Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

Friends:

A quite good Dhamma Friend once asked:

Question: What is a phenomenon?



Answer:
A phenomenon is an experienced state! An appearance, an observed event, a conscious occasion!
Whether experienced as a mental object: Ex: An experienced thought, idea, feeling, mood etc.
or experienced as a physical object: Ex: An experienced sight, sound, smell, taste or touch;
the experience is just a mental ‘state’, which is what in Buddhism is called a ‘Dhamma’ , which
is a passing moment of conscious time… As such: Everything in any world is just a mental state!
No thing exists as an independent physical object, until it is observed by a mental experience…
Before and after this direct observation, this ‘thing’ remains just an ‘idea’ or ‘’imagination’ …
A mere potential possibility! Not quite as real anymore… Any phenomenon is an experienced
object, a neurally generated image, a mere representation, and not the object itself!
An image of an apple, is not the apple itself...

They once asked the Buddha:
What is the Cause of a Phenomenon?

He replied:
Attention (manasikara) is the cause of any phenomenon!
Why so?
When Attention is present, the Phenomenon appears...
When Attention is absent, the Phenomenon disappears!

and further later added:
This World both Begins and Ends within this 2 fathom frame of bones... SN I 62
The ALL is thereby actually just a sensed & experienced representation... SN IV 15



Insisting on Real Direct Experience:
This ultra-realistic emphasis on direct experience is today called Radical Empiricism,
a pragmatic concept, which in our time philosophically was coined by William James.

For further on Phenomena as mere mental states:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Phenomena_is_Mental_States.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Causes_of_Emergence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/dhamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_ALL.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Out_in.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_Empiricism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenomenon


The Phenomenon ‘Match’
Occurring only momentarily by experienced observation!
Not ‘out there’ as a ‘substance’, but 'in here' in mind,
as just a passing mental state…

Have a nice day!

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

Real are only Momentary Mental States…

Representations...

Friends:

How does one gain the Divine All-Seeing Eye?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Which concentration, Bhikkhus, when practised & developed often ,
will lead to gaining the divine eye of understanding (dibba-cakkhu) ?
When the Bhikkhu reflects on experiencing light, fixes his mind on
this perception of daylight, always both at day-time & also at night!
In this way, with wakeful and stainless mind, he develops a state of
luminous consciousness accompanied by a bright radiant inner light.
This concentration, developed and practised often indeed leads to
the attainment of the eye of understanding (dibba-cakkhu) ...

Visuddhimagga XIII, 95 says that this luminous state of mind is a
prerequisite condition for reaching the knowledge of the divine eye.
This enlightening training also evaporates all Lethargy & Laziness.



More on the divine eye (dibba-cakkhu):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/dibba_cakkhu.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Divine_Eye.htm



Have a nice all-seeing day!

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

Making Mental Light!

Friends:

What is the Resulting Reward Fruit?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
The rewarding fruition of morality is freedom from regrets!
The rewarding fruition of freedom from regret is gladness!
The rewarding fruition of gladness is rapturous joy!
The rewarding fruition of joy is serene tranquillity!
The rewarding fruition of tranquillity is Happiness!
The rewarding fruition of happiness is concentration!
The rewarding fruition of concentration is knowing & seeing!
The rewarding fruition of knowing & seeing is realism!
The rewarding fruition of realism is disillusion!
The rewarding fruition of disillusion is release!
Step by step does morality thus lead to the Highest!
Source: AN 10:1




About Fruition (Phala):
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/phala.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/saamanna_phala.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/ariya_puggala.htm



Have a nice fruitful day!

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

The Rewarding Fruit!

Friends:

Seeing the Possible as Possible!

Once when the Venerable Anuruddha was dwelling at Savatthi in
Jeta's Grove, in Anathapindika's Park, a number of Bhikkhus went
to the Venerable Anuruddha & exchanged polite greetings with him.
Then they sat down & asked the Ven. Anuruddha: Venerable Sir:
What has the Venerable Anuruddha developed & cultivated so that
he has attained to his famous greatness of direct knowledge?
It is, friends, because I have developed and cultivated these four
Foundations of Awareness that I have won great direct knowledge.
What four? Here, friends, I dwell constantly contemplating upon:
The Body only as a formed group, neither as I, me, mine, nor a self...
The Feelings only as passing responses, neither as I, mine, nor self...
The Mind only as temporary mentalities, neither as I, nor any self...
All Phenomena only as constructed mental states, not as existents...
while eager, clearly comprehending, & fully aware, thereby removing
all desire & frustration rooted in this world! It is, friends, because
I have developed & cultivated these Four Foundations of Awareness
that I have become empowered with suprahuman forces: I see and
understand the possible as possible & the impossible as impossible...
Further, friends, I see & fully understand all the results of any past,
future, and present action (kamma) by way of its potential & cause!!
Further, friends, it is because I have developed & cultivated these
Four Foundations of Awareness, that I understand exactly & fully
all resulting future effects of any way, method and praxis...



For details on the mechanics of Kamma = Action see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_is_intention.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Buddha_on_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_dilutes_Evil_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_short_&_long_life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Effect_of_Action_(kamma)_is_Delayed.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Health_&_Sickness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Low_or_High_Birth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Wealth_or_Poverty.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Beauty_&_Ugliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Power_or_Disrespect.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Evil_Kamma_enhances_other_Evil_Kamma.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Stupidity_or_Intelligence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Action_enhances_other_Good_Kamma.htm



Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:304]
section 52: Anuruddha. Thread 15-7: The Possible as Possible!

Have a possibly nice day!

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

Seeing the Possible as Possible!

Friends:

What are the 7 Fruits of the Abilities?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, there are these 5 abilities. What five?

1: The Ability of Faith.
2: The Ability of Energy.
3: The Ability of Awareness.
4: The Ability of Concentration.
5: The Ability of Understanding.

When these 5 abilities have been developed & cultivated, then
seven supreme fruits and excellent benefits may be expected!
What are these seven fruits and advantageous benefits?
1: One attains final knowledge early in this very life. If not then;
2: One attains final knowledge at the time of death. If not then;
3: One having cut the 5 lower chains attains Nibbana in between;
4: One attains Nibbana upon landing in the pure abodes. If not then;
5: One attains Nibbana in the pure abodes without effort. If not then;
6: One attains Nibbana in the pure abodes with some effort. If not then;
7: One is bound Upstream, heading towards the Akanittha realm.
When, Bhikkhus, these five mental abilities have been developed and
cultivated, these seven sublime fruits and benefits may be expected.



On the 5 Mental Abilities and the pure abodes:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Five_Abilities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/s/suddhaavaasaa.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V:237] section 48: The Abilities: 66.

Have a nice & fruitful day!

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

The 7 Fruits!

Friends:

Mental Release by Universal Friendliness Outshines All!

The Blessed Buddha often emphasized:
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,
such release of mind by universal friendliness far excels & surpasses them all... Itivuttaka 27
See this good being is happy! How fine! How excellent! Let there indeed be Happiness!
Let there indeed be Freedom! Let there indeed be Peace! Let there indeed be Bliss....
Let there be Understanding of this good principle. Buddhaghosa

May all beings be joyous and safe! Let every creature's mind rejoice. Let every single
living being's mind be jubilant!!! One Should maintain an infinite friendliness; for every
single living being, in sympathy for this entire universe, unlimited, endless & vast!
This is the Divine Abiding while here, they say. Buddha Gotama

The Bhikkhu pervades all beings with all-embracing friendliness ...
The Bhikkhu encompass all beings with universal & endless pity ...
The Bhikkhu permeates all beings with infinite & mutual joy ...
The Bhikkhu suffuses all beings with unlimited equanimity ... Digha Nikaya 33

May all creatures, all breathing things,
all beings one and all, without exception,
experience good fortune only.
May they not fall into any harm. Anguttara Nikaya II, 72

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


Systematic Goodwill!

More on this shining, radiating, through all, & everywhere beaming Friendliness:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Harmlessness_and_Tolerance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/All-Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Friendship.htm

Have a nice radiant day!

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

Unsurpassable Radiance!!!

Friends:

Then Impossible to be Dominated by Evil States of Mind!

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus and Friends: Once the mental release by infinite Friendliness
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will
be impossible for ill-will to take possession of and obsess the mind, for
the mental release by infinite Friendliness is the release from all ill-will!
Once the mental release by compassionate Pity & tender understanding
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will
be impossible for violence to take possession of and obsess the mind, for
the mental release by compassionate Pity is the release from all violence!
Once the mental release by mutual Joy rejoicing in other being's success
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be
impossible for discontent to take possession of & obsess the mind, for
the mental release by mutual Joy is the release from all discontent!
Once the mental release by serene, still and imperturbable Equanimity
has been developed, frequently practised, firmly established, expanded,
made a vehicle, foundation, and brought to full perfection, then it will be
impossible for greed & lust to take possession of & obsess the mind, for
release by imperturbable Equanimity is the deliverance from all greed!



The 4 supreme mental attitudes (Brahmavihara) are thus:
Friendliness, Pity, Mutual Joy and Equanimity!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmavihara



More on this effective medicine of the 4 infinite and divine states:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Harmlessness_and_Tolerance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/All-Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Friendship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm

Have a nice day!

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

Infinite Friendliness = Safe Medicine!

Friends:

Overcoming Fear for any Bad Destination!

Once in Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this:
Bhikkhus, any Noble Disciple, who possesses four things has transcended all fear
of any bad future destination. What four?
1: Here, any Noble Disciple possesses confirmed confidence in the Buddha thus:
Worthy, honourable & perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha! Consummated in
knowledge & behaviour, totally transcended, expert in all dimensions, knower of all
worlds, unsurpassable trainer of those who can be tamed, teacher & guide of gods
as well as of humans, blessed, exalted, awakened & enlightened is the Buddha!!!
2: Any Noble Disciple possesses confirmed confidence in the Dhamma thus:
Perfectly formulated is this Buddha-Dhamma, visible right here & now, immediately
effective, timeless, inviting each & everyone to come and see for themselves,
inspect, examine & verify. Leading each & everyone through progress towards
perfection. Directly observable, experiencable & realizable by each intelligence...
3: Any Noble Disciple possesses confirmed confidence in the Sangha thus:
Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples:
Training the right way, the true way, the good way, the direct way! Therefore do
these 8 kinds of individuals, these 4 Noble pairs, deserve both gifts, self-sacrifice,
offerings, hospitality and reverential salutation with joined palms, since this Noble
Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples, is an unsurpassable & forever
unsurpassed field of merit, in this world, for this world, to respect, and protect...
4: Any Noble Disciple possesses the Morality esteemed by the Noble ones:
Unbroken, untorn, unspotted, freeing, praised by the good, inducing concentration!
Any Noble Disciple, who possesses these four things has transcended and gone all
beyond all fear of a bad destination, rightly beyond all fear of a painful future...



On gaining the ultimate safe & fearless future: Stream-Entrance:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_6_Keys.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Stream_Entrance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Stream-Entry_Tools.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Assured_Destination.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Entering_the_Stream_Supreme.htm



Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:364]
section 55: Sotapattisamyutta. Thread 14: The Bad Destination...



Have a nice fearless day!

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

Without Fear!!!

Friends:

The Really Rich are those who have gained a fine future!

Venerable Sariputta once thanked the householder
Anathapindika with these verses:

When one has faith in the Tathagata,
Unshakable and well established,
And good conduct built on virtue,
Dear to the Noble ones and praised;
When one has confidence in the Sangha
And view that has been rectified,
They say, that one is not poor then,
That one's life has not been in vain!
Therefore the person of intelligence,
Remembering the Buddha's Teaching,
Should be devoted to faith and purity,
To confidence and vision in the Dhamma!

Just as the many rivers used by hosts of people,
Flowing downstream finally reach the ocean,
As the rivers carry their waters to the sea.
The great mass of water, the boundless ocean,
The fearsome receptacle of heaps of gems;

Exactly so do the streams of merit reach any donor,
Any good & wise man, giver of food, drink, & clothes,
Provider of housing, beds, seats, and coverlets...
Just as the rivers carry their waters to the sea!

One who has Faith in the Three Jewels,
Who purifies his behaviour by pure Morality
Having given to those, who seek the absolute,
is Really Rich - most wealthy - even without a penny!


Anathapindika was a millionaire banker (setthi) of Savatthi, who became
famous because of his unparalleled generosity to the Buddha.
As kammic result, he was later reborn in the Tusita heaven!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/ay/anaathapindika.htm


Sariputta : The chief disciple (aggasavaka) of Buddha Gotama.
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/sa/saariputta.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:384]
section 55: Sotapattisamyutta. Thread 26: Anathapindika

Have a nice rich day!

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

Who are Really Rich???

Friends:

The Internal Bath that opens into Prime Divinity!

Buddha once said to Nandaka, the Licchavi minister.
Nandaka, a Noble Disciple who possesses four things is a Stream-Enterer,
who is no longer bound to the lower world, who is fixed in destiny, who has
won enlightenment as his assured future destination. What four things?
Nandaka, any Noble Disciple has unshakable Faith in the Three Jewels thus:
1: Worthy, honourable & perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha indeed! ...
2: Perfectly formulated is the Dhamma, visible right here & now, immediate ...
3: Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha of the Buddha's Noble disciples...
4: A Noble possesses Morality esteemed by the Noble Ones: Unbroken, pure...
Any Noble Disciple, who is endowed with these 4 things is a Stream-Enterer,
no longer bound to the painful worlds, fixed in destiny, with enlightenment as
his certain future destination. Furthermore, Nandaka, a Noble Disciple who
possesses these four things gains a very long life, whether Divine or human!
He becomes endowed with exquisite bodily beauty, whether Divine or human!
He becomes endowed with a content happiness, whether Divine or human!
He becomes endowed with honour and fame, whether Divine or human!
He becomes endowed with a sovereign power, whether Divine or human!
I explain this to you, Nandaka, not having heard it from any recluse or priest!
Rather, I tell you just what I have known, seen, & understood directly myself!
When this was said, a man said to Nandaka, the minister of the Licchavis:
"It is time for your bath, Sir." Who promptly responded: Enough now, I say,
with that fake external bath... This internal bath will suffice, namely,
firm confirmed, confident conviction in this Blessed One...



More on gaining a surely safe future: Stream-Entry:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fine_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_6_Keys.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Doors.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Divine_Tracks.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/How_to_Enter.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Stream-Enterer.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Faith_Summary.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Stream_Entrance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Stream-Entry Tools.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Assured_Destination.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Impossible_Alteration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fruits_of_the_Noble_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Links_to_Stream_Entry.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Friends_and_Colleagues.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/ariya_puggala.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Helpers_to_Stream_Entry.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Entering_the_Stream_Supreme.htm



Have a nice noble day!

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

The Mental Bath!

Friends:

What is a Good Lay Buddhist Disciple?

The Sakyan Mahanama once asked the Blessed Buddha:
Venerable Sir, What is a Lay Disciple?
Having taken refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha, one is a Lay Disciple!

Venerable Sir, What is a Pure Disciple?
Avoiding all killing, stealing, sexual abuse, lying, and neither drinking any
alcohol nor taking any drugs causing neglect, one is a Pure Disciple!

Venerable Sir, What is a Faithful Disciple?
Placing faith in the Enlightenment of the Tathagata thus:
Worthy, honourable & perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha! ... teacher &
guide of gods and humans, exalted, & awakened ... one is a Faithful Disciple!

Venerable Sir, What is a Generous Disciple?
Living mentally devoid stinginess, liberal, open-handed, delighting in donation,
devoted to charity, enjoying all giving & sharing, one is a Generous Disciple!

Venerable Sir, What is a Disciple who Understands?
One who understands the cause of arising & ceasing, which is Noble, decisive,
& which enables eradication of Suffering is a wise Disciple who Understands!



More on the Buddhist Lay Disciple (Upasaka):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/upaasaka.htm


The Buddha Gotama's first five disciples (Pañcavaggiya)

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:395]
Section 55 on Stream-Entry: Sotapattisamyutta. Thread 37: Mahanama.

Have a nice decisive day!

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

The Disciple!

Friends:

How does the Noble live in Alert Elevated Joy?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
How, Nandiya, does a Noble Disciple live in alert elevated joy?
Here, Nandiya, any Noble Disciple is endowed with verified conviction in the
Buddha thus: Worthy, honourable & perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha!
Not satisfied with that verified conviction in the Buddha, he makes a further
effort in solitude by day and seclusion at night!
When thus enthusiastic, he is elevated by alertness!
When thus elevated by alertness, then gladness is born!
When he is gladdened, then a rapturous joy arises!
When the mind is uplifted by joy, the body becomes all tranquil...
One tranquil in body experiences a pure bliss of happiness!
The mind of one who is happy becomes condensed and concentrated...
When mind is concentrated, even subtle phenomena become plain & manifest.
Since these subtle phenomena become plain and manifest, he becomes one,
who lives and dwells in alert elevated joy...



More on this blessed Bliss:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Forest_Bliss.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Joy_Piti.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_Beyond_This_World.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Blessing_all_Beings_by_Bliss.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_of_the_Flesch_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm



Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:398]
Section 55 on Stream-Entry: Sotapattisamyutta. Thread 40: Nandiya.



Have a nice elevated day!

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

Alert Elevated Joy!

Friends:

What are the Benefits of Training Mental Concentration?

Once in Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this:
Bhikkhus, train and develop concentration! Any Bhikkhu, who is concentrated
understands things as they really are and as they really become! How?
1: He understands as it really is: This and such is Suffering,
2: He understands as it really is: This and such is the Cause of Suffering,
3: He understands as it really is: This and such is the Ceasing of Suffering,
4: He understands as it really is: This is the Way leading to the End of Suffering!
Bhikkhus, develop concentration! A Bhikkhu, who is concentrated understands
not only the appearance, but things as they really are and as they really become!
Therefore, Bhikkhus, an effort should be made to comprehensively understand:
This is Suffering; This is the Cause of Suffering; This is the End of Suffering;
This is the way leading to the End of Suffering... An effort should be made to
comprehend, fathom, grasp, understand, and penetrate these Four Noble Truths!





Comments:
Those who makes that effort, and understands, shortens this Samsaric round...
Those who neglects that effort, and ignores it, prolongs this Samsaric round...



More on these 4 Noble truths:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Noble_Truths.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_1st_Noble_Truth_on_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_2nd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Cause_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_3rd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Ceasing_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4th_Noble_Truth_on_The_Way_to_End_Suffering.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:414]
section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 1: Concentration...

Have a truly nice day!

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

Terse Truths!

Friends:

What 4 Objects of Thinking are always Advantageous?

Once in Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this:
Bhikkhus do not accept to think any evil disadvantageous thought such as:
1: Thoughts mixed with Sense-Desire...
2: Thoughts mixed with Ill Will or Anger...
3: Thoughts mixed with Harm & Violence...
Since all these thoughts are irrelevant and even detrimental to the basics of
the Noble life & they furthermore do neither induce revulsion, nor disillusion,
nor ceasing, nor Peace, nor any true knowledge of Enlightenment or Nibbana!
When you think, Bhikkhus, you should only think thoughts like these:
1: This is Suffering;
2: This is the Cause of Suffering;
3: This is the End of Suffering;
4: This is the Way leading to the End of Suffering...
Why so?
Such thoughts are of prime relevance and highly advantageous to the basics of
the Noble life & they furthermore gradually induce both revulsion, detachment,
stilling, Peace, and direct knowledge of Enlightenment & Nibbana. Therefore,
Bhikkhus, an effort should be made much of so to completely understand:
This is Suffering; This is the Cause of Suffering; This is the End of Suffering;
This is the Way leading to the End of Suffering... An effort should be made to
understand, comprehend, penetrate, recognize & realize these 4 Noble Truths!



Comments:
Keep mind focused on these 4 facts whenever it strays into fun, wrath or ill...

More on these 4 Noble Truths (Cattari Ariya Saccani):
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/truths.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/sacca.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/index.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Noble_Truths.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/wings/part3.html#part3-h-1
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_1st_Noble_Truth_on_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_2nd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Cause_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_3rd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Ceasing_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4th_Noble_Truth_on_The_Way_to_End_Suffering.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:417-8]
section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 7: Thoughts...
Have a nice truly focused day!

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

Focused Thinking!

Friends:

What 5 Objects of Clinging are inevitable Suffering?

The Blessed Buddha once said this:
Bhikkhus & Friends there are these Four Noble Truths. What 4?
1: The Noble Truth of Suffering;
2: The Noble Truth on the Cause of Suffering;
3: The Noble Truth on the End of Suffering;
4: The Noble Truth on the Way to end Suffering...
These are the Four Noble Truths!

What, Bhikkhus & Friends, is the 1st Noble Truth of Suffering?
These Five Clusters of Clinging are Suffering!
The cluster of clinging to Material Forms (Rupa) is Suffering...
The cluster of clinging to Mental Feelings (Vedana) is Suffering...
The cluster of clinging to Mental Perceptions (Sañña) is Suffering...
The cluster of clinging to Mental Constructions (Sankhara) is Suffering...
The cluster of clinging to kinds of Consciousness (Viññana) itself is Suffering...
This is verily the 1st Noble Truth of Suffering!

What, Bhikkhus & Friends, is the 2nd Noble Truth on the Cause of Suffering?
It is this Craving, which leads to renewed becoming joined by delight and lust,
seeking delight now here & later there! That is craving for sensual pleasures,
craving for becoming (ex. rich) this & the craving for not-becoming that (ex. sick).
This is indeed the 2nd Noble Truth on the Cause of Suffering!

What, Bhikkhus & Friends, is the 3rd Noble Truth on the Ceasing of Suffering?
It is the traceless fading away & complete Ceasing of that very same Craving,
the giving up & relinquishing of it, the freedom from it, & non-dependence on it.
This is actually the 3rd Noble Truth on the Ceasing of all Suffering!

What is the 4th Noble Truth on the Way leading to the ceasing of Suffering?
It is solely this Noble 8-fold Way namely:
Right View (samma-ditthi)
Right Motivation (samma-sankappa)
Right Speech (samma-vaca)
Right Action (samma-kammanta)
Right Livelihood (samma-ajiva)
Right Effort (samma-vayama)
Right Awareness (samma-sati)
Right Concentration (samma-samadhi)
This is the 4th Noble Truth on the Way leading to the ceasing of Suffering!

These, Bhikkhu and Friends, are the Four Noble Truths. Therefore, Bhikkhus
and Friends, an effort should be made much of, so to completely understand:
This is Suffering; This is the Cause of Suffering; This is the End of Suffering;
This is the Way leading to the End of Suffering... An effort should be made to
understand, comprehend, penetrate, recognize & realize these 4 Noble Truths!



More on these 5 Clusters of Clinging (Khandha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Any_Kind.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Not_Yours.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Leash.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fingernail_of_Soil.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Acquisition_of_Fuel.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Burning_Five.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/g_m/khandha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_5_Clusters_of_Clinging.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_are_the_5_Clusters_of_Clinging.htm


Suffering is an inevitable part of being!

More on these 4 Noble Truths (Cattari Ariya Saccani):
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/truths.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Clustered_Truths.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/sacca.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/index.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4_Noble_Truths.htm
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/wings/part3.html#part3-h-1
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_1st_Noble_Truth_on_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_2nd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Cause_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_3rd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Ceasing_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_4th_Noble_Truth_on_The_Way_to_End_Suffering.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:425-6]
section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 13: Clusters...

Have a nice painless day - if U can!

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

Suffering!

Friends:

Precious yet often wasted is this Human Opportunity!

The Blessed Gotama Buddha once explained:
Bhikkhus & friends, imagine a single floating ring drifting in the great oceans!
Imagine also a blind turtle, which surfaces only once every hundred years...
What do you think, Bhikkhus, would that blind turtle by chance often dive
right up under this randomly drifting single ring & insert its neck in the hole?
If it ever would at all, Sir, it would only happen after an incredibly long time!
Yet, Bhikkhus & friends, I tell you, that this would happen sooner, than a fool,
who has fallen into the lower worlds would again regain this rare human state...
Why so? Because down there exists neither behaviour guided by the Dhamma,
nor any honesty, nor any morality, nor any good doing or meritorious activity...
There prevails only this evil: beat or be beaten, eat or be eaten, cruel merciless
killing and voraciously swallowing up of any weak. Why is it so primitive there?
Because, Bhikkhus, there nobody have seen these 4 Noble Truths! What four?
All this is Suffering; This Greedy Craving is the sole Cause of all Suffering;
No Craving is the End of Suffering; The Noble 8-fold Way Ends all Suffering,
Therefore should an effort be made NOW to understand the 4 Noble Truths!

Comment:
Despite the fact that downfall is a common event occurring at most deaths
(>97%) many beings think that the downfall either not happen to them (sic!),
or that it does not exist at all... They cannot remember the last nasty surprise...
Learning anything about cause and effect is thus effectively disabled!
The very same mistakes are thus repeated, life after life, almost endlessly!


The Blind Sea-Turtle Simile...

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:455-6]
section 56: Saccasamyutta. Thread 47: The Ring and Blind Turtle ...

Precious & rare is this human chance!

Have a nice re-evaluating day!

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

Dont be The Blind Turtle!

Friends:

After the Great Hells one goes to the Minor Hells!

There are Eight Great Hells! These are:

1: The Revival Ever Hell (Sañjiva),
2: The Black Thread Hell (Kalasutta),
3: The Crushing Hell (Sanghata),
4: The Screaming Hell (Roruva),
5: The Loud Screaming Hell (Maharoruva),
6: The Burning Torture Hell (Tapa),
7: The Great Torture Hell (Mahatapa),
8: The Relentless Hell (Avici).

1: The Revival Hell (Sañjiva) where one survives & cannot die from pain!
Those who, because of greed, confusion, fear, or anger, kill living beings
or having nursed them, slaughter them for sale, they will be reborn in the
Sañjiva Hell. There though killed and killed again for many thousands of
years, because they revive there again and again for more pain, this is
called Sañjiva Hell: The Revival Forever Hell... Even death cannot stop it!

2: The Black Thread Hell (Kalasutta) where one is cut up by a black line!
Men who are hostile towards friends, mother, father & good pure ones,
who are slanderers & liars they go to The Black Thread Hell (Kalasutta).
Since they are split like wood with burning saws along a marking line,
made by black thread, so it is called Kalasutta: The Black Thread Hell...

3: The Crushing Hell (Sanghata) where one is crushed to pulp repeatedly!
Those men who kill goats, rams, jackals, hares, rats, deer, boar & other
free living & roaming beings, they end up in The Crushing Hell (Sanghata).
Since, crushed together between huge mountains, splattered, squeezed,
smashed, & squashed to fluid mash there in a total slaughter, this niraya
is called Sanghata: The Crushing Hell...

4: The Screaming Hell (Roruva) where one screams like a bound pig in fire!
Those who harass or torment other being's body & mind & who cheats go
to The Screaming Hell (Roruva). There they give forth terrible screams,
howls, yells, in outcry over being constantly consumed by fierce fire, &
ferocious flames. This blaze is thus called: Roruva The Screaming Hell...

5: The Loud Screaming Hell (Maharoruva) where one screams even more!
Those who steal what was entrusted to them or steal the possessions of
devas, high people, recluses & teachers, by causing suffering even to such
good ones go to Maharoruva: The Loud Screaming Hell. There the pain &
affliction of the fire torment & the screaming is even greater then ever.
This inferno is therefore called Maharoruva: The Loud Screaming Hell...

6: The Torture Hell (Tapa) is an immense conflagration of bitter pain!
Whoever burns creatures in conflagrations such as forest fires, that
person, weeping and wailing, is eaten by a fiery fire of blazing flames.
Since this severe burning torture continues without interruption, this
is known in this world here as Tapana: The Burning Torture Hell...

7: The Great Torture Hell (Mahatapa) is an even more burning hurting!
The foolish nihilist who perversely insists that Dhamma is non-Dhamma
and whoever harms other beings deliberately is tortured by fierce fire
in The Great Torture Hell (Mahatapa). Since it burns beings even worse
than theTapana, this holocaust is called Mahatapa: Great Torture Hell...

8: The Relentless Hell (Avici) where the pain is without break or pause!
Those showing enmity to those of greater virtue, slaying Nobles, pure
disciples or also their mother, father, or teachers, they are reborn in
The Relentless Hell (Avici). Even the bones burns to ashes there, since
the heat is excessively terrible. Because there is no interval, break, or
pause, this is called Avici: The Relentless Hell... Without interruption..
These are the 8 great Hells explained by the Teacher of the 3 worlds!

Source (edited extract):
Pañcagatidipani by Ashvaghosa & Saddhammaghosa 11-12th century AC.
Tr. by Ann A. Hazlewood. Journal of the Pali Text Society. Vol. XI 1987:
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=132714

For more on the 136 Hells (Niraya, Naraka):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/n/niraya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ways_to_the_Barbeque.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Inevitable_Consequences.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/KN/Dhammapada.htm#Chapter XXII Hell - Niraya

The Buddha on the Hells: MN 130 The Divine Messengers. Devaduta Sutta!
http://www.mettanet.org/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/2Majjhima-Nikaya/Majjhima3/130-devaduta-e.html

The Hell Dimensions are Shockingly Real:


















Have a nice day!

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

The 8 great Hells!

Friends:

If Blinded by Ignorance one takes Animal Rebirth!

Because of greed one is reborn in eggs of geese, doves or as other animals
obsessed by great passion, like also in the womb of a rhinoceros...
Because of ignorance one is reborn in the eggs of insects and worms.
Because of hate one is reborn as snake. Because of pride and obduracy,
one is reborn as lion. Because of arrogance & narcissism one is reborn in
the wombs of donkeys and dogs. If miserly & discontented one creates
rebirth as a monkey. If foulmouthed, faithless & shameless one is reborn
as crow. Those flogging, chaining & injuring elephants, horses, & buffalos
become spiders, scorpions, & stinging insects of cruel character. Those who
are flesh-eating, angry, & fiery are reborn after death as tigers, jackals,
cats, sharks, vultures, wolves & the like. Those who are generous givers,
but angry & cruel become Nagas = snake-demons of great iddhi-power...
Any deliberate wrongdoing in thought, speech and/or action can produce
rebirth as animal! Therefore one should always shun all that is wrongdoing...


Animal rebirth induced by cruelty!

Please enjoy study here for details on Rebirth:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Rare_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Divine_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Animal_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Endless_Round.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Samsaric_Dread.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Minor_Hells.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/One_BIG_Family.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Hell_Destiny.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Five_Destinations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_5_Destinations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Kamma_and_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Samsaric_Round.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mad_Demon_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Human_Being_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Hungry_Ghost_Rebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/What_passes_on_by_Rebirth-Linking.htm


The Animal Realm!

Source (edited extract):
Pañcagatidipani by Ashvaghosa & Saddhammaghosa: 11-12th century AC.
Tr. by Ann A. Hazlewood. Journal of the Pali Text Society. Vol. XI 1987:
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=132714

Have a nice human day!

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

Animal Rebirth!

Friends:

Deceiving Sensuality: Empty of Happiness!

The Blessed Buddha explained all the phenomena of existence as a pain:
Whoever delights in forms, feelings, perceptions, mental constructions,
and in whatever kind of consciousness, also delights in plain Suffering!
Whoever delights in Suffering, cannot ever be freed from Suffering...
I tell you: So is it really! SN 22:29

Delight is a Mixed and Camouflaged state!
Delight is Craving mixed with & covered by the happiness of satisfaction!
Craving is the cause of Suffering! (So indeed is the 2nd Noble Truth!)
Therefore is Delight also camouflaged suffering! Deadly is Delight!
Why so? Because it makes one seek back for more delight!
This seeking itself is, in the death-moment, the very cause of of rebirth!
When there is birth, there will also be death! Thus: Delight makes Death!
Beings are devoured by delight! Again and again! Decoy Delight!

INAPPROPRIATE
Why laugh? Why party?
Always is the world burning!
Why in darkness do you not seek light?
How can you find delight and laughter
Where there is burning without end?
In deepest darkness you are wrapped!
Why do you not seek for the light?
Dhammapada 146



THE FRAGILE FRAME
See this painted puppet, one big mass of sores,
a diseased frame of skin drawn upon bones,
once possessing many evil thoughts, a thing much
regarded & beloved, yet of neither stable nor
lasting nature ...
Look at this puppet here, well rigged up,
A heap of many sores, piled up,
Diseased, and full of greediness,
Unstable, and impermanent!
Dhammapada 147



ONLY A FORM
This body is worn out, a fragile form, a nest of disease,
a rotting mass of deception since its life surely, always,
and inevitably ends only in Death ...
Devoured by old age is this frame,
A prey to sickness, weak and frail;
To pieces breaks this putrid body,
All life must truly end in death!
Dhammapada 148



Blissful is freedom from any sensual urge whatsoever!
Udana – Inspiration: II – 1

Comment:
Yes there is pleasure in the world. But it always goes away & turns into pain!
Taking delight means urging back here by rebirth and thus also more deaths!

All This - whatsoever - is Suffering: Such is the 1st Noble Truth:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_1st_Noble_Truth_on_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_2nd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Cause_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_3_kinds_of_Craving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sour_Sense_Sources.htm

Have a nice day!

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

Devoured by Deadly Decoy Delight!!

Friends:

Neither Agent nor Actor, but only Impersonal Processes!

Question: Who is the Creator? Answer: Nobody is the Creator of anything!
Q: What then, is creating? A: Ignorance and Craving is creating!
Q: What is ignorance & craving creating? A: Ignorance & craving creates Suffering!

Question: Who Perceives? Answer: Nobody perceives anything!
Q: What then, is perceiving? A: The Perception process itself perceives!
Q: What does perception perceive? A: Form, sound, smell, taste, touch and ideas!

Question: Who Feels? Answer: Nobody Feels anything!
Q: What then, is feeling? A: The process of Feeling itself feels!
Q: What do Feeling feel? A: Feeling feels pleasure, pain and indifference!

Question: Who is the Knower? Answer: Nobody is the Knower of anything!
Q: What then, is Knowing? A: The state of Knowledge itself knows!
Q: What is knowledge knowing? A: Knowledge knows: Such is Pain,
Such is the Cause of Pain, Such is the End of Pain, & Such is the Way to End all Pain!

This core Buddhist doctrine of Anatta means:
There is no 'Self' in here...
There is no 'Substance' out there...
Impersonal & void are all states & phenomena!
Ownerlessness is a universal characteristic of being!
Unsubstantiality is a universal characteristic of matter!


No-Self = Impersonality!

For more on this universality of selfless impersonality (anatta) see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/I-dentification.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Ego-Projection.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Anatta_No_Self.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/No_Agent_is_Inside.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Anatta_Doctrine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Just_Passing_Bubbles.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Neither_Agent_nor_Actor.htm


No-Substance = Unsubstantiality!

Have a nice void day!

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

Nobody home: Empty village!

Friends:

No Craving is the Ceasing of all Suffering!

The Blessed Buddha once said:
What, now, is this Noble Truth on the Elimination of all Suffering?
It is the complete fading away & irreversible elimination of all Craving,
the rejection & leaving of it, & the liberating release from it! SN 56:11

But where may this craving vanish, where may it be extinguished?
Wherever in the world, there are delightful and pleasurable things!
Right there and then may this craving be overcome, and quenched...
DN 22

Be it in the past, the present, or in any future, whatever true recluse
considers all delightful, attractive & pleasurable things in this world
as impermanent anicca, as miserable dukkha, & as without a self anatta,
as diseases & as cancers, it is he who conquers craving... SN 12:66

By final fading away and elimination of craving, clinging also ceases;
By the elimination of clinging, the process of becoming also ceases;
By the elimination of the process of becoming, rebirth also ceases;
Through the elimination of all rebirth, all decay, ageing & death!,
sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, & despair is finally extinguished...
Only that is the eradication of this entire mass of Suffering...
SN 12:43



More on this thorny Craving causing all pain:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Cut_Craving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Craving_is_Pain.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Craving_is_Cause.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Origin_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ceasing_of_Suffering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Craving_is_Catastrophic.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_3_kinds_of_Craving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_2nd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Cause_of_Suffering.htm

Have a nice desireless day!

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

No Craving = No Suffering!

Friends:

Mission Completed! Laid down is the burden!

The Buddha once said about The Arahat: The Perfected Worthy One:
For a Disciple thus released, whose mind dwells in pure peace, there is
nothing to be added to what has been done, and nothing more remains
for him to do. Just as a rock of one solid mass of granite stone stands
unshaken by any wind, even so do neither forms, nor sounds, nor smells,
nor tastes, nor contacts of any kind, whether attractive or repulsive,
disturb an Arahat. Imperturbable is his mind, gained is release! AN 6:55

Arahat Mahinda

He who has considered all dualities, all differences, all contrasts here,
who is never anymore stirred or perturbed by anything in all this world!
Such Peaceful One, freed from rage, elevated above sorrow, & without
fumes of longing, he has passed beyond birth, decay & death...Sn 1048

FREED
For him who has completed this journey.
For him who is untouched by any pain or sorrow.
For him who is in every-way wholly freed.
For him who has broken all chains.
For such one, no Suffering is ever Possible!
Dhammapada 90

CALM
Calm is his mind.
Calm is his speech.
Calm is his action.
So is the Tranquility;
So is the Equanimity;
of one freed by the Insight
of absolute knowledge.
Dhammapada 96

RADIANT
Whether in village or forest, on land, in the sea
or on the mountain; where Arahats dwell all is
indeed delightful, subtle and refined.
Dhammapada 98

SOLITARY
Delighting are the forests, where the passionate
common folks do not haunt their trivial pleasures...
There the cooled ones find the Bliss not of this World!
Dhammapada 99



More on this sublime Blissful State called Nibbana:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Final_Freedom.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Reaching_Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/climax_of_calm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Nibbana_Still.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Uncreated.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_2_Nibbanas.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Stilled_One.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Nibbana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Stilling_of_Clinging.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Nibbana_True_Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/nibbaana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Imperturbable_Equanimity.htm

Absolute Freedom, Peace, & Happiness!

Have a nice worthy day!

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

Mission Complete!

Friends:

What is the most essential core Buddhist Doctrine?



Question: What is the first hindrance (samyojana=fetter=mental chain)
blocking entrance to the Noble Path leading to Nibbana (sotapatti-magga)?
Answer: This first hindrance is Personality View (Sakkaya-ditthi):

"Permanent personality" belief,
"Same Self" as baby & old person assumption,
"I am this Me" self-deceit,
"This Body is my Own" notion,
"This Body is my Self" notion,
"This Body is ME" notion,
"This Body is my Person" notion
"I have a permanent Ego" concept
"Body is mine+own+person" view
"Feeling is mine+own+person" view
"Perception is mine+own+person" view
"Construction is mine+own+person" view
"Consciousness is mine+own+person" view

All are conjectures of the false assumption, that these phenomena are stable
entities, that can be kept unchanging & thereby definable as the core of self!

This concept of "a person" is rather a process, a transient flux,
continuously becoming otherwise and something else.
We are more different from what we were 5 minutes ago,
than we are different from an other person ...
Never are we the same person ... !

The person is thus : "Na ca so, na ca anno"
Not the same, neither another!
King Milinda's Questions. Milindapanha.

-ooOoo-

Any Person is:
Always changing,
Not the Same,
yet neither another,
but continuously becoming
Otherwise & Different!

-ooOoo-

View the world as Empty
Thus always Aware, Mogharaja
Giving up belief in any Self
One may escape Death,
since the king of Death cannot
see one with such void view.
Sutta Nipata 1119

-ooOoo-

All phenomena are Egoless,
impersonal, without a self!
Sabbe Dhamma Anatta

-ooOoo-

Selflessness = Anatta
Is difficult to comprehend as habitually counterintuitive,
yet the most essential & unique teaching in all the Dhamma!

-ooOoo-



More on this baffling Selflessness:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Anatta_No_Self.htm

Have a nice selfless day!

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

Look Mama: No Ego!

Friends:

Breathing Meditation was used by all Buddhas to Awaken!
It has aspects both of meditative calm (Samatha) and penetrating insight (Vipassana).
It is extraordinarily advantageous to always return to this wonderful breathing technique.
Can recommend this booklet about standard Anapanasati Breathing Meditation very much:

Mindfulness of Breathing: Classic Anapanasati meditation manual
of the root Pali texts translated by Bhikkhu Nanamoli. BPS. 1998.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=404502

The optimum is when Calm and Insight goes hand in hand, as if yoked together!







More on this both simple and quite complex Breathing Meditation:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_I.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_II.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_IV.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_III.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Experiencing_the_Breath.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Peaceful_and_Sublime_on_the_Spot.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unique_Thing_Awareness_by_Breathing.htm



More on Insight (Vipassana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Calm_and_Insight.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/In_this_very_Life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Highway_to_Nibbana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_18_Principal_Insights.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Breathing_Calm_and_Insight.htm

Have a nice calm and insightful day!

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

Breathing Calm and Insight!

Friends

The 5 Abilities are Mutually Dependent!

The 5 Abilities (indriya) are:
The ability of Faith (saddha)
The ability of Energy (viriya)
The ability of Awareness (sati)
The ability of Concentration (samadhi)
The ability of Understanding (pañña)



They depend mutually and strengthen each other in forward & reverse causality.
The 1st causes the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th. In parallel all mutually enhances each other!
Such are essentially fine examples of co-dependent co-arising! Paticca-samuppada:

Vice-Versa Causality:
One who has faith, is also energetic. One who is energetic, also has faith.
One who has faith, is also aware. One who is aware, also has faith.
One who has faith, also concentrates. One who concentrates, also has faith.
One who has faith, also understands. One who understands, also has faith.

One who is energetic, is also aware. One who is aware, is also energetic.
One who is energetic, also concentrates. One who concentrates, is also energetic.
One who is energetic, also understands. One who understands, is also energetic.
One who is energetic, also has faith. One who has faith, is also energetic.

One who is aware, also concentrates. One who concentrates, is also aware.
One who is aware, also understands. One who understands, is also aware.
One who is aware, also has faith. One who has faith, is also aware.
One who is aware, is also energetic. One who is energetic, is also aware.

One who concentrates, also understands. One who understands, also concentrates.
One who concentrates, also has faith. One who has faith, also concentrates.
One who concentrates, is also energetic. One who is energetic, also concentrates.
One who concentrates, is also aware. One who is aware, also concentrates.

One who understands, also has faith. One who has faith, also understands.
One who understands, is also energetic. One who is energetic, also understands.
One who understands, is also aware. One who is aware, also understands.
One who understands, also concentrates. One who concentrates, also understands.

by

Source: Ven. Sariputta in: The Path of Discrimination: Patidasambhidamagga:
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=133494

Have a nice and able day!

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

Analysis by Permutation!