Contentment! :-)
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm
Precious yet often wasted is this Human Opportunity!
The Blessed Gotama Buddha once explained:
Bhikkhus & friends, imagine a single floating ring drifting in the great oceans!
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 after an incredibly long time!
Yet, Bhikkhus & friends, I tell you, that this would happen sooner, than a fool,
who has fallen into the lower worlds would again regain this rare human state...
Why so? Because down there exists neither behaviour guided by the Dhamma,
nor any honesty, nor any morality, nor any good doing or meritorious activity...
There prevails only this evil: beat or be beaten, eat or be eaten, cruel merciless
killing and voraciously swallowing up of any weak. Why is it so primitive there?
Because, Bhikkhus, there nobody have seen these 4 Noble Truths! What four?
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 an effort be made NOW to understand the 4 Noble Truths!
Comment:
Despite the fact that downfall is a common event occurring at most deaths
(>97%) many beings think that the downfall either not happen to them (sic!),
or that it does not exist at all... They cannot remember the last nasty surprise...
Learning anything about cause and effect is thus effectively disabled!
The very same mistakes are thus repeated, life after life, almost endlessly!
The Blind Sea-Turtle Simile...
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:455-6]
section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 47: The Ring and Blind Turtle ...
Dont be The Blind Turtle!
Precious & rare is this human chance!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Blind_Turtle.htm
The Ten Contemplations is Daily Buddhist Routine!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus & friends: There is one contemplation, which when often
practised and 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 Dhamma
dwells frequently in this state. Which is that unique contemplation?
It is reflecting over the qualities of own charity exactly like this:
A Noble Disciple reviews & recollects his own generosity Caga thus:
Truly, blessed am I, highly lucky: Among beings all polluted by evil,
stingy and mean niggardliness, I am living with a mind freed from
avarice, open-handed, liberal, in high-minded largesse, all inviting to
all beggars, rejoicing in giving and sharing all I have with others!
Source: AN 6:10
Some Comments:
Giving is basic medicine against & training in relinquishing Clinging.
Exactly as much one is able to give now, will one get in the future!
The proximate cause of poverty vs. richness is thus stinginess vs. sharing!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Wealth_or_Poverty.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_kinds_of_Clinging.htm
More on the many future blessings of open-handed Giving:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Openhanded_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/caaga.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Giving.htm
Friendship is the Greatest
Bhikkhu Samahita Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
http://groups.google.com/group/Buddha-Direct
http://groups.google.com/group/What_Buddha_Said
Open-handed Generosity Smiles :-)
What one has given, that one will get!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Generosity_Contemplation.htm
The 10 Contemplations are Daily Buddhist Routine!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus & friends: There is one contemplation, which when often practised
and 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 has understood the
Dhamma dwells frequently in this state. Which is that one contemplation?
It is reflecting over the qualities of the Dhamma exactly like this: "Perfectly
formulated is this Buddha-Dhamma, visible right here & now, immediately effective,
timeless, inviting each & everyone to come and see for themselves, inspect, examine
and verify. Leading each & everyone through progress towards perfection. Directly
observable, experiencable and realizable by each intelligence...
Source: Anguttara Nikaya 1:16.1 + 6:10
More on the Deathless Dimension & the Law: Nibbana & Dhamma:
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
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/dhamma.htm
Visible right here and now!
Contemplating the Qualities of the Dhamma!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Dhamma_Contemplation.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: Anguttara Nikaya 1:16.1 + 6:10
More on the phenomenon of a perfectly self-enlightened Buddha:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/sammaa_sambodhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/How-2-Meet_Buddha_Metteyya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_10_Future_Buddhas.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddha_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/me_mu/metteyya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sumedhas_Similes.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Metteyya/arimet00.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The_Blessed_One.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Master_Presence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Life_of_Buddha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/SammaSambuddho.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/buddha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Well_Gone.htm
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
The Perfectly Self-Enlightened One...
Contemplating the Qualities of the Buddha!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddha_Contemplation.htm
The Ten Contemplations is Daily Routine!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus & friends: There is one contemplation which when often
practised and 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 Dhamma
dwells frequently in this state. Which is that one contemplation?
It is reflecting over the qualities of the Noble Sangha like this:
"Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's
Noble Disciples. Training the right way, the true way, the good way,
the direct way! Therefore do these eight kinds of individuals, these
four Noble pairs, deserve both gifts, self-sacrifice, offerings, much
hospitality and reverential salutation with joined palms, since this
Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples, is indeed
an unsurpassable & forever unsurpassed field of merit, in this world,
for this world, to honour, support, uphold, respect and protect..."
Source: AN 1:16.3 + 6:10
Higher Education just of Another Kind - details inside...
More on the Three Jewels (Ti-Ratana) and Nobility (Ariya):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/buddha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Three_Jewels.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/sangha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/ti_ratana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/ariya_puggala.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Peace.htm
Remembering this Sangha Community of Disciples:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangha
http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Sangha
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Lay_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Divine_Refuge.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Three_Jewels.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/sangha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Refuges_and_Precepts.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sangha_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/ti_sarana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fullmoon_Observance_Day.htm
The Noble Community....
Contemplating the Qualities of the Sangha!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sangha_Contemplation.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
Doing much Good & No Evil produces a Divine Rebirth!
Whoever is never looking only for his own comfort & who does not enjoy
his house, job, & social status, this one as chief of planets will be reborn
at the level of the Maharajika gods. Whoever venerates mother, father,
clan elders and recluses, is charitable, patient and takes no pleasure in
quarrelling will be reborn among the Thirty-three gods. Whoever neither
like dispute, nor engage in quarrels, but only cherish righteousness go to
the Yama gods. Those who are very learned, who know Dhamma by heart,
are very wise, longing for release, completely content with the virtue of
pure morality goes to the Tusita gods. Those who spontaneously are based
on right behaviour, giving, and monastic discipline, and are full of effort,
inevitably go to the Nimmanarati gods. Those who are of superior virtue,
are open-minded and devoted to giving, self-control and mental refinery
will be reborn among the Paranimitta gods. One attains to the Tavatimsa
heaven by right conduct, to the blessing of Brahmas fine material world
by jhana meditation and to Nibbana by knowing things as they really are.
The fruit of ones behaviour is pleasant or unpleasant. Pleasing behaviour
produce a comfortable future state, while unpleasant behaviour has pain
and suffering as future effect. These 3 should be reflected much upon:
Death, disease, decay and old age, separation from all one likes, and the
inevitable fruit of each particular type of action. Thus will one gradually
reach the destruction of greed. Whoever is free from greed, progresses
to performing much merit! Thus one discards all evil. You must all listen
carefully to this summary. This has been explained by the Great Seer!
Doing what is beneficial for others & avoiding what is harmful to others
is advantageous action, while detrimental action is doing the opposite...
Five rebirth-destinations as god, human, ghost, animal, or hell being have
been explained by Buddha himself to be the possible states of existence!
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=13271
More details on the various Divine Rebirth Destinations:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/c/caatummahaaraajikaa.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://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/n/nimmanarati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/pa/paranimmita_vasavatti.htm
On The Thirty-one Planes of Existence:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html
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
Divine Rebirth!
Doing excellent here, elevates to excellence up there ...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Divine_Rebirth.htm
Appropriate Appreciation is Gratitude!
One should be grateful towards one's Parents! Why so?
They have worked hard and very long raising one into being!
One should be grateful towards one's Teachers! Why so?
They do much to make one learn and understand the good...
One should be grateful towards one's Friends! Why so?
They have shown one an open kindness and much goodwill!
One should be grateful towards one's Spouse! Why so?
They have loyally accompanied one along a long way...
What is the future kammic effect of gratitude or ungratefulness?
The one who is grateful will receive gifts and favours ever again!
The one who is ungrateful will never again receive gifts or favours!
Thankfulness wisely invested thus pays back quite a lot!
Therefore: Always Say Thanx!
Thanx for Your Attention! ;-)
On Contentment and Rejoicing Appreciation:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Contentment.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm
Have a nice gracious day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Gracious is Gratitude!
Appreciation Echoes Back... :-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Appropriate_Appreciation.htm
At this Fullmoon Day do all Buddhas Awaken:
5th May 2012 Vesak Day celebrates birth, Enlightenment, and passing away
of the Buddha Gotama. Rejoice! Keep clean, calm, cool, clever, and caring...
About this Buddhist Vesak Festival: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesak
This May full moon also celebrates the Buddha's third visit to Sri Lanka in
the eighth year after his Enlightenment where he journeyed to Kelaniya on
the invitation of the Naga King Maniakkhika (Mahavamsa i,72ff.).
The day also celebrates the crowning of king Devanampiyatissa (Mhv.Xi.42),
and the laying of the foundation stone of the Maha Stupa (Mhv.Xxix.1)
Please Remember:
At this very May full moon in year 528 BC the Blessed Buddha awakened
by completely perfect and utterly unsurpassable self-Enlightenment!
At that time a girl named Sujata Senani lived in Uruvela. When adult she
prayed before a certain Banyan tree, that she might get a good husband
equal to herself in caste & that her firstborn may be a son. Her prayer was
successful. Since indeed it did happen. At the full moon day of the Wesak
month, she rose at early dawn and milked the cows. As soon as new buckets
were placed under the cows, the milk poured spontaneously in streams all by
itself! Seeing this miracle, she knew something special was happening!
That same night the Future Buddha dreamt 5 dreams making him conclude:
"Surely, truly, without any doubt, today I will reach perfect Enlightenment!"
His 5 colored radiance illuminated the whole tree. Then Sujata came and
offered the cooked milk rice into the hands of this Great Being.
Later a local grass-cutter came going with a bundle of grass just harvested
from nearby. He offered the Great Being 8 handfuls of Kusa grass, when he
saw that this Sage was a Holy Man. The Future Buddha accepted the grass
and proceeded to the foot of the Bodhi-tree. Reaching the imperturbable
Eastern side, where all the Buddhas take their seat, he sat down saying to
himself: This is the immovable spot, where all the prior supreme Buddhas
have planted themselves! This is the place for destroying this net of desire!
Then the Future Buddha turned his back to the trunk and thus faced east.
Right there, he then resolutely settled on this mighty decision:
Let just blood and flesh of this body dry up & let skin and sinews fall from
the bones. I will not leave this seat before having attained the absolute and
Supreme Self-Enlightenment!
So determined did he seat himself in this unconquerable seat, from which
not a 100 lightning strikes could make him waver from. At this very moment
the rebel deity Mara -The Evil One- raised exclaiming: Prince Siddhattha will
pass beyond my power, but I will never allow it! And sounding the Mara's war
shout, he summoned his mighty army for battle. Then Mara warned his evil
militia: This Sakyamuni, son of Suddhodana, is far greater than any other
man, so we will never succeed to fight him up front. We must thus attack
him from the rear. Frustrated, being unable even to touch this big wielder
of power also with 9 mighty hurricanes of wind, rain, rocks, weapons, red
coals, hot ashes, sand, mud, and darkness Mara somewhat in panic shouted
at his army: "Why do you all stand still? Seize, kill & drive away this prince!"
Mara then yelled: "Siddhattha, leave this seat. It is not yours, but mine!"
Hearing this, the Well-gone One replied: Mara, neither have you fulfilled the
10 perfections to the third degree, nor have you given the 5 great donations.
Neither have you striven for insight, nor for the welfare of all the world,
nor for supreme self-enlightenment! Therefore does this very seat surely
not belong to you, but truly indeed only to me. Suddenly overpowered by fear
Mara's followers fled helter-skelter in all directions. Not two went in the
same direction, but leaving their weapons in a chaos, they all fled terrified
by metaphysical panic. Seeing them flee thus, the great assembly of deities
triumphantly shouted: Mara is defeated. Prince Siddhattha has won! Let us
celebrate this truly sublime, wonderful and unique victory! It was before
the sun had set that the Tathagata conquered Mara and defeated his army.
That same night, after having bathed, while the Bo tree rained red sprigs onto
his robe, The Consummate One gained knowledge of his prior lives during the
1st watch of the night: "With the mind thus concentrated, purified, bright,
unified, focused, tractable, compliant, steady & imperturbable, I directed
mind to remembrance of my past lives. I recollected many past lives, i.e., one
re-birth, two...five, ten... 50, a hundred, a thousand, 100 thousand, many eons
of cosmic contraction, & many eons of cosmic expansion: There I had such
a name, belonged to such a clan & species, had such a body. Such was my food,
such my life of pleasures and pains. Such was the end of my life. Passing away
from that state, I re-arose there. There I had such name, belonged to such
a sort & family, had such a form. Such was my food, such my experience of
pleasures & pains. Such was the end of my life. Passing away from that state,
I re-arose here. Thus I remembered my various past lives in all their various
modes and manifold details. This was the first knowledge I attained in the
first watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed; the knowledge arose;
darkness was destroyed; light arose as happens in one who is alert, aware,
and determined. But the very pleasant feeling that arose by this did neither
invade my mind, nor remain. With the mind thus concentrated, purified, bright,
intact, pliant, malleable, steady, and totally imperturbable, I directed it to
the knowledge of the passing away and reappearance of beings. I saw by
means of the divine eye, purified & surpassing the human eye! I saw beings
passing away & re-appearing, and I realized how & why they are high or low,
beautiful or ugly, fortunate and unfortunate all in exact accordance with
the intentions of their prior actions: These beings who were endowed with
bad behaviour of body, speech, and mind, who reviled the Noble Ones, held
wrong views & acted under the influence of wrong views, with the break-up
of the body, after death, have re-appeared in the plane of misery, the bad
painful destination, the lower realms, even in hell. But the beings who were
gifted with good behaviour of body, speech and mind, who did not revile the
Noble Ones, who held right views and acted under the influence of right
views after the break-up of the body, after the death, have re-appeared in
happy destinations, even in a divine world! Thus by means of the divine eye,
purified and surpassing the human I saw beings passing away & re-appearing,
all in accordance with their particular mixture of good and bad kamma...
But the satisfaction that arose here did neither invade my mind, nor remain.
With the mind thus concentrated and completely absorbed, I then directed
it towards understanding the ending of mental fermentation. I realized how
it actually comes to be, that:
This is Suffering...
Such is the Cause of Suffering...
Such is the End of Suffering...
Such is the Way to End Suffering...
Such was the mental fermentations...
Such is the Cause of mental fermentation...
Such is the End of mental fermentation...
Such is the Way leading to the end of mental fermentation.
When my mind saw that, it was instantly freed of the fermentation of all
sense-desire, it was released from the fermentation of becoming, and it
became fully uncovered from the fermentation of ignorance. Thus fully and
perfectly Enlightened - The Buddha - perceiving this immense glory, spoke
these 2 solemn verses, which never has been omitted by any of countless
billions of prior Buddhas:
Through this round of countless existences have I searched, but yet failed
to find "the Creator", who framed this construction: What Suffering indeed
is such endless birth, ageing, decay, sickness and ever repeated death!
Now I see that "the Constructor" of this structure is Craving...!!! Never shall
this construction be built again, since all the rafters are shattered and the
main beam is busted and completely broken... At this calming of all Craving,
the mind was finally, irreversibly and ultimately stilled…
Then, friends, this revelation of certainty arose in me: This release is indeed
immutable, this is the very last rebirth, this endless reappearance has finally
come to a happy end... Nibbana is verily the Highest Bliss!
VESAK FESTIVAL VIDEOS, COLOMBO 2011:
Happy Vesak to All Beings!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Vesak_2013.htm
What are the 3 kinds of Buddhist Gifts?
Three kinds of gift are mentioned in Buddhism, namely:
1: Amisa dana: The gift of material things,
2: Abhaya dana: The fearless gift of life,
3: Dhamma dana: The gift of real Truth...
Amisa dana: – or the gift of material things is practised by people
of all religions and is very common. Food, clothes and houses are
given to people of little means or to refugees through various
religious and social organizations. It is, no doubt, a good thing to
satisfy the hunger of the starving & the yearning of the thirsty.
This type of donation is highly recommended in Buddhism and
is called the Amisa dana. (The donation of material things).
Next comes the Abhaya dana: - or giving life to those whose lives
are in danger caused by fire, water or enemies. Sometimes we
hear of people, who are about to die due to lack of blood.
To donate blood and save another human's life is indeed a great
thing. Donation of eyes and kidneys is also highly appreciated
and comes under Abhaya dana – fearless donation of life.
The last one: Dhamma dana: - or the gift of Truth of the Doctrine
is said to be the highest of all donations on earth. Why so?
Because it opens the Door to the Deathless Dimension!
There is no other giving, which is even remotely comparable.
Openhanded Giving is the 1st Mental Perfection...
Sabba danam Dhamma danam jinati
Sabbam rasam Dhamma raso jinati
Sabbam ratim Dhamma rati jinati
Tanhakkayo sabba dukkham jinati
The gift of Dhamma surpasses all other Gifts.
The flavour of Dhamma surpasses all other flavours.
The delight in Dhamma surpasses all other delights.
He who has destroyed craving overcomes all sorrow.
Dhammapada 354
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
Sumedha - the young millionaire - gives away all his property!
Source:
Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero http://www.buddhist-book.com Singapore
Giving gains Getting!
The 3 Golden Gifts ...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_3_Gifts.htm
What 4 Objects of Thinking are always Advantageous?
Once in Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this:
Bhikkhus do not accept to think any evil disadvantageous thought such as:
1: Thoughts mixed with Sense-Desire...
2: Thoughts mixed with Ill Will or Anger...
3: Thoughts mixed with Harm & Violence...
Since all these thoughts are irrelevant and even detrimental to the basics of
the Noble life & they furthermore do neither induce revulsion, nor disillusion,
nor ceasing, nor Peace, nor any true knowledge of Enlightenment or Nibbana!
When you think, Bhikkhus, you should only think thoughts like these:
1: This is Suffering;
2: This is the Cause of Suffering;
3: This is the End of Suffering;
4: This is the Way leading to the End of Suffering...
Why so?
Such thoughts are of prime relevance and highly advantageous to the basics of
the Noble life & they furthermore gradually induce both revulsion, detachment,
stilling, Peace, and direct knowledge of Enlightenment & Nibbana. Therefore,
Bhikkhus, an effort should be made much of so to completely understand:
This is Suffering; This is the Cause of Suffering; This is the End of Suffering;
This is the Way leading to the End of Suffering... An effort should be made to
understand, comprehend, penetrate, recognize & realize these 4 Noble Truths!
Comments:
Keep mind focused on these 4 facts whenever it strays into fun, wrath or ill...
More on these 4 Noble Truths (Cattari Ariya Saccani):
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/truths.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/sacca.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/index.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Noble_Truths.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/wings/part3.html#part3-h-1
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:417-8]
section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 7: Thoughts...
Focused Thinking!
What 4 Objects of Thinking are always Advantageous?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Focused_Truths.htm
How is a Friend Good?
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Who is welcoming and friendly,
Generous, open and unselfish,
A guide, an instructor, a leader,
Such one will gain much honour!
Digha Nikaya 31
The friend who is a helping companion,
The friend both in happiness and misery,
The friend who gives good & sound advice,
The friend who really cares & understands...
These four, the clever knows as good Friends!
These 4 heroes, one should cherish devotedly,
as a mother nurses her own only child.
Digha Nikaya 31
If one finds a wise and intelligent friend,
who lives a good, correct & fully pure life,
Then, overcoming all obstacles, one should
always keep his joyous and alert company...
Dhammapada 328
More on the good in beautiful Friendship (Kalyanamittata):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Selfless_Friendship_is_Sweetest.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/United_in_Harmony.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Friendship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kalyanamitta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
The Good Friend!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
Physical Frames are obvious, while Mental Types are not trivial...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Human_Types.htm
Dependent Origination is a Profound Causality!
The Blessed Buddha once pointed out:
This dependent origination is profound, Ananda, and profound it appears.
Moreover, Ananda, it is through not knowing it, due to not comprehending it,
that this generation has become a tangled coil, like a knotted ball of thread,
snarled and twisted like creepers. It is because of not understanding that
subtle causality of dependent origination, that this generation cannot find
any way out of this Samsaric round of rebirths, with its many states of loss,
painful unhappy destinies, and even purgatory hells. DN II 55
There is no one, not even in a dream, who has ever got out of this fearful round
of rebirths, always destroying beings, unless he he has cut through this wheel
of becoming with the razor blade of understanding well whetted on the stone
of sublime concentration. This cyclic sequence of cause of effect offers no
footing owing to its great profundity, and is therefore hard to get a handle on
due to the maze of complex details. Vism 586
Therefore, practising for his own and others' advantage and welfare, let any
wise man practise deliberately and fully aware, so that he may begin to find
a footing in the abysmal deeps of the profound principle of dependent origin!
In Quantum-Mechanics this Dependence is called Entanglement or Non-Locality!
More on Dependent_Origination by specific Causality (Paticca-Samuppada):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/ontology.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Crucial_Necessity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Elemental_Analysis.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Caused_by_What.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Proximate_Cause.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Cohesive_Co-Origination.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Collapsible_Co-Cessation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dependent_Origination.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Causes_of_Emergence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/paticca_samuppaada.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Assured_&_Ascertained_Awakening.htm
As the origin of pleasure and pain: SN 12.25
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.025.than.htm
A synopsis of dependent origination: SN 12.2
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.002.than.htm
Profound Causality...
Dependent Origination is a subtle Ontology!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Profound_Causality.htm
Profound & Wisely Ballanced Ontology:
Buddha once explained existence as a chain of dependent emergence:
Some recluses & priests declare these excessively speculative views:
'Everything Exists'; which is the one extreme (Sarvastavadin Eternalism).
Other recluses & priests declare a just as hypothetical opposite extreme
view: 'Everything does Not Exist' (Sunyatavadin Annihilationism).
Avoiding both these extremes the Well-Gone-Beyond Buddha teaches
this Dhamma from the Middle:
When this is present, that also exists.
When this emerges, that also arises.
When this is absent, that neither exists.
When this ceases, that also vanishes.
From ignorance arises mental construction.
From mental construction arises consciousness.
From consciousness arises naming-&-forming.
From name-&-form arises the six senses.
From the six senses arises contact.
From contact arises feeling.
From feeling arises craving.
From craving arises clinging.
From clinging arises becoming.
From becoming arises birth.
From birth arises ageing, decay, sickness & death.
From ageing, decay & death arises Suffering!
This is the origin of this entire mass of Pain...
When ignorance ceases, mental construction stops.
When mental construction ceases, consciousness stops.
When consciousness ceases, naming-&-forming stops.
When name-&-form ceases, the six senses stops.
When the six senses ceases, contact stops.
When contact ceases, feeling stops.
When feeling ceases, craving stops.
When craving ceases, clinging stops.
When clinging ceases, becoming stops.
When becoming ceases, birth stops.
When birth ceases, ageing, decay, & death stops...
When ageing, decay & death ceases, Suffering stops!
This is the Disappearance of this entire mass of Pain...
This - only this supremely stilled silence - is Nibbana!
Everything has a Cause: More on Co-Dependent Co-Arising (paticca-samuppada):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Caused_by_What.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Cohesive_Co-Origination.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Collapsible_Co-Cessation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Causes_of_Emergence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/paticca_samuppaada.htm
More on Buddhist Ontology: What exists & how does it exist?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_Exists.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Advanced_Right_View.htm
Existence is thus:
Neither a static substance out there, nor a mental illusion in here,
But a chain of dependent states arising and ceasing momentarily...
Wise Ontology...
Everything has a Cause!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/ontology.htm
The Evaporator of all Evil States of Mind!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus and Friends: Once the mental release by infinite Friendliness
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will
be impossible for ill-will to take possession of and obsess the mind, for
the mental release by infinite Friendliness is the release from all ill-will!
Once the mental release by compassionate Pity & tender understanding
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will
be impossible for violence to take possession of and obsess the mind, for
the mental release by compassionate Pity is the release from all violence!
Once the mental release by mutual Joy rejoicing in other being's success
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be
impossible for discontent to take possession of & obsess the mind, for
the mental release by mutual Joy is the release from all discontent!
Once the mental release by serene, still and imperturbable Equanimity
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be
impossible for greed & lust to take possession of & obsess the mind, for
release by imperturbable Equanimity is the deliverance from all greed!
The 4 supreme mental attitudes (Brahmavihara) are thus:
Friendliness, Pity, Mutual Joy and Equanimity!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmavihara
More on this effective medicine of the 4 infinite and divine states:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Harmlessness_and_Tolerance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/All-Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Friendship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
Have a nice day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Infinite Friendliness = Safe Medicine!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
Why can’t one have a ‘self’ that is changing?
In short:
Because the concept of a “self” – itself! – prescribe that this “ego” remains exactly the same
over a prolonged time! So also do we subjectively indeed experience it: "Though older "I" am the
same ‘person’ with the same ‘name’..." we say and automatically tend to think…
However only the name, which is an empty designation or ‘label’ remains the same, but nothing
of what that this label ‘names’ or signifies, whether mental or physical remains the same even
for a millisecond! All mental states and also all bodily material states change momentarily!
Thus "we" are never exactly the same from one moment to the next. Nor is anything external...!
There exists no 'Ego', 'Self', 'Agent', 'Operator', 'I-Me' or little man (homunculus) inside any being...
Secondly: A true ‘Self’ is assumed to be in full power over itself… Otherwise: If this self have
no power over itself: Who or what has then power of this self? If anything has power over the
self then this actually deserves more to be called a 'self'. However realistically all events depend
on specific causes and not any imaginary ‘self’!
Nothing is the same. Everything is changing. Nothing is a static entity. Everything is a dynamic process.
Nothing is therefore under full control of any self. And nothing can ever be under full control of self
since everything is dependent on its own specific causes.
The "Ego-Me-I-Self" is a mere recursive auto-projection or "self"-imagination of a non-real entity!
Thirdly: There is individuality:
Only a single process of the 5 clusters of clinging (khandha) conventionally called ‘a person’
experiences the kammic after effects of it ‘own’ past activities… Other clusters of clinging
conventionally called ‘other persons’ do not run into or experience these kammic effects.
But there is no identity:
Nothing within or outside of this ever re-arising process of these 5 clusters of clinging is ever
the ‘same’ or therefore ‘identical’, or therefore an ‘identity’… The ‘person’ is thus neither ever
the ‘same’, nor ever ‘another’, but just a selfless process of ever changing momentary states…
Nothing of such ephemeral transience is ever worth clinging to!
As the Buddha said (and only the Buddhas can re-discover this):
"Sabbe Dhamma Anatta!" = All phenomena are no-self and core-less!
All states are Impersonal! There is no Agent, or Substance neither behind,
nor within, nor without any Appearance...
'Blissful is solitude for one who is content, learned & who see the True Dhamma.
Blissful is harmlessness towards all beings without exception.
Blissful is freedom from any sensual urge whatsoever.
Yet, the supreme bliss, is the elimination of this abysmal conceit “I am”!’
Udana – Inspiration: II – 1
On this enigmatic No-Self (Anatta) Doctrine: Self-&-Substance-lessness
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Pride.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Not_Yours.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Conceit_I_Am.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Ego-Projection.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/I-dentification.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Sandcastles.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Prison_of_Pride.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Double_Problem.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Egoless.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/We_Are_Not.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Anti-EGO-Tool.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Empty_of_What.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Anatta_No_Self.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Self-less_Anatta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Divorced_Freedom.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Uprooting_Egoism.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/anatta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Mistaken_Refence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Deed_without_Doer.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/No_Being_No_Person.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Without_Controversy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Mistaken_Reference.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Who_is_the_Creator.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Solo_Self-Deception.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/No_Agent_is_Inside.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Smoke_of_Self.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Non-'I'-dentification.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Just_Passing_Bubbles.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Anatta_Doctrine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Not_Who_but_What.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Selfless_Camera.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Invisible_Impersonality.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Selfless_and_Harmless.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Input_'I'-dentification.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/No-Agent_but_Dependence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Cause_of_Identity_View.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Experiencing_Egolessness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Neither_Agent_nor_Actor.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Who_or_what_is_the_Agent.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The_Fact_of_No-Self_Anatta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/First_I-dentification_then_Enmity.htm
There is No Self!
Individuality without Identity...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Changing_Self.htm
Jhãna is the 1st Mental Absorption!
Jhana is Pali: In Sanskrit = Dhyana, in Chinese = Chan, in Japanese = Zen.
Preliminaries:
Purified Morality => Clear Conscience, innocence and the mental elation thereof.
Guarding the Senses => Absence of Temptation, greed, desire, and attraction.
Clear Comprehension => Acute Awareness and Absolute Mental Presence.
Contentment => Calm and Stilled Satisfaction even with nothing. Joy and Happiness.
Mental Factors of Entry:
1: Absence of any Urge of Desire
2: Absence of any Aversion of Ill Will
3: Absence of any Lethargy and Laziness
4: Absence of any Restlessness and Regret
5: Absence of any Doubt and Uncertainty
1: Presence of Directed Thought
2: Presence of Sustained Thought
3: Presence of Rapturous Joy
4: Presence of Pleasurable Bliss
5: Presence of Single-Pointed Focus
Subjective Experience:
Intense presence and awareness. Effortless, undistracted, and focused thinking.
Attention anchored even at ease at any chosen object. Mind is fixed and unified.
Result of chain of reasoning arguments is always reached quickly and successfully.
Body is without any pain and is felt like being a feather inside a big empty silent hall.
There is Joy, Bliss and Happiness mixed into Solid Calm like a Smiling Mountain!
Stages:
1: Directing (adverting to sign of serenity).
2: Attaining entrance and stabilizing that.
3: Prolonging and controlling duration.
4: Emergence from absorption.
5: Reviewing (looking back on).
Grades:
I: Access Concentration like in neighbourhood approaching (upacara-samadhi).
II: Full Absorption Concentration fixed and anchored on object (appana-samadhi).
Techniques which can induce Jhana Absorption:
Awareness of Breathing (AnapanaSati)
Basic Entirety Object (Kasina)
Inner Organs and Corpses (KayagataSati)
The 4 Infinite and Divine States (Metta)
The 4 Formless States (Aruppa)
Manual:
The Path of Purification: Visuddhimagga.
By the Great Explainer: Buddhaghosa. 5th century AC.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.phtml?prod_id=771100
Buddha Said:
Having momentarily eliminated the five mental hindrances of: Sense Desire, Ill Will,
Lethargy and Laziness, Restlessness and Regret, and Doubt and Uncertainty,
defiling imperfections of the mind that obstruct concentration and understanding,
quite secluded from sensual pleasures, separated from disadvantageous mental states,
one enters and dwells in the first Jhana absorption of directed and sustained thought
joined with joy and pleasure born of secluded solitude. One makes this joy and pleasure
born of secluded solitude pervade, perfuse and fill the entire body so that all parts is
thrilled by this joy and pleasure born of secluded solitude. Even as a clever barber or
his apprentice would put soap powder in a brass basin, sprinkle it with water, gradually
knead and moist it into a ball of foam soaked thoroughly everywhere inside out yet
without dripping so too he pervade, perfuse and fill his entire body so that all parts is
completely drenched with joy and pleasure born of secluded solitude.
More on Jhana absorption:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Details_of_the_Jhana_Absorptions.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Requisites_for_Jhana_Absorption.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_Concentration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Concentration_Samadhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/g_m/jhaana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Samma-Samadhi.htm
Soaked in Joy!
Jhãna Mental Absorption is like being a Smiling Mountain :-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Jhana_Absorption.htm
The Problem of Life is sure Death!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
The days and nights are flying past. Life dwindles hurriedly away:
The life of mortals vanishes like water in a tiny stream.
SN 4:10
FUTURE FALL
As in the morning one may fear the falling of the ripened fruits;
So do all mortals in this world live in constant fear of death...
Since they know: Certain is their future death!
Sn 576
CERTAIN
All beings are subject to death, end in death, can never escape death.
As every earthenware pot that has been fashioned by the potter's hand,
No matter whether small or great will fall & break to pieces in the end:
Just so are all beings subject to death, end in death, can never escape death.
All beings some time have to die, their life one day will end in death,
And they will fare after their doings: The good or bad fruits they will earn.
The evil-doer fares to the burning hell. The good Noble man to a happy world.
Hence, Noble doings you should perform as a safe provision for the next life,
For good doings for the next world give to all living beings their only support
On the other side! SN 3:22
CRUSHED
Just as the mighty rocky mountains are stretching high up in the sky,
Extending wide on all the land around and weighing heavily down on it!
Just so do old age and Death suppress all living beings in this universe,
whether warriors, priests, traders, workers, sweepers & all animals too.
Not sparing anyone or anything whatsoever, crushing all life to be found.
SN 3:25
MOMENTARY
Whosoever knows this body to be as temporary as a bubble,
as insubstantial as the mirror image, such one will break the
flower tipped arrows of Mara and cannot be seen by this
King of Death ... Dhammapada 46
SURPRISE (again)!
Death carries off the man while distracted by gathering flowers
of sensual pleasures, exactly and even so as a great flood carries
away a sleeping village. Dhammapada 47
Regarding Death and the Deathless State:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Death.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The_Thorn.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Game_Over.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/End_Making.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Ageing_Again.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Problem.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Bag_of_Bones.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Momentary_Life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Ageing_and_Death.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Death_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/g_m/marana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless_Dimension.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Inevitable_but_not_the_End.htm
The Problem ...
Certain is Death!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Problem.htm
Infinite Loving-Kindness is an Exalted State!
The Blessed Buddha once explained Loving-Kindness like this:
This is what should be done by a clever one to arouse the advantageous:
Having attained a peaceful state: He should be capable, straight, and very
upright, easy to speak to, gentle and not proud, contented & easy to support,
with few duties, living simple, with calmed senses, devoted, and neither angry,
nor greedy. He should not do any mean thing, which wise men would criticize.
He always should wish: Let all beings be happy, joyous, glad, safe and secure.
Whatever living creatures there exist, still or moving, small or large, seen or
unseen, far or near, already existing or coming into being, let all these living
beings without any even single exception be perfectly happy!
One should never despise anyone anywhere, nor humiliate anyone anywhere,
nor ever wish for any being misery or harm, because of anger or irritation.
Just as a mother would protect her only little son even risking her own life,
exactly so should one cultivate an unbounded mentality towards all beings;
loving-kindness towards all in this universe. One should cultivate an infinite
mind, above, below and across, without barriers, without enmity, matchless.
Whether standing, going, sitting, or lying down, even when slumbering should
one practise this exalted infinite goodwill. This is said to be a Sacred State!
Sn 143-151
On this exalted Infinite Friendliness (Metta) see also:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Selfless_Friendship_is_Sweetest.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/United_in_Harmony.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
[color=#800000]Exalted bliss is Infinite Loving-Kindness!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Unbounded_Mind.htm
Tranquillity is the way to Superhuman Delight!
Tranquillity comes due to insight. As he is sitting, whether by night or by day,
then he experiences neither fatigue, heaviness, rigidity, slowness, nor sickness
in his body, nor in his mind, but rather his body and mind are tranquil, very light,
adaptable, pliable, quite sharp and ultra-clear! With his body and mind aided by
such tranquillity, he experiences a superhuman delight, about which it is said:
A Bhikkhu with his mind all quiet...
Retired to a remote & empty place.
There right insight in the Dhamma,
Awards him a superhuman delight!
It is because he really comprehends
The rise and fall of all phenomena
That he relishes this high happiness:
A silent joy not of this world!
A bliss transcending the human!
And knows it to be the deathless...
Dhammapada 373-74
More on this delightful Joy (Piti), that is not of this world:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Happiness_of_the_Flesh_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_of_the_Flesch_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_Beyond_This_World.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Alert_Elevated_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Joy_Piti.htm
Supra-Human Delight!
Tranquillity is the way to Superhuman Delight!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Super-Human_Delight.htm
How Emerges the Ability of Energy?
The initiation of deliberately directing mind for the sole purpose of exertion,
is the very first initiating sprouting arising of the mental ability of energy .
The growing of keen eagerness and enthusiasm under the influence of the
success of the exertion itself, expands the arising of the energy ability.
Presence of focused attention and fixed consideration conditioned by the
guided control of exertion, increases the emergence of the energy ability.
The unification of one-pointed concentration under the condensing
influence of this effort, adds to the arising of the energy ability.
Non-appearance of laziness, is the advantage of the energy ability.
Absence of the frustration of laziness, is the charm of this ability.
Entering mental absorption is the motive behind the energy ability.
Assured stability of effort is the very power of the energy ability.
Enthusiastic pleasure & joy is the fascination of the energy ability.
The emergence of laziness is the danger for the ability of energy.
Through bold striving this ability of energy escapes from laziness!
Source: The Path of Discrimination: Patisambhidamagga IV
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/pdfs/PathofPurification2011.pdf
For a full Study on Energy (Viriya): The root Hero of all Success:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Definition_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Arising_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Ability_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Origin_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Power_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Ballanced_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Chief_Hero.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energetic_Effort.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Avoiding_Effort.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energy_Viriya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Energy.htm
Get the Good Going!
Energy entails Enthusiasm ;-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Arising_of_Energy.htm
Doubt is overcome by asking those who Know!
The brahmin Magandiya once asked the Buddha some subtle questions:
Question: How does quarrels and disputes arise?
Answer: From what is liked and beloved arise quarrels and disputes.
Question: How does these likes, longings and hopes emerge?
Answer: Likes, longings and hopes all have desire as their origin.
Question: How does this desire come into being?
Answer: Desire arises depending on pleasure and pain.
Question: How does pleasure and pain then appear?
Answer: Pleasure and pain arises depending on contact.
Question: How does this event of contact happen?
Answer: Contact arises dependent upon name and form.
Question: How does such sensed contact completely cease?
Answer: When form has disappeared, contacts cannot make contact....
Question: In which mental state does all forms of form disappear?
Answer: In neither-perception-nor-non-perception does all form disappear!
Question: Is this state the supreme mental purity?
Answer: The state of quenching without remaining clinging is the supreme!
The recluse does neither dispute that, nor does he renew any existence...
Sutta-Nipata 862-877 Edited excerpt.
More on clearing Doubt-&-Uncertainty by asking questions:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Noble_Purpose.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Sakkas_Question.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Who_is_the_Creator.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Questions_to_the_Boy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Investigation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Neither_Agent_nor_Actor.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Fixed_Destiny_or_Free_Will.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Curing_Doubt_and_Uncertainty.htm
Questions and Answers...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Questions_and_Answers.htm
Which Intentional Actions (Kamma) influence Social Position?
A student once asked the Buddha:
Master Gotama, what is the cause and condition why some human beings
are influential and prominent, while others are neglected and disrespected?
The Blessed Buddha then explained:
Here, friend, some man or woman is envious, is one who is jealous, resents, and
begrudges the gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutations, fame, name or
veneration that is rightly received by others...
Because of intending and performing such action, at the breakup of the body,
right after death, such one is reborn in a state of difficulty, in a wretched
destination, in the painful purgatory, or even in the hells...
But if such one at the breakup of the body, right after death, is not reborn
in an state of deprivation, a painful destination, the purgatory, or in the hells,
but instead comes back to the human state, then wherever such one is reborn,
such one is not influential, unimportant, neglected and disrespected #!
These are the actions, friend, leading to future disrespect: Being envious, being
one who is jealous, resents, and begrudges the gains, honour, respect, reverence,
salutations, fame, name or veneration that is rightly received by others...
However, friend, any man or woman, who is neither envious, jealous, resenting,
nor begrudging the gains, honour, respect, reverence, salutations, fame, name and
veneration rightly received by others, because of intending and undertaking such
good mental action, at breakup of the body, after death, such one reappears in
a pleasurable and happy destination, even in one of the many divine dimensions!
But if at the breakup of the body, right after death, such one is not reborn in
a happy destination, in the heavenly worlds, but instead comes back to a human
state, then wherever such one reappears, such one is influential, and respected !!!
This is the way, friend, leading to prominence and influence, namely neither being
envious, jealous, resenting, nor begrudging the gains, honour, respect, reverence,
salutations, fame, name or veneration that is rightly received by others...
#: Such one escapes hell, because the evil present kamma is modified by past good!
%: Such one miss heaven, because the good present kamma is modified by past evil!
Source:
The Moderate speeches of the Buddha: The short speech on Action. MN 135
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=25072X Full Text:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/majjhima/mn135a.html
For details on the mechanics of Kamma = Intentional Action see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_is_intention.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Buddha_on_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_dilutes_Evil_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_short_and_long_life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Health_and_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_and_Ugliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Effect_of_kammic_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
Kamma versus Social Position?
Which behaviour leads to future Fame or Disrespect?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Power_or_Disrespect.htm
The Joy (Pîti) Link to Awakening!
The Joy Link to Awakening (Piti-sambojjhanga) has the characteristic
of suffusing contentment, and the property of gladdening satisfaction.
This Joy Link to Awakening manifests as mental elation, which can reach
five successively increasing degrees of intensity:
1: Minor Joy, which can raise the hair on the body when thrilled.
2: Momentary Joy, which is flashing like lightning at various occasions.
3: Showering Joy, which breaks over the body repeatedly like sea-waves.
4: Uplifting Joy, which can be strong enough to even levitate the body.
5: Pervading Joy, which is like a heavy sponge all saturated with water.
Visuddhimagga IV 94-9
The Buddha once said: What mental fermentations (asava) should be
overcome by development? If a Bhikkhu by careful & rational attention
develops the Joy Link to Awakening based on seclusion, on disillusion,
on ceasing, & culminating in relinquishment, then neither can any mental
fermentation, nor any fever, or discontent ever arise in him. MN2 [i 11]
In one who has aroused enthusiastic energy, there arises a joy not of
this world & the Joy Link to Awakening emerges there. He develops it,
& for him it goes to the culmination of its development. MN118 [iii 85]
Any one convinced by understanding of Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha,
gets an enthusiastic sense of the sublime good goal of Nibbana &
gains gladness connected, joined, and fused with this Dhamma...!
In any one gladdened, Joy is born. The body of the Joyous is calmed.
One of calm body experiences pleasure and happiness! The mind of
one who is happy becomes concentrated. The concentrated mind
sees and knows things as they really are. This brings disgust and
disillusion, which enables full direct experience of mental release.
It is in this way that Joy indeed is a factor leading to Awakening!
MN [i 37-8], AN [iii 21-3], DN [iii 21-3]
Further inspirations on the elevating & ecstatic quality of Joy (Piti):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Happiness_of_the_Flesh_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_of_the_Flesch_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_Beyond_This_World.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Alert_Elevated_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Joy.htm
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Joy is a link to Enlightenment!
Floated by Joy :-)
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/III/Joy_Piti.htm
How is the Faith leading to the Going Forth?
Having heard the Buddha speak, a householder or a householder's son or
one born in some other family, hears that Buddha-Dhamma. On hearing this
sublime Dhamma, he acquires faith in the Tathagata. Possessing that faith,
he considers thus: Household life is crowded, cramped, frustrating & dusty!
The Life gone forth is out in the wide open... It is not easy, while living in a
home, to live this Noble life utterly perfect and pure, as a polished shell...
Suppose I shave off my hair and beard, put on the yellow robe, and go forth
from the home life into homelessness. On a later occasion, leaving behind any
small or large fortune, leaving behind a small or a large circle of relatives,
he shaves off his hair and beard, puts on the ochre robe, & then goes forth
from the home life into the free and open homelessness...
So is the faith of those, who after countless lives finally have accumulated
and possesses the right and ripe conditions for attaining the advantageous
state of a Bhikkhu under a Buddha! This is indeed the quickest step towards
winning the Bliss of the deathless Nibbana!
For more Fabulously Fine Faith (Saddha) please see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Buddha_on_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Outstanding_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unwavering_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Power_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Highest_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leaping_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fruitful_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Mutual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fine_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rich_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Lay_Faith.htm
Source:
MN 27: Culahatthipadopama Sutta. Short Simile on Elephant Footprint
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.027.than.html
Going Forth Faith!
Lay life is dusty while the Noble life is out in the open ;-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Going_Forth_Faith.htm
Relinquishing what is Not Ownable produces Calmed Ease!
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Bhikkhus, leave whatever is not yours, give it up! Having left it, relinquished
it and in every respect released it, that will lead to your lasting welfare,
ease and happiness! And what is it, Bhikkhus, that is not yours?
The eye is not yours... Forms are not yours...
The ear is not yours... Sounds are not yours...
The nose is not yours... Smells are not yours...
The tongue is not yours... Tastes are not yours...
The body is not yours... Touches are not yours...
The mind is not yours... Mental States are not yours...
When you have left it, given it up, relinquished it, and fully released it, then
that will indeed lead to your welfare, ease and happiness for a long time...
Imagine, Bhikkhus, that people were to carry off any dry grass and sticks
in this entire forest and then burn it all to ashes! Would you then think:
'People are carrying us all off, and burning us all up into nothing...'?
No! Why not? Because that grass is neither our self, nor belonging to us!
Exactly so too, Bhikkhus:
The eye is not yours. Forms are not yours.
The ear is not yours. Sounds are not yours.
The nose is not yours. Smells are not yours.
The tongue is not yours. Tastes are not yours.
The body is not yours. Touches are not yours.
The mind is not yours. Mental States are not yours.
These are neither your self, nor what you are, nor belonging to any self!
When you have left these, given them all up, released them, & relinquished
them, then that will indeed lead to your welfare, safety, ease & happiness
for a long, long, long time...
Comments:
All states -internal as external, physical as mental- are empty of stability!
Their nature is to arise and cease. Neither can they therefore ever be kept,
nor ever owned by anybody... Clinging to what never can be kept, is Pain...!
Relinquishing it all, is therefore indeed happiness...
More on Insight (Vipassana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_18_Principal_Insights.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Calm_and_Insight.htm
Source:
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV 129-30
Section 35: On The 6 senses. Thread on Not Yours!: 139+40.
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
Possessiveness = Clinging = Craving = Suffering!
Not Yours!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Not_Yours.htm
_/\_
Are planning to produce and provide Audio-Dhamma-Books
and short feature Dhamma films, yet need some audio equipment.
How does Lethargy & Laziness Suppress Mind?
A Brahmin Priest once asked the Blessed Buddha:
Master Gotama, what is the cause of being unable to remember even
something that has been memorized over a long period & also that which
has not been memorized?
Brahmin, when mind is retarded by lethargy & laziness, dimmed, detained
& dominated by lethargy and laziness, and one does not understand any
actual safe escape from this arisen lethargy and laziness, in that very
moment, one can neither see, nor understand, what is advantageous,
neither for oneself, nor for others, nor for both oneself and others.
Consequently, whatever have been memorized, cannot be remembered…
Why is this neglect so? Imagine a bowl of water covered with moss,
water plants and algae. If a man with good eye-sight were to inspect
the reflection of his own face in it, he would neither see, nor recognize
it, as it really is! So too, brahmin, when mind is slowed down by lethargy
and laziness, dimmed, detained and handicapped by lethargy & laziness,
on such occasions even texts long memorized do not recur to the mind,
not to speak of those texts, events and information, that have not been
actively memorized at all…
How to cure Laziness:
Attention to these 3 elements of: initiative, launching and endurance!
More on curing this common mental defilement: Laziness (Thina-middha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Curing_Lethargy_and_Laziness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/thiina_middha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Arousal_Get_Up_and_Going.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Suitable_Substitution.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:122-3] section 46: The Links. 55: To Sangarava...
Have a nice & noble day!
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Laziness imprisons the Mind!
Lethargic Laziness...
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/Lethargy_and_Laziness.htm
Dhamma-Video and Dhamma-Audio-Book production Gear is very much Needed.
Two wish-lists providing the required items are public here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=wishListDetail.jsp&A=wishlistDetail&Q&li=6B06086BD4
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=wishListDetail.jsp&A=wishlistDetail&Q&li=6B46BEE37C
Support is welcome and advantageous here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/