Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

SarathW · Post by **SarathW** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 3:25 am

It is OK Bhante,
They all are fabrications!

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 4:08 am

Sadhu:
"They all are fabrications!"
So true:
TRANSIENT FORMATIONS...
"Bhikkhus: Is what is impermanent suffering or happiness?
Suffering, Venerable Sir..."
Samyutta Nikaya 24:71 III 223

Nikaya35 · Post by **Nikaya35** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:28 pm

Thanks for the daily drops blante. Amazing work !

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:31 pm

Thanx2U2 maitreya31

Any support is welcome and advantageous here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:38 pm

Friends:

How are the 5 Mental Abilities (indriya) being developed?

There are these 5 mental Abilities:
The ability (faculty) of faith,
The ability of energy,
The ability of awareness,
The ability of concentration,
The ability of understanding.

The five abilities are being developed in 10 aspects:
When a Noble Friend is leaving sceptical doubt behind, this is development of the faith ability.
When a Noble Friend is developing the faith ability, then this mistrust of non-faith is left behind.
When a Noble Friend is leaving laziness behind, this is development of the energy ability.
When a Noble Friend is developing the energy ability, this indolent idleness is left behind.
When a Noble Friend is leaving negligence behind, this is development of the awareness ability.
When a Noble Friend is developing the awareness ability, this dull inattentiveness is left behind.
When a Noble Friend is leaving distraction behind, this is development of the concentration ability.
When a Noble Friend is developing the concentration ability, this mental scattering is left behind.
When a Noble Friend is leaving ignorance behind, this is development of the understanding ability.
When a Noble Friend is developing the understanding ability, this blind not knowing is left behind.
The five abilities are being developed in these 10 aspects.

The five abilities have been thus developed, thus fully developed in 10 aspects:
Because sceptical doubt has been fully left, the faith ability has been fully developed.
Because the faith ability has been fully developed, non-faith has been fully left.
Because laziness has been fully left, the energy ability has been fully developed.
Because the energy ability has been fully developed, idleness has been fully left.
Because negligence has been fully left, the awareness ability has been fully developed.
Because the awareness ability has been fully developed, non-attention has been fully left.
Because distraction has been fully left, the concentration ability has been fully developed.
Because the concentration ability has been fully developed, mental scatter has been fully left.
Because ignorance has been fully left, the understanding ability has been fully developed.
Because the understanding ability has been fully developed, ignorance has been fully left.
The five abilities have been developed, completely developed in these 10 aspects.

The five abilities have fully tranquillized in four aspects:
At the path-moment of stream-entry, the five abilities are being developed.
At the fruition-moment of stream-entry, they have been fully developed, & fully tranquillized.
At the path-moment of once-return, the five abilities are being developed.
At the fruition-moment of once-return, they have been fully developed, & fully tranquillized.
At the path-moment non-return, the five abilities are being developed.
At the fruition-moment of non-return, they have been fully developed, & fully tranquillized.
At the path-moment of Arahatship, the five abilities are being developed.
At the fruition-moment of Arahatship, they have been fully developed, & fully tranquillized.
So there are four purifications in the 4 paths, and four purifications in the 4 fruitions,
four purifications in the cuttings off, and four purifications in the tranquillizations.
The five abilities have been fully developed and also fully tranquillized, these 4 aspects.

There is development of the abilities in 8 kinds of persons:
In what eight kind of persons is there development of the abilities?
In the 7 initiators & in the Magnanimous Ordinary Man, is there development of the abilities.
In what three kinds of persons have the abilities been completely developed?
In a Perfect One’s disciple (a hearer) with the mental fermentations all eliminated, who has been
enlightened as a disciple by hearing it from a Teacher, have the abilities been completely developed.
In One who has reached enlightenment without declaring it, (Solitary Buddha) in the sense of being
self-enlightened, without a teacher, have the abilities been completely developed.
In a Perfect One, accomplished & fully self-enlightened, in the sense of being immeasurable, infinite,
have the abilities been completely developed. There is development of the abilities in these 8 kind
of persons. The 5 mental abilities have been completely developed in these three kinds of persons…

Ven. Sariputta Thera and Ven. Maha Moggallana Thera

Source: Ven. Sariputta in: The Path of Discrimination: Patidasambhidamagga:
http://store.pariyatti.org/Path-of-Disc ... _2126.html

For further Study of the 5 Mental Abilities, which become the 5 Powers:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/F ... ummary.htm

Developing the Abilities ..

How are the 5 Mental Abilities (indriya) being developed?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/De ... lities.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:47 am

'I' will give a Meditation Course 31/1-5/2 2014 in Nagpur India
at Jetvan Meditation Center: http://www.jetvan.org/

Contact Mr. Lenin Shende for participation:
email: [email protected]
phone: 9922889449
https://www.facebook.com/LeninMalhotra

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:09 pm

Friends:

What are the Results and Fruits of the Abilities?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, these five abilities, when developed and cultivated, lead
to the destruction of the deep mental fermentations. What five?

The Ability of Faith eliminate the fermentations!
The Ability of Energy eliminate the fermentations!
The Ability of Awareness eliminate the fermentations!
The Ability of Concentration eliminate the fermentations!
The Ability of Understanding eliminate the fermentations!

These five abilities, when developed and cultivated, lead to the total
breaking out of these inner mental chains, to the complete uprooting
of the underlying mental tendencies, to the full understanding of the
course, method and path, and to the final irreversible destruction of
these mental fermentations! When, friends, these five abilities have
been developed and cultivated, one of 2 fruits may indeed be expected:
Either final knowledge in this very life or, if there is a remaining residue
of clinging left, the Noble state of non-returning...

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:236] section 48: The Abilities: 64+65.

The Uprooting Ability!

Mental Fermentations are deeply embedded...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Up ... bility.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 12:39 am

Friends:

The Blessed Buddha once said:

Sabbe satta, sabbe pana,
sabbe bhuta ca kevala,
sabbe bhadrani passantu.
Ma kañci papamagama.

May all creatures, all living things,
all beings without any exception,
experience good happiness only!
May they not fall into any harm.
Anguttara Nikaya 4.67

Solitude is happiness for one, who is content,
who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees.
Non-violence is happiness in this world:
Harmlessness towards all living beings.
Udana 10

HARMLESS
The one, who has left violence,
who never harm any being,
whether they are trembling or still,
who never kill, nor causes to kill,
such one, harmless, is a Holy One.
Dhammapada 405

More on Harmlessness (Ahimsa):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bl ... _Bliss.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/O ... ance_I.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Patie ... erance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bo ... olence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Killing.htm

May all Beings be Happy!

http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ma ... _Happy.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:03 pm

Friends:

Behaviour determines the State of all Beings!

The young brahmins Vasettha and Bharadvaja once asked Blessed Buddha:
What makes a brahmin a brahmin? Whereto the Blessed One responded:
Not by pure descent from seven generations of ancestors does one become
a brahmin, and neither by family descent does one become a non-brahmin.
By action one becomes a brahmin. By action one also becomes a non-brahmin.
By action one becomes a farmer. By action one becomes a craftsman.
By action one becomes a merchant. By action one becomes a servant.
By action one becomes a thief too. By action one becomes a killer too.
By action one becomes a priest. By action one becomes even a king.
Knowing the fruit of causal effects of any action, the wise gains complete
understanding of conditional origination and sees this action as it really is!
By action is all phenomena determined, by action the world goes on, and by
action the people go on. Beings are bounded, conditioned & created by their
behaviour! By self-taming, by self-control, & by living the Noble life, only by
this supremely pure state does one becomes a brahmin. Whoever is endowed
with the three knowledges (te-vijja), at peace, with renewed existence all
destroyed, Vasettha, such one is like the gods Brahma and Sakka to those
who really know! The two brahmins Vasettha & Bharadvaja then exclaimed:
Wonderful, venerable Gotama! We hereby accept the venerable Gotama, the
Dhamma, and the Bhikkhu Sangha as our refuge. May the Venerable Gotama
accept us as lay disciples who have taken refuge as long as this life lasts...
Sutta-Nipata verses 650-656 Edited excerpt.

Action Decides!

Behaviour determines the state of all beings!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Act ... rmines.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 11:44 pm

Friends:

The Clever Agrarian Mind Maker:

As a good farmer removes weeds and rocks harmful to his field, similarly
does a monk remove anger and jealousy from his mind. When a thought comes
to his mind that produces defilement, then he immediately removes it, so that
his mind becomes pure again, like a field becomes ready once weeds and rocks
have been removed. Just like a farmer who cultivates his field with the best
rice seed and plants at the right time - first fertilizing for better growth -
so must the Buddhist disciple cultivate advantageous states like friendliness,
pity, mutual joy, and equanimity in order to purify, refine and enrich his mind.

WORTHY
Whoever is master of his own mind, bright, clear and true,
such one may indeed rightly wear the yellow robe
Dhammapada 10

BEGIN HERE
This is the proper way to begin for any clever one:
Guard the Senses.. Be Content.. Keep the 5 Precepts..
Cultivate only friends of pure livelihood, of lovely moral
and who are rightly striving.
Dhammapada 375

The Divine Classic: All-Embracing Infinite Friendliness!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/In ... lassic.htm

The Mind Maker..

The Clever Cultivator!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Th ... ivator.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Sun Feb 09, 2014 12:47 am

Friends:

Mission Complete: Laid down is the burden!

The Buddha once said about The Arahat: The Perfected Worthy One:
For a disciple thus released, whose mind dwells in pure peace, there is
nothing to be added to what has been done, and nothing more remains
for him to do. Just as a rock of one solid mass of granite stone stands
unshaken by any wind, even so do neither forms, nor sounds, nor smells,
nor tastes, nor contacts of any kind, whether attractive or repulsive,
disturb an Arahat. Imperturbable is his mind, gained is release! AN 6:55

He who has considered all dualities, all differences, all contrasts here,
who is never anymore stirred or perturbed by anything in all this world,
such Peaceful One, freed from rage, elevated above sorrow, and without
fumes of longing, he has passed beyond birth, decay, and death... Sn 1048

FREED
One who has completed this journey is untouched by any pain or sorrow.
One who is in every-way wholly freed has broken all the mental chains.
For such perfectly Noble One, no suffering is ever possible!
Dhammapada 90

CALM
Calm is his mind. Calm is his speech. Calm is his action.
So is the Tranquillity; So is the Equanimity;
of one freed by the Insight of absolute knowledge.
Dhammapada 96

RADIANT
Whether in village or forest, on land, in the sea or on the mountain;
where Arahats dwell all is indeed delightful, subtle and refined.
Dhammapada 98

SOLITARY
Delighting are the forests, where the passionate common folks do not haunt
their trivial pleasures... There the cooled ones find the Bliss not of this World!
Dhammapada 99

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:55 pm

Friends:

What is the thing not really in existence?

The blessed Buddha once said:
Blissful is solitude for one who is content, learned and who understands the Dhamma.
More blissful is gentle harmlessness towards all breathing beings without exception..
Even more blissful is complete freedom from any urge for all sense pleasures whatsoever...
Yet, the supreme bliss, is the elimination of this abysmal deep inner conceit “I am” !!!
Udana 11

Selfless + Harmless is Painless!

What is the thing not really in existence?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/In ... nality.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Mon Feb 10, 2014 10:49 pm

Friends:

Those who make the Effort win the Price!

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Difficult is the life of the modest and humble one!
Difficult is it to always seek only mental purity,
to be detached, composed, restrained, and
always blameless with a clear straight view..
Dhammapada 245

Not Easy, but Possible! and extremely Advantageous..

On striving with hands and feet:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/A ... Effort.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/F ... Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energy_Viriya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Energy.htm

Possible, but not Easy!

Those who make the Effort wins the Price!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Po ... t_Easy.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:24 am

Friends:

NYC Taxi driver made compassion shine in action:

"I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I
honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about
just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door
and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear
something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me.
She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, just like
somebody out of a 1940's movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase.
The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was
covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils
on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos & glassware.
'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab,
then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward
the cab. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just
try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'
'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an
address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'
'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any
family left,' she continued in a soft voice.. 'The doctor says I don't have very
long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building
where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when
they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse
that had once been a ballroom, where she had gone dancing as a young girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and
would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.
Let's go now'. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low
building, like a small convalescent home, with a way that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous
and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was
already seated in a wheelchair.
'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said.
'You have to make a living,' she answered.
'There are other passengers,' I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light..
Behind me, a door shut. It was like the sound of the closing of a life..
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought.
For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an
angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused
to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick dry review:
I don't think that I have done anything more important in my entire life!
We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware beautifully wrapped in what others
may consider a small nothing..."

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 11:37 pm

Friends:

The Seven Stages of Purification!

Following the Noble 8-fold Way the mind is purified in 7 stages:
1: Purification of Morality (sila-visuddhii).
2: Purification of Mind (citta-visuddhi).
3: Purification of View (ditthi-visuddhi).
4: Purification by Overcoming Doubt (kankha-vitarana-visuddhi).
5: Purification by knowledge & vision of what is Path and Not-Path.
6: Purification by knowledge and vision of Progress on the Path.
7: Purification of Knowledge and Vision (ñanadassana-visuddhi).

The classic text is MN 24 Ratha-vinita Sutta: The Relay Chariots:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

And for a complete account of Full Mental Purification:
The Path of Purification: Visuddhimagga." by the great explainer
Buddhaghosa in 5th century AC well translated by Bhikkhu Ñanamoli.
http://www.pariyatti.org/Bookstore/prod ... sku=771100
Free as PDF file here:
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/pdf ... on2011.pdf

More on these 7 stages of mental purity:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... cation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Level ... Behind.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... ations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/9_Stillings.htm
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=404506

Mental Purification!

The 7 stages of Purification..
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Th ... cation.htm

Dhamma Wheel

Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

Re: Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

Re: Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

Re: Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

Re: Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

Developing the Abilities ..

Meditation Course 31/1-5/2 2014 in Nagpur India

The Uprooting Ability!

May all Beings be Happy!

Action = Kamma Decides!

The Mind Maker..

Worthy are the Arahats..

Selfless + Harmless is Painless!

Possible, but not Easy!

Cab Compassion!

The 7 stages of Purification..