Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

Friends:

Purification is best in Sweet Silent Solitude!



CONTENT WHEN UNDERSTANDING
Solitude is happiness for one, who is content,
Who sees and clearly understands this Dhamma.
Harmlessness is happiness in all worlds,
Kindness towards all living beings. :-)
Udana 10



IDEAL SOLITUDE
Avoid going along with fools. Should one fail to find
any one, who is better or equal as a good companion,
then one should continue this journey all alone.
Since there can be no friendship with fools...
Dhammapada 61



SWEET & NOT LONELY
The one who has tasted the sweetness of solitude
in cooled calm, such one fears not, and wrongdo not,
since so indeed is the sweet joy of true Dhamma!
Dhammapada 205



SOLITUDE AS NECESSITY
If one cannot find a clever companion, upright, straight and determined,
then walk alone like a king leaving the kingdom, like an Elephant freely
roam in all the forest...
Dhammapada 329



SOLITARY FREEDOM
Life in solitude is better than friendship with the fool.
Let the one live alone, acting only right, freed from greed,
Like the Bull Elephant freely roam in all the forest.
Dhammapada 330



THE MASTER
Mastering the hands.
Mastering the feet.
Mastering the speech.
Mastering the thoughts.
Highest Master of Mind;
Concentrated and composed,
Calm and content in secluded solitude,
Such one is indeed rightly called a Bhikkhu ...
Dhammapada 362



Comments: Be realistic!
If one cannot be in company with one-self, then something must be wrong!
Any form of company will dissolve, since all meetings end in separation...
The ever socializing parrot-like personality cannot ever end suffering!
Only dead fish float with the stream!



More on Sweet Secluded Solitude:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Alone_yet_Free.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Rhinoceros_Horn.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Wheels/wh_188.pdf

Only dead fish float with the stream!

Sweet Solitude!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Sweet_Solitude.htm

Friends:

Friendly Goodwill is the 9th Mental Perfection:

Friendliness means Goodwill
Friendliness means Kindness
Friendliness means Helpfulness
Friendliness means Assistance
Friendliness means Support
Friendliness means Benevolence
Friendliness means Concern
Friendliness means Care
Friendliness means Compassion
Friendliness means Cooperation
Friendliness means Mutual Aid
Friendliness means Mutual Advantage
Friendliness means Sympathy
Friendliness means Symbiosis

Only friendliness can completely evaporate the poison of hate and anger!
Its characteristic is promoting other being's welfare, its function is to
do only good, and its manifestation is kindness, sympathy, and gentleness...
The proximate cause of friendliness is seeing the good aspects of things!
The proximate cause of understanding compassion is this very friendliness!



The Blessed Buddha said about friendliness (Metta):
"Bhikkhus, whatever kinds of worldly merit there are, all are not worth
one sixteenth part of the release of mind by universal friendliness;
in shining, glowing and beaming radiance, this release of mind by
universal friendliness far excels & surpasses them all..."

What are the 11 Advantages of cultivating such Universal Friendliness?
The four Brahma Viharas; The four Divine States:
The four Supreme States; The four Infinite States:

"Friends, eleven advantages are to be expected as effect from the release
of mind into friendliness by the practice of Goodwill, by cultivating amity,
by making much of it frequently, by making friendliness the vehicle, the tool,
the basis, by insisting on it, by being well established in it as a sublime habit!
What are these eleven advantages ?
One falls asleep well! One wakes up Happy!
One dreams no evil dreams!
One is liked and loved by all human beings!
One is liked and loved by all non-human beings too!
One is guarded and protected by the divine devas!
One cannot be harmed by fire, poison, or weapons!
One easily attains the concentration of absorption!
Ones appearance becomes serene, calm, and composed!
One dies without confusion, bewilderment, or panic!
One reappears after death on the Brahma level, if one
has penetrated to no higher level in this very life!



When the mind is released into friendliness by the practice of goodwill,
by manifesting friendliness, by cultivating amity, by frequently making much
of it, by making friendliness the vehicle, the tool, the basis, the medium, the
foundation, by persisting in it, by insisting on it, by properly consolidating it,
by thoroughly undertaking it, by making it a familiar supreme habit, by so
being well established in it, these eleven blessings can be expected!"
Anguttara Nikaya V 342

There, Oohh friends, the Bhikkhu with a mind full of friendly loving-kindness
pervading first one direction, then a 2nd one, then a 3rd one then the 4th one,
as below so above, across and all around, everywhere identifying himself with
all sentient beings, he is encompassing the whole world with a mind of friendly
loving-kindness, with a wide mind, vast, refined, unbounded, cleared, exalted,
pure and bright, free from all hate and ill will ...

There, Oh friends, the Bhikkhu with a mind full of understanding compassion
pervading first the front, then the right side, then the back, then the left side,
as below so above, across & all around, all over, far & wide; identifying himself
with all sentient beings, he is perfusing the whole universe with a mind imbued
with pity, with a spacious mind, a refined mind, infinite, purified, all luminous,
freed from all anger and any trace of enmity ...

There, the Bhikkhu with a mind full of altruistic, sympathetic and mutual Joy
pervading the North, then the East, then the South, then the West, as below
so above, across & all around, universally, infinitely; identifying himself with
all sentient beings, he is suffusing all galaxies with a mind elevated by genuine
mutual and altruistic sympathetic joy, with an open mind, immeasurable, wide,
limitless, pure & shining, free from all aversion and bitterness ...

There, Oohh friends, the Bhikkhu with a mind full of balanced equanimity is
pervading first the frontal quadrant, then the right, then the rear & then the
left quadrant, as below so above, across and all around, everywhere placing
himself with all sentient beings, he is permeating the whole world with a mind
satiated of stilled and balanced equanimity, calmed, with a mountain-like mind,
cultivated, endless, clean, dazzling, freed from any irritation and resentment."



"So too, Bhikkhus, others may speak to you timely or untimely, true or untrue,
gentle or harsh, beneficial or harmful, based on kindness or on bitter hate!
If they abuse you verbally, you should train yourselves in this way:
"Our minds will remain unaffected, we shall speak no angry words, will dwell
friendly and understanding, with thoughts of kindness and no inward anger!
We shall remain friendly and beam goodwill towards that very person, and we
shall dwell extending it to the entire universe, mentally overflowing, exalted,
measureless and infinite in friendliness, without any trace hostility or ill-will."
That is how you should train yourselves. Even if bandits were savagely to cut
you up, limb by limb, with a two-handled saw, one who harbours hate on that
account, would not be one who carried out my teaching. Bhikkhus, you should
keep this instruction on this Simile of the Saw constantly in mind...
Majjhima Nikaya, Sutta 21

Thus he who both day and night
takes delight in harmlessness
sharing love with all that lives,
finds enmity with none...
Samyutta Nikaya. I 208

When one with a mind of love
feels compassion for the entire world
above, below and across,
unlimited everywhere.
Jataka 37



The Bodhisatta once was born as the righteous king Ekaraja. His kingdom was
taken by force and he and his son was buried in a pit to the neck...
King Ekaraja, however neither resisted, nor bore even slight ill will against the
invaders. Later he remembered this as his ultimate perfection of friendliness.
Ekaraja Jataka 303

On the Practice of Loving-Kindness (Metta):
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/bps/wheels/wheel007.html

On Universal Friendliness:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Good-Will_Again.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bon_Benevolence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Released_by_GoodWill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/All-Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Infinite_and_Divine_Classic.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm

More on the 10 mental perfections (paramis):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm

Have a friendly, nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Friendliness Frees!

Friends:

How is the Mental Release by Mutual Joy?



The Blessed Buddha once explained:
How is the release of mind by infinite mutual joy (Mudita) achieved?
What does this liberation have as its destination, what is its culmination,
what is its sweet fruit, and what is the ultimate goal of mental release
by universally mutual, unselfish, altruistic, appreciative & rejoicing joy?
Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu dwells pervading the frontal quadrant with a
mind imbued with infinite mutual joy, so the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quadrant.
As above, so below, across, and everywhere to all beings as for himself,
he dwells pervading the entire cosmos with a mind fully saturated with
unlimited mutual joy, immense, exalted, measureless, without hostility,
without any enmity, without any trace of ill will, of jealousy or of envy!
Thus prepared and mentally quite expanded, he then develops:
1: The Awareness Link to Awakening joined with limitless mutual joy.
2: The Investigation Link to Awakening fused with such mutual joy.
3: The Energy Link to Awakening together with infinite mutual joy.
4: The Joy Link to Awakening accompanied with absolute mutual joy.
5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening linked with noble mutual joy.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening associated with mutual joy.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening joined with endless mutual joy.
Based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and culminating in release...



If he then wishes:
May I dwell experiencing repulsion by any attractive & tempting object,
then he can dwell experiencing repulsiveness therein. If he wishes: May I
dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in any disgusting and repulsive object,
then he experiences pleasing beauty in whatever disgusting & ugly thing!
If he wishes: Avoiding both the repulsive & the unrepulsive, may I dwell
in equanimity, just aware & clearly comprehending, then he experiences
equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending! When meditating he
can completely transcend the realm of infinitude of space, only aware
that consciousness is infinite, he can enter and dwell in the sphere of the
infinitude of consciousness.. I tell you Bhikkhus for a quite wise Bhikkhu
here, who has not yet penetrated to an even more superior mental release,
the mental release by infinite, altruistic and mutual joy has the sphere of
the infinitude of consciousness as its culmination!




More on Mutual Joy (Mudita):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/brahma_vihaara.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Wrong.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm



Comments: Are you Discontent? Here is Why!
Mutual joy is the proximate cause of contentment.
Consequentially: Lack of mutual joy produces frustrated discontent!
Mutual joy also eliminates jealousy and envy! Absence of mutual joy
therefore induces the acid like mental pain called envy and jealousy!



Source of reference (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 115-21] 46: The Links. 54: Joined by Friendliness...

Mutual joy is the cause of contentment.

Rejoice!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm

Friends:

Restlessness and Regret Agitates the Mind!



A Brahmin Priest once asked the Blessed Buddha:
Master Gotama, what is the cause of being unable to remember something
that has been memorized over a long period and also that which has not
been memorized?
Brahmin, when then mind is agitated by restlessness and regret, stressed,
agitated, troubled and tyrannized by restlessness and regret, & one does
neither know, nor understand any actual safe escape from this dominating
restlessness and regret, in that moment, then one can neither see, nor ever
understand what is advantageous, neither for oneself, nor for others, nor
for both oneself and for others. Then, consequently, even texts, that have
been long memorized, cannot be remembered. Why is this blind neglect so?
Imagine a bowl of water with the surface stirred up by wind into ripples,
undulations & small wavelets. If a man with good eye-sight were to inspect
the reflection of his own face in it, he would neither see nor recognize it,
as it really is! So too, brahmin, when the mind is distracted by restlessness
and regret, excited, anxious, distressed, worried, perturbed and upset by
restlessness and regret, on any such occasion even texts long memorized
do not recur to the mind, not to speak of those texts, events & knowledge,
that have not been memorized at all…




On how to prevent Restlessness & Regret (=curable anxiety):
1: Frequent systematic attention both to bodily and mental Tranquillity!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Forest_Bliss.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4c.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/Curing_Restlessness_and_Regret.htm




Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:123] section 46: The Links. 55: To Sangarava...



Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Restlessness and Regret Agitates the Mind!

Restlessness and Regret!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Restlessness_and_Regret.htm

Friends:

How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?

Il Poya day is this full-moon day of November. This sacred day celebrates:
1: The Buddha Gotama's declaration of the next Buddha Metteyya.
2: The sending out in the world of the 60 missionary Arahats
3: The passing away of the general of the Dhamma: Sariputta.
4: The Buddha's 1st explanation of Anapanasati Breathing Meditation.

More on the Significance of Il Poya Day:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Importance_of_Il_Poya.htm


The next Buddha Metteyya: The Friendly One!

More on this last perfectly self-enlightened one in this universe: Metteyya!
The Coming Buddha: Ariya Metteyya. Sayagyi U Chit Tin: BPS Wheel 381/383
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Metteyya/arimet00.htm



On how to meet Buddha Metteyya in the future:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/How-2-Meet_Buddha_Metteyya.htm

On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days:
Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the
Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean
bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first
three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head touch the floor.
Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites these memorized lines
in a loud, calm & steady voice:

As long as this life lasts:
I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.
I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!

I accept to respect & undertake these 5 training rules:
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs.
As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...

Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's
own eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much
better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to
this world! So is the start towards Nibbana: the Deathless Element!
This is the Noble Way to Peace, to Freedom, to Ease, to Happiness,
initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and
fulfilled by training of Meditation...

Today indeed is Pooya or Uposatha or observance day, where any lay
Buddhist normally keeps even the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the
next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha,
they may simply forward the lines starting with "I hereby ..." signed with
name, date, town & country to me or join here. A public list of this new
quite rapidly growing global Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!

The True Noble Community of Buddha's Disciples: Saddhamma Sangha:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm

Can quite advantageously be Joined Here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm
May your journey hereby be light, swift and sweet. Never give up !!

For Details on The Origin of Uposatha Observance Days:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html

Have a nice Poya day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Il Poya day: The coming of the next Buddha Metteyya!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Il_Poya_Day.htm

Friends:

What is the Tranquillity Link to Awakening?



The Tranquillity Link to Awakening (passaddhi-sambojjhanga) has the
characteristic of peace, and the function of stilling, which manifests
as absence of restless trembling. Stillness of feeling, perception and
mental construction is the factor that induces bodily Tranquillity.
Stillness of consciousness itself induces mental Tranquillity.
The proximate cause of Tranquillity is the satisfaction within Joy!
The resulting effect of Tranquillity is the bliss within Happiness!



The Buddha once said: What mental fermentations (asava) should be
overcome by development? If a Bhikkhu by careful & rational attention
develops the Tranquillity Link to Awakening based on seclusion, based
on disillusion, based on ceasing, and culminating in cool relinquishment,
then neither can mental fermentation, nor any fever, nor any discontent
ever arise in him. MN2 [i 11]



In one who is joyous, the body becomes calm & the mind becomes calm.
The Tranquillity Link to Awakening emerges right there. He develops it,
& for him it goes to the culmination of its development. MN118 [iii 85]



CALMED
Calm is his thought, calm is his speech,
and calm is his deed, who, truly knowing,
is wholly freed, perfectly tranquil and wise.
Dhammapada 96



CONTENT
The one who eliminates discontent, tearing it out
by the roots, utterly cuts it out, such one spontaneously
becomes absorbed in the calm of tranquillity both day & night.
Dhammapada 250



COMPOSED
The one who is tranquil in movement, calmed in speech,
stilled in thought, collected & composed, who sees right
through & rejects all allurements of this world, such one
is truly a 'Peaceful One'.
Dhammapada 378



Inspirations on the calming & soothing of serene Tranquillity (Passaddhi):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Tranquillity_Passaddhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Tranquillity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Tranquil_One.htm



Inner Calm Soothes the Mind!

Tranquillity!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/III/Tranquillity_Passaddhi.htm

Friends:

Harming none All Beings may become Happy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcRiTVGVqyU


The endangered Purple Faced Leaf Langur Monkey plays here!

How to safely, gently and harmlessly relocate a Viper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfypDFAnszE


This species is probably Wall's hump-nosed pit viper (Hypnale walli)

More on Happy Harmlessness (Ahimsa) = Non-Violence:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Never_Kill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Killing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bon_Benevolence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Genuine_Goodwill.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Patient_is_Tolerance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Holy_Harmlessness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/May_all_be_Happy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/avihimsaa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Happy_Harmlessness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Selfless_and_Harmless.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_I.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unsurpassable_Radiance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Blessing_all_Beings_by_Bliss.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Harmlessness_and_Tolerance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_short_&_long_life.htm



Happy is Harmlessness :-)

May all Beings become Happy thus!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/May_All_Be_Happy.htm

Friends:

How does Lethargy & Laziness Suppress Mind?



A Brahmin Priest once asked the Blessed Buddha:
Master Gotama, what is the cause of being unable to remember even
something that has been memorized over a long period & also that which
has not been memorized?
Brahmin, when mind is retarded by lethargy & laziness, dimmed, detained
& dominated by lethargy and laziness, and one does not understand any
actual safe escape from this arisen lethargy and laziness, in that very
moment, one can neither see, nor understand, what is advantageous,
neither for oneself, nor for others, nor for both oneself and others.
Consequently, whatever have been memorized, cannot be remembered…
Why is this neglect so? Imagine a bowl of water covered with moss,
water plants and algae. If a man with good eye-sight were to inspect
the reflection of his own face in it, he would neither see, nor recognize
it, as it really is! So too, brahmin, when mind is slowed down by lethargy
and laziness, dimmed, detained and handicapped by lethargy & laziness,
on such occasions even texts long memorized do not recur to the mind,
not to speak of those texts, events and information, that have not been
actively memorized at all…



How to cure Laziness:
Attention to these 3 elements of: initiative, launching and endurance!



More on curing this common mental defilement: Laziness (Thina-middha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Curing_Lethargy_and_Laziness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/thiina_middha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Arousal_Get_Up_and_Going.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Suitable_Substitution.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4.htm



Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:122-3] section 46: The Links. 55: To Sangarava...



Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Laziness imprisons the Mind!

Lethargic Laziness...
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/Lethargy_and_Laziness.htm

Friends:

Energy is the 5th Mental Perfection:

Energy means enthusiasm, effort, exertion and interest!
Energy means eagerness, endeavor, initiative and intensity!
Energy means action, force, power, drive and hyper keenness!
Energy means devotion, dedication, determination & commitment!
Energy means enjoyment :-)

Energy pave the way for success in all and any project ...
Energy is thereby instrumental for all the perfections!
Without Energy no achievement can ever be accomplished..
The proximate cause for Energy is a sense of urgency!
The characteristic of Energy is Striving, its function is
Effort, and the manifestation of Energy is Endurance.



The Blessed Buddha said about the perfection of Energy:

Get up! Sit up!
Of what use are your dreams ?
How can you sleep, when mentally sick,
stabbed by the arrow of urge and craving.
Sutta Nipata 331

Get up! Sit up!
Push on your training, until reaching pure peace!
Don't let the king of death -Mara- see you sloppy and
thus delude and dominate you like a stringed toy doll...
Sutta Nipata 332



Possessed of Energy and Endurance
be always Earnest in your training.
The clever one is not satisfied before the final
goal of ending all misery is completely achieved.
Theragatha 585



It is too cold, it's too hot, it's too early, it is too late!
Such bad excuses, makes one give up the training and
miss one more precious opportunity to end suffering...
DN 31




This straight and Noble Way has now been clearly shown:
Don’t hesitate, walk forward and do not turn around.
Urge yourself to advance further by your own Energy!
Only thus will you obviously approach and attain Nibbana!
Theragatha 637




The efforts to prevent and to eliminate all evil.
The efforts to develop and to maintain all good.
These are the 4 right efforts, taught by the Buddha.
AN II 17



And what, friends, is feeding the Energy Link to Enlightenment,
not yet arisen, & food too for boosting of any present Energy ?
1: The element of initial initiative,
2: The element of launching into action,
3: The element of persistent endurance.
Systematic attention to these 3 aspects, is feeding your Energy
and is boosting any already present Energy.
Samyutta Nikaya XLVI 51 Bojjhanga-samyutta



At such times, when the mind is Slow, Sluggish, and Heavy:
Then it is the right occasion: for cultivating:
The Investigation-by-curiosity enlightenment-factor,
The Energy-of-Enthusiasm enlightenment-factor,
The Rapture-of-Joy enlightenment-factor...
Why is it so ? When the mind is slow, sluggish, and heavy,
it is easily raised up by exactly these 3 mental qualities.
Suppose, friends, that a man wants a fire to blaze up,
and he put on dry grass, dry wood sticks and blow it
with dry hot air and do not cover it with any dust,
would that man then see his fire blaze up ?
Certainly So, Lord...
SN V, 46. Bojjhanga-samyutta



When Moggallana where sitting nodding in the jungle night:
Well then, Moggallana, whatever experience you had in mind when
drowsiness demoralized you down, don't attend to that experience,
don't follow it. Remember instead the Dhamma, as you have heard &
memorized it, reflect on & examine it! Then raise up & repeat aloud
the details of Dhamma, as you have learnt it! Then pull both your
earlobes and rub your limbs with both your hands.! Then get up from
your seat, and after washing your eyes with cold water, look around
and upward in all directions and identify the major stars & planets!
Then attend to the experience of inner light, resolve on the clear
perception of daytime, by night as by day, and by day as by night!
By means of an Awareness thus open, unhindered & vivid, develop the
bright mind. Its possible, that by doing this, you will shake off your
lethargy... But if by doing this you don't shake off your laziness,
then continually noting what is both in front and behind set of a
distance to meditate walking back and forth, your senses inwardly
settled, while your mind is not getting lost outwards. It is possible
that by doing this you will shake off all your mental sluggishness...
Anguttara Nikaya VII 58




Born as the Brahmin Mahajanaka, the Bodhisatta was once aboard
a sinking ship far from shore. All the crew were in great panic...!!!
The Bodhisatta though ate his belly full of sugar and ghee, oiled his
clothes and swam continuously for 7 days towards the shore, until
he was rescued by a guarding female devata. Later he remembered:
"Even far out at sea, where many men were lost, yet still unruffled
by worry was my mind. I just kept swimming for seven days!
This was my perfection of Energy."
Mahajanaka-Jataka no. 539



SPREADING FAME
One who exerts effort,
One who is alert and always aware,
One who does good deeds voluntarily and deliberately,
One who is kind and considerate in all dealings,
One who is restrained and controlled,
One who lives according to the real truth of the Dhamma,
carefully and seriously, the fame of such one always grows!
Dhammapada 24



SAFETY
By arousing & inspiring oneself to put forth energetic effort;
By meticulous carefulness; By well restrained self-control;
The wise and clever ones make themselves a safe island,
no flood or fever of desire can ever overwhelm!
Dhammapada 25



More on Energy, Enthusiasm, and Eager Effort: (Viriya):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Energy_as_Way_to_Force.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Definition_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Arising_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Ability_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Origin_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/viriya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energetic_Effort.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Power_of_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Ballanced_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Chief_Hero.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Avoiding_Effort.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Energy_Viriya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Energy.htm



More of the 10 mental perfections (paramis):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_10_mental_perfections_(parami)_in_three_levels.htm




Energetic effort enables Success!

Enthusiastic is Energy!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm

Friends:

Doubt and Uncertainty Perplex the Mind!



A Brahmin once asked the Blessed Buddha:
Master Gotama, what is the cause of being unable to remember something
that has been memorized over a long period? The blessed Buddha answered:
Brahmin, when mind is perplexed by doubt & uncertainty, undecided, baffled
wavering and wobbling by doubt & uncertainty, and one does not understand
any actual safe escape from this arisen states mental doubt & uncertainty,
then one can neither see, nor ever understand any of what is advantageous,
neither for oneself, nor for others, nor for both oneself and others!
Then, consequently, what have been long memorized, cannot be remembered…
Why is this neglect & amnesia so? Imagine a bucket of water that is muddy,
unclear, cloudy, blurred and dark. If a man even with good eye-sight were
to inspect the reflection of his own face in it, he would neither see, nor ever
recognize it, as it really is! So too, brahmin, when mind is confused by doubt
& uncertainty, baffled, bewildered and hesitating by doubt & uncertainty,
on such occasion even things that have been long memorized, cannot recur
to the mind, not to speak of those texts, events and important information,
that have not been memorized at all…




On how to prevent Skeptical Doubt & Uncertainty (Vicikiccha):
Systematic Attention to scrutinizing investigation, examination & probing:
1: What is advantageous and what is detrimental here?
2: What is blameable and what is blameless in this situation?
3: What is ordinary and what is excellent in this particular case?
4: What is on the bright side and what is on the dark side in this aspect?


Doubt, Uncertainty, Hesitation & Vexation leads to Frustrating Perplexity!
Doubt stupefies action since decision to choose any alternative is blocked.

Medicine for Doubt and Uncertainty:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Barren_Stagnation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4c.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Suitable_Substitution.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Understanding_is_the_Chief.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Overcome_Doubt.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Curing_Doubt_and_Uncertainty.htm


Vexation, Hesitation, Confusion and Painful Perplexity...

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:123-4] section 46: The Links. 55: To Sangarava...



Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Doubt & Uncertainty...

Friends:

How to cure Heavy Lethargy and Laziness!



Lethargy-&-Laziness may often be induced by self-destructive behaviour
such as: Alcohol, drugs, dope, pills, marihuana, sniffing, over-eating,
excessive masturbation and night-living. Such often life-long chemical or
behavioural causes of Lethargy-&-Laziness should be eradicated...
As long as this is not achieved one remains a phlegmatic & apathetic zombie,
drifting downwards due to inability to initiate advantageous behaviour.



Noticing Lethargy-&-Laziness (thina-middha) emerge can make it evaporate:
Herein, Bhikkhus, when Lethargy-&-Laziness is present in him, the bhikkhu
notes & understands: There is Lethargy-&-Laziness in me, and when this
Lethargy-&-Laziness is absent, he notes & understands: Now there is no
Lethargy-&-Laziness in me. He indeed also understands how yet unarisen
Lethargy-&-Laziness arises. He understands how to leave behind any arisen
Lethargy-&-Laziness, and he understands how left Lethargy-&-Laziness will
not arise again in the future. MN 10



What is the feeding cause that makes Lethargy-&-Laziness arise?
There are boredom, apathy, tiredness, lazy stretching of the body, heavy
drowsiness after too big meals, and mental sluggishness. Frequently giving
irrational and unwise attention to these mental states, this is the feeding
cause of the arising of yet unarisen Lethargy-&-Laziness, and the feeding
cause of worsening and deepening of already present Lethargy-&-Laziness.
SN 46:51



What is the starving cause that makes Lethargy-&-Laziness cease?
There is the quality of initiative. There is the quality of launching action.
There is the quality of tenaciously enduring persistence. Frequently giving
rational & wise attention to these three mental elements, is the starving
cause for the non-arising of unarisen Lethargy-&-Laziness, and the starving
cause for the arousing and stirring of already present Lethargy-&-Laziness.
SN 46:51



The Supreme Ideal:
Before the Buddha sat down to meditate in order to attain enlightenment,
he made this determination: May just all flesh and blood of this body dry up
into a stiff frame of only bones, tendons and skin... Not a second before
having achieved, what can be achieved by male strength, power, and energy,
will I rise from this seat... MN 70

How to stimulate the mind:
How does one stimulate the mind at a time when it needs stimulation?
If due to slowness of understanding or due to not having yet reached the
happiness of tranquillity, one's mind is dull, then one should rouse it through
reflecting on the eight objects stirring urgency. These 8 objects are: birth,
decay, disease & death; the suffering in hell, demon, ghost & animal world!
The suffering in the past and the the future rooted in this Samsara.
The suffering of the present rooted in the pursuit for food and living.
Vism. IV,63

Perceiving the suffering in impermanence:
In a Bhikkhu, who is used to see the suffering in impermanence and who
frequently reflects on this, there will be established in him such an acute
sense of the danger in laziness, apathy, inactivity and lethargy, just as if
he was threatened by a mad murderer with drawn sword!
AN 7:46



Lethargy-&-Laziness is an inner mental Prison:
Just as when a man has been forced into prison is Lethargy-&-Laziness,
but later when he gets released from this (inner) prison, then he is safe,
fearing no loss of property. And at that good he rejoices glad at heart...
Such is the breaking out of Lethargy-&-Laziness...
Another person has been kept in jail during a festival day, and so could see
none of the shows. When people say: Oh, how fun was this festival! He will
remain shy, mute and silent because he did not enjoy any festival himself...
Similarly is prison of Lethargy-&-Laziness... Another person that once had
been in jail on a festival day. But when freed and celebrating the festival
on a later occasion, he looks back: Before due to my own careless laziness,
I was in prison on that day & could not enjoy this fine festival. Now I shall
therefore be alert and careful. Since he remains thus alert and careful no
detrimental state can overcome his mind. Having fully enjoyed the festival,
he exclaims: What a fun festival! Good is absence of Lethargy-&-Laziness...




Whoever lives in search & urge only or pleasure and beauty,
unguarded in senses, immoderately indulging in eating,
lazy, lethargic, inactive, dulled into apathy;
Such ones Mara sweeps away like breaking
a branch of a tiny bush ...
Dhammapada 7

Even if one should live a hundred years,
if lazy and idle, better it would be
to live but just a single day
striving with all one got.
Dhammapada 112

Easy is the shameless life now.
Easy is it to be bold, retaliating,
lazy, uninformed and wrong-viewed.
Dhammapada 244

Rouse yourself! Sit up!
Resolutely train yourself to attain peace.
Do not let the king of death, seeing you
lazy, lead you astray and dominate you.
Sutta Nipata II, 10

More on curing this common defilement: Laziness (Thina-middha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Lethargy_and_Laziness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Enthusiastic_is_Energy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Arousal_Get_Up_and_Going.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Suitable_Substitution.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/thiina_middha.htm

Have a nice, noble & active day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Lethargy and Laziness Lays Life in Ruins!

Friends:

Infinite Loving-Kindness is an Exalted State!

The Blessed Buddha once explained Loving-Kindness like this:
This is what should be done by a clever one to arouse the advantageous:
Having attained a peaceful state: He should be capable, straight, and very
upright, easy to speak to, gentle and not proud, contented & easy to support,
with few duties, living simple, with calmed senses, devoted, & neither angry
nor greedy. He should not do any mean thing, which wise men would criticize.
Always he should wish: Let all beings be happy, joyous, glad, safe and secure.
Whatever living creatures there exist, still or moving, small or large, seen or
unseen, far or near, already existing or coming into being, let all these living
beings without any even single exception be completely happy!
One should never despise anyone anywhere, nor humiliate anyone anywhere,
nor ever wish for any being misery or harm, because of anger or irritation.
Just as a mother would protect her only little son even risking her own life,
exactly so should one cultivate an unbounded mentality towards all beings;
loving-kindness towards all in this universe. One should cultivate an infinite
mind, above, below and across, without barriers, without enmity, matchless.
Whether standing, going, sitting, or lying down, even when slumbering should
one practise this exalted infinite goodwill. This is said to be a Sacred State!
Sn 143-151


The Buddha teaching about Infinite Friendliness = Metta

On this exalted Infinite Friendliness (Metta) see also:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Selfless_Friendship_is_Sweetest.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/United_in_Harmony.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm



Have a nice good-willed day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Exalted bliss is Infinite Loving-Kindness!

Friends:

Meditation Remoulds Mind into Magnificence!



The Blessed Buddha often said:
Whatever is to be done by a teacher out of compassion for the welfare of
his students, that has now been done by me out of kind compassion for you.
Here are many suitable roots of trees. Here are many silent empty places.
Sit down & meditate now. Practice jhana. Don't be lazy. Don't become one
who miss the opportunity again & later have to regret his heedless neglect!
This is my instruction to you. This is our message to you all...
MN 106, SN 35.145, SN 47.10



Manual on the 4 Main Meditation Methods taught by the Blessed Buddha:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Manual/Meditation.Manual.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Magnificent_Meditation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_40_Meditations.htm



Meditation Purifies & Refines the Mind!

Mind-Moulding!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Mind_Moulding.htm

Friends:

Withdrawal is the 3rd Mental Perfection:

Withdrawal is Removal of Misery
Withdrawal is Extraction of Disease.
Withdrawal is Pulling out the splinter of Pain.
Withdrawal is Retraction from Danger.
Withdrawal is Renunciation of Ill.
Withdrawal is Letting Go of what is Burning.
Withdrawal is Turning Away from what is Sorrow.
Withdrawal is Seclusion from what is Grief.
Withdrawal is Clearing of Captivating Illusions.
Withdrawal is Waking Up from Enthralling Trance.
Withdrawal is Freedom from Enslaving Addiction.
Withdrawal is Protection from what is Entrapping.
Withdrawal is Giving Up what is Detrimental.
Withdrawal is Discharge of what is Infested.
Withdrawal is Breaking out of the Prison.
Withdrawal is Release from all Suffering...


"Back to Nature" by Robert Storm Petersen. (1882 – 1949)

The Withdrawn, as the man newly freed from prison
does not at all wish himself back in prison!
The Basket of Conduct, Cariyapitaka

Infatuated with lust, impassioned and obsessed,
they are caught in their own self-created net,
like a spider, which spins it's own web!
Cutting through, the Noble Friend withdraw and go free,
Without longing, without greed, leaving all misery behind.
Dhammapada 347



The Bodhisatta as the King Culasutasoma gave up his whole kingdom.
Knowing withdrawal to be an advantageous victory, he remembered:
A mighty kingdom I possessed, as if it was dropped into my hands...
Yet all this tantalizing luxury, I let fall and go without any even slight
trace of longing or clinging. This was my perfection of Withdrawal...
Jataka no. 525

Lust, I say, is a great flood, a whirlpool sucking one down,
a constant yearning, seeking a hold, continually active, and
difficult to cross is such morass of sense and sensual desire...
A sage does not deviate from the good, but remains steady!
A recluse stands on firm ground, when solitarily secluded:
When withdrawn from all, truly he is calmed and silenced!
Having directly touched the Dhamma, he is independent!
He behaves right and does not envy anyone anywhere...
He who has left behind all pleasure arised from sensing,
an attachment difficult to cut, is freed of both depression and
longing, since he has cut across this great flood, and is released.
Sutta Nipata IV.15



Any being, that cools down all desires and greedy lusts,
by being alert and ever aware of the inherent danger,
by directing attention only to the disgusting aspects of
all phenomena, such one withdraw from all craving and
thereby wears down and breaks the bars of the inner prison.
Dhammapada 350

If one gains an infinite ease by leaving a minor pleasure,
the clever one would swap the luminous for what is a trifling
sense delight, by withdrawing from this trivial banal boredom.
Dhammapada 290

The one who has reached the sublime end all perfected,
is fearless, freed of craving, desireless and detached..
Such one has broken the chains of being and is certainly
withdrawing into the final phase, wearing his last frame...
Dhammapada 351



Prince Siddhattha Gotama reflected thus:
"Why do I, being subject to birth, decay, disease, death, sorrow and
defilement, thus search after things of the same nature. What if I,
who am subject to things of such nature, realize their disadvantages
and seek the unattained and unsurpassed, perfect security: Nibbana!"

"Cramped and confined is the household life, a den of dust, but the life
of the homeless is in the free open air of heaven! Hard is it for him who
abides at home to live the Holy Life as it should be lived, in all its true
perfection, and in all its purity."
"The household life is a cramped way, choked with dust. To leave it, is
like coming out into the free space of open air! It is not easy for one,
who lives at home, to live the Noble life completely perfect and pure,
bright as mother-of-pearl. Surely I will now shave off my hair and go
forth into homelessness."



Only Misery Arises.
Only Misery Ceases.
Nothing good is thus lost
by withdrawing from it all...

Nothing is Worth Clinging to!

More of the 10 mental perfections (paramis) and Withdrawal (Nekkhamma)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Levels_of_Leaving_Behind.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Withdrawn_and_Accomplished.htm

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Withdrawal Wins!

Friends:

One becomes Calmed by Stilling all Agitation!

The brahmin Magandiya asked the Buddha about how to become calmed:
Not dwelling in the past, stilled in the present, one prefers no kind of future!
Without irritation, without agitation, without regrets, without worry, neither
boasting, nor proud, but humble and modest, one is indeed a restrained sage...
Withdrawn, not opposed to anything, not wanting anything, all unconcerned,
aloof, gentle, independent, for such one there exists neither craving or fear
for any kind of existence, nor craving or fear for any form of non-existence...
Such calmed one is indifferent to sense pleasures, detached, not clinging to
any kind of property! For him there is nothing more to take up or lay down!
For whatever others might accuse him, he remains tranquil and not agitated!
Neither opposed to anything, nor attracted to anything, with nothing of his
own, not perturbed by what does not exist, such tranquil one is truly calmed!
Sutta-Nipata 849-861 Edited excerpt.



More on Calm (Samatha) = Tranquil Ease:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Calm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Forest_Bliss.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Silenced.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Calm_Power.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Calm_and_Insight.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Tranquil_One.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/samatha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Breathing_Calm_and_Insight.htm

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Calmed...

Friends:

What is the Cause of Contentment (Santutthi?)



The blessed Buddha once said:
Contentment is the highest Treasure!
Dhammapada 204

Please imagine a state, where one always is Content…
If always content, what would, one need, urge for or want? Nothing!



What is the cause of contentment?
Mutual joy with others success is the proximate cause of contentment...
Lack of Mutual joy is therefore the cause of discontentment…



A: When did you last rejoice happily in someone else’s success?
B: When did you last enjoy the calm peace of satisfied contentment?
State-A causes state-B. Therefore: Non-state-A causes non-state-B...!



Mutual joy can be trained! Result => Calm Content!

How? Please see here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Contentment.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Calm_and_Content.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm



Enjoy Elevated Rejoice! It cures!
When providing the cause, one gains the effect…

What Causes Contentment?

How2 Get Calm Contentment?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Cause_of_Contentment.htm

Friends:

These Eight Aspects of Feeling should be Understood!!!



A certain Bhikkhu once asked the Blessed Buddha: Venerable Sir,
1: What is feeling?
2: What is the cause of feeling?
3: What is the way to emergence of feeling?
4: What is the ceasing of feeling?
5: What is the way to cease feeling?
6: What is the satisfaction in feeling?
7: What is the danger in feeling?
8: What is the escape from feeling?



The Blessed Buddha answered:
There are, Bhikkhu, three feelings:
1: The 3 feelings are pleasant feeling, painful feeling, and neutral feeling.
2: Sense contact is the proximate cause of all feeling...
3: Craving is the way leading to the emergence of feeling...
4: The end of sense contact, ceases all feeling instantly...
5: This Noble Eightfold Way is the way to cease feeling...
6: The delight and joy of feeling: This is the satisfaction within feeling...
7: The danger in feeling is its transience, & inherent change into suffering.
8: The escape from feeling is the elimination of desire and lust for feeling.



Comment:
Running after pleasurable feeling like mad robots, beings come to pain &
death ever again... Wanting short-term pleasure one gains long-term pain!
This is an unnecessarily heavy price, when there actually is an alternative
of lasting happiness called Nibbana. It is thus quite well worth the effort
to give up all emotional and sensorial addiction and obsession. Only then
can one ever be completely free, truly happy and dwell in peace :-) Yeah!



All mental states converges on Feeling (Vedana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Indifference_Creates_Ignorance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Three_Basic_Kinds_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Feeling_Causes_and_Effects.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_8_Aspects_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Bodily_and_Mental_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Detached_from_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Dependent_on_Contact.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Focusing_on_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_108_Feelings.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Emotional_Storm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Latent_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Five_Feelings.htm



Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV [232-3]
section 36: On Feeling: Vedana. A Certain Bhikkhu... 23.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html



Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Feelings Dominate & Dictate!

Feelings are just passing reactions.
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/The_8_Aspects_of_Feeling.htm

Friends:

Blown here and there by Emotional Storms!

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, even as many winds blow turbulent in the sky, from directions
of east, west, south, & north, both dusty and dustless winds, both cold &
hot winds, both mild & forceful winds, even so do also all the many various
feelings arise in this body: Pleasant, painful & neither-painful-nor-pleasant
feelings perpetually emerge and agitate the mind...



Just as many diverse winds, storms here and there across the sky,
So in this very body: The many types of various feelings arise,
Both pleasant, painful, and those neither painful nor pleasant.
Yet when a determined Bhikkhu does not neglect aware and clear
comprehension, then such intelligent one fully understands these
feelings and all their complex aspects of dependency...
All provoked, induced and arisen from sense contact!
Instantly vanishing, when this same contact ceases!
Having fully understood feelings, he is freed of all hidden mental
fermentation, even in this very life.. Remaining in this state, at the
body's breakup, such Mind-Master cannot ever even be imagined...



Pleasant feeling attracts and thus induces greed...
Painful feeling averts and thus produces hate...
Neither-painful-nor-pleasant neutral feeling
causes neglect & generates thus ignorance...



All converges on Feeling (Vedana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Indifference_Creates_Ignorance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Three_Basic_Kinds_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Feeling_Causes_and_Effects.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_8_Aspects_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Bodily_and_Mental_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Detached_from_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Dependent_on_Contact.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Focusing_on_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_108_Feelings.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Emotional_Storm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Latent_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Five_Feelings.htm



Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV [219]
section 36: On Feeling: Vedana. The Sky: Akasam. 12.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html



Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Beings are tossed around by empty emotions!

Emotional Storms!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Emotional_Storm.htm

Friends:

The Three Basic Kinds of Feeling!

The blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus and friends, there are these three feelings... What three?



1: Pleasant feeling,
2: Painful feeling,
3: Neutral neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling.



These are the three basic feelings! A disciple of the Buddha, aware,
focused, clearly comprehending, understands these three feelings.
And contact as the cause of any feeling. When contact ceases they
fade away & vanish. The Noble Way is leading to their elimination.
With the final quenching of feeling, one is freed of all yearning and
thus fully stilled...



Whether feeling is pleasant, painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant,
whether internal or external; whatever kind of feeling there is:
Knowing: This is Suffering, perishing, momentary, disintegrating...
Having been touched and contacted by them, noting their instant
ceasing, their transience, one gradually loses all passion for them...



There are these three basic feelings. What three?
Pleasant feeling, painful feeling, and neutral feeling.
All mental states converges on this very felt quality of feeling...



All converges on Feeling (Vedana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Indifference_Creates_Ignorance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Three_Basic_Kinds_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Feeling_Causes_and_Effects.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_8_Aspects_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Bodily_and_Mental_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Detached_from_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Dependent_on_Contact.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/vedanaa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Focusing_on_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_108_Feelings.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Emotional_Storm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Latent_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Five_Feelings.htm


From Sense Contact arises all Feeling!

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book IV [204-5] 36: feeling. Vedana. Focused on Pleasure. 1-2.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Any feeling arises from sense contact!

The 3 Basic Feelings...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Three_Basic_Kinds_of_Feeling.htm

Friends:

The 5 Abilities producing Feeling!

The Blessed Buddha once said:

Bhikkhus, there are these five mental abilities to feel (vedana). What five?

1: The ability to feel pleasure (sukha).
2: The ability to feel pain (dukkha).
3: The ability to feel gladness (somanassa).
4: The ability to feel sadness (domanassa).
5: The ability to feel equanimity (upekkha).


Feelings are like bubbles, empty, void, without substance, quickly bursting!

What, Bhikkhus, is the ability to feel pleasure?
Whatever bodily pleasure there is, whatever bodily comfort, any pleasant
agreeable feeling born of body-contact: This is the ability to feel pleasure.
What, Bhikkhus, is the ability to feel pain?
Whatever bodily pain there is, whatever bodily discomfort, painful, aching
disagreeable feeling born of body-contact: This is the ability to feel pain.
What, Bhikkhus, is the ability to feel gladness?
Whatever mental pleasure there is, whatever mental comfort, and pleasing
agreeable feeling born of mental contact: This is the ability to feel gladness.
What, Bhikkhus, is the ability to feel sadness?
Whatever mental frustration there is, whatever mental grief, disagreeable
feeling born of mental contact: This is the ability to feel sadness.
What, Bhikkhus, is the ability to feel equanimity?
Whatever feeling there is, whether bodily or mental, that is neutral & thus
neither comfortable, nor uncomfortable, neither agreeable nor disagreeable:
This, Bhikkhus, is called the ability to feel equanimity.
These 5, Bhikkhus, are the five abilities to feel feelings.



Noteworthy Central Implications:
If unaware & untrained then bodily pleasure and mental gladness will incite
greed, lust and derivatives such as desire, craving, wanting, urge & longing!
If unaware and untrained, then bodily pain and mental sadness will induce
aversion, hate and derivatives such as anger, wrath, irritation & opposition!
If unaware and untrained, then mental equanimity will instigate ignorance,
neglect, and derivatives such as doubt, hesitation, uncertainty & confusion!
If aware and trained then mental equanimity will activate bliss, knowing &
seeing and will through peace refine and complete all other good states!
This core causality made Buddha exclaim: All states converges on Feeling!!!



More on Feeling:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Three_Basic_Kinds_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_8_Aspects_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Bodily_and_Mental_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Detached_from_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Dependent_on_Contact.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Focusing_on_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_108_Feelings.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Emotional_Storm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Latent_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Five_Feelings.htm



Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:209] section 48: The Abilities. 36: Definitions ...

Watch the Feeling arise and cease!

The 5 Feelings...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Five_Feelings.htm

Friends:

Classification of Feeling gives good Understanding!



The Blessed Buddha once said:
What, bhikkhus, are the 2 kinds of feelings?
Bodily feeling and mental feeling.
These are the 2 kinds of feelings...

What are the 3 kinds of feelings?
Pleasant feeling, painful feeling, and neither-painful-nor-pleasant
feeling. These are the 3 kinds of feelings...

What are the 5 kinds of feelings?
The ability to feel pleasure, pain, gladness, sadness and equanimity.
These are the 5 kinds of feelings...

What are the 6 kinds of feelings?
Feeling produced by eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact,
tongue-contact, body-contact, and feeling from mental-contact.
These are the 6 kinds of feelings...

What are the 18 kinds of feelings?
Such 6 sense-evaluations produces gladness, 6 sense-evaluations
produces sadness, and 6 sense-evaluations produces equanimity.
These are the 18 kinds of feelings...

What are the 36 kinds of feelings?
Six types of household life gladness, 6 types of Noble Life gladness,
6 types of household life sadness, 6 types of Noble Life sadness,
6 types of household life equanimity, 6 types of Noble Life equanimity.
These are the 36 kinds of feelings...

What are the 108 kinds of feelings?
The above 36 feelings here and now in the present, those 36 feelings
in the future, and the above 36 feelings in the gone by past.
These are the 108 kinds of feelings...

This, Bhikkhus, is the Dhamma explanation of the 108 feelings.



Comment:
Whenever feeling something, then classify the feeling into one or
more of these groups... Further classification of feeling does neither
seem necessary, nor practical... Detailed explanation is given here:
Atthasata Sutta: The One-hundred-and-eight Exposition
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn36/sn36.022.than.html



All mental states converges on Feeling (Vedana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Indifference_Creates_Ignorance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Three_Basic_Kinds_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Feeling_Causes_and_Effects.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_8_Aspects_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Bodily_and_Mental_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Detached_from_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Dependent_on_Contact.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Focusing_on_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_108_Feelings.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Emotional_Storm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Latent_Feeling.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Five_Feelings.htm


Classification of the object in various ways makes one understand it better!

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV [231-2]
section 36: On Feeling: Vedana. The 108... 22.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Analytical Classification enhance Understanding!

The 108 Feelings!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/The_108_Feelings.htm

Friends:

Mental Causality implies Dual Co-Arising!



When there is expectation, then there is bound to be disappointment.
When expectation is absent, then disappointment cannot come into being.

Whenever there is pride, then there is bound to be wounded pride.
When pride is absent, then wounded pride cannot come into being.

Whenever there is anger, then there is bound to be conflict.
When anger is absent, then conflict cannot come into being.

When there is perception, then there is bound to be deception.
When perception is absent, then deception cannot come into being.

When there is birth, then there is bound to be ageing, decay & death.
When birth is absent, then ageing, decay & death cannot come into being.

When there is craving, then there is bound to be suffering.
When craving is absent, then suffering cannot come into being.

When there is suffering, then happiness cannot come into being.
When suffering is absent, then happiness comes into being. :-)



When this arises, then that also emerges!
When this ceases, then that also ends.

When this is, then that also comes into being!
When this is not, then that cannot come into being.



More on Dependent Origination (Paticca-Samuppada):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/ontology.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Not_Yours.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Evident_Facts.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Crucial_Necessity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Elemental_Analysis.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Caused_by_What.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Profound_Causality.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Proximate_Cause.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dependent_Causation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Cohesive_Co-Origination.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Collapsible_Co-Cessation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dependent_Origination.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dependent_Origination.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Causes_of_Emergence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/No-Agent_but_Dependence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Past_Cause_Present_Effect.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/paticca_samuppaada.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Assured_&_Ascertained_Awakening.htm



Both the Cause and its Effects arise!

Bound to Be...
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Bound_to_be.htm

Friends:

Transcendence from Ignorance to Nibbâna!



Buddha once explained the entire chain of causes leading to Nibbana:
Ignorance is the proximate cause of mental construction.
Mental construction is the proximate cause of consciousness.
Consciousness is the proximate cause of name-&-form.
Name-&-form is the proximate cause of the 6 senses.
The 6 senses is the proximate cause of contact.
Contact is the proximate cause of feeling.
Feeling is the proximate cause of craving.
Craving is the proximate cause of clinging.
Clinging is the proximate cause of becoming.
Becoming is the proximate cause of birth.
Birth is the proximate cause of ageing, decay and death.
Ageing, decay and death is the proximate cause suffering.
Suffering is the proximate cause of faith.
Faith is the proximate cause of elation.
Elation is the proximate cause of joy.
Joy is the proximate cause of calmness.
Calmness is the proximate cause of happiness.
Happiness is the proximate cause of concentration.
Concentration is the proximate cause of seeing and knowing reality.
Seeing and knowing reality is the proximate cause of disgust.
Disgust is the proximate cause of disillusion.
Disillusion is the proximate cause of mental release.
Mental release is the proximate cause of ending all mental fermentation
linked with ignorance, associated with becoming, and caused by sensing.
Ending all mental fermentation is the proximate cause of Freedom..
Ending all mental fermentation is the proximate cause of Peace..
Ending all mental fermentation is the proximate cause of Bliss..
This - only this - is Nibbana ...


The Butterfly Effect => A Storm! 1 Cause => Many Effects!

More on this uncreated state - Nibbana (Sanskrit = Nirvana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Final_Freedom.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/climax_of_calm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Reaching_Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_2_Nibbanas.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Nibbana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Nibbana_or_non-return.htm


Multi-factorial are Phenomena: Caused by many factors...

On Causality as general principle:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causality
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Caused_by_What.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Causes_of_Emergence.htm

Source: The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya II 29-32
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Understanding an effect requires knowing its cause!

Causality!

Friends:

All Things Proceed from a Cause!



Dependent Origination is the core chain of causality:
Dependent on ignorance arises kammic-construction (moral and immoral);
Dependent on kammic-constructions arises rebirth-consciousness;
Dependent on consciousness arises mind and body, name-&-form;
Dependent on mind and body arise the six sense sources;
Dependent on the six sense sources arises contact;
Dependent on contact arises feeling;
Dependent on feeling arises craving;
Dependent on craving arises clinging;
Dependent on clinging arises becoming;
Dependent on becoming arises birth;
Dependent on birth arises decay, ageing, death, sorrow, pain, and despair.
In this way arises this whole mass of suffering...



With the ceasing of ignorance comes also ceasing of kammic-construction;
With ceasing of kammic-construction comes also ceasing of consciousness;
With ceasing of consciousness comes ceasing of mind and body, name-&-form;
With ceasing of mind and body comes also ceasing of the six sense sources;
With ceasing of the six sense sources comes also ceasing of contact;
With ceasing of contact comes also ceasing of feeling;
With ceasing of feeling comes also ceasing of craving;
With ceasing of craving comes also ceasing of clinging;
With ceasing of clinging comes also ceasing of becoming;
With ceasing of becoming comes also ceasing of birth;
With ceasing of birth is there ceasing of ageing, death, sorrow, & despair.
In this way ceases this whole mass of suffering...



More on this profound Dependent Origination (Paticca-Samuppada):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/ontology.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Not_Yours.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Crucial_Necessity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Elemental_Analysis.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Caused_by_What.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Proximate_Cause.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Cohesive_Co-Origination.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Collapsible_Co-Cessation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dependent_Origination.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Causes_of_Emergence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/No-Agent_but_Dependence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/paticca_samuppaada.htm



Source: BPS Wheel no 54 (Edited Excerpt):
The Mirror of the Dhamma. A Manual of Buddhist Devotional Texts.
By Narada Thera and Bhikkhu Kassapa. Revised By Bhikkhu Khantipalo:
http://www.bps.lk/wh054-u.html

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita _/\_ Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Dependent Causation...

Friends:

Sweet is Verbal, Bodily & Mental Silence!

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Kayamunim vacamunim,
manomunimanasavam,
munim moneyyasampannam.
Ahu ninhatapapakam.



Silenced in body, silenced in speech,
silenced in mind, without inner noise,
blessed with silence is the sage!
He is truly washed of all evil...
Itivuttaka 3.67



Calm is his mind.
Calm is his speech.
Calm is his action.
So is the tranquillity;
So is the serenity;
of one freed by the insight
of right understanding...
Dhammapada 96



More on Mental Tranquillity:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Tranquillity_Passaddhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Tranquillity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Tranquil_One.htm

Have a nice calm day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samahita, Sri Lanka.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Silenced!