Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
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Bhikkhu_Samahita
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Momentarily: Mind Matters!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Mind and Matter: Only a Momentary Arising & Ceasing!

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As arising occurs the mind notices it, therefore do the emerged object and the mind coincide!
As ceasing occurs the mind also notices it, and thus the object and the mind coincide!
In all perception, at each event of noting, there is always this twin pair, the object & the mind,
which knows the object. These two elements of the object and the knowing mind always arise
in pairs, and apart from these 2, there does not exist any other thing in the form of a 'person',
an 'observer', an 'experiencer', nor any 'Ego', 'Subject', or any 'Self'! No identity is present!
This reality of impersonality will be intuitively realized in due course. The fact that materiality
and mentality are two distinct phenomena, will be clearly perceived during the time of noting
"arising, arising & ceasing, ceasing" at all times. The two elements of materiality and mentality
are linked up in pairs and their arising coincides, that is, the process of materiality arises all
together with the process of mentality, which knows it. The process of materiality when ceasing,
fades away together with the process of mentality, which experiences it. It is the same for
lifting, moving and placing the foot or hand: Physical or material processes arises & ceases,
starting and ending, together within the same mental processes, which induce & know them.
This subtle knowledge is called the discriminating knowledge of mentality-materiality.
It is a preliminary stage on the long path of insight knowledge. It is important to have this
preliminary stage understood in an accurate way! Continuing the praxis of reflecting & noting
for some time, there will be considerable progress in the quality & alertness of both Awareness
and Concentration. It will then be detectable that on every occasion of noting, each process of
mentality & materiality, arises & passes away, exactly at that very moment! It all ends instantly,
right there & then. While walking: It is not the same foot, that is put down, as that one lifted...
The lifted foot ended right there and then. The foot put down arised there right after that!
However, uninstructed people often believes that forms, the body & the mind remains the same,
in a permanent stable state, throughout life, so the same body of childhood has grown up into
adulthood, and that the same young mind has grown up into maturity, and finally that both this
continuously changing body & this always changing mind are one & the same person at all times...
In reality, this is not so. Nothing is permanent! Everything comes into a temporary existence for
a moment & then passes instantly away! Nothing can remain even for the blink of an eye...
Changes are taking place very swiftly & will be clearly perceived & recognized after due training.
While carrying on the contemplation by noting: "arising arising, ceasing ceasing", one will perceive
that these processes arise & fade away one after another in ultra quick succession. On perceiving
that everything passes away at the very point of noting it, the yogi knows directly & sees directly,
that nothing is permanent! This knowledge regarding the impermanent nature of all phenomena is
knowledge of impermanence! The yogi then knows that this ever-changing state of things, is very
distressing and is not to be desired. It can never be kept. Not something pleasant or pleasing.
Neither something agreeable nor satisfying. This is reflective realistic knowledge of Suffering!
On suffering many painful feelings, this body and mind complex is recognized as a mere cluster
of sole suffering. This is also the reflective knowledge of suffering. It is then observed, that
these elements of impersonal materiality & mentality, whether internal or external, never follow
one's wish to be satisfied, but arise & cease according to their very own inherent given nature,
outer circumstances and conditioning. While being engaged in the act of noting these processes,
the yogi understands, that these processes are not controllable and that they are neither any
'person', a 'me', an 'I', an 'Ego', nor a 'living entity', nor something 'Mine', nor any 'My Self'.
This is reaching the reflective knowledge of no-self. When a yogi has completely developed the
knowledge of impermanence, suffering & no-self, he will realize the state called Nibbana...
From time immemorial, Buddhas, Arahats and The Noble Ariyas have realized this Nibbana by
this very same method of insight: Seeing any body as merely a changing form, noting any feeling
as merely a transient reaction, knowing any mentality to be just a passing mood, and by realizing
that any phenomena simply is a momentary mental state! This, only this, in itself, is the highway
leading to Nibbana ...!!!

The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, Burma. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahasi_Sayadaw

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The Momentary Energy of Thought = Selective Choice!
Local Order! => Local Entropy fall compensated by a
Universal Entropy increase! This induces a variation in
the a priori probability distribution for all future events!
This is the 'physical' reason of moral kammic efficacy!
Like putting a nail in a dice! All future throws are then
biased. Still "naturally occurring" but also "affected"....


Vipassana Insight in Detail by Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/bps/ ... el370.html
http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/mahasit1.pdf
http://www.acharia.org/downloads/Satipa ... assana.pdf
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/bps/ ... gress.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el298.html

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Otto Rapp: Decay of both Mind and Matter!

More on Insight (Vipassana):[/u]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... sights.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ca ... nsight.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/In ... y_Life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Br ... nsight.htm

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The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, 1904-82
Burma. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahasi_Sayadaw

Momentarily: Mind Matters!

http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Hi ... ibbana.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
Nikaya35
Posts: 103
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 4:36 am

Re: Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

Post by Nikaya35 »

Blante thanks for the dharma daily drops. For some reason I'm stopped recieving the daily drops to my email. My email is [email protected].
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Bhikkhu_Samahita
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Rise and Fall..

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Open Air Tree Root Dwelling Teaches Transience!

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The Blessed One often praised Tree Roots as dwelling place:
Secluded in mind and guarded well by deities one lives there
truly devoted without longing or urging for any city or house.
And when the tender leaves are seen, first bright carmine red,
then turning green, and finally to shades of yellow as they fall,
one relinquishes mistaken belief in permanence once and for all.
Tree roots is thus granted by him the One as a serene scene no
wise and clever one should reject at all, for study of rise & fall!
Vism I 74, Vin I 58, 96

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More on this transient Impermanence (Anicca):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Trap.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rough_Realism.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/At_All_Times.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/No ... reakup.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Tr ... ations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Pe ... sience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/I ... Anicca.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... sience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... sience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ex ... anence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Co ... anence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Co ... ence_2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ex ... sience.htm

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Rise and Fall...

Open Air Dwelling Teaches Transience!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Rise_and_Fall.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
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Flash in, fade out...

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Only Momentary Causes & Effects passes by...

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Life, person, pleasure, pain, just these join in a conscious moment that flicks by.
Even gods, that live for 84.000 aeons, are not the same even for 2 such moments!
Ceased aggregates of those dead & alive are all alike, gone for never to return...
And those states and accumulations that break up meanwhile, and in any future,
have no traits different from those ceased before. All states are equally brief!
No world is born if consciousness is not produced! When consciousness is present,
then the world appears as living! When consciousness dissolves, the world is dead!
This is the highest sense, this concept of ever blinking re-becoming, can justify...
No store of broken states exist anywhere, & no future stock of states to come!
Those phenomena that are momentarily born balance like seeds on a needle point.
Fall and breakup of all states is surely foredoomed, even at their fleeting birth...
Those present states decay now, unmingled with those past states, just gone by.
They come from nowhere, break up, & back to nowhere they inevitably then go...
Reality flash in & then flash out, as a lightning in the sky... Not ever to be kept!!!
Even for a single moment! Vism 625, Nd I 42

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Momentary states flashes in and then immediately flashes out!

More on this transience and Impermanence (Anicca):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rise_and_Fall.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/No ... reakup.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Tr ... ations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Pe ... sience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/I ... Anicca.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... sience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... sience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ex ... anence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Co ... anence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Co ... ence_2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ex ... sience.htm

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Flash in, fade out...

Momentary are all physical & mental states!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Fla ... sh_Out.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
User avatar
Bhikkhu_Samahita
Posts: 2750
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 am
Location: Ceylon
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Evident yet Subtle Facts...

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Evident yet Subtle are the Facts of the Dhamma!

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Dependent origination becomes evident, when really seeing & understanding:
When this exists, that also comes into being: The seed initiates the plant...
When this does not exist, that neither comes into being: No seed no plant...
Wrong view of annihilation becomes evident, when seeing and understanding:
All causes are connected with their resulting effect. Nothing just (dis)appears!
Wrong view of eternity becomes evident, when seeing and understanding:
All states arise instantly as new phenomena. They were not there before...
The characteristic of no-self no-substance becomes evident, when understanding:
That all states have no core essence and that their being depend on other conditions.
The characteristic of impermanence becomes evident, when understanding:
States arise and fall instantly. After having been, they do never ever exist again!
The characteristic of suffering becomes evident, when fully comprehending:
All liked phenomena rise and fall. Their inevitable loss is a recurring frustration.
When these subtle yet crucial truths, all consequences of dependent origination,
has become evident to the Buddhist disciple, then these constructions appear to
him as a perpetual terror: "So all these appearances, it seems, not having ever been,
come into existence and then immediately cease for never ever to return... " !
Vism 632

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More on these crucial core concepts:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rise_and_Fall.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Anatta_No_Self.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Wh ... fering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Cohes ... nation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dep ... nation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/I ... Anicca.htm

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Evident yet Subtle Facts...

http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Evident_Facts.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
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Bhikkhu_Samahita
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Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 am
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Impermanence cannot ever be Stopped!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Impermanence cannot ever be Stopped!

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Let us face the dry facts! Everything is impermanent! We can all understand
impermanence superficially. But deep down in our subconscious mind a sense
of permanence is lurking. So we keep patching up our broken teeth, wrinkled
dry skin, brittle nails, grey hair, hunched backs, weak eyes, impaired hearing,
becoming sick, breaking bones & many other things caused by the inevitable
impermanence of this fragile body. Similarly do our moods, our feelings, our
thoughts, our perceptions, and our memories all go through many changes in
every moment. We take medicines, see mental health specialists, & do many
other things, including meditation, to correct our restless flickering minds!
While we are doing this, impermanence is still going on crushing everything
both inside our body and mind and also outside in all the world relentlessly...
While all the organs, all the cells, nervous system, quality of blood, capacity
of oxygen content in the lungs and the bone structure are going through this
very rapid and unmistakable change, no matter how much we patch up on the
surface and beneath the skin, impermanence is working its due course quite
persistently underground & inside the body and mind. Nothing on this earth,
no science, no technology, can ever delay or stop this proceeding of change!
Impermanence keeps burning everything up unstoppable and systematically!

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Seeing impermanence (anicca) is the key that opens mind to see suffering,
and non-self! The moment we understand this very clearly, our mind opens
to the fact that things change without leaving a trace behind to follow the
path that impermanence has taken. This is called voidness or signlessness...
This awareness evaporates the desire for anything that is impermanent!
It also evaporates all aversion growing from our disappointed expectations.
Then naturally, this clean mind becomes fully aware of not having any agent,
immovable mover, or controller, which sometimes is called "Self, I, Me, Ego"
or even "Soul" by some people. This element of Dhamma, this basic intrinsic
nature of all, this law of Dhamma is known in Buddhism as emptiness of self!
The Blessed Buddha said: Sabbe Dhamma Anatta = All States are Selfless!
Seeing impermanence with wisdom is the key to detachment, calming, stilling,
ceasing, and releasing mental relinquishment. Joyous Freedom is the result!

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In the Maha-suññata Sutta (MN 122) The Blessed Buddha points out that
suffering arises from clinging and attaching to all impermanent things:
"I do not see even a single kind of form from the change and alteration of
which there would not arise sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair in
one who lusts for it and takes delight in it!" The same is true of all transient
feeling, perception, mental construction=intention & sorts of consciousness!
If we tenaciously cling to any of them, then we suffer, when they decay!

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This passage clearly states, that suffering arises from the attachment to
form, not because the form is impermanent, but because we are attached
to impermanent form. When we attain full enlightenment, we do not suffer!
This happens not because we make any impermanent things now everlasting!
This happens only because we release our clinging to all impermanent things.
Impermanent phenomena continue to be impermanent, whether we ever gain
enlightenment or not. As the blessed Buddha also has explained exactly:
"Bhikkhus, whether Tathagatas appear or do not appear, there is always
this constantly established element of Dhamma, this fixed law of Dhamma:
All that is conditioned and constructed is impermanent. To this aTathagata
fully awakens and fully understands. So awakened and thus understanding,
he announces, points it out, declares, establishes, expounds, and explains it,
classifies and clarifies it: All that is conditioned is actually impermanent...
Bhikkhus, whetherTathagatas appear or do not appear, there is always this
precedent condition and absolute of Dhamma, this anchored law of Dhamma:
All that is conditioned and constructed is unsatisfactory, & thus suffering!
To this aTathagata fully awakens and fully understands. So awakened and
thus understanding, he announces, points out, declares, establishes, explains,
and clarifies it: All that is conditioned and constructed is indeed Suffering!
Bhikkhus, whether Tathagatas appear or do not appear, there is always this
situation present, a subtle truth of Dhamma, this safe doctrine of Dhamma:
All states are without a self! To this fact anyTathagata fully awakens and
fully understands. So awakened and understanding, he announces, points out,
declares, establishes, explains, and clarifies it: All states are without self!"
Anguttara Nikaya I 285

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By seeing the impermanence, suffering & selflessness thus in all conditioned
things in this and any other world, one naturally becomes disenchanted with
everything constructed. Disenchantment leads to disillusion and dispassion
towards everything. Within a dispassionate mind craving for everything will
gradually fade away (viraga). With this insight one lets go of all attachment.
Being dispassionate, one thereby liberates oneself from all this evil misery...
Being liberated, one knows that one is liberated, has ended rebirth, has lived
the Noble life, has done what should be done, and that there is nothing more
to be done! This means that attaining full freedom from all suffering indeed
begins with this very perfect and acute awareness of impermanence...!

Source: Bhante Henepola Gunaratana: From Impermanence to Liberation.
Buddhist Publication Society http://www.bps.lk/ Newsletter #63: 2010-1.

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More on Impermanence , Instability, Change and Transience (Anicca):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Trap.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rise_and_Fall.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Evident_Facts.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Hidden_Horror.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Fla ... sh_Out.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The ... Turban.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/No ... reakup.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Tr ... ations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Pe ... sience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/I ... Anicca.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... sience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... sience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ex ... anence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Co ... anence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Co ... ence_2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ex ... sience.htm

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The Fact of Impermanence = Anicca...


Impermanence cannot ever be Stopped!

http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/The ... Anicca.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
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Bhikkhu_Samahita
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Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 am
Location: Ceylon
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Back to Basics!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

What are the 5 Basic Living Rules?

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The Blessed Buddha once said to Anathapindika:
Whoever, householder, has not overcome five terrible evils, such one
is without morality, is without control and will be reborn in hell.
And what are those five terrible evils?
They are killing, stealing, sexual abuse, lying, and taking intoxicants.
But whoever has overcome these five terrible evils, such one is pure,
well controlled and will be reborn in a happy world.
One who is doing these 5 things, creates both present, and future
extreme misery, and will thus experience much mental pain & regret!
One who abstains from these 5 things produces neither any present,
nor any future misery, nor will he experience mental pain or grief.
Such terrible evil is thus eliminated by him and extinguished in him...

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Whoever murders living beings,
Speaks words that are not true,
Takes what does not belong to him,
Seduces wives of other men,
And takes intoxicating drinks or drugs,
To which ever he/she strongly clings:
Anyone who does not shun these evils,
Is indeed without morality, with no purity!
And when his/her body once dissolves,
That blind fool will fall into deepest hell...
Who does never harm any being at all,
Who never utters any lie, or falsehood,
Who never takes what is not his or hers,
Nor seduces his/her neighbour's spouse,
Nor ever wishes in all his/her life
To drink intoxicating drinks or drugs
that causes carelessness and neglect
A human who shuns these five evils,
Is rightly called a virtuous human;
And when his/her body once dissolves,
This wise human rises heavenward.

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More on this Mighty Morality (Sila):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Never_Kill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Killing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Prime_Benefits.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Sila_1_to_5.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Truth_Triumphs.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Happy_Habit.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Stealing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rev ... Virtue.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Might ... rality.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Virtue.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Be ... ection.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Back_to_Basics.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/imm ... virtue.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Best_ ... Praxis.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Si ... lation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/O ... ance_I.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/O ... nce_II.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/O ... nce_IV.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/O ... ance_V.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bu ... _Law_1.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bu ... _Law_2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bu ... _Law_3.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bu ... _Law_4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Wh ... aviour.htm

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Source (edited extract):
Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 5:174
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta ... erical.htm

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Integrity Must Be Lived Out in every Praxis!

Back to Basics!

What are the 5 Basic Root Living Rules?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/T ... Basics.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
User avatar
Bhikkhu_Samahita
Posts: 2750
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 am
Location: Ceylon
Contact:

Neither Agent, nor Substance Exists!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Neither Agent, nor Actor, but only Impersonal Processes!

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Question: Who is the Creator? Answer: Nobody is the Creator of anything!
Q: What then, is creating? A: Ignorance and Craving is creating!
Q: What is ignorance and craving creating? A: Ignorance and craving both creates Suffering!
 
Question: Who Perceives? Answer: Nobody perceives anything!
Q: What then, is perceiving? A: The process of perception itself perceives!
Q: What does perception perceive? A: Forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touches and thoughts!
 
Question: Who Feels? Answer: Nobody Feels anything!
Q: What then, is feeling? A: The process of feeling itself feels!
Q: What do Feeling feel? A: Feeling feels pleasure, pain and neutral indifference!
 
Question: Who is the Knower? Answer: Nobody is the Knower of anything!
Q: What then, is Knowing? A: The mental state of understanding itself knows!
Q: What is this state of knowledge knowing? A: Knowledge knows: Such is Suffering,
Such is the Cause of Suffering, Such is the End of all Pain, and the Way to End Suffering!

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This subtle and profound core Buddhist doctrine of Anatta entails:
A: There is no 'Self' in here...
B: There is no 'Substance' out there...
C: Impersonal & void are all states & phenomena!
D: Ownerlessness is a universal characteristic of being!
E: Insubstantiality is a universal characteristic of matter!

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No-Self = Internal Impersonality! Nobody home: Individuality is an Empty village ...

The best way to comprehend No-Self (anatta) is to begin with observing and reflecting on
Impermanence (anicca) and Suffering (dukkha). Then eventually one comes to understand:
Whatever is always otherwise and never the same identical, cannot ever be an identity, a self...
Whatever is always ultimately suffering cannot be under the control of a self, since if it were,
then this self would by this very assumed control change it into something pleasant and happy.
But no self can do that, since it is not in full control. If a 'self' is not in control of even 'itself'
(fully autonomic) it cannot be a true self, but just conditions that play out cause and effects...

For more on this universality of selfless impersonality (anatta) see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/I-dentification.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Ego-Projection.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Anatta_No_Self.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/No ... Inside.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Th ... ctrine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ju ... ubbles.htm

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External Anatta = Corelessness = No-Substance = Physical Insubstantiality!

The Ego Tunnel - Prof. Dr. Thomas Metzinger TED video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjY1fAcESs

Selflessness & Insubstantiality..

Neither Agent, nor Substance Exists!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ne ... _Actor.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
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Today is Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?

Durutu Poya day is the full-moon of January. This holy day celebrates
the first visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka. The Buddha visited the very
place, where the present magnificent Mahiyangana Stupa was built to
enshrine the Buddha's hair relics and the collar bone. For Details see:
http://www.buddhanet.net/sacred-island/mahiyangana.html and
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... angana.htm

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Mahiyangana Stupa

On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days:
Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the
Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean
bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first
three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head touch the floor.
Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites these memorized lines
in a loud, calm & steady voice:

As long as this life lasts:
I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.

I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!


I accept to respect & undertake these 5 training rules:
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs.

As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...


Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's
own eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much
better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to
this world! So is the start towards Nibbana: the Deathless Element!
This is the Noble Way to Peace, to Freedom, to Ease, to Happiness,
initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and
fulfilled by training of Meditation...

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Today indeed is Pooya or uposatha or observance day, where any lay
Buddhist normally keeps even the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the
next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha,
they may simply forward the lines starting with "I hereby ..." signed with
name, date, town, & country to me or join here. A public list of this new
quite rapidly growing global Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!

The New Noble Community of Buddha's Disciples: The Saddhamma Sangha:

http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm

Can quite advantageously be Joined Here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm

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May your journey hereby be light, swift, and sweet. Never give up !!

Bhikkhu Samahita: [email protected]

For Details on The Origin of Uposatha Observance Days:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html

Have a nice observance day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

How to be a Real Buddhist by Observance?

Today is Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/D ... ya_Day.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
User avatar
Bhikkhu_Samahita
Posts: 2750
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 am
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Devoured by Delight!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Deceiving Sensuality: Empty of Happiness!

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The Blessed Buddha explained all the phenomena of existence as a pain:
Whoever delights in forms, feelings, perceptions, mental constructions,
and in whatever kind of consciousness, also delights in plain Suffering!
Whoever delights in Suffering, cannot ever be freed from Suffering...
I tell you: So is it really! SN 22:29

Delight is a Mixed and Camouflaged state!
Delight is Craving mixed with & covered by the happiness of satisfaction!
Craving is the cause of Suffering! (So indeed is the 2nd Noble Truth!)
Therefore is Delight also camouflaged suffering! Deadly is Delight!
Why so? Because it makes one seek back for more delight!
This seeking itself is, in the death-moment, the very cause of of rebirth!
When there is birth, there will also be death! Thus: Delight makes Death!
Beings are devoured by delight! Again and again! Decoy Delight!

INAPPROPRIATE
Why laugh? Why party?
Always is the world burning!
Why in darkness do you not seek light?
How can you find delight and laughter
Where there is burning without end?
In deepest darkness you are wrapped!
Why do you not seek for the light?
Dhammapada 146

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THE FRAGILE FRAME
See this painted puppet, one big mass of sores,
a diseased frame of skin drawn upon bones,
once possessing many evil thoughts, a thing much
regarded & beloved, yet of neither stable nor
lasting nature ...
Look at this puppet here, well rigged up,
A heap of many sores, piled up,
Diseased, and full of greediness,
Unstable, and impermanent!
Dhammapada 147

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ONLY A FORM
This body is worn out, a fragile form, a nest of disease,
a rotting mass of deception since its life surely, always,
and inevitably ends only in Death ...
Devoured by old age is this frame,
A prey to sickness, weak and frail;
To pieces breaks this putrid body,
All life must truly end in death!
Dhammapada 148

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Blissful is freedom from any sensual urge whatsoever!

Udana – Inspiration: II – 1

Comment:
Yes there is pleasure in the world. But it always goes away & turns into pain!
Taking delight means urging back here by rebirth and thus also more deaths!

All This - whatsoever - is Suffering: Such is the 1st Noble Truth:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... fering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... fering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... raving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/So ... ources.htm

Devoured by Deadly Decoy Delight!!

Blissful is freedom from any sensual urge whatsoever!
 http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/De ... elight.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
User avatar
Bhikkhu_Samahita
Posts: 2750
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 am
Location: Ceylon
Contact:

An indispensable necessity...

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Understanding the 4 Truths is indispensable!

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The Blessed Gotama Buddha once explained:
If anyone should ever postulate: "Without having made the breakthrough
to understanding: This is Suffering; Craving is the Cause of Suffering;
No Craving is the End of Suffering; The 8-fold Way Ends all Suffering,
as it really is, I will make a final and complete end of all suffering!"
Then this is hopeless, impossible, impracticable, unachievable, and untrue!
Just as if anyone would build the second floor of a house without first
having built the first floor...
However if anyone should wish: "Having made this crucial breakthrough
to understanding: This is Suffering; Craving is the Cause of Suffering;
No Craving is the End of Suffering; The 8-fold Way Ends all Suffering,
as it really is, I will make a final and complete end of all suffering!"
Then this is realistic, possible, likely, promising, feasible, and realizable!
Just as if one first having built the first floor of a house easily could
build and add the second floor... Therefore should an effort be made
to really understand, see, comprehend and realize these 4 Noble Truths!

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Comment:
Many beings embark on raising a grand metaphysical religious "Tower" from,
which they can look down proud, yet forgetting all about to making a solid
foundation first! Result: At first wind this unstable tower tumble & they fall...
Back to square one again! There is only this ONE way: The Noble 8-fold Way...
Never give up developing this Way further, deeper, better and more pure!
Stay grounded! Pay attention to these facts and truths as they really are...  

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Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:452-3]
section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 44: The Peaked House ...

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An indispensable necessity...

Understanding the 4 Noble Truths is crucial!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/In ... essity.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
User avatar
Bhikkhu_Samahita
Posts: 2750
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 am
Location: Ceylon
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Beyond Joy!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Sense Joys, Happiness, Release & Beyond!

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The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, there are joys of the flesh, there are joys not of this world, &
there are rapturous joys far beyond even such subtle unworldly joys ...
There is happiness of the flesh, there is a happiness not of this world, &
there is exquisite bliss far beyond even such subtle unworldly happiness!
There is indifference of the flesh, there is Equanimity not of this world,
and there is a serenity far beyond even such subtle unworldly Equanimity!
There is satiety of the flesh, there is a mental release not of this world,
and there is a liberation far beyond even such subtle unworldly release ...
And what, bhikkhus, are then these simple joys of the flesh?
There are these five strings of sense-pleasure. What five?
Visible forms experiencable by the eye ...
Hearable sounds experiencable by the ear ...
Smellable odours experiencable by the nose ...
Tastable flavours experiencable by the tongue ...
Touchable objects experiencable by the body ...
All are attractive, captivating, desirable, irresistible, lovely, agreeable,
tempting, pleasing, sensually enticing, seductive, alluring, & tantalizing!
These are the 5 strings of sense-pleasure. Joy that arises from these
five strings of sense-pleasure: This is simply the Joy of the flesh ...

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Blissful is being without passions in this world,
Blissful is the overcoming of all sense-desires!

Udana II, 1

More on the folly vanity of desire for simple Sense Pleasure (Hedonism):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Why_Not.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/C ... s_Pain.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.1-2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... al_Pit.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta ... I.3-4c.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Co ... _Muddy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Cr ... rophic.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... Desire.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/W ... ageous.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Jo ... Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Ha ... Beyond.htm

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Prince Siddhattha realizes the empty folly of sense pleasure...

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV [235-7]
section 36:11 On Feeling: Vedana. Joys beyond this world ...
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sa ... index.html

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Beyond Joy!

Sensing is simple. Ever-lasting Bliss is not...
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/Jo ... Beyond.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
User avatar
Bhikkhu_Samahita
Posts: 2750
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 am
Location: Ceylon
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How-2-Cure Envy and Jealousy?

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Envy and Jealousy is a mix of Greed and Hate!

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How to cure these agonizing mental states of Envy & Jealousy:

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1: Review the Danger in Envy and Jealousy like this:
This Acid is eating up my mind from within! All joy & happiness is destroyed!

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2: Know that Envy arises because one wants something that others have!
The aversion towards these persons arise due to greed for a desired object.
Wanting=greed is craving towards an object, while aversion=hate is craving
away from an object. All forms of Craving causes Suffering! Know that Envy
and Jealousy is the proximate cause of Discontent and Dissatisfaction!

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3: Envy is cured by rejoicing in others success= Mutual Joy! (Mudita) like:
How good that this being, having done good in the past, now earns the well
deserved fruit!!! Thus one substitutes a disadvantageous mental state with
an advantageous mental state. Know that this subtle Mutual Joy! (Mudita) is
the proximate cause of Contentment! Contentment is the highest Treasure...

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4: Begin and Cultivate meditation on Infinite Mutual Joy:
Sit down a silent & empty place with closed eye and beam from the heart:
May I be successful, rich, beautiful, famous, intelligent, popular & praised!
May my friends be successful, rich, beautiful, famous, intelligent, & praised!
May my enemies be successful, rich, beautiful, famous, intelligent, & praised!
May all in this village be successful, beautiful, famous, intelligent, & praised!
May all in this country be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, & praised!
May all on this earth be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, and praised!
May all in this galaxy be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, and praised!
May all in the universe be successful, rich, beautiful, intelligent, and praised!
Beaming this tender sympathy out from the heart first out in front, the right,
left, back, above as below, so gradually expanding beyond the limitations of
space and into the infinitude! When a cause is infinite, so will be the effect!

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5: Keep on doing that 15-45 min every day. Note the difference in day joy!
May all beings rejoice in Mutual Joy celebrating all beings success & progress!

One should not despise any giving.
One should neither envy others.
One who envy others cannot attain absorption
and will never enter any concentrated trance.
Dhammapada 365

Neither nice speech, nor serene behaviour
Makes one accomplished, if one is still
Possessed of envy, miserliness or deceit.
Dhammapada 262

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Absorbed in distractions,
Not paying appropriate attention,
Giving up the goal, following after the pleasant,
One comes to envy those, who enjoy right effort!
Dhammapada 209

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How to cure envy and jealousy by substitution with the opposite see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Wrong.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoi ... Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/I ... usness.htm

Have a nice rejoicing & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Envy and Jealousy is a Mix of Greed and Hate!


Envy and Jealousy!

http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Ho ... alousy.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
User avatar
Bhikkhu_Samahita
Posts: 2750
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 am
Location: Ceylon
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Contemplating own Moral Purity..

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

The 10 Contemplations is Daily Buddhist Routine!

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The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus and friends: There is this 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 gradual progress has understood
this refined Dhamma, often dwells in this state. Which is that unique contemplation?
It is reflecting over the ethic qualities of own moral purity exactly like this:
The Noble Disciple reviews and recollects his own morality (Sila), which is unbroken,
immaculate, unspotted, unsoiled, productive of release, praised by the clever,
not stiff pride, which leads to concentration... Source: Anguttara Nikaya 6:10  

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Comments:
Major moral transgressions induce downfall! Medium moral impurities blocks any
spiritual progress in this life, if not repaired. Even microscopic moral pollutants
exclude attainment of meditative jhana absorption despite prolonged efforts...

More on this crucial first base of Morality (Sila):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... /siila.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Might ... rality.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Sila_1_to_5.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_ ... Speech.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_ ... Action.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_ ... lihood.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/O ... ance_I.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/O ... nce_II.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/O ... nce_IV.htm

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Contemplating own Moral Purity..

Ethical integrity is crucial for future well-being!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Si ... lation.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
User avatar
Bhikkhu_Samahita
Posts: 2750
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 am
Location: Ceylon
Contact:

Avoiding own Evil...

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

How does Effort to Avoid Protect against Evil?

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The Blessed Buddha once said:
There are these 4 best efforts, Bhikkhus and friends:
1: The effort to avoid and thus prevent all evil states not yet arisen.
2: The effort to overcome all wrong states, that already has arisen.
3: The effort to initiate all the good mental states, that not yet has arisen.
4: The effort to maintain any advantageous state, that already has arisen.

What, Bhikkhus and friends, is the effort to avoid?
When experiencing a form with the eye, or a sound with the ear, or a smell
with the nose, or a taste with the tongue, or a touch with the body, or a
thought with the mind, then the Bhikkhu neither fixes his attention on the
whole appearance, nor on any of the object's specific tantalizing details...
He tries hard instead to dispel all these evil and disadvantageous mental states,
such as greed, lust and longing, that would arise if he left his senses unguarded.
He thus watches over his senses, controls his senses, and restrains his senses...
This is called the effort to avoid and thereby prevent all own evil mental states!

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More on the Avoiding Effort!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/A ... Effort.htm

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Source (edited extract):
The Numerical Sayings of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 4:14
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta ... erical.htm

Avoiding own Evil...!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Av ... ffort2.htm
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Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

Theravada Forest Tradition.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net
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