Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

Friends:

How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?

Nikini Poya day is the full-moon of August. Bhikkhus who did not enter the yearly
rains retreat (Vas) early at Esala Poya day (peravas), are allowed to enter the
the rains retreat now in August (pasuvas). Nikini Poya day celebrates the first ever
Dhammasangayana - The First Buddhist Council where, what the Buddha said, was
agreed upon and recited. This took place at the Saptapanni Rock Cave in Rajagaha
(now Rajgir, India), under the patronage of Mahakassapa Thera and it went on for
seven long months. It established the original authentic Tipitaka: The 3 Baskets
of Sacred Text = The Pali Canon spoken by the historical Buddha and his disciples.


One of the 7 Sattapanni Caves, where the First Buddhist Council was held ~ 483 BC.

On this first Buddhist Council:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Buddhist_Council

On such 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 and
head touch the floor. Then, with joined palms in front of the heart,
one recite 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 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 Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!
The New Noble Community of Disciples: The Saddhamma Sangha:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm

And 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 !!
Bhikkhu Samahita: what.buddha.said@gmail.com

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


This huge cave hall was built to house the Sixth Buddhist Council convened in 1955
to recite the Pali Tipitaka and authenticate the texts. On the 2,500th Anniversary
of the Buddha’s final passing away (Parinibbana), 2,500 monks assembled from the
Theravada Buddhist countries. Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw performed the central
role as Chief Questioner (Pucchaka), which was fulfilled by Venerable Mahakassapa
in the First Council, held three months after the Buddha’s passing away. To house
this great hall, an artificial hill was constructed by voluntary workers at Kaba-Aye
in Rangoon. This great hall is still used to hold the examinations in the Tipitaka.

Have a nice & noble day!

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

Today is Nikini Poya Day.

True Buddhists Respect the Poya Days!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/III/Nikini_Poya_Day.htm

Friends:

How does the 7 Links to Awakening induce Breakthrough?



The Blessed Buddha once said:
And what, bhikkhus, is the way that induce penetration?
It is: The Seven Links to Awakening! What seven?

1: The Awareness Link to Awakening: sati-sambojjhanga.
2: The Investigation Link to Awakening: dhammavicaya-sambojjhanga.
3: The Energy Link to Awakening: viriya-sambojjhanga.
4: The Joy Link to Awakening: piti-sambojjhanga.
5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening: passaddhi-sambojjhanga.
6: The Concentration Link to Awakening: samadhi-sambojjhanga.
7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening: upekkha-sambojjhanga.

Then, the Venerable Udayi asked the Blessed Buddha:
Venerable Sir, how are the Seven Links to Awakening developed & cultivated
so that they lead to, and induce penetration?
Udayi, when a Bhikkhu develops the Seven Links to Awakening supported
by seclusion, disillusion, and ceasing, it culminates in a mental release,
which is vast, exalted, & infinite, without any trace of ill will.
With such exalted mind matured and refined by these 7 Links to Awakening,
he penetrates, smashes and eliminates the mass of greed, that he has never
before penetrated, smashed and eliminated; he penetrates, demolishes and
eradicates the heap of hate, that he has never before penetrated, demolished
and eradicated; and he penetrates, disintegrates & disperses the accumulation
of confusion, that he has never before penetrated, disintegrated & dispersed...
It is, Udayi, when these Seven Links to Awakening are developed & cultivated
in exactly this way, that they lead to the incisive breakthrough of penetration...



On the 7 Links to Awakening (Sambojjhanga):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Sun.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Peak.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Clothes.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rare_Emergence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Sequential_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Vast_Penetration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Fruits.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unsurpassable_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/When_7_becomes_14.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leading_to_Enlightenment.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Cause_of_Knowledge_and_Vision.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Meaning_of_the-7_Links_to_Awakening.htm



Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 87-88] section 46: The Links.28: Leading to Penetration...

Have a nice & noble day!

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

Breakthrough!

How to gain access?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Vast_Penetration.htm

Friends:

Equanimity gives delicate Peace & Happiness!



Equanimity (Upekkha) entails a composed equipoise of solid mental balance!
It is Tatra-majjhattata = keeping to the moderate middle of all phenomena.
Equanimity balances consciousness so it prevents both all excessiveness and
any deficiency. In equanimity mind is neither attracted by attractive things,
nor repelled by repulsive things. The cause of equanimity is seeing the law of
kamma: All beings are born and created by their kamma, they are owners of
their kamma, inherit their kamma, whatever they do, whether good or bad,
the effects of that will be theirs only, following them like a shadow of past!
The effect of Equanimity is threefold:
Exquisite, relaxed & subtle peace felt as calm happiness is instantly gained.
Equanimity purifies and completes all the 7 crucial Links to Awakening...
Equanimity is the proximate cause of knowledge and vision (ñanadassana)!



On the solidified & imperturbable mental balance of Equanimity (Upekkha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/tatra_majjhattataa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Serene_Equanimity_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Imperturbable_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unshakable_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/u_v/upekkhaa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Equanimity_Upekkha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Empty_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Serene_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/High_and_Alert.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Wrong.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Even_is_Equanimity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htm



Have a nice & noble day!

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

Exquisite is Equanimity!

Friends:

How are there Fourteen Links to Awakening?



The Blessed Buddha once said:
There is awareness of all internal states, & awareness of all external states.
Both kinds of awareness are leading to Enlightenment (sati-sambojjhanga).
There is investigation of both all internal states, and of all external states.
Both these investigations are links to Enlightenment (vicaya-sambojjhanga).
There is energy of body (strength), and energy of the mind (enthusiasm).
Both kinds of energy are leading to Enlightenment (viriya-sambojjhanga).
There is joy associated with thinking, and there is joy without any thinking.
Both kinds of joy are links leading to Enlightenment (piti-sambojjhanga).
There is tranquillity of the body, and there is tranquillity of the mind.
Both these calms are links to Enlightenment (passaddhi-sambojjhanga).
There is concentration during thinking and concentration without thinking.
Both concentrations are links to Enlightenment (samadhi-sambojjhanga).
There is equanimity both regarding internal states and external states.
Both these kinds are links to Enlightenment (upekkha-sambojjhanga).
This can only a Buddha, or a true disciple of a Buddha see, and explain...



Comments:
Awareness of all internal mental states is the most important, and highest.
Investigation of all internal mental states is the primary, and most fruitful.
Energy of the mind is the most advantageous, effective, and most enabling.
Joy without any thinking is the most rapturous, ecstatic, and all-pervading.
Tranquillity of the mind is the deepest, most calm, serene, and imperturbable.
Concentration without any thinking is the most one-pointed and absorbed.
Equanimity regarding internal mental states is the best guard and protection.



On the 7 Links to Awakening (Sambojjhanga):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Sun.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Peak.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Clothes.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rare_Emergence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Sequential_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Vast_Penetration.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Fruits.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unsurpassable_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_7_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leading_to_Enlightenment.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Cause_of_Knowledge_and_Vision.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Meaning_of_the-7_Links_to_Awakening.htm



Sources (edited extracts):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 111] 46: Links. 52: A way of Explaining...

When 7 becomes 14...

What only a few can explain!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/When_7_becomes_14.htm

Friends:

Supreme Master was the Buddha!



It was through understanding, that the Blessed One discovered the Dhamma!
It was through compassion, that he taught it to the multitude of beings.
It was through understanding, that he felt disillusion with the rebirth round.
It was through compassion, that he bore it, while learning to liberate others.
It was through understanding, that he fully understood others' suffering,
It was through compassion, that he undertook to counteract this misery.
It was through understanding, that he himself crossed over to Nibbana!
It was through compassion, that he brought other beings across also...
It was through compassion, that he practised & taught no-cruelty to others.
It was through understanding, that he himself was fearless of all others.
It was through compassion, that he became this world's only real helper.
It was through understanding, that he became his own absolute helper.
It was through compassion, that he was humble and gentle as a Bodhisatta.
It was through understanding, that he gained majestic dignity as a Buddha.
It was through compassion, that he helped all beings as a safeguarding father.
It was through understanding, that he remained detached from all beings.
It was through understanding, that his mind was detached from all states.
For just as the Blessed One's compassion was without sentimental fondness
so was his supreme understanding free from the concepts of "I" and "mine"...
Vism. Comm: Pm. 192-93



On Perfectly Self-Enlightened Buddhas (SammaSamBuddhas):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/How-2-Meet_Buddha_Metteyya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/sammaa_sambodhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_10_Future_Buddhas.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddha_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/me_mu/metteyya.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Metteyya/arimet00.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sumedhas_Similes.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Master_Presence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/SammaSambuddho.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Well_Gone.htm

Have a nice day!

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

The Blessed One!

Friends:

How is the Faith leading to Lay Discipleship?



Having heard the Buddha speak the Lay Disciple exclaims:
Excellent, Lord, excellent! It is as if someone were to set up right what had
been knocked and turned upside-down, or it is as if someone revealed what
was covered up and hidden, or it is as if someone pointed out the way to one
who had got lost by going astray, or it is as if someone brought a lamp into a
dark place, so that those with eyes could see the forms there! Exactly so has
the Blessed Buddha explained this true Dhamma in many various clear ways.
Therefore do I, Venerable Sir, hereby take refuge in the Blessed Buddha,
hereby take refuge in the true Dhamma, and hereby take refuge in the
Noble Sangha... May the Blessed Buddha accept and know me as a lay-follower
from this day on and as long as this life shall last! So is the faith of those who
after countless lives at last have accumulated and now possesses the right and
ripe conditions for attaining the valuable state of lay disciple of a Buddha...
This is the very first step towards the Bliss of Deathless Nibbana!



On Faith (Saddha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rich_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fine_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Raining_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Mutual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leaping_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Highest_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fruitful_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Full_Faith_Frees.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Faith_Summary.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Power_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Devotion_is_Delight.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unwavering_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Outstanding_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Going_Forth_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/saddhaa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Buddha_on_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Hand_Wealth_and_Seed.htm



Source: DN 2 The Fruits of Retreat: Samaññaphala Sutta I 85
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html



Have a nice & noble day!

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

Fine is Faith!

The Disciple elevates his future...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Lay_Faith.htm

Friends:

What is Unwavering Faith & assured Confidence?

The blessed Buddha once noted:
Knowing, Friends, evil covetousness and wicked greed to be mental pollutions,
the Bhikkhu leaves them, rejects them, eliminates them and eradicates them...
Knowing hating ill will to be a mental pollution, he leaves all hostile ill will.
Knowing aversive anger to be a mental pollution, he rejects all anger.
Knowing vicious revenge to be a mental pollution, he avoids revenge.
Knowing contempt to be a mental pollution, he releases contempt.
Knowing tyranny to be a mental pollution, he abandons tyranny.
Knowing green envy to be a mental pollution, he deserts envy.
Knowing self-conceit to be a mental pollution, he quits conceit.
Knowing hypocrisy to be a mental pollution, he dodges hypocrisy.
Knowing negligence to be a mental pollution, he stops negligence.
Knowing puffed pride to be a mental pollution, he cuts out pride.
Knowing jealousy to be a mental pollution, he withdraws jealousy.
Knowing obstinacy to be a mental pollution, he gives up obstinacy.
Knowing vain vanity to be a mental pollution, he relinquishes vanity.
Knowing cheating fraud to be a mental pollution, he eschews fraud.
Knowing arrogance to be a mental pollution, he renounces arrogance.

When the Bhikkhu has eliminated all these polluting mental defilements,
he then gains unwavering Faith, unshakable Confidence and absolutely
immovable and imperturbable Conviction in the blessed Buddha thus:
Worthy, honourable and perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha!
Fully consummated in knowledge and behaviour, totally transcended,
expert in all dimensions, knower of all worlds, unsurpassable trainer
of those who can be tamed, both teacher and guide of gods as well
as humans, blessed, exalted, awakened & enlightened is the Buddha!

He gains unwavering Faith, Confidence & Conviction in the Dhamma
thus: Perfectly formulated is the Buddha-Dhamma, visible right here
and now, immediately effective, timeless, inviting each and everyone
to come and see for themselves, inspect, examine and verify...
Leading each and everyone through progress towards perfection!
Directly observable, experiencable & realizable by each intelligence!

He gains unwavering Faith, Confidence and Conviction in the Sangha
thus: Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha community of 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 four
Noble pairs, deserve both gifts, self-sacrifice, offerings, hospitality
and reverential salutation even with joined palms, since this Noble
Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples, is indeed an
unsurpassable and forever unsurpassed field of merit, in this world,
for this world, to honour, support, award, respect, and protect!

When he has given up, left and eliminated these mental pollutions
he knows: I am convinced by steady unwavering Faith & Confidence
in the Buddha... in the Dhamma... in the Sangha... He therefore gains
enthusiasm for the goal, gains inspiration from the Dhamma, & gains
the gladness connected with this true Dhamma. When gladdened, a
rapturous joy is born in him; being joyous in mind, his body becomes
tranquil; his body being tranquil, he feels happiness; and the mind of
him, who is happy becomes concentrated into full intense absorption!




Faith is the seeding initiator of the Noble Way!

Source:
Majjhima Nikaya MN 7 Vatthupama Sutta: The Simile of the Cloth!
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.007.nypo.html

For further Faith (Saddha) please see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Buddha_on_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Going_Forth_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Outstanding_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unwavering_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Power_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Highest_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leaping_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fruitful_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Mutual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fine_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rich_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Lay_Faith.htm


Passing it on to the next generation!

Confidence & Conviction!

Have a nice convinced day!

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

Friends:

Clinging to Wrong Views is Catastrophic!



The Buddha often emphasized wrong view as thee most detrimental:
When one has imagined, assumed, constructed, approved of and authorized
Wrong Views & opinions, then one is relying that, which is unstable & unsafe!
Clinging to these long cherished wrong views, are not easily relinquished...
One adheres to these persuasions having chosen them from among many
hypothetical ideas, laying down one assumption, just to take up a another
new fancy theory! A purified man, however, does indeed not form any view
about anything anywhere! He is not involved..! Having cut out all deceptions
illusions and conceits, where could such a clear-sighted man ever be driven?
An involved person, however, engages easily in disputes about opposed ideas,
but how can one ever dispute with one, who is not involved? He has neither
taken up, nor laid down anything, but has shaken off having any view at all!
Sutta-Nipata 784-787 Edited excerpt.



More on how to abandon Wrong Views:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Sun.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Certain_Rightness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_is_Right_View.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Leaving_Wrong_View.htm

Have a nice & noble day!

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

Not Involved!

Catastrophic are Wrong Views!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Not_Involved.htm

Friends:

Avoiding all Controversies induces inner Peace!



The brahmin Magandiya asked the Buddha about how to find inner peace:
Mental purity is neither caused by particular views, nor by learning, nor by
knowledge, nor even by perfect morality. Neither by absence of right view,
missing learning, lack of knowledge, or tainted morality, not by that either!
Discarding all these oppositions, detached, calmed, independent, one stops
longing for any form of existence... Whoever thinks himself equal, superior,
or inferior, he will dispute on that account! But the imperturbable one does
not enter any self-deceit! Since for such one, there is no I-Me-Self or Ego
how much less can there then ever be any equal, inferior or superior I-Me-Self!
Leaving home, wandering homeless, not making acquaintances in any village,
free from desire for sensual pleasures, showing no preferences, such sage
will never engage in any controversy. One who really knows does not become
proud because of any particular view, learning, thought, or experience, for
he is not tied to, influenced by, or led by any of these momentary illusions..
He is completely released through his understanding. But those who cling to
certain experiences and particular views wander about causing controversy!
Sutta-Nipata 839-842-844-846-847 Edited excerpt.



Commentary:
This true speech made Magandiya and his wife never-returners (Anagamins).



More on selfless impersonality, ego-lessness, the No-Self fact (Anatta):
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/The_Egoless.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Anatta_No_Self.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Self-less_Anatta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Uprooting_Egoism.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Anatta_Doctrine.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Invisible_Impersonlatity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Experiencing_Egolessness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Neither_Agent_nor_Actor.htm



Have a nice & noble day!

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

Without Controversy!

Not defending anything...
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Without_Controversy.htm

Friends:

Faith initiates the Noble path to Nibbâna!



Faith is the Seed, the Initiator, and thud the Source of the Beginning.
Faith is the Hand that takes up all the advantageous mental states.
Faith is the Wealth above all, since it brings real and lasting Happiness.
Faith is the Jump, since it enables beings to cross the flood of pain.
Faith is the Purifier, since it cleans contaminating pollutions of the mind.



For further Faith (Saddha) please see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Buddha_on_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Going_Forth_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Outstanding_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unwavering_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Power_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Highest_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leaping_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fruitful_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Mutual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fine_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rich_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Lay_Faith.htm



Faith is the Seed!

How to grow lasting Happiness?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Faith_Summary.htm

Friends:

Contemplating the Extent of own Generosity:

One naturally devoted to generosity by the constant practice of giving and
sharing makes the decision: From now on, whenever there is anyone present
to receive, I shall not eat even a single mouthful without having given a gift!
And that very day he should give a gift by sharing whatever according to his
means and his ability with those, who have distinguished mental qualities.
When he has apprehended the sign in that, he should go into solitary retreat
and recollect his own generosity in its special qualities of being free from
the stain of mean miserliness like this: It is gain for me, it is great gain for
me, that in a culture obsessed by the greedy stain of niggardliness, I abide
with my mind & heart free from penny-pinching stinginess. I delight indeed
in relinquishing by being freely generous & open-handed, always welcoming
any request by rejoicing in all altruistic giving and sharing (AN III 287).
Any who gives life by giving food will get life & strength either divine or as
a human (AN III 42). Any giver is loved & frequented by many (AN III 40).
One who gives, is ever loved, according to the wise man's law! (AN III 41).



When a Bhikkhu is devoted to this recollection of generosity, he becomes
ever more intent on generosity, his favourite becomes non-greedy charity,
he acts with kind, noble, & loving liberality, and he gains a fine lion-heart.
He enjoys much happiness and gladness. And if he penetrates no higher, he
is at least headed for a happy destiny.


The Gods became Gods as a result of their magnanimous Giving!

Now when a man is truly wise,
His constant task will surely be
This recollection of his prior giving
Blessed with such mighty potency!
Vism I 224

More on Generosity (Dana) = The 1st mental perfection:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/giving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_3_Gifts.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Glad_Giving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/caaga.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Kathina_Ceremony.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/daana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Openhanded_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Generosity_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kamma_leading_to_Wealth_or_Poverty.htm

Have a nice open-handed day!

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

Reviewing Own Generosity!

Friends:

Is consciousness moving at death to the next life?

No! Since consciousness arise & cease right here, it cannot move anywhere!
It is not continuous, but contiguous discrete mental states as pearls on a string.
The prior moment of consciousness contains the properties that conditions the
arising of the next moment of consciousness! These inherent properties are
mainly craving for (conscious) sensing & craving for becoming anew into being.
If these cravings are present in the rebirth-linking moment of consciousness,
then the next moment of consciousness will arise immediately after the death,
but now in another location and body, which qualities (or lack of) also are all
conditioned by properties within the rebirth-linking moment of consciousness…



Example:
If ignorance is dominant in the rebirth-linking moment of consciousness,
then an animal rebirth is to be expected. If harmonious peace and settled
mental calmness based on a long life of doing good are the dominant factors
right in the rebirth-linking moment of consciousness, then a divine deva rebirth
is to be expected. If anger, hostile enmity, envy and hate are dominant in the
rebirth-linking moment of consciousness, a rebirth in hell is to be expected...
So what actually passes on is CAUSALITY: That is conditioning factors of
mental forces! Nothing more! No form, feeling, perception, construction, or
consciousness passes on, or can ever endure from one moment to the next...
No "Self, I, Me, Body, Identity, or Ego" passes on, because they never really
existed in the first place, so how can they ever then pass on?!?



The classic example is the 2 candles:
Candle A is in flame. (=Dying individuality)
This is then used to light or ignite Candle B (=Reborn individuality).
By this very ignition the flame of Candle A is extinguished…
Only candle B is now burning: What now was passed on !-?-!
Is the flame of Candle B now the SAME, as the flame of Candle A?
Not so. Candle B burns by its own flame, but it was turned on by flame A!
Is the flame of Candle B now DIFFERENT from the flame of Candle A?
Not really so either. Since Candle B started burning from the flame A!



What is Reborn?: Neither the SAME individuality, nor ANOTHER!
What am ‘I’ & ‘Person’?: Neither the SAME nor ANOTHER!
Not a fixed entity, but a streaming process of ever renewed
arisings and ceasings of impersonal mental and physical states…
Just moments of name-&-form passes on!

In brevity:
Question: What passes on at death?
Answer: The forces or streams of: Ignorance, Greed, and Hate,
and derivatives thereof, passes on at death and also in every
moment of this life! One is reborn not only at death, but at
every conscious moment of this endless life cycle itself also...
Re-arising rebirth occurs billions of times per second!
Neither as the same, nor as another...



Regarding Buddhist Theory of Rebirth-Linking (patisandhi) see also:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/patisandhi.htm



Kamma and Rebirth: Nyanatiloka Thera:
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/Wheels/wh394.pdf



Enjoy further details on Rebirth here:
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/IV/Samsaric_Dread.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Minor_Hells.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



Rebirth-Linking is Transmigration!

Is consciousness moving at death to the next life?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/What_passes_on_by_Rebirth-Linking.htm

Friends:

Kinship with All: Be Gentle and Kind towards your Family!



The Blessed Buddha once said:
It is not easy, Bhikkhus & Friends, to find even a single living being that
during this immensely long round of rebirths has not at least 10 times
been your mother, father, brother, sister, son, or daughter!
How is this possible? Inconceivable, Bhikkhus and Friends, is the beginning
of this Samsaric round; not to be discovered is the ultimate first beginning
of individual beings who, blinded by ignorance and all obsessed by craving,
are hurrying and hastening through this round of rebirths!
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book SN 15:14-19



On Samsara: The Dreadful Round:
Long is Samsara for the simpleton, who does not know the Dhamma.
Long is the night for one, who keeps awake.
Long is the mile for one, who is tired.
Long is the rebirth round for one, who is unaware of the true Dhamma.
Dhammapada 60



On Samsara:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/samsaara.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Samsara.htm



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




Have a nice & noble day!

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

We are 1 Biig Family!

Samasa entails Kinship with All Beings. :-)
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/One_BIG_Family.htm

Friends:

Any conscious moment also dies immediately!

Life, personality, pleasure, pain, endures joined in one conscious moment,
that flicks by... Whether such ceased clusters of clinging are those of a
dead or alive does not matter, they are all alike, momentarily gone never
to return... No world is born and appears as manifest, if consciousness is
not produced! Only when consciousness is present, does the world emerge!
When consciousness momentarily dissolves, the world is dead and vanished!
So both the being & the world starts and ends within each conscious moment!
Both are reborn millions of times per second! Not only at conventional death..
This is how death also should be recollected, as the shortness of the moment.
This is the highest sense this concept of conscious existence ever will allow...
(Vism I 238, Nd I 42)


Both 'Being' & 'World' occurs only as discrete conscious moments!

Being or rather becoming proceeds as a discrete Blinking:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Void_Blinking.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Discrete_States.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Momentary_Life.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Impermanence_Anicca.htm


No being is Static: In the blinking tunnel flows the process of re-becoming!

Have a nice blinking day!

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

Existence is discrete and not continuous!

Blinking Being!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Momentary_Consciousness.htm

Friends:

Knowing any kind of existence to be Danger!



The Ancient Elders explained:
As one repeats, develops & cultivates the understanding that appearance
is terror one cannot find any asylum, any safe shelter, any place to go to,
since there is no safe haven in any kind of becoming, generation, destiny,
station, or abode. Nowhere whatsoever - except in Nibbana - is there even
one single stable and lasting formation or construction, that one can place
hope in or hold on to: Since as the Blessed Buddha succinctly pointed out:
The 3 kinds of becoming appear like charcoal pits full of glowing coals, the
four primary elements like hideous venomous snakes (SN IV 174), the five
clusters like murderers with raised weapons (SN IV 174), the six internal
sense sources like an empty village, the six kind of external sense objects
like village-raiding robbers (SN IV 174-75), the 7 stations of consciousness
and the nine abodes of beings as if burning, blazing and glowing with the 11
fires (see SN IV 19). Thus do all phenomena appear as a huge mass of danger
destitute of substance or satisfaction, like a tumour, or a disease, or a dart,
a calamity, a distressing affliction, like a knot of suffering (see MN I 436)!
Vism 647



On the inherent Danger (Adinava) in all Being in Existence:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Experiencing_Danger.htm



Have a nice day!

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

All Being is Danger!

Any existence comes with a price...
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Being_is_Danger.htm

Friends:

Mutual Joy cures all vicious Envy and Jealousy!



The dear companion can be the proximate cause for Mutual Joy, where one
rejoices in another being's success... One thus rejoicing in others fortune
is called a 'boon companion', for he is constantly glad: He laughs first and
speaks afterward! So he should be the first to be pervaded with gladness.
Or on seeing a dear person being happy, cheerful and glad, mutual joy can
be aroused thus: 'See this being is indeed glad! How good, how excellent!'
Just as one would be glad at seeing a dear and beloved person very happy,
exactly so does one pervade all other beings in all directions with mutual joy...
Rejoicing mutual joy can also be aroused by remembering others happiness
in the past and recollecting the elated joy aspect in this way: 'In the past he
had great wealth, a great following and he was always glad'. Or mutual joy
can be aroused by apprehending the future glad aspect of his in this way:
'In the future he will again enjoy similar success and will go about in gold
palanquins, on the backs of elephants or on horseback'. Having thus aroused
mutual joy regarding a dear person, one can then direct the very same feeling
successively towards a neutral one, and gradually towards any hostile person.
Vbh 274, Vism I 316



Comments:
Mutual joy causes Contentment! No mutual joy thus means Discontentment!
Therefore: If being generally dissatisfied, then be happy over others gains.
Secondly: Mutual joy causes all envy & jealousy to evaporate into equanimity!



Mutual Joy (Mudita), which cures all envy and jealousy, is a divine state!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm



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

Rejoicing Joy!

Mutual Joy Causes Contentment! :-)
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm

Friends:

Unique is Ânãpãnasati Breathing Meditation!



Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was living at Savatthi, in the
palace of Migara's mother, in the Eastern Park, together with many very well
known elder disciples: Venerable Sariputta, Maha-Moggallana, Maha-Kassapa,
Maha-Kaccayana, Maha-Kotthita, Maha-Kappina, Maha-Cunda, Ven. Anuruddha,
Revata, & Ananda. These elder bhikkhus were teaching & instructing the new
bhikkhus, who thus achieved successively higher distinction & discrimination!
Then, surveying this silent Bhikkhu-Sangha, he addressed the bhikkhus thus:
I am content, bhikkhus, with this progress; I am content at heart, bhikkhus,
with this development. Therefore, strive still more strenuously to attain the
unattained, to achieve the unachieved, to realize the unrealized. I will stay...
Anapanasati Sutta. Majjhima Nikaya 118 Full text & explanation here:
[size=140]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/pdfs/anapanasati.pdf[/size]



[size=140]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/pdfs/anapanasati.pdf[/size]
Print out & study seriously, repeatedly & thoroughly for elevating advantage!!!

This Breathing Meditation (Anapana-sati) all Buddhas use for Awakening:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unique_Thing_Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Peaceful_and_Sublime_on_the_Spot.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Breathing_Calm_and_Insight.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Experiencing_the_Breath.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Four_Fulfilling_Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/1_Producing_4.htm
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_III.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_IV.htm



Meditation Manual on the 4 main meditation techniques taught by the Buddha:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Manual/Meditation.Manual.htm

Have a nice calm day!

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

Magnificent Meditation!

Friends:

Invariable Nature Laws: Transience & Reaction!



The Blessed Buddha once spoke on these 4 invariable & fixed laws:
There are 4 things, Bhikkhus & Friends, which nobody can change,
neither recluse, nor priest, nor god, nor devil, nor anyone at all
in this or any other universe. What are these 4 things?
1: That what is subject to decay, may not decay...
2: That what is subject to sickness, may not fall sick...
3: That what is subject to death, may not die... &
4: That those evil, immoral, impure, terrible, and pain-producing
actions, which ever and again lead to rebirth, ageing, & death,
may not bring results, may not produce their inevitable fruits...
These four things, Bhikkhus & Friends, neither recluses, priests,
divine beings, neither gods, nor devils, nor anyone in this or any
other multiverse can ever stop...


Impermanence makes all vanish...

More on the Universal Fact of Impermanence:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Transient_formations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Perceiving_Transience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Impermanence_Anicca.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Internal_Transience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_External_Transience.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Experiencing_Impermanence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Contemplating_Impermanence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Contemplating_Impermanence_2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Experiencing_Universal_Transience.htm


Transient & ephemeral are all constructions...

Source:
Anguttara Nikaya. Numerical Sayings: AN 4:182
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm



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

So be it....

The 4 Inviolable Laws!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fixed_Law.htm

Friends:

A friend asked: Who is it that lives these many lives?

Answer:
It is not any Who… !!!
Since selfless is this flux of renewed becoming!
The Question should therefore be reformulated as:

Question: What is it, that lives these many lives?



Answer: It is an accumulated and ever changing group of:
1: Momentary clinging to form;
2: Momentary clinging to feeling;
3: Momentary clinging to perception;
4: Momentary clinging to mental construction;
5: Momentary clinging to consciousness...
That blinded by ignorance and obsessed by craving,
tumbles through these many, many, painful lives & deaths!
It is not an "I", "Me", "Self", "Soul", "Person", or "Identity"!!!


A Cluster Clinging to itself!

These 5 Clusters of Clinging (Khandha) are the 5 types of Being!
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/II/Like_Foam.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/IV/Clustered_Truths.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Burning_Five.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Stilling_of_Clinging.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Not_Who_but_What.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/II/Things_that_can_be_clung_to.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_are_the_5_Clusters_of_Clinging.htm



As the blessed Buddha pointed out:
Sabbe Dhamma Anatta
All States are Not-Self!

There is nobody home... ;-)




Have a nice ego-less day!

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

Nobody is Home!

Not Who, but What?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Not_Who_but_What.htm

Friends:

How to Win the Social Game using Wisdom?



The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Overcome the angry with friendliness;
Overcome the wicked with goodness;
Overcome the miser with generosity;
Overcome the liar with truth.
Dhammapada 223



And what is the treasure of generosity?
There is the case where a disciple of the Noble Ones,
having cleaned his mind of the stain of stinginess,
living at home, freely generous, and open-handed,
delighting in being magnanimous, enjoying any request,
delighting in the giving of alms to those needy & worthy...
This is called the treasure of generosity!
AN 7.6



There are these five future rewards of generosity:
One is admired and liked by an overwhelming majority of the people.
One is respected by the good, the intelligent and the wise persons.
One's good reputation is spread easily, rapidly and far about.
One fulfills the rightful duties of the householder, and
With the break-up of the body, one will reappear in a good destination,
in the heavenly and exquisitely divine worlds!
AN 5.35



On this Future Wealth Creating and Wisely Open-Handed Generosity (Dana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/giving.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Pure_Merit.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Glad_Giving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_3_Gifts.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Kathina_Ceremony.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/caaga.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/daana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Openhanded_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Reviewing_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Generosity_Contemplation.htm

Have a nice & noble day!

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

How to Win the Social Game using Wisdom?

Winning Wisdom!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Winning_Wisdom.htm

Dear Dhamma Friends & Supporters:

The present Micro-Hydro-Power plant here at the Hermitage needs a crucial upgrade!





3 Transformers, 3 rectifiers, 3 diversion dump-loads and 150 meter PVC pipes are needed:



Donations for this Noble Purpose facilitating the Dhamma sharing is very Welcome here:
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About Generosity (Dana): The First Mental Perfection:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Openhanded_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Reviewing_Generosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Glad_Giving.htm



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Enjoy a calm, tight & noble day!

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

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Friends:

Gratitude appreciates all assistance!



The Buddha indeed pointed out Gratitude as an important mental quality:
These two people are hard to find in the world. Which two?
The one who is first to do a kindness, and
the one who is grateful and thankful for a kindness done.
Anguttara Nikaya 2.118



I tell you, monks, there are two people who are not easy to repay.
Which two? Your mother & father. Even if you were to carry your mother
on one shoulder & your father on the other shoulder for 100 years, & were
to look after them by anointing, massaging, bathing, & rubbing their limbs,
and they were to defecate and urinate right there on your shoulders, you
would not thereby repay your parents. Even if you were to establish your
mother & father in absolute sovereignty over this great earth, abounding in
the seven treasures, you would not in that way repay your parents!
Why is that? Mothers and fathers do much for their children. They care for
them, they nourish them for long, and they introduce them to this world.
But anyone who rouses his unbelieving mother & father, settles & establishes
them in faith; rouses his immoral mother & father, establishes them in virtue;
rouses his stingy mother & father, settles & establishes them in generosity;
rouses his unwise mother & father, settles & establishes them on a new level
of understanding: It is in this way that one truly repays one's mother's and
father's many longstanding services.
Anguttara Nikaya 2.32



Mother & father, compassionate to their family, are called Brahma, first teachers,
honour them with food & drink, clothing & bedding, and anointing, bathing, washing
their feet. Performing these services to their parents, the wise are praised right
here and after death rejoice in heaven. Itivuttaka 106



If this is what you think of me:
The Blessed One, is sympathetic, is seeking our well-being, teaches us this
Dhamma out of sympathy, then you should train yourself in being in harmony,
cordial, and without conflict and train in yourselves cultivation of all the 37
best mental qualities: The 4_Foundations_of_Awareness, the 4 right efforts,
the 4_Feet_of_Force, the 5 Abilities, 5 powers, the 7 Links to Awakening,
& the Noble_8-Fold_Way. Majjhima Nikaya 103
A Tathagata is worshipped, honoured, respected, thanked & shown gratitude
by any follower, who keeps practicing the Dhamma in accordance with true
Dhamma, who keeps practicing masterfully, who lives in and by the Dhamma!
Digha Nikaya 16



We will undertake & practice those qualities that makes one a contemplative,
so that all those who helped us by services of robes, alms-food, lodging, and
medicines will bring them great fruit and great future reward.
Majjhima Nikaya 39



Comments:
In Pali, the word for gratitude = kataññu literally means to have a sense of
what was done for one in the past even when long ago. Remembering all help!
A network of kindness and gratitude is what sustains whatever goodness
there is and ever will be in this - otherwise destitute & impoverished - world!

Thus: Thank you for reading this!



Source (edited extract): The Lessons of Gratitude by Thanissaro Bhikkhu:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/lessonsofgratitude.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Appropriate_Appreciation.htm

Have a nice & noble day!

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

Appropiate Appreciation is Advantageous!

Gracious is Gratitude!
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/The_Grace_of_Gratitude.htm

Friends:

Feeling induces Latent Tendencies!



The Blessed Buddha once said: Bhikkhus, there are these three feelings:
Which three?

1: Pleasant Feeling,
2: Painful Feeling,
3: Neither-Painful-nor-Pleasant Feeling.

The latent tendency to lust induced by pleasant feeling should be left...
The latent tendency to aversion induced by painful feeling should be left...
The latent tendency to ignorance induced by neither-painful-nor-pleasant
feeling should also be abandoned. When one has abandoned all the latent
tendency to lust rooted in pleasant feeling, all latent tendency to aversion
rooted in painful feeling, and all the latent tendency to ignorance rooted
in neither-painful-nor-pleasant neutral feeling, then he is indeed called a
Bhikkhu freed of latent tendencies, one who sees & understands rightly!
He has thus stilled all craving, thus cut off the mental chains, and by also
breaking completely through the conceit: "I am", he has ended Suffering...
When one experiences pleasure, if one does not understand feeling, then
the tendency to lust is present in anyone not seeing the escape from it.
When one experiences pain, if one does not understand feeling, then the
tendency to aversion is present in any one not seeing the escape from it. T
he One of Vast Wisdom has taught that even if one seeks delight in this
peace of neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling, then one is still not freed
from suffering! But a bhikkhu who is enthusiastic, who does not neglect
clear comprehension, such wise man fully understands feelings entirely.
Having fully understood feelings, he is in this very life freed of all mental
fermentation. Standing in this Dhamma, in this exquisite state, at body's
breakup, such a master cannot be reckoned, assessed or estimated...


Take-home: Pleasant feeling produces greed! Painful feeling produces hate!
Neither-painful-nor-pleasant neutral feeling causes neglect and will thus
generate ignorance...

The blessed Buddha Said: Everything 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 [205-6]
36: feeling. Vedana. Focused on Pleasure. 3.
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

Leanings Lurk in the Mind!

Feeling induces Latent Tendencies!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Latent_Feeling.htm

Friends:

Patience is the 6th Perfection:

The characteristic of patience is acceptance, its function is to endure,
and its manifestation is non-opposing tolerance! The cause of patience
is understanding how things really are.. The effect of patience is calm
tranquility despite presence of intensely stirring provocation..
Patience of the will produces forgiving forbearance!
Patience of the intellect produces faith, confidence and certainty!
Patience of the body produces resolute and tenacious endurance!
Internal tolerance of states within oneself is patient endurance...
External tolerance of other beings is forbearance and forgiveness...



He who patiently protects himself, protects also all other beings!
He who patiently protects all other beings, protects also himself!



Not from speaking much is one called clever.
The patient one is free from anger and free from fear,
only such steady persisting one, is rightly called clever...
Dhammapada 258



Patient tolerance is the highest praxis...
Nibbana is the supreme Bliss!
So say all the Buddhas.
Dhammapada 184



The innocent one, who has done nothing wrong,
Who endures abuse, flogging and even imprisonment,
Such one, armed with stamina, the great force of tolerance,
Such stoic one, who self-possessed can accept, I call a Holy One!
Dhammapada 399



One should follow those who are determined, tolerant, and enduring,
intelligent, wise, diligent, clever, good-willed and evidently Noble.
One shall stick to them as the moon remains in its regular orbit.
Dhammapada 208



Friends, even if bandits were to cut you up, savagely, limb by limb,
with a two-handled saw, you should not get angry, but do my bidding:
Remain pervading them and all others with a friendly Awareness imbued
with an all-embracing good-will, kind, rich, expansive, and immeasurable!
Free from hostility, free from any ill will. Always remembering this very
Simile of the Saw is indeed how you should train yourselves.
Majjhima Nikaya 21



The five ways of removing irritating annoyance:
Bhikkhus, there are these five ways of removing annoyance, by which any
irritation can be entirely removed by a Bhikkhu, when it arises in him.
What are these five ways?
1: Friendliness can be maintained towards an irritating person or state..
2: Understanding can be undertaken towards an irritating person or state..
3: On-looking Equanimity can be kept towards an irritating person or state..
4: One can forget and ignore the irritating person, mental or physical state..
5: Ownership of Kamma of the irritating person can be reflected upon thus:
This good person is owner of his actions, inherit the result his actions, is
indeed born of his actions and only he is responsible for his actions be they
good or bad. This too is how annoyance with the irksome can be instantly
removed. These are the five ways of removing annoyance, and by which any
irritation can be entirely removed in a friend, exactly when it arises...
Anguttara Nikaya V 161



Buddha to his son Rahula: Develop an Imperturbable Mind like the elements:
Rahula, develop a mind like earth, then contacts of arisen like and dislike
will not obsess your mind! Rahula, on the earth is dumped both the pure and
the impure: excreta, urine, saliva, pus, blood, but the earth does not detest
any of those... Even and exactly so make your mind stable like the earth!
Rahula, develop a mind like water, then contacts of arisen pleasure and pain
will not seize your mind. Rahula with water both the pure and the impure
are cleaned... Washed away with water are excreta, urine, saliva, pus, and
blood, yet the water does not despise any of that! Even so make the mind
fluid and adaptable like the water!
Rahula, develop a mind like fire, then the contacts of any arisen attraction
or aversion will neither consume, nor hang on to your mind! Rahula, fire burns
both the pure and the impure, burns excreta, urine, saliva, pus, and blood,
yet the fire does not loathe any of that.. In the same manner refine the mind
into a tool like an all consuming and purifying fire!
Rahula, develop a mind similar to space, then contacts of arisen delight and
frustration does neither take hold of, nor remain in your mind. Space does
not settle anywhere! Similarly make the mind unsettled and unestablished
like open space. When you expand mind like space, contacts of delight and
frustration will neither be able to dominate, nor obsess your mind...
Majjhima Nikaya 62



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



Have a nice, noble & patient day!

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

Very Advantageous is Patience, Tolerance & Endurance!

Patience is the Highest Praxis!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Patient_is_Tolerance.htm

Friends:

What are the 5 Basic Living Rules?




The Blessed Buddha once said to Anathapindika:
Whoever, householder, has not overcome five terrible evils, such one
is without morality, is without control and will be reborn in hell.
And what are those five terrible evils?
They are killing, stealing, sexual abuse, lying, and taking intoxicants.
But whoever has overcome these five terrible evils, such one is pure,
well controlled and will be reborn in a happy world.
One who is doing these 5 things, creates both present, and future
extreme misery, and will thus experience much mental pain & regret!
One who abstains from these 5 things produces neither any present,
nor any future misery, nor will he experience mental pain or grief.
Such terrible evil is thus eliminated by him and extinguished in him...

Whoever murders living beings,
Speaks words that are not true,
Takes what does not belong to him,
Seduces wives of other men,
And takes intoxicating drinks or drugs,
To which ever he/she strongly clings:
Anyone who does not shun these evils,
Is indeed without morality, with no purity!
And when his/her body once dissolves,
That blind fool will fall into deepest hell...
Who does never harm any being at all,
Who never utters any lie, or falsehood,
Who never takes what is not his or hers,
Nor seduces his/her neighbour's spouse,
Nor ever wishes in all his/her life
To drink intoxicating drinks or drugs
that causes carelessness and neglect
A human who shuns these five evils,
Is rightly called a virtuous human;
And when his/her body once dissolves,
This wise human rises heavenward.



More on this Mighty Morality (Sila):
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/Prime_Benefits.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Sila_1_to_5.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Truth_Triumphs.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Happy_Habit.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Not_Stealing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Reviewing_Virtue.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Mighty_is_Morality.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Virtue.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Best_Protection.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Back_to_Basics.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/immaculate_virtue.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Best_Buddhist_Praxis.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sila_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_I.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_II.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_IV.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_V.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_1.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_3.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Buddhist_Life_Standards_Law_4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Sensual_and_Sexual_Misbehaviour.htm



Source (edited extract):
Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikaya AN 5:174
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm



Integrity Must Be Lived Out in every Praxis!



Have a nice & noble day!

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

Back to Basics!

What are the 5 Basic Root Living Rules?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Five_Basics.htm