Search found 830 matches

by phil
Wed Nov 29, 2017 11:48 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Anatta and amorality
Replies: 10
Views: 2547

Re: Anatta and amorality

It's good to consider the textual defintions of hiri , moral shame. I quote from Nina Van Gorkom's book Cetasikas : Moral shame, as the Attasaalini (a commentary) explains, can arise because of consideration of one's birth, one age, heroism (courage and strength) and wide experience. Moral shame ari...
by phil
Tue Nov 28, 2017 1:24 am
Forum: Study Group
Topic: AN 7.72 [AN 7.68] Aggikkhandhopama Sutta. The Mass of Fire Comparison.
Replies: 11
Views: 6664

Re: AN 7.72 [AN 7.68] Aggikkhandhopama Sutta. The Mass of Fire Comparison.

Maybe it's not an exact parallel, but I'm reminded of the discourse on the man suffering from leprosy who, because of his impaired faculties, believes that cauterizing his wounds is pleasant. We are the same way about sensual pleasure, until understanding comes along. https://www.accesstoinsight.org...
by phil
Wed Nov 22, 2017 12:05 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Do you have any tips on continuously mental labelling?
Replies: 14
Views: 3579

Re: Do you have any tips on continuously mental labelling?

I don't think the Buddha advocated anything like continuous mental labeling in the midst of busy daily life for lay followers, we had best see to our social duties and have good sila. We cannot perform our social duties in a warm and generous way if we are going around labeling. Yes, thanks to our d...
by phil
Tue Nov 21, 2017 12:51 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Can one learn hiri and ottappa (as an adult)?
Replies: 20
Views: 4285

Re: Can one learn hiri and ottappa (as an adult)?

I would say that as a result of having heard the teachings, there can be more and more appreciation of the moments of hiri otappa that do arise, and appreciation of those moments will condition more. So our habit patterns will be learning, if you will, a kind of machine learning. Probably better to ...
by phil
Sun Nov 12, 2017 12:20 am
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Sila in dreams
Replies: 7
Views: 2372

Re: Sila in dreams

When I saw the thread name I assumed it was about wholesome/virtuous decisions/impulses in dreams, which are very encouraging and can really make your day. I'm not interested in the akusala appearing in dreams, the mind is burning with them, hardly surprising. Take note of the sila, and be encouraged.
by phil
Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:54 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: How is nibbida different from wise attention?
Replies: 6
Views: 2482

Re: How is nibbida different from wise attention?

Okay, I posted a long quote yesterday on nibbida, here's a short one from Ajahn Chah: Disenchantment isn't disgust...it's just the heart sobering up. Boom! To the point. This is from the book Still Flowing Water, chapter/talk called Our Real Home. Ajahn Chah recorded it "at the request of one ...
by phil
Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:39 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Did the Buddha teach we have choice? (aka The Great Free Will v Determinism Debate)
Replies: 988
Views: 339303

Re: Free Will

Given that the five aggregates are anatta and that sankharas are vitaka, does free will exist? In other words, if all things arise dependent upon causes and conditions, and if those causes and conditions are anatta, then where does free will come into play? Technically speaking, it doesn't. But for...
by phil
Sun Nov 05, 2017 10:54 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: May all beings be well and happy
Replies: 7
Views: 2192

Re: May all beings be well and happy

Hi guys, Everything connected with comfort, nice food, so to speak, is rooted in greed. Everything connected with dislike is rooted in hatred. The short question is, how if I recite "may all beings be well and happy" and I feel warm feeling and experience peaceful mind. And then I recite ...
by phil
Sun Nov 05, 2017 12:12 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: How is nibbida different from wise attention?
Replies: 6
Views: 2482

Re: How is nibbida different from wise attention?

Thanks John. Clearly very advanced stuff, of little relevance to my cittas. I think I was caught by the passage "the bhikkhu dwells with indifference to past khandas, not delighting in future khandas, developing revulsion to present khandas." (paraphrase.) It's easy to appreciate attitudes...
by phil
Sat Nov 04, 2017 1:02 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: How is nibbida different from wise attention?
Replies: 6
Views: 2482

How is nibbida different from wise attention?

We hear about "revulsion" towards the present khandas. (I think the Pali term is nibbida?) Certainly that translation could give us the wrong idea of what the term means. What is involved with this "revulsion" or "disenchantment" that is different from wise attention, o...
by phil
Tue Oct 31, 2017 10:39 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Samvega: Arising naturally, or developed by training
Replies: 1
Views: 1365

Re: Samvega: Arising naturally, or developed by training

Well, Phil, let me tell you how Phil feels about it. :tongue: I think it comes down to prompted vs. unprompted cittas, the moments of samvega that arise naturally would be more powerful than the ones that are "generated" intentionally. Certainly value in the latter but just as likely to be...
by phil
Tue Oct 31, 2017 8:06 am
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Volitions at the end of life
Replies: 4
Views: 2689

Re: Volitions at the end of life

Thanks pegembara, complicated indeed.
by phil
Tue Oct 31, 2017 3:20 am
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Volitions at the end of life
Replies: 4
Views: 2689

Re: Volitions at the end of life

Thanks perkele. And of course come to think of it there are several suttas in which householders are told that their moral restraint will lead to happy destinations etc. It could be that the ways busy householders are encouraged to think and the way more complex suttas and Abdhidhamma explain things...
by phil
Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:17 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Samvega: Arising naturally, or developed by training
Replies: 1
Views: 1365

Samvega: Arising naturally, or developed by training

This morning I was piling scrambled eggs on to toast and there was a sudden reflection on the constant piling up of food, day by day, year by year. It reminded me of one of the eight factors(?) for samvega being something to do with the endless search for food to keep living. Do you all see samvega ...
by phil
Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:09 am
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Volitions at the end of life
Replies: 4
Views: 2689

Volitions at the end of life

HI all I'm often interested in these words from Bhikkhu Bodhi in one of my notebooks, from the commentarial notes on a discourse (don't know which one.) "This accumulation of mental energy, habit energy, volitional energy, becomes a tremendous force, which at the time of death projects the stre...