Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
User avatar
Bhikkhu_Samahita
Posts: 2750
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:26 am
Location: Ceylon
Contact:

Calm and Content!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

What is the Cause of Contentment?

The blessed Buddha once said:
Contentment is the Highest Treasure!
Dhammapada 204

Solitude is happiness for one who is content,
Who understands & clearly sees the Dhamma.
Udana 10

Image

What is the proximate cause of contentment?
Mutual joy with others success is the proximate cause of contentment...
Therefore: If one is always gladdened by other's success, one will always be content!
Therefore: If one is never gladdened by other's success, one will always be discontent!
Therefore is contentment caused by an altruistic mental state & not by external richness...
Example: Rich people possessing all the things they ever desired, can still be very discontent!
And vice versa: Poor people not having much, can still be very content and very much smiling!

Image
Contentment even with almost nothing!

More on the Contentment:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Contentment.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ca ... ntment.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

How to cultivate mutual joy & thus increase contentment:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoi ... Mudita.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/I ... usness.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

Proof:
The beings above are without many possessions, yet seemingly quite content!

Have a nice content day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Calm and Content!

Contentment is the Highest Treasure!
If one is always gladdened by other's success, one will always be content!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ca ... ontent.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

Taming the Monkey-Robot-Mind!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Non-Control makes U into a Monkey-Robot!

ImageImageImage

The Buddha once asked: How, Bhikkhus and friends, is there non-control?
Seeing a form with the eye, one becomes attracted by the pleasing form,
while repelled by the displeasing form. Having heard a sound with the ear,
one becomes attracted by the charming sound, while repulsed by a horrid
sound. Having sniffed a smell with the nose, one becomes attracted by the
lovely smell, while repelled by a detestable smell. Having tasted a flavour
with the tongue, one becomes attracted by the liked taste, while repelled
by a disliked taste. Feeling a touch with the body, one becomes attracted
by the pleasant touch, while repelled by any unpleasant touch. When one
experiences a mental phenomenon with the mind, one becomes attracted
by the agreeable mental phenomenon, while repelled by any disagreeable
mental phenomenon. In this uncontrolled way does such mind live without
having established Awareness of the body, & confined by a limited mind!
Therefore does such one neither understand, nor experience that release
of mind, that mental liberation through understanding, wherein those evil
detrimental states cease without remaining trace. In exactly this way
is there non-control!

ImageImageImage

Comments:
The limited & finite mind is a mind not made infinite by the praxis of the
4 sublime or 'divine abodes' (brahma-vihara), also called the four infinite
mental states (appamañña), which are:

1: Universal Friendliness (Metta),
2: Universal Pity (Karuna),
3: Universal Sympathy (Mudita), and
4: Universal Equanimity (Upekkha).


ImageImageImage

More on this crucial Mind-Control:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/In_Control.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Bl ... Bright.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Ma ... t_Mind.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Hi ... ibbana.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ImageImageImage
Please UPDATE your mental SOFTWARE before social CRASH!

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV [189-]
35: 6 Senses. Salayatana. States that entail Suffering. Dukkha-Dhamma.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sa ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

Have a nice, noble and controlled day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Non-Control makes U into a Monkey-Robot!

Taming the Monkey-Robot-Mind!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Non-Control.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

Rejoicing is Mutual Joy :-)

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

How to train Rejoicing Joy in others Success?

Image

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!

ImageImage

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!

ImageImage

More on Mutual Joy (Mudita):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoi ... Mudita.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/I ... usness.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mutual Joy causes Contentment!

Rejoicing Joy!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

Feeding the Joy!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Feeding the Joy Link to Awakening!

Image

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, just as this body, is sustained by feeding, exists in dependence on
feeding & cannot survive without food, even so are the 7 Links to Awakening
also sustained by feeding, they also can only exist in dependence on feeding
and they cannot survive without feeding... And what, bhikkhus, is the feeding
of the emergence of any yet unarisen joy and also feeding of the completion
by increase of any already arisen joy? There are mental states that are the
originator, maker, producer, root, basis & source for the awakening of joy!
Frequently giving careful & rational attention to them, is feeding the arising
and gradual fulfillment of joy... And what is the starving that obstructs the
emergence of any yet unarisen joy and which also hinders any already arisen
joy from reaching sweet fulfillment by development? There are states that
are the basis & source for the joy link to awakening! Not giving frequent
careful and rational attention to them; not considering them much & often;
is the starving that prevents any unarisen joy from arising and also blocks
any already arisen joy from reaching any complete fulfillment by mental
meditative training...

Image

Comments from the classical commentaries:
Elated & ecstatic exultation is the characteristic of the Joy Link to Awakening
(Piti-sambojjhanga). Motivated intentness upon is the purpose of the quality of Joy.
Satisfaction lifting any depression is the manifestation of the Joy Link to Awakening.
Thinking of Joy makes this state return! This can be utilized by training it! Try now!
This reinforcement - in itself - has the capacity to gradually elevate and induce Joy!
Therefore is the state of gladness & Joy itself mainspring, basis & source of more Joy…
It is the deliberate directing attention to this, again & again, that can produce Joy!!!

Image

Further conditions helpful for arising of the Joy Link to Awakening are:
1: Recollection of the supreme and sublime uniqueness of the Buddha...
2: Recollection of the supreme and sublime uniqueness of the Dhamma...
3: Recollection of the supreme and sublime uniqueness of the Sangha...
4: Recollection of the supreme and sublime efficacy of pure Morality...
5: Recollection of the supreme and sublime efficacy of prior Generosity…
6: Recollection of the qualities that gave the devas their divinity...
7: Remembering the stilled silent state of blissful Peace...
8: Avoidance of primitive, violent, angry, rough, and coarse people.
9: Friendship with refined & kind people, who often smile in silent ease.
10: Reviewing by reading many inspiring dhamma discourses like this one.
11: Commitment & resolute determination to elevate the mind by Joy...

Image

There is joy joined with thinking and there is joy separated from thinking!
Both leads to enraptured advance towards many advantageous states.
Awakening is a veritable flood of bliss!


More on this delightful Joy (Piti), that is not of this world:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Ha ... Beyond.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Jo ... Beyond.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Jo ... _World.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Al ... ed_Joy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Joy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Joy_Piti.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

Sources (edited extracts):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 65-6+102-8] 46: Links. 2+51: Group & Nutriments....

ImageImage

Feeding the Joy!

Gladness keeps away both Madness & Sadness ;-)
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Joy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

Beach-Landing-Planes: Tracking a real Rebirth!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Beach-Landing-Planes: Tracking a real Rebirth!
A Scottish child can remember his prior life on a remote island Barra in a white, single-story, & ocean-near house with a highly unusual and pin-pointing specific view: Planes landing directly on the beach! The boy could never have come to know this exceptional aviation detail in advance in this his present life, nor the exact name of this island. He also correctly identifies his past life family name. This documentary follows the tracking of his rebirth details by Dr. Jim Tucker.
http://youtu.be/afVeG4tVKbo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


The extraordinary is a rare & unusual, but not unreal event!

The pioneer in this research was the late Dr. Ian Stevenson:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Stevenson" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He founded The Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) at the Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, VA.
http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/clinic ... /home-page" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A presentation of Dr. Ian Stevenson is here: http://youtu.be/-pPBwFFWz_k" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

An evaluation of his rebirth research is here:
Evidence in Ian Stevenson's Research by Robert Almeder
http://youtu.be/4ytD6D1r9pc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Follow up on this ground-breaking reincarnation research by Dr. Jim Tucker:
http://youtu.be/h6M-nXjh_9I" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://youtu.be/z-1BvpDZwiw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

On Rebirth from an Early Buddhist Perspective:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rebirth.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Rare_Rebirth.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Divine_Rebirth.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Animal_Rebirth.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Samsaric_Dread.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Th ... _Hells.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Fi ... ations.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Bir ... fering.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Th ... estiny.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/En ... ebirth.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Th ... ations.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ka ... ebirth.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Re ... _Kamma.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ma ... ebirth.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Th ... _Round.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Hu ... ebirth.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Hu ... ebirth.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Pas ... Effect.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/W ... inking.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Truth of Rebirth and Why it Matters for Buddhist Practice by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... birth.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... ebirth.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

REBIRTH VIDEOS:
BBC Documentary on Remembered Previous Lives
http://youtu.be/KDI3M9VB8BU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Reincarnation Evidence in Ian Stevenson's Research by Robert Almeder
http://youtu.be/4ytD6D1r9pc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Scientific Reincarnation Evidence by Dr Ian Stevenson
http://youtu.be/-pPBwFFWz_k" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Scientific Rebirth Research:
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/r ... ion01.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
BBC documentary on Near Death Experiences:
http://youtu.be/u8Ub2xx0KQ0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Near-Death Experiences on the Intensive Care Unit
http://youtu.be/fDwYCFiJ2Ys" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Reincarnation research by Ian Stevenson Children's past life memories:
http://youtu.be/h6M-nXjh_9I" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Scientific Evidence of Rebirth by Dr Jim Tucker:
http://youtu.be/z-1BvpDZwiw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Cardiologist on the Near-Death Experience 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICdizzVY5h4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Cardiologist on the Near-Death Experience 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFxc67bLrW0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Near-Death Website:
http://near-death.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

Sweet is Solitude!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Purification is best in Sweet Silent Solitude!

Image

CONTENT WHEN UNDERSTANDING
Solitude is happiness for one, who is content,
Who sees and clearly understands this Dhamma.
Harmlessness is happiness in all worlds,
Kindness towards all living beings. :-)
Udana 10

Image

IDEAL SOLITUDE
Avoid going along with fools. Should one fail to find
any one, who is better or equal as a good companion,
then one should continue this journey all alone.
Since there can be no friendship with fools...
Dhammapada 61

Image

SWEET & NOT LONELY
The one who has tasted the sweetness of solitude
in cooled calm, such one fears not, and wrongdo not,
since so indeed is the sweet joy of true Dhamma!
Dhammapada 205

Image

SOLITUDE AS NECESSITY
If one cannot find a clever companion, upright, straight and determined,
then walk alone like a king leaving the kingdom, like an Elephant freely
roam in all the forest...
Dhammapada 329

Image

SOLITARY FREEDOM
Life in solitude is better than friendship with the fool.
Let the one live alone, acting only right, freed from greed,
Like the Bull Elephant freely roam in all the forest.
Dhammapada 330

ImageImage

THE MASTER
Mastering the hands.
Mastering the feet.
Mastering the speech.
Mastering the thoughts.
Highest Master of Mind;
Concentrated and composed,
Calm and content in secluded solitude,
Such one is indeed rightly called a Bhikkhu ...
Dhammapada 362

ImageImage

Comments: Be realistic!
If one cannot be in company with one-self, then something must be wrong!
Any form of company will dissolve, since all meetings end in separation...
The ever socializing parrot-like personality cannot ever end suffering!
Only dead fish float with the stream!

ImageImage

More on Sweet Secluded Solitude:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Alone_yet_Free.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Th ... s_Horn.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Wheels/wh_188.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sweet Solitude!

Only dead fish float with the stream!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Sweet_Solitude.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

What is Suffering?

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

What is Suffering?

Image

At Savatthi. Sitting to one side, the Venerable Radha said to the Blessed One:
Venerable sir, it is said, 'suffering, suffering', What now, venerable sir, is suffering?
Radha, all form is suffering, all feeling is suffering, all perception is suffering,
all intentional mental formation is suffering, and consciousness itself is suffering.
Understanding this, Bhikkhu, a well instructed Noble Disciple experiences disgust
towards any form, disgust towards any feeling, disgust towards any perception,
disgust towards any mental construction, & disgust towards consciousness itself!
Experiencing disgust, he becomes disillusioned! Through this disillusion his mind
is released. When mind is released, one instantly knows: This mind is liberated,
and one understands: Extinguished is rebirth, this Noble Life is all completed,
done is what should be done, there is no state of being beyond this...

Comments:
These 5 clusters of clinging are what denotes both the internal 'individual'
and the 'external' real world. However as they continually change, no same
internal 'self'= identity or external 'substance'= reality can ever be found!
Since always changing they are always lost and therefore are they always
ultimately speaking suffering! An inner mental prison of craving for something
inevitably, unambiguously & spontaneously vanishing! A fever of folly obsession…

Image
The Suffering and Imprisonment is NOT outside, but inside in our mind!

More on Suffering = Dukkha

http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Source_of_What.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Wh ... fering.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Or ... fering.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Co ... fering.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... fering.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Co ... ring_2.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... fering.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ImageImage

Source:
The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya 22:55 III 185
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sa ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

Life comes at a price...

What is Suffering?
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/Ca ... y_View.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

Feelings Dominate & Dictate!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

These Eight Aspects of Feeling should be Understood!!!

ImageImage

A certain Bhikkhu once asked the Blessed Buddha: Venerable Sir,
1: What is feeling?
2: What is the cause of feeling?
3: What is the way to emergence of feeling?
4: What is the ceasing of feeling?
5: What is the way to cease feeling?
6: What is the satisfaction in feeling?
7: What is the danger in feeling?
8: What is the escape from feeling?

ImageImageImageImageImage

The Blessed Buddha answered:
There are, Bhikkhu, three feelings:
1: The 3 feelings are pleasant feeling, painful feeling, and neutral feeling.
2: Sense contact is the proximate cause of all feeling...
3: Craving is the way leading to the emergence of feeling...
4: The end of sense contact, ceases all feeling instantly...
5: This Noble Eightfold Way is the way to cease feeling...
6: The delight and joy of feeling: This is the satisfaction within feeling...
7: The danger in feeling is its transience, & inherent change into suffering.
8: The escape from feeling is the elimination of desire and lust for feeling.

ImageImageImage

Comment:
Running after pleasurable feeling like mad robots, beings come to pain &
death ever again... Wanting short-term pleasure one gains long-term pain!
This is an unnecessarily heavy price, when there actually is an alternative
of lasting happiness called Nibbana. It is thus quite well worth the effort
to give up all emotional and sensorial addiction and obsession. Only then
can one ever be completely free, truly happy and dwell in peace :-) Yeah!

ImageImageImage

All mental states converges on Feeling (Vedana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/In ... orance.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... eeling.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Fe ... ffects.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... eeling.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Bo ... eeling.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/De ... eeling.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/De ... ontact.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/F ... eeling.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/A ... eeling.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... elings.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Em ... _Storm.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Latent_Feeling.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Five_Feelings.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ImageImage

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV [232-3]
section 36: On Feeling: Vedana. A Certain Bhikkhu... 23.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sa ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Feelings Dominate & Dictate!

Feelings are just passing reactions.
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/Th ... eeling.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

The 7 Fruits!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

What are the 7 Fruits of the Abilities?

Image

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, there are these 5 abilities. What five?
1: The Ability of Faith.
2: The Ability of Energy.
3: The Ability of Awareness.
4: The Ability of Concentration.
5: The Ability of Understanding.

When these 5 abilities have been developed & cultivated, then
seven supreme fruits and excellent benefits may be expected!
What are these seven fruits and advantageous benefits?
1: One attains final knowledge early in this very life. If not then;
2: One attains final knowledge at the time of death. If not then;
3: One having cut the 5 lower chains attains Nibbana in between;
4: One attains Nibbana upon landing in the pure abodes. If not then;
5: One attains Nibbana in the pure abodes without effort. If not then;
6: One attains Nibbana in the pure abodes with some effort. If not then;
7: One is bound Upstream, heading towards the Akanittha realm.
When, Bhikkhus, these five mental abilities have been developed and
cultivated, these seven sublime fruits and benefits may be expected.

Image

On the 5 Mental Abilities and the pure abodes:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/F ... lities.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... vaasaa.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:237] section 48: The Abilities: 66.

Image

The 7 Fruits!

What are the 7 Fruits of the Abilities?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Se ... nefits.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

The Good Lay Disciple!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

What is a Good Lay Buddhist Disciple?

The Sakyan Mahanama once asked the Blessed Buddha:
Venerable Sir, What is a Lay Disciple?
Having taken refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha, one is a Lay Disciple!

Venerable Sir, What is a Pure Disciple?
Avoiding all killing, stealing, sexual abuse, lying, and neither drinking any
alcohol nor taking any drugs causing neglect, one is a Pure Disciple!

Venerable Sir, What is a Faithful Disciple?
Placing faith in the Enlightenment of the Tathagata thus:
Worthy, honourable & perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha! ... teacher &
guide of gods and humans, exalted, & awakened ... one is a Faithful Disciple!

Venerable Sir, What is a Generous Disciple?
Living mentally devoid stinginess, liberal, open-handed, delighting in donation,
devoted to charity, enjoying all giving & sharing, one is a Generous Disciple!

Venerable Sir, What is a Disciple who Understands?
One who understands the cause of arising & ceasing, which is Noble, decisive,
& which enables eradication of Suffering is a wise Disciple who Understands!

Image

More on the Buddhist Lay Disciple (Upasaka):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... aasaka.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/The ... sciple.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image
The Buddha Gotama's first five disciples (Pañcavaggiya)

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:395]
Section 55 on Stream-Entry: Sotapattisamyutta. Thread 37: Mahanama.

Image

The Good Lay Disciple!

Prime Priority: Get the Right Map!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Lay_Disciple.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

Complete Detachment!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends!

Complete Detachment by Relinquishing All!

Image

Friends, we should train in this very way:
I will not cling to neither the eye, nor to the ear, nor to the nose,
nor to the tongue, nor to the body, nor to the mind...
Thus will my consciousness neither depend on awareness of any
sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, nor any mental states...
Thus will my consciousness neither depend on any visual contact,
auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, or any mental contact...
Thus will my consciousness neither depend on any feeling aroused
from all these visual, otherwise sensed or ... mental contacts...
Thus will my consciousness neither depend on any form, emotion,
perception, construction, or any deliberately directed attention!
Thus will my consciousness neither depend on any solidity, fluidity,
heat, motion, space, nor on any sort of mentality whatsoever...
Thus will my consciousness neither depend on any infinitude of space,
any infinitude of consciousness, any sphere of nothingness, any sphere
of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, nor on any other subtle state...
Thus will my consciousness neither depend on anything in this world,
nor on anything in any other transcendent world beyond this world…
Thus will my consciousness be independent of what is seen, heard,
sensed, cognized, encountered, searched for & examined by the mind...
It will be without base, source, & object, unconnected, unconstrained,
unrelated, autonomous, fully freed, sovereign, sublime and supreme…
This -only this- itself leads to the released liberation of final freedom!!!

Image

Source:
The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: Majjhima Nikaya
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.phtml?prod_id=25072X" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/ma ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

Complete Detachment!

Final Fundamental Freedom ...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Fi ... reedom.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

Today is Navam Poya Day!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?

Navam Poya day is the full-moon of February. This holy day celebrates
the ordination of the Buddha Gotama's main disciples Sariputta and
MahaMoggallana. On this day Buddha also later decides his Parinibbana.

Image
The death moment of the Buddha, where he enters Nibbana (Sanskrit Nirvana)...!

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

As long as this life lasts:

I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.

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

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

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

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

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

The New Noble Community of Buddha's Disciples: The Saddhamma Sangha:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Can quite advantageously be Joined Here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have a nice Poya Observance day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Today is Navam Poya Day!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/N ... ya_Day.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

The Siamese Twins ...

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Mentality & Materiality are Mutually Dependent:

Image

Interdependence of Mentality and Materiality; of the dual Name-and-Form:
Mentality alone has no efficient power, it cannot eat, drink, speak, nor walk...
Materiality alone is also without sufficient power, since it cannot do anything
without orders and drive: It has neither desire to eat, drink, speak, nor walk...
When materiality and mentality are joined together, these two twins can act:
When mentality (mind) has a desire to eat, a desire to drink, a desire to speak,
or a desire to walk, it is materiality (body) that eats, drinks, speaks & walks!

ImageImage
Mentality and Materiality, Mind & Matter are Inseparable!

Therefore did the Ancient Elders say:
The mental and the material does really exist,
But here there is no 'human being' to be found,
For it is void and merely fashioned like a doll!
Just suffering piled up like grass and sticks...
The mental and the material: Name-and-Form
Are Siamese Twins, that each supports the other:
When one dies, they both die, surely inseparable,
Due to the necessary mutual dependence...
They cannot come to be by their own strength,
Or even maintain themselves by their own power
Depending on other states, weak in themselves,
Conditioned and constructed, they come to be;
They come to be, with others as crucial requirement.
They are activated by others as if their controller,
They are thus produced by object and condition,
And each by something other, than itself...
And just as men depend upon
A boat for traversing the sea,
So does the mental mind need the
material body for real efficiency.
And as the boat depends upon
The men for traversing the sea,
So does the material body need the
mental mind for induction & control.
Depending each upon the other.
The boat and men can sail the seas.
And so do both mind and matter
Depend, the one, upon the other...
Vism 597

On this Mind-&-Matter Duality, Mentality-Materiality, Naming & Forming:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Name_and_Form.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... uality.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/No_ ... Person.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... _ruupa.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

discriminating mind-&-matter

Image
Is this phenomena Mind or Matter or both or neither?

The Siamese Twins ...
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/The ... _Twins.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

Calm and Insight!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Calm (samatha) & Insight (vipassana):

Image

There are two principal kinds of mental development:
1: Development of mental tranquillity and calm (samatha-bhavana)
culminating in the development of concentration (samadhi-bhavana)
And!
2: Development of insight (vipassana-bhavana) culminating in the
development of understanding (pañña-bhavana).
Both qualities: Calm and Insight, are essential & crucial for release!
Tranquil Calm (samatha) is the pleasant, peaceful, yet lucid state of
a settled mind acquired as a preliminary to meditative absorption.
It blesses the meditator with 3 things: Happy life, happy rebirth, &
a mental purity suitable for gaining progressive penetrating insight!
Concentration is a necessary prerequisite for such cutting insight..
Why so? It removes distractions that veil the investigating vision!
Insight is that which leads to entrance of the 4 stages of Nobility..
Why so? It irreversibly removes gross & latent mental hindrances!
The term samadhi literally means ~being firmly put evenly together
(sam + a+ dha) & is mental state focused on only one single object=
cittassaekaggata, which literally means ~ one-pointedness of mind.
Any state of consciousness has a degree of mental concentration!
One may distinguish these four stages or levels of concentration:
1: Momentary or transient concentration (khanika-samadhi),
2: Preliminary or preparing concentration (parikamma-samadhi),
3: Access or approaching concentration (upacara-samadhi),
4: Absorption or attainment concentration (appana-samadhi).

Insight (vipassana) is the penetrative understanding, gained by only
direct meditative experience of the inherent transience, misery, &
selflessness (anicca, dukkha, anatta) of all physical & mental states
of existence all included in these 5 clusters (khandha) of clinging:
form, feeling, perception, mental construction, and consciousness.
Bhavana is derived from the causative form of the verbal root bhu,
bhavati = to be, to become, causing to be, making come into being,
the calling into existence of, the production of or development of.
When applied to Mental Training this simply means Meditation...

Image
Simultaneous Calm and Insight! Photo: The Kawasakis

More on Insight (Vipassana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Hi ... ibbana.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... sights.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Br ... nsight.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

Calm and Insight!

The Dual Advantage of Mental Training:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ca ... nsight.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

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:

Joys beyond this World!

Post by Bhikkhu_Samahita »

Friends:

Joys neither of this world, nor even Beyond!!!

Image

The Blessed Buddha once said:
And what, Bhikkhus, is the Joy not of this world? Aloof and above any lust,
quite secluded from any sense desire, protected from any disadvantageous
mental state, one enters & dwells in the 1st jhana mental absorption; full of
joy & pleasure born of solitude, joined with directed & sustained thought...
With the stilling of directed & sustained thought, one later enters & dwells
in the 2nd jhana of calmed assurance & unification of mind devoid of any
thought & thinking, joined with joy & pleasure now born of concentration!
These are called the joys not of this world!
And what, Bhikkhus, is the joy beyond that joy, which is not of this world?
When a bhikkhu, whose mental fermentations are eliminated, reviews his
mind liberated from lust, freed from hatred, and released from confusion,
there arises a transcendental joy. This is called Joy quite beyond that joy,
that is not of this world...

ImageImage

More on quite rapturous Joy (piti) here hihihi ;-):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Joy_Piti.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Joy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Al ... ed_Joy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Sup ... elight.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Sup ... elight.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Jo ... _World.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Jo ... Beyond.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Ha ... Beyond.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ImageImageImage

Regarding Joys of this World: Balance - Sara Tavares seems infectious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C9mWN8vKHQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ImageImage

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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sa ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Joys beyond this World!

Have a nice, noble, and joyous day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There is a Supra-Human kind of Delight!


Joys beyond this World!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Jo ... _World.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Image

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Ceylon.

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