Search found 365 matches

by skandha
Mon Feb 12, 2024 8:31 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Can you explain how do you understand yourself (self) please?
Replies: 34
Views: 802

Re: Can you explain how do you understand yourself (self) please?

- Basically, I have a five aggregate No, you do not have the five aggregates, they are not yours. The five aggregates have "you", you are totally defined by the five aggregates. Actually in this case you have a different wrong view to mine. - I am the box - Box is inside me -I am inside t...
by skandha
Mon Feb 12, 2024 6:40 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Can you explain how do you understand yourself (self) please?
Replies: 34
Views: 802

Re: Can you explain how do you understand yourself (self) please?

SarathW wrote: Fri Feb 09, 2024 7:01 pm - Basically, I have a five aggregate
No, you do not have the five aggregates, they are not yours. The five aggregates have "you", you are totally defined by the five aggregates.
by skandha
Mon Feb 12, 2024 6:12 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Mindfulness is a technique?
Replies: 116
Views: 3299

Re: Mindfulness is a technique?

As we see from those trapped in the Goenka ecosystem, all they manage to cultivate is non-reactivity. There is nothing about non-reactivity that will give anyone the Right View that is required to cultivate nibbida . The practice in the Goenka tradition is never about cultivating non-reactivity, bu...
by skandha
Thu Feb 01, 2024 2:33 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The Buddhist Cosmos - Punnadhammo Mahāthero - Free Book
Replies: 1
Views: 144

Re: The Buddhist Cosmos - Punnadhammo Mahāthero - Free Book

... Thank you Lucas, there is certainly a lot of interesting information in the pdf book. Here is one that I found interesting; There is, nevertheless, one important way in which the bhumma devas have an advantage over the higher devas. If a higher deva should attain to arahatta, the state of full ...
by skandha
Mon Jan 29, 2024 11:39 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Monks who talk politics
Replies: 236
Views: 6919

Re: Monks who talk politics

3. “What is right view that’s worldly, conventional, contaminated, acquired, and which leads to a good destiny? If someone’s view is that there’s generosity, there’s the teaching … knowing there are arhats in the world … ‘won’t subject to a later existence.’ This is called the worldly right view th...
by skandha
Sun Jan 28, 2024 11:42 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Disrespecting Vipassana
Replies: 105
Views: 4269

Re: Disrespecting Vipassana

But the whole regime is designed for sensations to arise. You're going looking for sensations to zap with 'equanimity'. If you scan a part and there are no sensations then that is put down to your awareness not being subtle enough as he claims that these 'blank' spots will eventually become apparen...
by skandha
Sun Jan 28, 2024 11:28 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Disrespecting Vipassana
Replies: 105
Views: 4269

Re:

Ajahn Brahm often starts guided meditations, before talks, with breath and a body scan. Nowhere as detailed as Goenkaji but the same part by part sweep from feet to head. He will seldom give guided meditation at courses but rather, in a noble silence format, emphasise relaxation. ‘Relax to the max’...
by skandha
Sun Jan 28, 2024 10:57 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Disrespecting Vipassana
Replies: 105
Views: 4269

Re: Disrespecting Vipassana

Contemplating (not searching for sensations) that there is earth, water, fire and air within the body along with the concomitant hardness, fluidity, temperature and movement and then contemplating the outer world... its oceans, mountains other people etc. one comes to the realisation that what one ...
by skandha
Sun Jan 28, 2024 10:48 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Disrespecting Vipassana
Replies: 105
Views: 4269

Re:

That post by spharios is very much appreciated. Personally, having trained as Goenkaji taught, as Ajahn Chah taught, as Ajahn Brahm teaches, as Ajahn Brahmali teaches and as other teachers taught by U Ba Khin, teach, the experience is that all teach correctly with specific variance in emphasis. All...
by skandha
Sun Jan 28, 2024 10:20 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Disrespecting Vipassana
Replies: 105
Views: 4269

Re: Disrespecting Vipassana

Hi Skandha Again, you seem to read into the sutta something I just fail to see and your example of the 'external' is really a very long stretch. Awareness of sensations within the body don't seem to figure at all as a means towards nibbana. A contemplation of internal and external earth property is...
by skandha
Sun Jan 28, 2024 7:59 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Disrespecting Vipassana
Replies: 105
Views: 4269

Re: Disrespecting Vipassana

Hi Skandha I see nothing in the Dhatu Vibhanga Sutta that could possibly give rise to Goenka's technique. https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.140.than.html However, I can see how a teaching that requires contemplation, samadhi & discernment can be swapped for a rota 'technique' that ...
by skandha
Sun Jan 28, 2024 3:49 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Disrespecting Vipassana
Replies: 105
Views: 4269

Re: Disrespecting Vipassana

He proclaimed he was teaching a technique... a technique handed down from the Buddha. A direct unbroken lineage only found within Myanmar (don't like the word lie so we'll call it bullshit). Goenka's claim of a direct unbroken lineage is an oral tradition from the descendants of Goenka's great gran...
by skandha
Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:58 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Seven Stations of Consciousness
Replies: 22
Views: 920

Re: Seven Stations of Consciousness

I'm not sure about the "luminous mind". I think its more to do with the "perception of day when night". It is perhaps the case that the Sarvāstivādins were more of the forest dwelling type and Theravāda more the settled monastic type. That would then make sense of why when it co...
by skandha
Thu Jan 25, 2024 2:00 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Disrespecting Vipassana
Replies: 105
Views: 4269

Re: Disrespecting Vipassana

With respect 🙏 When you join a course taught by Goenka it’s called Vipassana Yes, but lots of things are already potentially called vipassana, that's my point. You can't use a generic word or phrase on its own as a brand name, it leads to confusion and if this was a commercial organisation it would...
by skandha
Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:51 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Disrespecting Vipassana
Replies: 105
Views: 4269

Re: Disrespecting Vipassana

The practice leads to a joyless, thoughtless and uncompassionate view of the world. 'Oh dear! A child has fallen and hurt themselves... I'll just observe my sensations & stay equanimous. I'll send my vibrations (apparently metta is vibrations) and that'll do the trick.' You can stay equanimous ...