Doctrinal source of 'Buddho' meditation of the Thai Forest tradition

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frank k
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Re: Doctrinal source of 'Buddho' meditation of the Thai Forest tradition

Post by frank k »

It ain't what you do, it's how you do it.
See first of 5 methods in MN 20, how to stop bad thoughts.
If a mantra 'Buddho' is used to drive out akusala thoughts by replacing it with a kusala one, then it's perfectly in line with MN 20 and EBT.
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religionista
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Re: Doctrinal source of 'Buddho' meditation of the Thai Forest tradition

Post by religionista »

The Myanmar Digital News tells us: "Making prayer beads from fruits of rattan trees is a traditional domestic business for the folk people in the Village of Zayitchaung in Thaton Township, Mon State."

So the mala and presumably also the attached mantra practice must have been present in Mon State for some time. The fact that the mala has 108 beads suggests an Indian origin for both the mala and probably also the mantra practice.

I'm speculating that at some time in the past, an Indian mantra tradition was taken up by Buddhist monks in Mon State. Possibly then or possibly at a later date, the recitation of the word "buddho" became conflated with the practice of Buddhānusati as described in the Visuddhimagga.

All speculative, I agree, but the textual evidence one way or another may have been lost forever or may never have existed in the first place.
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religionista
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Re: Doctrinal source of 'Buddho' meditation of the Thai Forest tradition

Post by religionista »

If anyone has access to the National Library of Australia, I found this work by Somdet Phra Vanarat Buddhasiri (1806-1891) in their catalogue. It might explain the teachings of Somdet Phra Vanarat Buddhasiri on meditation, which may or may not include the "buddho" mantra practice.

Insight meditation / by Somdet Phra Vanarat (Buddhasiri) ; English version by Ven. Phra Srivisuddhikavī

Bib ID 6185507

Format Book

Author Somdet Phra Vanarat

Description Bangkok : Mahamakut Buddhist University, 1981 68 p. ; 19 cm.

Subjects Buddhist meditations. | Meditation.
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religionista
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Re: Doctrinal source of 'Buddho' meditation of the Thai Forest tradition

Post by religionista »

In Myanmar there is a tradition of spoken "buddho" recitation with a mala. From the buddho website:

"Within the Buddhist meditative tradition in Myanmar, in addition to the popular vipassanā movement of the past 100 years, there has traditionally been a group focusing on developing concentration (samādhi). One of the objects used for developing samādhi is the sound of the word buddho. In other Theravāda Buddhist countries, such as Thailand, buddho is usually recited mentally, in silence or linked to breathing. During meditation on the sound of buddho, we use a mālā as an aid to the development of deep concentration."
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Re: Doctrinal source of 'Buddho' meditation of the Thai Forest tradition

Post by Observing »

I heard venerable Yuttadhammo say that using mantras to try and evoke a state of mind can be dangerous and has even led some meditators to go crazy. Please correct me if I'm wrong but the "bhuddo" mantra is used as a means to evoke mindfulness or minimize distracting thoughts? I am weary to use it myself as I prefer to use the "noting " mantra so as to be aware of what is happening in the present. It seems problematic to try and force the mind or "shut out" distracting thoughts, rather than just sit with them and witness.

But I could be misunderstanding what the bhuddo mantra is actually used for.
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Re: Doctrinal source of 'Buddho' meditation of the Thai Forest tradition

Post by Dweller »

It's a tool, one can say Coca Cola to make it equally effective.
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Re: Doctrinal source of 'Buddho' meditation of the Thai Forest tradition

Post by mikenz66 »

Dweller wrote: Mon Jun 20, 2022 7:59 am It's a tool, one can say Coca Cola to make it equally effective.
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Ontheway
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Re: Doctrinal source of 'Buddho' meditation of the Thai Forest tradition

Post by Ontheway »

The Bud-(breath in) dho-(breath out) mantra practice is neither traceable in Pali Tipitaka canon nor in Visuddhimagga.
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TRobinson465
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Re: Doctrinal source of 'Buddho' meditation of the Thai Forest tradition

Post by TRobinson465 »

I dont think there is much scriptural evidence of any of the existing meditation techniques except anapanasati as taught by modern Buddhist groups. At least not in the sense that the suttas say the Buddha said, do this or do that. the Buddho mantra itself does seem to be a recollection of the Buddha technique as described in the visuddhimagga tho, even tho it doesnt mention the mantra specifically. Again i think this is pretty much the case with any meditation technique in existence except maybe some modern suttanta techniques modern ppl started doing based on the anapanasati sutta or something.
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Re: Doctrinal source of 'Buddho' meditation of the Thai Forest tradition

Post by Spiny Norman »

religionista wrote: Sun Jun 12, 2022 2:41 pm In Myanmar there is a tradition of spoken "buddho" recitation with a mala. From the buddho website:

"Within the Buddhist meditative tradition in Myanmar, in addition to the popular vipassanā movement of the past 100 years, there has traditionally been a group focusing on developing concentration (samādhi). One of the objects used for developing samādhi is the sound of the word buddho. In other Theravāda Buddhist countries, such as Thailand, buddho is usually recited mentally, in silence or linked to breathing. During meditation on the sound of buddho, we use a mālā as an aid to the development of deep concentration."
Interesting. Using "buddho" as a mantra to develop samadhi sounds different to using it as a support for breath meditation?
Though I suppose any 2-syllable mantra would naturally "attach itself" to the breath with repetition.
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