The Buddha did explain about Jhanas as part of the N8FP as part of Samma Samadhi where reaching upto the 4th Jhana gives optimum Samadhi. However I am currently an Anagarika (awaiting my Pabbaja) in a monastery where Jhanas are 'de-emphasized'. Instead emphasis is given to Intuitive Awareness as tau...

Garrib wrote: ↑Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:47 am I'm happy for you. Are you planning to ordain?

Yes. I requested to become a Samanera and I have been accepted into the community. So hopefully before this years rains I will be going forth (Pabbajja).

Forgive yourself and keep going forward. As Ajahn Brahm says "the AFL code - Acknowledge, Forgive and Learn". Acknowledge that you did break the precept (even though its not the end of the world). Forgive yourself and then learn from this. You dont need to confess or take penance. That will just enc...

1. Is lust/sexual desire a defilement/klesa? Yes. 2. Is lust/sexual desire is to be abandoned? Or is it to be moderated? If one wishes to follow the path to Enlightenment, then it is necessary to abandon as many forms of desire as possible (including sexual desire). If you look at the life of the B...

It is as if I am unable to make a choice as to what school of Buddhism is best for me. I take the gems of all. Yes, sort of the same here. Its just that to be of benefit to others around us it is important to train so this means we have no choice but to pick one lineage, at least temporarily. Will ...

Do you have experience with Zen/Chan/Seon, the other Mahayana branch? It has it gems for sure. Around 4 - 6 year ago I was going to various Mahayana/Vajrayana groups and activities as this was the time I was opening up to Mahayana/Vajrayana Buddhism. Part of that exploration also involved me visiti...

What draws me to Theravada Buddhism is the emphasis on morality. That's not to say that other schools of Buddhism don't stress morality, but it has just been my experience. Morality is the basis on which build our practice. I think this gets downplayed a little in the other schools. Of course, mora...

Taro, As an addendum I want to say this. Its something I should have mentioned earlier in that first post I made on this thread, but it surfaced into my mind a few moments ago. You will find in Vajrayana communities that the word 'enlightened' gets used very easily, partly because of the Guru Yoga c...

Out of curiosity, was your shift inspired by anyone at Amaravati? I understand Venerable Amaro does double-duty as a Theravadin bhikkhu and a Dzogchenpa (a kind of Tantrika) . No. even though I have been to Amaravati several times, my interest in Mahayana started before then. I have not read any of...

Welcome! As someone who went in the opposite gradient (from Theravada to Vajrayana), I became more aware of some important differences during my transition. One of the most important differences is the teacher - student relationship. Theravada does not require the level of teacher devotion that is r...

Sorry for some reason this post is appearing on DhammaWheel 3 times, but please answer here.

A friend of mine wanted to me to ask this question to get answers which would be helpful for him. "I wanted to know how dispassion is best generated? What the right and wrong method is? Whether exposure to the source of attachment combined with contemplation is just a trick or a legitimate process, ...

This is just a question where I am asking for a confirmation. To my knowledge, it is recommended for lay Buddhists to follow the 8 Precepts at least 4 times a month, ideally based on the phases of the moon. But sometimes such days don't nicely fall into weekends, where they are like normal working d...

I am on 8 Precepts these days and following them in a less than ideal manner at home (which is still better than just attempting to follow the 5 Precepts). As for my bed, I took the mat and kept it on the floor and this is where I sleep at night. Being a Unfortunately, I have been violating this pre...

Let's look at the word 'Ajahn'. Ajahn is a Thai adaptation of the Sanskrit word 'Acarya' which means teacher. Even in Thailand, the word Ajahn is used for certain types of teachers who are not always monastics. Even among the laypeople where this term is used, they may not be Buddhist or have any co...