Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

The Buddhist path is one of learning. Progress towards liberation is not achieved through faith, prayer or ceremony. It is achieved through learning the true nature of body and mind. The difficulty with this kind of learning is that students do not start off with a blank slate. Initially, there is much unlearning of mistaken assumptions, views and beliefs to be attended to. The essential feature of this kind of learning is that ultimately it must consist of a direct non-verbal encounter with 'the way things are'. Such a profound learning is only possible when students are able to enter a stable state of sustained mindfulness called samādhi. Samādhi provides an unbiased, trustworthy awareness in which the student feels calm and strong and clear. In this state the impermanent ownerless nature of our existence manifests without distortion. We realise that we do not have to attain anything or become anything. All we have to do is to wake up to simple truths that have always, already been present.

Ajahn Jayasāro
3/12/22
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sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

Sometimes the momentum of thought is too powerful to resist. At such times, rather than giving into frustration, we can channel the thinking into wholesome pathways. If pursued without distraction, disciplined thought can bring the mind to a peace that the effort to let go of thought altogether cannot.

For example, lay Buddhist might imagine cooking a meal for the Buddha and a group of his enlightened disciples. Picturing in detail how one would prepare the ingredients, cook the food, and then travel to a forest, a cave or a mountainside to offer the food into the Buddha's hands, can give rise to such powerful feelings of joy that mental agitation disappears completely. This kind of meditation can allow for a creativity of mind that many meditators believe they must abandon if they are to follow the path of Dhamma. In fact, for skillful meditators imagination can be a powerful tool for working with a stubborn mind.

Ajahn Jayasāro
6/12/22
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sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

The feeling of being right is intoxicating. It is like a highly addictive drug. As the addiction deepens, attachment to views and beliefs becomes intense. Admitting one is wrong becomes almost impossible, even in trivial matters. When views and beliefs are held onto so strongly they become part of one's identity, then protecting them seems like a matter of life and death. Opposition to one's views is seen as a personal challenge, an insult or infuriating disloyalty.

The Buddha, alone amongst great religious teachers, taught the dangers of identification with views and beliefs, which he often referred to as "a thicket, a wilderness".

Abandoning am unwise relationship to views and beliefs begins by recognizing how much suffering it brings with it, and how it prevents any true peace and wisdom from arising in one's mind. Ir is important to reflect that views and beliefs are founded upon information and observation. As both of these are fallible, so the views and beliefs conditioned by them cannot be totally reliable. It is also helpful to recall occasions in the past in which one was utterly convinced about something, only to discover at a later point, that one was mistaken. Bring to mind this feeling of being completely sure. Remind oneself that this is just a feeling, no more and less. It is not in itself a proof of anything at all.

Ajahn Jayasāro
10/12/22
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sunnat
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Post by sunnat »

There are feelings accompanying the clinging to views, as if they are inseparable from a self.

Just like all feelings, it is these feelings that offer an opportunity for escape.

It is a matter of recognising them and letting them go.

Feelings that are so tightly clung to, at first can be very subtle or neutral. Look for the subtle nudges that prompt things like moving, getting up, stretching, scratching. All those movements that seem so natural and are taken for granted. Below them may be lurking the doors to the deeper wisdoms.
sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

I quite often speak with people afraid of ghosts. Usually, i ask them how many times they have been threatened or mistreated by ghosts. In almost every case, after some hesitation, these people (usually, but not always, children) reply 'never'. I then ask, "in your life so far, which has caused you more suffering: ghosts or fear of ghosts ?" The reply is - as you may guess - fear of ghosts. "So", I say, "let's follow the Buddha's teachings and look at the two most important things: suffering and the end of suffering. Surely, your real problem is not malevolent spirits but the fear of them. Let's look at how to free ourselves of fear"

Fear is triggered by sensory impingement. It is sustained by a torrent of thoughts, memories and perceptions. We cannot usually counter that torrent purely on the mental level. To abandon fear we must turn our attention to its physical manifestations. Scanning the body in order to observe in fine detail exactly how fear feels, removes attention from the mental states that feed it. By considering fear as an object rather than identifying with it, fear subsides.

Ajahn Jayasāro
13/12/22
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sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

The Buddha described each element of the Noble Eightfold Path as "Sammā", usually translated as "Right". Thus we have Right View, Right Thought, Right Speech and so on. But what does the word "Right" mean in this case ?

It should be understood in light of the goal of the Buddhist teachings: the realization of Nibbāna. Right View, for example, refers to those views that must be adopted in order to reach Nibbāna. Wrong Views are those which must be abandoned in order to do so. Right Thought refers to those thoughts that must be cultivated in order to realize Nibbāna, wrong thoughts are those to abandoned. Right Action refers to the actions that must be performed by one aspiring to Nibbāna and Wrong Action to those actions that must be abandoned. And so on.

Thus, the word "Right" is not meant as a declaration that we Buddhist are right and everyone else is wrong. It is meant to clarify that for those intent on following this path to its conclusion, there are eight areas of life in which specific necessary conditions must be fulfilled.

Ajahn Jayasāro
17/12/22
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sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

In the Satipatthāna Sutta the Buddha teaches about mindfulness of mind (cittānupasana) as follows: "He knows the mind with greed as mind with greed and mind without greed as mind without greed. He knowns the mind with hate as mind with hate and the mind without hate as mind without hate. He knowns the mind with delusion as mind with delusion and mind without delusion as mind without delusion."

But what does it means to know the mind ?

There is a very simple way to experience this: just hold your breath for a few seconds.

That is the mind. It's the most normal and natural, ever-present phenomena in our lives. But through lack of awareness of its presence we continually identify with impermanent mental states and fall into the power of defilement.

It's easiest be be aware of the mind when it is free of content. This is valuable because seeing the mind before and after a mental state arises enables us to see the impermanent, selfless nature of the state. But as we get more adept we become able to experience the mind even in the midst of mental activity. This is when mindfulness of the mind really starts to bear fruit.

Ajahn Jayasāro
20/12/22
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sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

Refraining from telling lies or misrepresenting the truth is a powerful Dhamma practice. it requires a sharp and constant mindfulness. It has a strong purifying effect on the mind. Its power lies in the way that it exposes the defilements that are triggered during conversations. In determining to care for the truth and uphold it - come what may - we are able to recognize and let go of the fears and desires, the insecurities and the pride, that lie behind our small untruths and half-truths.

But an uncompromising approach to even "white" lies does not lead to a harsh, unfeeling style of speech; commitment to truth is not the only principle to be borne in mind white we are speaking. The Buddha also taught that our speech should be beneficial, appropriate to time and place, kind and polite.

Love of truth ennobles the mind. Expressing this love in our speech with skill and sensitivity is a wonderful gift we can offer all those around us on every day of the year.

Ajahn Jayasāro
24/12/22
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Jinny999
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by Jinny999 »

Thanks for sharing.
sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

Imagine a world in which everyone sings off-key. Then one day see someone singing with perfect pitch and tone. Somehow you would know that this is how singing is supposed to sound. But how could you describe it to the inhabitants of the off-key world ?

Imagine a world in which all the flowers are artificial. Then one day you see a real flower is meant to be. But how could you describe it to the inhabitants of an artificial world ?

I have struggled over the years to explain my impressions of Ajahn Chah. These are two analogies that i have employed. Another is of him as a great lord striding with confidence and sure-footedness over his ancestral lands. Here, by "lands" i refer to the ever-changing landscape of the present moment.

We have such limited views of ourselves. The great Dhamma practitioners like Ajahn Chah prove how much more there can be to a human life.

Ajahn Jayasāro
27/12/22
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sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

May mindfulness, patience, kindness and wisdom guide and protect you all in the coming year!

Ajahn Jayasāro
31/12/22
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sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

On the path of wisdom we do not consider the inner noise of memory and imagination as an enemy. Our practice is to know noise as noise and silence as silence. The commitment is to the knowing. Knowing provides a continuity that transcends the duality between silence and noise.

For the mind devoted to knowing, inner noise naturally falls away and inner silence manifests as a matters of course. If the mind does register noise it is experienced as irrelevant and far away; it does not detract from the silence. This knowing silence bears within itself the seed of insight into the three characteristics of existence and liberation from all attachment.

Ajahn Jayasāro
3/1/23
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sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

Communities and societies tend to be predominantly based upon either ideas of duty and responsibility or else the concept of human rights. Of the two, the concept of human right probably offers the better protection against abuse and corruption. But it has its own weaknesses. Definition of right and prioritization of them can be controversial. Seeing the world too exclusively in terms of 'my right' seems to played a role in the growth of narcissism and sense of entitlement in the world today.

The Buddhist Monastic Order affords an example of a society based upon the principles of duty and responsibility checks and balances are provided by the Vinaya. Nevertheless, there is recognition of something akin to "bhikkhu rights".

In the ordination ceremony, the preceptor is required to inform the new monk of his four basic material rights: rag robes for clothing, almsfood for sustenance, the shade of a tree for shelter, and fermented cow's urine for medicine in times of illness.

I have always found this a most rewarding reflection. Contentment with robes, food, dwelling place and medical care has always come easy to me whan i have recalled my basic bhikkhu rights, and remembered that everything else is a bonus, provided my kind people, to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude.

Ajahn Jayasāro
7/1/23
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sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

We usually feel that it is appropriate to be praised when we do good things and criticized when we do bad things. If we don't receive praise when we do something good we can easily feel unappreciated. If we are criticized when we didn't do anything bad, we can feel hurt. We have expectations about how things should be, and suffer accordingly.

The Buddha taught us to let go of expectations. He himself, although utterly pure, was once accused by a woman of making her pregnant. Other enlightened disciples were accused of being greedy, violent or jealous. Over the centuries how many good actions have been ignored or denigrated ? How many bad actions praised and rewarded ? For too many to count.

In this world full of defilements there is little short-term justice. Justice is to be found in the law of kamma. Every good and bad action has consequences. Even the smartest good action, recognized by others or not, praised or criticized, adds to the treasure of goodness in our hearts, which is our true refuge.

Ajahn Jayasāro
10/1/23
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sequeller
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Re: Yellow Page Teachings - Ajahn Jayasāro

Post by sequeller »

Where most religions focus upon the correct relationships between human beings and their conception of the divine, Buddhism focuses upon the correct relationships between human beings and change. In particular we are taught to observe and examine change as it manifest in our body and mind.

The working hypothesis that we have received from the Buddha is that change is neither divinely ordained nor random. It proceeds in accordance with causes and conditions. Understanding this as a direct experience leads to liberation. Investigating the conditioned nature of body, feelings, perceptions, memory, thought and imagination, and sense consciousness, thus lies at the heart of wisdom cultivation. It is not just that we are subject to change, but that we are change. There is no permanent or independent owner of experience to be found.

After listening to the Buddha's first discourse, Kondanna realised Stream Entry, the first stage of enlightenment. His profound realisation: all that is of the nature to arise is of the nature to pass away.

Ajahn Jayasāro
14/1/23
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