Thank you all for the responses. Not much to add yet but I am enjoying the conversation.

cappuccino wrote: ↑Sat Jun 03, 2023 8:40 pm AI is a tool, not a being

A being is a tool. Neither are self.

The Buddha sought to clearly comprehend and taught clear comprehension. Deception is a fool's game and using sutta to justify it is a fool's errand trapping one in samsara. Shame on a teacher for deceiving a student. Students come to teachers for clarity. Teachers who think they are the Buddha decei...

wanting is nutrient , if someone want to enter 1st jhana they enter based on intent. so they "want" to enter 1st jhana so they wanting is nutrient. I dont understand what nutrient word means I think you're probably right. Wanting to get there but also knowing how to get there and having r...

When swallowing the saliva, you notice the hardness of 'the teeth'(earth), the wetness of 'the saliva'(water), the movements of the tongue, and throat(air), and the warmth of the mouth(heat). These are sensations of the 'body' in and of itself. Smells and tastes don't seem to be part of the 'body' ...

From what I understand both are precursors to jhanas and appear to be described the same ways.

It comes after the meditator abandons sloth and drowsiness, having already abandoned covetousness and ill will. Whether the list is intended to be a temporal sequence or not, we would expect the nimitta to arise after all the hindrances had been abandoned, or at least to not be associated with this...

Hello all, I am hoping to have an honest answer to my question, I am usually doing a lot of metta practice and I help a lot of people and do a lot of good karma in daily life, But I do have problems though, I watch porn once a week. no matter how much I try to avoid this, I end up watching porn and...

Probably first clarify what you're seeking to yourself. Then see if either of those things has it. If still can't determine, maybe try some from both and then examine if either brings you closer to what you seek.

mjaviem wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 12:46 pm I see it more like playing with fire. You don't play with fire because you might get burned.

You don't watch TV or listen to music because you might covet or disgust what's being played.

That's a good one, succinct and easy to remember.

Hello Venerables and friends, It appears often in translation associated with abandoning sloth and drowsiness but there isn't much else said. Abandoning sloth & drowsiness, he dwells with an awareness devoid of sloth & drowsiness, mindful, alert, percipient of light. Attempting to understand...

Precepts are a guide to escape samsara. If you have no interest in escape, there is no need to follow precepts.

Hello, When I try to examine through the four great elements in taste-consciousness(jivha-vinnana), it all becomes body(kaya). One wouldn't call pressure on the eyeball or hot and cold on the eyeball same as eye sight. Where are the four elements in taste(jivha)? Is spicy food fire element? :anjali:

Hi, I’m not sure if the term ‘nutriment’ is used, but traditionally the jhanic factors are said to arise when the 5 hindrances pause. Which can happen through the cultivation of sila (wholesome behavior). Hey ssasny. I haven't come across the term nutriment being used for jhana before but understan...

I see, so like trying to play in the water while staying dry. The playing almost always means to get wet. If one strives to be dry, they don't think of playing in the water because if they play in the water they likely get wet. If one strives to be without sense desire or ill will they don't think o...