# ☸️📒 {Eryu} Dhamma Reads - [ ] #task #TODO/migration Migrate this into 2 notes! 😃 🔼 ## Recent ##### 2024-07-30 - 井鼃不可以语于海者，拘于虚也；夏虫不可以语于冰者，笃于时也；曲士不可以语于道者，束于教也。 ##### 2024-07-08 - **(Nice)** Distracting yourself from yourself is not an escape from suffering ([Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUORlXq_VwQ)) - **Entertainment** = **distraction** = **trying to escape the current situation of unpleasantness** - Why can't you just sit with yourself? - Eryu: **Because "you" are unbearable :)** ##### 2024-05-21 - [(Wonderful) 阿姜放:呼吸是全世界人类的共同财产](evernote:///view/376587/s5/4b6b11ea-2bfd-4d61-a99f-f44a613e699c/ae04f09e-defa-4ae5-8bea-dcef27a08bd5) ##### 2024-04-25 - Vilas: those who are following Thai tradition - Ajahn might find this book really useful...only 89 pages and has lot to offer - https://watmarpjan.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sotapattimagga.pdf ##### 2024-04-14 — (Wow) Shame v.s. Guilt! - **Shame Yes, Guilt No** (by [[Thanissaro Bhikkhu]]) ([Youtube](https://youtu.be/oFe67vM9vtY?si=yXgQsc88ieIRF0b_)) ^132629 - [[Hiri & Ottappa]] v.s. [[Uddhacca-kukkucca|Guilt (Remorse)]] #eryu/learning/major - **(Healthy) Shame** = **I'm ==good== but I made a mistake (slipped)** - **Guilt** = I'm a **==bad== person** (inside) - **Buddha** was someone who **==made== a mistake**, **==admitted== them**, and **==learned from== them**. - But not the other religions! (and hence they promoted guilt) #buddha/unique ##### 2024-04-05 [No-self or Not-self? | Thanissaro Bhikkhu](evernote:///view/376587/s5/5a6ef37d-166e-498a-81ff-b927411181c0/ae04f09e-defa-4ae5-8bea-dcef27a08bd5) - (中文翻译：http://theravadacn.com/Author/ThanissaroNotSelf.htm) - The Buddha divided all questions into **==four classes==:** those that deserve a categorical (straight yes or no) answer; those that deserve an analytical answer, defining and qualifying the terms of the question; those that deserve a counter-question, putting the ball back in the questioner’s court; and those that deserve to be put aside. ==The _last_ class of **question consists of those that _don’t_ lead to the end of suffering and stress**. The **first duty of a teacher**, when asked a question, is to **figure out which class** the question belongs to, and then to respond in the appropriate way.== #dhamma/teaching/skillful - The Buddha said that there are ==**two types of people who misrepresent him:** those who **draw inferences** from statements that shouldn't have inferences drawn from them, and **those who don't draw inferences** from those that should==. (AN2.24) - 佛陀说，误释他的人有两类: 一类对不该作推论的言句硬作推论，另一 类人该作推论时却不作 - In this sense, ==the anatta teaching is **not a doctrine of no-self**, but **a not-self strategy** for shedding suffering== by letting go of its cause, leading to the highest, undying happiness. - 在此意义上，anatta 之教言非是一套无我(no-self)的学说，而是一项非我(not-self)的策略[4]，藉放 下苦因、趋向至高不灭之乐，达到离苦的目的。到那时，我、无我、非我之问已落到一边。一旦有如此彻底自由的体验，又何来谁在 体验、是否为我之惑? ##### 2024-03-24 - 240320 Happy to Be Here \ \ [[Thanissaro Bhikkhu]] \ \ Dhamma Talk ([Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mBLvO0E3hk)) - **==Enjoy your breath==** — **==the more you enjoy being here, the more like you are to stay; the more you stay, the more you see;==** **the more you see, the more you understand; the more you understand, the more you'll let go** (unhelpful and harmful qualities of the mind) :) ##### 2024-03-13 > [!Quote] #May on Khema > - https://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/khema.htm > - _Reading about Khema and contemplating again and again about the nature of our own bodies helps to cut through attachment to our beauty etc. And buddha said **everytime one sees a dead leaf**, to contemplate that I will also be like that, get old and die, so don't be attached to this kaya/rupa_. ##### 2024-03-12 - [(Fantastic clarification on what Dukkha means!) 所有的眼镜蛇都有毒 | 阿姜袈亚裟柔](evernote:///view/376587/s5/d5c39cdd-5371-4c92-80f9-90f7575da1ee/0723dd09-9891-4886-937a-7e87f2f94f51) ##### 2024-02-29 > [!quote] Nice saying by #May > (In response to Difference between - Ethics, Moral values and Liberation ([Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9UxCiKx6pU))) > - Thank you for the talk on Ethics and Moral Values. > - _Because our true nature is pure and bright, if we all listen to our intuition, we will all know what is right and what is wrong. Like Vilas said previously, there is a constrictive feeling vs and expansive feeling_. > - _Metta Sutta and Metta Meditation is really good if you have any level of ill will/dosa. Spreading loving kindness helps dampen dosa. And in Ahara Sutta, Buddha said starving of anger is with **awareness and release**. Good Sati helps_. > - _A wise person once said, **==you can't be expecting to get 'Ulimate Truth', while you continue lying in your life==**_. > - _And if one wants to be in the Brahma realms, you have to ****purify your citta** to match that state. And **Nibanna, ultimate purification**_. > - _**==Those on the path/monks may seem to be renouncing the world, but it is average people who are renouncing true happiness by clinging to earth's toys.==** (Using similar quote from Yogananda's book_) ##### 2024-02-25 - [(Very good, 完整修行之路笔记）尘封的足迹—我的禅修经历（合集）| by 林木清净](evernote:///view/376587/s5/9ffaf49e-78e8-4fa8-8ebd-a797437da5d8/0723dd09-9891-4886-937a-7e87f2f94f51) ##### 2024-02-14 - **Karmic Debt** with Dr. Robert Svoboda – Living with Reality Podcast Ep. 39 ([Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDP8fbeiLZk)) - (On **runanubandha**, or #kamma ) ##### 2023-11 - Read about [[6 Carita Types (6种行者的习性)]] ##### 2023-11-28 - BEST!! Calming v.s. Chaining v.s. Training the mind!!! - **(BEST)** When Your Mind Can Turn Against You - by [[Nyanamoli Thero (Hillside Hermitage)]] ([Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLJhJDSwzhg)) - Best summary of Dhamma on **1) why the mind is a problem**, and **how to train the mind**!! #dhamma/overview/best - **3 Things are different!!** #eryu/practice/learnings/major 1. **Calming the mind** — e.g. practice metta after getting angry - or, saying _"let me be peaceful!"_ - or, just thinking about "nice" things about the other person! :) - The **==problem==** here is, the **==animal remain untrained!!==** #dhamma/practice/mistake - And by "calming it", you're **feeding it's wildness!!** - Eryu: Just like giving a candy to a kid when he's throwing a tantrum!!! - It's like taking **==pain medicine==** when you have **cancer**!! 2. **Chaining the mind** — Observing **precepts** - It's necessary and much better than before, but that's still not "training" the mind. 3. **Training the mind** — Actually **==learn the "signs" and "features" of the mind==**, and **==guide it==** away from ignorance, into wisdom. ##### 2023-06-01 - Axel's ordination ([Youtube](https://youtube.com/shorts/zSFHCK8s7jQ)) ## Old April 18, 2022 [[(Superb!) Vilas Youtube: Practical Anapanasati series - Discussion]] ([Evernote](evernote:///view/376587/s5/92a0226a-e0b0-8be3-301f-1aac8c9e8f32/0723dd09-9891-4886-937a-7e87f2f94f51)) - **Best session** on **summary of 4 jhanas** and how to enter them! - Also good explanations on **pāramī**. - 3rd jhana - **@@@@** The 3rd jhana is where the mind will stop and hence there is **no past and future**. (And hence no identity or "I"). - **@@** It's something that you have **NEVER experienced** in your life. Even if you want to open the eyes **you cannot** because you feel so peaceful and happy. April 7, 2022 [[PINNED - (Super important) Vilas Youtube_Blog on Belief v.s. Faith (Sadda)!|PINNED - (Super important) Vilas Youtube/Blog on Belief v.s. Faith (Sadda)!]] - P1 - "**California exists**" is a belief, not a faith. - **@@ "My name is Eryu"** is also a **belief!!** - **@@ Beliefs can be shaken, faith cannot (i.e. "unwavering faith")** - **@@@@** Faith should be such that, even if **Buddha comes and tell you it's not true, you know that it's actually true.** - **@@ Buddha dhamma** has **nothing to do with belief systems,** but **all about experiencing and faith.** - @@@@ **Vilas Q**: **What do we do** now that **we cannot experience hell and hpapaneaven?** - @@ Vilas: see the **burning sensation (and fear)** when you **do any of the 10 immoral deeds**,and see the pleasure when you don't. - P2 - **@@@@** Faith means one **knows** it and it can be **demonstrated** and **proven**. - Belief means one **accept** to it and it **requires no proof** - **@@ Belief can be changed (**based upon the situation), and it **leads to doubt**. - **@@@@ Eryu: So long as there is a belief, there is a doubt!!** - **@@@@** In anything we do, **we should only cultivate faith** , and **cut the beliefs**. - Building faith — **Penetrating** in to anicca, dukkha and anatta - Anatta - **@@** It’s only a process — **digestion, excretion, breathing, circulation** - When you penetrate, you find a **release at the center of your heart** - **@@@@ You'll find you don’t really exist — you don’t feel your hands, face, anything at all** (for some time) - Anger v.s. peace - **@@@@** When one is in **anger**, it can be seen that one is **heavy** and **burdened** -- **clearly showing** that if one develops it, it will create **misery** - **@@** The mind is in an **animal** state of existence -- **in fear, anxiety, and worry**, where **one does not mind doing immoral activities.** - When one is **peaceful**, one **does not do anything immoral** at all. - **@@** The **heavier the mind is**, the **lower one goes**. And vice versa. - P3 - Blog: [[(Very important) Belief and Faith – Differences – Anumodana Sankalpa _ #Vilas|(Very important) Belief and Faith – Differences – Anumodana Sankalpa | #Vilas]] March 31, 2022 **(Fantastic)** Question and Answer session..cont (<https://youtu.be/WEFEYCzhcIY>) Great Vedanta discussion on: - How to restrain the senses (by **stop identifying**) - Also on what is the Brahman (**it doesn't move** -- what's moving (identifying) is the jivi(?)). It's like the light that shines on all the statues in a puja room. - **@@** We are possessive because we want "**security**" and "**stability**" -- but **these 2 things don't exist AT ALL -- they're concepts only!!** - **@@** Because the **senses** themselves are not secure -- they're **dependent on the sense objects.** - **@@** Latha told a story about a king had a dream of being defeated and starving who woke up and kept asking: "**is this true? Or is that true?**". A saint told him, neither this is true nor that is true. **You're the only truth :**). - **Jiva = the intellect** = defined in the 186 verse of vivekachudamani: - It is without beginning, characterised by egoism, is called the Jiva, and carries on all the activities on the relative plane. **Through previous desires it performs good and evil actions and experiences their results.** Being born in various bodies, it comes and goes, up and down. It is this knowledge sheath that has the waking, dream and other states, and experiences joy and grief. March 23, 2022 [[(2022-03-23) On MN141 Saccavibhaṅgasutta (SUPERB, Deep and detailed)]] - Dukkha - ![[Dhamma/Notes/Vilas Youtube/(2022-03-23) On MN141 Saccavibhaṅgasutta (SUPERB, Deep and detailed).md#^c8e8fb]] - ![[Dhamma/Notes/Vilas Youtube/(2022-03-23) On MN141 Saccavibhaṅgasutta (SUPERB, Deep and detailed).md#^38da91]] - ... March 21, 2022 (Vedanta) Question and Answer session ([youtu.be/WmwhiyUL4Uw](https://youtu.be/WmwhiyUL4Uw)) - Vilas talked about how the world ("Jagat") is only the value we give to it. - We print some number on a paper and say it's valuable, and that is Jagat - **_"Brahma Satyam, Jagat Mithya"_** (Vedanta) Discussion on various topics (<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFsq5ks7Zb0>) - Vilas talked to Bhat on how to implement spiritual teachings in life. (#motivation) **March 21, 2022** [[(2022-03-21) Anything that arises, perishes - Why we don't see it]] March 18, 2022  (Fantastic talk on **Creation**) Stroke of Dhamma Insight (<https://youtu.be/QECdaYXoVPE>) - Vilas talked about how every being can create (from brahma to mosquitos). - **@@** And create by first **imagining** (e.g. there could be a husband and wife), having an **idea**, then **concept**, then **theories**, then **views**, then **opinions**, then **debates**, and then It turns into **fight & arguments**, hitting and **all other immoral deeds**. - [Notes from vilas](https://photos.google.com/search/march%2017/photo/AF1QipM1simn97wQ30kNjnWSELxjdF2VwkO8BNwrqizQ) - **@@** To create, one has to **take all the pain** mentioned above, and when the **craving for creation ends**, so can **the suffering end.** March 17, 2022  (Eckhart Tolle) The Beginning of Awakening & Essential Identity (<https://youtu.be/S_o2iOavxYI>) - Great talk on **what is the "I"**, which is very much inline with how one should see that the 5 aggregates as anatta. March 16, 2022  [[(GODLY) Vilas YouTube_ Why we're not serious about liberation_ _ (Sharable with Dad)|(GODLY) Vilas YouTube: Why we're not serious about liberation? | (Sharable with Dad)]] - Why do we **keep coming back to Buddha Dhamma** (or any spirituality at all)? - **@@@@** Because we see that **the senses cannot be satisfied** -- it keeps on arising and going away. - **@@@@** Everyone will eventually start seeing the **voidness** -- when their children goes away, fame goes away, spouse goes away, etc. - **@@@@ If we pursue anything, it proves that the unhappiness is there** -- otherwise there is no reason to pursue. - And when we start the pursuit, **the pain has to be taken.** - @@@@ What if we **remove the value**, i.e. stop the **[[Papanca|Papañcasaññāsaṅkhā]] (story making)**? Then the pursuit stops because there is no craving, and hence **you're in nibbānā**. March 12, 2022  [[(Great!) SN36.19 Pañcakaṅgasutta _ SuttaCentral _ #Jhana|(Great!) SN36.19 Pañcakaṅgasutta | SuttaCentral | #Jhana]] - Similar to SN9.34 Nibbānasukhasutta, where Buddha explained how jhanas are superior to sense pleasures, and how deeper jhanas are superior to lower jhanas. - Also mentioned that there are 2, 3, ..., 108 types of feelings -- a key lesson on how the teaching should be understood **with context** and not literally. March 10, 2022 **(Superb)** Craving for **pleasure** and **sense gratification** (<https://youtu.be/iw-gfh5QV0w>) - Vilas gave a super clear explanation on the **sense pleasure seeking** (**sense gratification**) **process**.🙂 - Also on assada, adinava, nissarana. - Adinav - it doesn't last. - @@ **Nissarana** (escape) happens when you see the **pain you take to retain something which cannot be retained**. - Also how it relates to the 2nd law of thermal dynamics - Release from pain = pleasure - @@ And gave a great explanation on **jhanas** and how **etan santan** can be used to break the craving for sense pleasures. - **@@ The mind is like a monkey on the back**, it **keeps on telling you** what to get. And after getting it, it'll say **I don't like it**. Now, get me that instead.. 😂😂😂 March 9, 2022 [[(on Citta) AN1.41-50 Paṇihitaacchavagga _ SuttaCentral|(on Citta) AN1.41-50 Paṇihitaacchavagga | SuttaCentral]] - “Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that’s as quick to change as the mind. - So much so that it’s not easy to give a simile for how quickly the mind changes.” - “This mind, mendicants, is radiant. March 9, 2022 [[(Great clarity!) Youtube_ Vilas on rebirth consciousness, parinibbana, gandhabba, citta & vinnana (9 stages), mind|(Great clarity!) Youtube: Vilas on rebirth consciousness, parinibbana, gandhabba, citta & vinnana (9 stages), mind]] - Vilas talks about **rebirth consciousness**, cuti-paṭisandhi - Also explain on what is **mind, citta, vinnana,** and **gandhabba**. March 3, 2022  [[(Fundamental!)(Definitions of 5 aggregates!!) SN22.56 Upādāna­pari­pavatta­sutta _ SuttaCentral|(Fundamental!)(Definitions of 5 aggregates!!) SN22.56 Upādāna­pari­pavatta­sutta | SuttaCentral]] - **And what is form?** - The **four primary elements**, and form **derived** from the four primary elements. - Cattāro ca **mahābhūtā** catunnañca mahābhūtānaṁ **upādāya rūpaṁ**. - **Form originates from food.** When food ceases, form ceases. - Āhārasamudayā rūpasamudayo; [[(Fundamental)(4 Aharas!) SN12.63 Puttamaṁsasutta (A Child’s Flesh) _ SittaCentral|(Fundamental)(4 Aharas!) SN12.63 Puttamaṁsasutta (A Child’s Flesh) | SittaCentral]] - Mendicants, there are these **four fuels**. They maintain sentient beings that have been born and help those that are about to be born. - What four? - **Solid food**, whether coarse or fine; **contact** is the second, **mental intention** the third, and **consciousness** the fourth. - Kabaḷīkāro āhāro oḷāriko vā sukhumo vā, phasso dutiyo, manosañcetanā tatiyā, viññāṇaṁ catutthaṁ. March 1, 2022 **(Great)** What is papañca­saññā­saṅkhā? | #Namarupa (<https://youtu.be/QV03we17Yu4>) - **Vilas gave very nice and detailed explanations on Papanca and namarupa with regard to DN21 and MN18.** - **A few steps:** - 1\. A body is born, the name is give later - 2\. The body keeps growing, the name stays - 3\. Because the name stays, relationships are made (e.g. son, friend) - Vinnana creates the relationships and hold on tight to them like a fist. When vinnana let goes, one is liberated. - **All we hold on to in this life is relationships.** - 4\. When there is relationship, it can be broken. E.g. divorcee. Which causes Dukkha. February 28, 2022  [[, Map of Buddha's path) Notes_ Why is one Jealous and Miser (On DN21 Sakkapañhasutta) _ #papanca #papancasannasankha #savitakka #avitakka|(]]**[[, Map of Buddha's path) Notes_ Why is one Jealous and Miser (On DN21 Sakkapañhasutta) _ #papanca #papancasannasankha #savitakka #avitakka|Godly]]**[[, Map of Buddha's path) Notes_ Why is one Jealous and Miser (On DN21 Sakkapañhasutta) _ #papanca #papancasannasankha #savitakka #avitakka|, Map of Buddha's path) Notes: Why is one Jealous and Miser (On DN21 Sakkapañhasutta) | #papanca #papancasannasankha #savitakka #avitakka]] February 25, 2022 **(Fantastic)** Vipassana session and discussion (<https://youtu.be/eHh5acN3Adw>) - **Fantastic guided meditation** by Vilas on **Anapanasati and Vipassana (on anicca, Dukkha, anatta)!** February 21, 2022 ✅ Personal experience of Dhamma - Sotapanna and beyond (<https://youtu.be/wDii7xAHXok>) - Vilas gave a fantastic and comprehensive analysis on **yoga v.s. Vedanta (nondual) v.s. Buddha teaching**. Feb 17, 2022 [[(Superb Encyclopedia of Dhamma!) DN34 Dasuttarasutta _ SuttaCentral #Sariputta|(Superb Encyclopedia of Dhamma!) DN34 Dasuttarasutta | SuttaCentral #Sariputta]] - **8 ways of laziness and 8 ways of arousing energy (diligence)!** January 27, 2022 (Superb) Discussion on guarding the senses ( <https://youtu.be/lo58Qjzt4kQ>) - Superb talk on how to do indriya Bhavana (samvara) - Superb Q&A section too, covering a few topics: - How to do Culasunnatasutta using the Bora Bora video, including how to enter into arupa jhanas. - (~1:20:00) how Sila, samadhi, Panna works together - (~1:30:00) **superb summary on various ways of achieving nibbana** - You can penetrate into anicca if Sila is good, if not, can try anatta (it's easier than anicca), and if not, can try dukkha. - **@@ Penetrating any of the 3 will give you the other 2.** - **@@** Each person's mental state is **different** -- we have to **observe and understand our own mental states** and find what works for us. That's why Buddha gave so many different different suttas. - **Routes:** 1. Jhana, 2. Samantha completely, 3. Indriya bhavana, 4. Sila samadhi paññā, 5. Tilakkhana January 24, 2022 [[PINNED - (Fantastic) Youtube_ Vilas on Cūḷasuññatasutta|PINNED - (Fantastic) Youtube: Vilas on Cūḷasuññatasutta]] January 11, 2022 Experiencing Nibbana through Kayagatasati Sutta (<https://youtu.be/uM8S9djiGjs>) - Vilas gave a good talk on **what it takes to reach arahat (dedication, intention, consistency in practice, etc.).** - **@@@@** Also he taught how to observe the **beginning, middle, end of an in breath an out breath** during Anapanasati, which allows one to see the digham and rasam of the breath. It lead to a very good meditation for me. December 21, 2022  Experiencing awareness of body via Kāyagatāsatisutta (<https://youtu.be/lQ_U2F_DFgw>) - **Vilas talked in Superb details on Sila.** - He changed the #3 from kamesu michachara to **abstaining from all sexual activities** (brahma-chariya?) -- because it consumes a lot of energy (viriya) - Vilas also taught how to meditate on the sensation of the palms putting on the legs, regarding the 4 mahabhuta (4 dhatus/qualities) -- pathavi, app, thejo, wayo. December 28, 2021 [[(Superb! Buddha on Hell & animal realms & chance of human birth #1) MN129 Bālapaṇḍitasutta (The Foolish and the Astute) _ SuttaCentral #Motivation! #beginner #turtle|(Superb! Buddha on Hell & animal realms & chance of human birth #1) MN129 Bālapaṇḍitasutta (The Foolish and the Astute) | SuttaCentral #Motivation! #beginner #turtle]] - **“That one-eyed turtle would poke its neck through the hole in that yoke sooner than a fool who has fallen to the underworld would be reborn as a human being, I say.** - Why is that? - Because **in that place there’s no principled or moral conduct**, and no doing what is good and skillful. - There they just prey on each other, preying on the weak. [[(Buddha on Hell #2) MN130 Devadūtasutta (Messengers of the Gods) _ SuttaCentral|(Buddha on Hell #2) MN130 Devadūtasutta (Messengers of the Gods) | SuttaCentral]] December 28, 2021 [[(Great short read for motivation!) SN56.35 Sattisatasutta (A Hundred Spears) _ SuttaCentral #diligence #beginner|(Great short read for motivation!) SN56.35 Sattisatasutta (A Hundred Spears) | SuttaCentral #diligence #beginner]] - **@@** And you’ll live for a hundred years being struck with **three hundred spears every day**. But when **a hundred years have passed**, you will **comprehend the four noble truths for the first time.**’ - For an earnest gentleman this is **sufficient reason to submit.** December 27, 2022 [[PINNED - (Video) What to practice on daily basis - Q&A session_|PINNED - (Video) What to practice on daily basis - Q&A session?]] December 26, 2021 Experiencing awareness of body via Madhupindika sutta (<https://youtu.be/yzDqC8inte4>) - Vilas gave a good talk on Papanca and how to stop it. - [[(Superb!) (on Papanca) MN18 Madhupiṇḍikasutta (The Honey-Cake) _ SuttaCentral|(Superb!) (on Papanca) MN18 Madhupiṇḍikasutta (The Honey-Cake) | SuttaCentral]] December 23, 2021 [[(Superb!) (on Papanca) MN18 Madhupiṇḍikasutta (The Honey-Cake) _ SuttaCentral|(Superb!) (on Papanca) MN18 Madhupiṇḍikasutta (The Honey-Cake) | SuttaCentral]] - Eye consciousness arises dependent on the eye and sights. The meeting of the three is contact. Contact is a condition for feeling. **What you feel, you perceive. What you perceive, you think about. What you think about, you proliferate.** What you proliferate about is the source from which a person is beset by concepts of identity that emerge from the proliferation of perceptions. This occurs with respect to sights known by the eye in the past, future, and present. - Cakkhuñcāvuso, paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ, tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso, phassapaccayā vedanā, **yaṁ vedeti taṁ sañjānāti, yaṁ sañjānāti taṁ vitakketi, yaṁ vitakketi taṁ papañceti**, yaṁ papañceti tatonidānaṁ purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti atītā­nāga­ta­pa­c­cu­p­pa­n­nesu cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu. December 17, 2022 [[(Great!) (on atta) MN1_ The Root of All Things (Mūlapariyāyasutta) _ SuttaCentral _ Buddha explains how anariya identifies with and takes everything as _mine_|(Great!) (on atta) MN1: The Root of All Things (Mūlapariyāyasutta) | SuttaCentral | Buddha explains how anariya identifies with and takes everything as "mine"]] - They perceive extinguishment as extinguishment. (Nibbānaṁ nibbānato sañjānāti;) - **But then they identify with extinguishment**, they identify regarding extinguishment, they identify as extinguishment, they identify that ‘extinguishment is mine’, they take pleasure in extinguishment. - Why is that? - Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say. - That is what the Buddha said. - But the mendicants were not happy with what the Buddha said. - 😂😂 December 7, 2021 [[DN16 Mahāparinibbānasutta]] - 12\. Commencing the Rains at Beluva - Then it occurred to the Buddha, “It would not be appropriate for me to become fully extinguished before informing my attendants and taking leave of the mendicant Saṅgha. - Why don’t I forcefully suppress this illness, stabilize the life force, and live on?” - So that is what he did. - Then the Buddha’s illness died down. - 20\. The Appeal of Ānanda - The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. **If he wished, the Realized One could live on for the eon or what’s left of the eon.’** - But you didn’t get it, even though I dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign. You didn’t beg me to remain for the eon, or what’s left of it, saying: - ... - If you had begged me, I would have refused you twice, but consented on the third time. - ... - It’s not possible for the Realized One, for the sake of life, to take back the life force once it has been given up like that. - And what are those things I have taught from my direct knowledge? - They are: **the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path.** - "Enough, Ānanda! Do not grieve, do not lament. **Did I not prepare for this when I explained that we must be parted and separated from all we hold dear and beloved?** - How could it possibly be so that what is born, created, conditioned, and liable to fall apart should not fall apart, even the Realized One’s body? - 35\. The Buddha’s Last Words - Then the Buddha said to the mendicants: - “Come now, mendicants, I say to you all: - “handa dāni, bhikkhave, āmantayāmi vo, - **‘Conditions fall apart. Persist with diligence.’”** - vayadhammā saṅkhārā appamādena sampādethā”ti. - These were the Realized One’s last words. - Ayaṁ tathāgatassa pacchimā vācā. November 29, 2011 [[(BEST! Superb way to practice) Vilas talk_ _Meditation as per Pāsarāsisutta” (6-part series!) _ #Youtube|(BEST! Superb way to practice) Vilas talk: "Meditation as per Pāsarāsisutta” (6-part series!) | #Youtube]] - **(Superb talk!) PART 3** (<https://youtu.be/u6S5ab95WPI>) - **@@ At the beginning of the video, Vilas used movie as a great analogy to explain nibbida, viraga, nirodha, etc.** - **@@@@ (Summary) Vilas taught on how to meditate on nibbidāya, virāgāya, nirodhāya, upasamāya, abhiññāya, sambodhāya, nibbānāya**!! - **==TODO: nibbānāya talked Talked in part 6!==** November 25, 2021 Attain Nibbana using Dutiyabhavasutta (<https://youtu.be/ZBLSNdffJno>) - **Vilas gave a superb talk on how one gets established in kama, rupa, and arupa realms.** [[AN3.77 Dutiyabhavasutta]] - “If, Ānanda, there were no deeds to result in the sensual realm, would continued existence in the sensual realm still come about?” - “No, sir.” - **@@@@** “So, Ānanda, **deeds are the field, consciousness is the seed, and craving is the moisture.** - The intention and aim of sentient beings—hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving—is established in a lower realm. That’s how there is rebirth into a new state of existence in the future. - Eryu: somewhat similar to how the same gene (DNA) can be expressed in different ways (<https://youtu.be/JMlJcOSRX-8>), because they work in probabilities November 8, 2021 [[PINNED - (BEST EVER) Vilas talk_ Normal person to Anagami (3-part series) _ #Youtube|PINNED - (BEST EVER) Vilas talk: Normal person to Anagami (3-part series) | #Youtube]] - Part 1 - **(Best ever) Best summary of Dhamma to date!** - **@@@@ Anicca & sankhata - it is proven by 2nd law of thermal dynamics** - **@@@@ Work on 4 things:** - 1\. Dasa akusala, 2. Sampajano, 3. Indryia Bhavana, 4. 5 Nivaranas - **^ More details in notes!** - Part 2 - Vilas talked about which suttas (DN, MN, etc.) is good for which people. - **@@@@ Buddha basically talks about 4 things in all suttas (in various amount):** - 1\. Remove dasa akusala - 3\. Sampajanna to stay being aware - 4\. Remove the sense from sense objects - 2\. Remove 5 hindrances - **@@@@ Need v.s. want** - **@@ example: Needing an air conditioner/ is need, but wanting an exact temperature is want!** - **@@@@** Buddha said you should have **ONLY Dhamma in your mind**! And keep noble silence when anyone talks to you about worldly stuff. - Part 3 - Vilas talked about how to break the 5 sense using indriya Bhavana, which breaks the nama and rupa. - **@@@@ When you touch, you should just feel the hardness and softness, hotness and coldness, but not the name of the object.** - **@@@@ Me: I should start with touch as that's probably not weakest. Followed by sound.** November 6, 2021 [[AN3.70 Uposathasutta]] - **Gods of the Four Great Kings - 90,000 times of Human life!** - _Fifty years in the human realm is one day and night for the gods of the Four Great Kings._ - _The life span of the gods of the Four Great Kings is five hundred of these divine years._ - **Gods Who Control the Creations of Others -** **93 million times of Human life!** - Sixteen hundred years in the human realm is one day and night for the Gods Who Control the Creations of Others. - The life span of the Gods Who Control the Creations of Others is sixteen thousand of these divine years. November 2, 2021 [[(Brilliant! Important for practice) SN 36.5_ Daṭṭhabbasutta _ SuttaCentral (Three types of feelings!)|(Brilliant! Important for practice) SN 36.5: Daṭṭhabbasutta | SuttaCentral (Three types of feelings!)]] - **@@@@ Pleasant feeling should be seen as suffering. Painful feeling should be seen as a dart. Neutral feeling should be seen as impermanent.** - Sukhā, bhikkhave, vedanā dukkhato daṭṭhabbā, dukkhā vedanā sallato daṭṭhabbā, adukkhamasukhā vedanā aniccato daṭṭhabbā. November 1, 2021 [[TOP - (Fantastic sutta on WHY one should follow the Dhamma!!) SN 22.2_ Devadahasutta _ SuttaCentral #Sariputta #Teaching #Motivation|TOP - (Fantastic sutta on WHY one should follow the Dhamma!!) SN 22.2: Devadahasutta | SuttaCentral #Sariputta #Teaching #Motivation]] - ‘But what drawback has he seen that he teaches the removal of desire and lust for form, feeling, …? - When questioned like this, reverends, you should answer: - **@@@@ ‘If you’re not free of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for form, when that form decays and perishes it gives rise to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.** October 31, 2021 What are khandas and how can one understand and experience (<https://youtu.be/MeunZvBxR1U>) - **@@ Establishing Sila has 3 parts:** - 1\. Dasa akusala removal - 2\. Remove the attachment to the sense objects - 3\. Clearing the 5 hindrances. - **@@ Once Sila is established, then samadhi and Panna automatically happens.** October 27, 2021  [[(Fundamental) MN 9_ Sammādiṭṭhisutta _ SuttaCentral (Sariputta on many different ways of achieving Samma Ditthi)|(Fundamental) MN 9: Sammādiṭṭhisutta | SuttaCentral (Sariputta on many different ways of achieving Samma Ditthi)]] - _A noble disciple understands the unskillful and its root, and the skillful and its root._ - _A noble disciple understands fuel, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation._ - _A noble disciple understands suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation._ - _A noble disciple understands old age and death, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation …_ - _A noble disciple understands rebirth, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation …_ - _..._ - _A noble disciple understands defilement, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation._ October 20, 2021 - **Two of the most important suttas read!** [[MN19 Dvedhāvitakkasutta]] - Whatever a mendicant frequently thinks about and considers becomes their heart’s inclination. [[PINNED - (Superb Dhamma overview) MN 26_ Pāsarāsisutta (The Noble Search ) _ SuttaCentral (Buddha on his own path) (Noble v.s. Ignoble)|PINNED - (Superb Dhamma overview) MN 26: Pāsarāsisutta (The Noble Search ) | SuttaCentral (Buddha on his own path) (Noble v.s. Ignoble)]] October 19, 2021  General discussion on Dhamma ( <https://youtu.be/prNKtIw2mR0> ) - Vilas gave a brilliant talk on how to come out of the madness of the world, which is what the world is made of. - Buddha said: unless someone talks to you about rupa, vedana, sanna, sankhara, and vinnana, you should **stay in Noble silence**. - **Don't have any opinions** -- as it's going to be either of raga, dvesha, or moha. - We're all milking each other in this world. - **@@ Don't think the world is going to be compassionate towards you** -- that is only the case a long as you remain capable to be milked (e.g. company, boss, wife, husband, kids, parent, etc.). October 14, 2021  Dhamma practice series - Sotapanna to Anagami stage ( <https://youtu.be/0sHteP__0Vs> ) - Vilas gave **extremely detailed explanation on dasa akusala** and how one needs to live (establishing the 10 kusala) due to seeing that every being is behind the 4 types of food (ahara) and the breath is going away moment by moment. October 8, 2021 Implementing Dhamma in daily life (<https://youtu.be/fyAEhG0OndM>) - Vilas gave very vivid description on how life in Mumbai is, in terms of how **life will push you to compete** (and become the best in the world) and often do immoral things unless you choose a secluded life yourself. - Example is when doctors are asked to get a free bed and oxygen for a special Covid patient which means another one will die. - **@@ If one feels sorry for the dying person, that is pity but not compassion.** - **Compassion is like sun or earth, it shines equally on everyone, and is equanimous regardless of the situation.** - 2 options: - 1\. Leave the job/world and becomes a anagarika. This is what samma Ajiva is about. - Buddha never asks lay follower to advance past Sotapanna. - 2\. Just be an observer. - Someone asks Buddha: **how should I kill?** - **Buddha said don't take it to your heart, have metta Bhavana, and do whatever is supposed to be done.** [[(Clear definitions of dasa akusala) AN 10.176_ Cundasutta _ SuttaCentral _ 10 immoral deeds|(Clear definitions of dasa akusala) AN 10.176: Cundasutta | SuttaCentral | 10 immoral deeds]] October 5, 2021 What are we in search for? Part 2 (<https://youtu.be/wpu6ngEv_IQ>) - (30m) Vilas talked about how one had coffee for the first time, the consciousness fetches impressions (vasanas) from beginningless previous existences (past lives) which creates the feeling to "like" the coffee. - (Great ExplaNATION!!) And vilas talked in details about the 4 types of food (ahara) and how every being is doing everything to only chase these 4 aharas. October 4, 2021 **(Fantastic)** **What are we in search for? Noble or Ignoble** (<https://youtu.be/IwE1IAZ88aE>) - The **most fantastic** explanation on the drawbacks of worldly (anariya) lives. - **@@@@ Because it's chasing the conditioned (sankhata) which is all subject to aging (jara) and death (marana), and whoever involved will have sorrow (soka), and develops corruptions to the mind (sankilesa) which brings this cycle over and over again.** - An ariya, on the contrary, would aim for the asankhata. - Relates sutta: - MN 26 Pāsarāsisutta (The Noble Search): <https://suttacentral.net/mn26/en/sujato> - Saṅkhatalakkhaṇasutta (#sankhata #sutta): <https://suttacentral.net/an3.47/en/sujato> September 28, 2021 **(BEST EVER)** What to meditate upon? What does Buddha say on meditation? (<https://youtu.be/-3-y3V9CksM>) - **BEST EVER talk on Buddha's meditation.** - Vilas talked about how "ekaggata" (Pali) got mis-translated to "ekagrata" in Sanskrit, thus got translated to "one pointedness" (it should be "one-ness"), which Buddha never talked about. That's also why people think meditation is about "concentration" which it was never talked about in any sutta. All those are very good meditations but **they have NOTHING to do with Buddha**. Buddha's meditation is TOTALLY different. - \[1/19, 08:08\] Vilas (Anagarika) Kadival: it is ek + agata = ekagata; in Indian language including Pali Ek = one and agata = arrived - \[1/19, 08:08\] Vilas (Anagarika) Kadival: one who has arrived at onesess - \[1/19, 08:08\] Vilas (Anagarika) Kadival: in sanskrit, it would be ekagrata - the problem with 'agatta' is that it can be considered as "pointedness" or "centered" and hence gets mistranslated as one-pointedness - and when you try to position one-pointedness, it further gets mistranslated as "concentrated" and hence one needs to concentrate...this gets even more muddled when someone reads Mahasatipatthana sutta where Buddha says "bring near nose area" and that is where one pointedness or concentrating on nose etc., starts to arrive which completely distorts and nothing gets achieved - simple thing - one needs to get go of duality and **be with oneness in everything**..there is no separation as you and me - Vibhanga (in abhidhamma) means "analysis". There's a section called jhana vibhanga. - **Jhana = vitakka, vichara, piti, sukha, ekaggata, and nothing else.** It has nothing to do with sitting or closing the eyes. It has nothing to do with concentration. - Ekaggata = one-ness = you become one = when you go into deep sleep and you don't exist - **@@@@ (Supreme) Question: What is my meditation!?** - If people ask you what kind of meditation you do, you should answer **"my meditation is on elimination of raga, dvesha, and moha".** - **The Process is:** - **1\. vivicceva (i.e. secluded from) kāmehi** - **2\. vivicca akusalehi dhammehi** - **3-7. Vitakka, vichara, piti, sukkha, ekaggata** - More detailed answer: I'm establishing sati (remembrance, awareness) on when the mind becomes agitated, or get attached to an object/person/substance, and practicing that jhana that will removes attachments and cravings, and all immoral activities that I have been doing. - **The Goal is: raga khayo, dosa khayo, moha khayo, nibbanam.** - Observing the anicca, dukkha, anatta, asubha nature of this world helps with that goal. - Understanding paticca samuppada also helps. September 17, 2021 With the Kālāmas of Kesamutta (<https://suttacentral.net/an3.65/en/sujato>) (Kalama sutta) “So, Kālāmas, when I said: ‘Please,‘ **don’t go by oral transmission, don’t go by lineage, don’t go by testament, don’t go by canonical authority, don’t rely on logic, don’t rely on inference, don’t go by reasoned contemplation, don’t go by the acceptance of a view after consideration, don’t go by the appearance of competence, and don’t think “The ascetic is our respected teacher.”** But when you know for yourselves: “These things are unskillful, blameworthy, criticized by sensible people, and when you undertake them, they lead to harm and suffering”, then you should give them up.’ - September 22, 2021 Buddha Dhamma - Q&A Session - On Nibbana and its confusion (<https://youtu.be/M2Je5_j_GUM>) - Vilas gave detailed explanations on nibbana. - He mentioned that everyone experiences peace. And any religion will some practices that leads you to peace. - **What's unique about Buddha Dhamma is that the step by step instructions** to peace is given so that you can experience it reliably, again and again. **And it leads to deeper states.** September 3, 2021 Understanding Mahāvedallasutta Day 7 (<https://youtu.be/MFO3xhqo_G0>) - Vilas talked about the 4 types of ceto vimutti and how they can be different in meaning but also same in meaning. (Me: methods/perspectives are different, goal/result is the same.) - Vilas also talked about how as soon as we try to **compete**, we would start to compare. And that comparison is "limit" (v.s. appamana - limitless release of the heart), and it brings in raga, dvesha, and moha. - That is, if We don't compete, there's no raga, dvesha, and moha. August 31, 2021 Understanding Mahāvedallasutta Day 6 (<https://youtu.be/5vL1ztHYu6U>) - Vilas gives a **fantastic and detailed overview of stages of jhana.** - Vilas talked about the first 3 jhanas are somewhat automatic (the first 2 are especially easy) but to enter the 4th jhana you have to **actively let go of both the Sukha and the domanassa** (e.g. bodily pain due to sitting). And also both the dasa akusala and 5 Nīvarana has to be kept to very low levels before you can enter the 4th jhana. - Also the last talk about liberation is personal -- it is like when you're hungry and people offer you to eat and you say no no let me make everyone hungry first cuz I don't want to be selfish. And because you're my friend so you should feel hungry also. (Me: Mahayana is like that :)) - Vilas also talked about how consciousness is the magician -- it'll do whatever you ask it to do (i.e. you'll become whatever you think yourself to be). E.g. you can ask it to wake you up at 2am and it'll do it. August 20, 2021  **(Super important!)** Understanding Mahāvedallasutta Day 2 (<https://youtu.be/pjw-ZIlUn60>) - **Vilas describes how citta becomes vinnana in 9 stages** (as described in a PureDhamma article too): - citta - manō (recognizing this is a "female”) - mānasam (recognizing the connection to oneself, e.g. this is "my mother”) <- Arahat stops at this stage - hadayaṃ (generating the sanna and getting attached) - paṇḍaraṃ (the feeling strengthens) - manō manāyatanam - māna indriyam - viññāna - Vinnana = vi (without) + nana (wisdom/knowledge) = without proper knowledge - viññākkhandō. - Related read: [[Citta Evolving To Viññāna And Viññākkhanda In Nine Steps. _ PureDhamma|Citta Evolving To Viññāna And Viññākkhanda In Nine Steps. | PureDhamma]] - **@@** In a later talk in this series, Vilas said that: - **Raga = I like Vilas** - **Dvesha = I don't like Vilas** - **Moha = this is Vilas!** - What's the solution? **A: Don't have any opinions!** August 14, 2021  Vivekachudamani Day 9 - 24th June, 2021 (<https://youtu.be/F_BcPy1gn9A>) - Villas has explained very well what's the **similarities and differences between Jane vedanta and Buddhism** - And also why **shunyata (emptiness) is** entirely misrepresented in Mahayana Buddhism. (Buddha only talks about Shunya, not Shunyata.) - Villas explains to Bhat how Buddha taught about a-sat whereas Vedanta taught about sat. August 2, 2021 Vivekachudamani Day 5 - 18th June, 2021 (<https://youtu.be/C1Hf6J6lPis>) - (20 mins ish and 48 mins ish) **Vilas talks about how a parent should guide (but not interfere with) their children.** - And how **children's karma develops from 5 to 7-yo, till 10-yo (picking up past life karma in him samsara), 12-yo, till 17-yo (developing his vasanas** -- doing exactly what they're doing in their past lives) to 19, then 22, then at 31, then 46, then 55, then 70 - E.g. if my daughter likes to wear bikinis, and says "everyone is doing that", it's because she's getting attracted by it (but not everyone gets attracted to the same thing), and you have to understand what in her karma (nature, vasanas) drives her to do it. Aug 1, 2021 - [[(Fantastic read on holding metta despite of criticism_violence) MN 21_ Kakacūpamasutta—Bhikkhu Sujato _ SuttaCentral|(Fantastic read on holding metta despite of criticism/violence) MN 21: Kakacūpamasutta—Bhikkhu Sujato | SuttaCentral]] - In the same way, a mendicant may be the sweetest of the sweet, the most even-tempered of the even-tempered, the calmest of the calm, **so long as they don’t encounter any disagreeable criticism.** - But it’s when they encounter disagreeable criticism that you’ll know whether they’re really sweet, even-tempered, and calm. - Mendicants, there are these **five ways in which others might criticize you.** - Their speech may be timely or untimely, - true or false, - gentle or harsh, - beneficial or harmful, - from a heart of love or from secret hate. - When others criticize you, they may do so in any of these ways. - If that happens, you should train like this: - **‘Our minds will remain unaffected. We will blurt out no bad words. We will remain full of compassion, with a heart of love and no secret hate.** - **We will meditate spreading a heart of love to that person.** And with them as a basis, we will meditate spreading a heart full of love to everyone in the world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.’ - Even if low-down bandits were to sever you limb from limb, anyone who had a malevolent thought on that account would not be following my instructions. - If that happens, you should train like this: - ‘Our minds will remain unaffected. We will blurt out no bad words. We will remain full of compassion, with a heart of love and no secret hate. - We will meditate spreading a heart of love to that person. And with them as a basis, we will meditate spreading a heart full of love to everyone in the world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.’ July 30, 2021 Beautiful verse from samannaphala sutta (DN 2) - And how is a mendicant content? - It’s when a mendicant is content with robes to look after the body and alms-food to look after the belly. Wherever they go, they set out taking only these things. - **They’re like a bird: wherever it flies, wings are its only burden.** on 5 hindrances - In the same way, as long as these five hindrances are not given up inside themselves, **a mendicant regards them thus as a debt, a disease, a prison, slavery, and a desert crossing.** - But when these five hindrances are given up inside themselves, a mendicant regards this as freedom from debt, good health, release from prison, emancipation, and sanctuary. - The 5: - Kamachanda = debt - Byapada = disease - Tinamiddha = prison - Uddhacca & kukkucca = slavery (by the mind) - Vicikicca = desert crossing July 20, 2021 **Bodhipakkiya Dhamma** - 37 factors of Awakening : DAY 1 (<https://youtu.be/3ipbctYOCBw>) - **@@ One of the best summary / overview of the Dhamma 🙂** - Vilas talks about how there's no breath when you're doing anything intense (e.g. holding a child, watching a girl you like -- "she took my breath away").. because the mind stops then. July 16, 2021 Vivekachudamani Day 3  (<https://youtu.be/AQmpJfGcxhs>) - **Amazing discussion towards the end..** - Baht: when you watch the mind, it stops because it can do only one thing at a time. So, is that a good meditation? - **@@ Vilas: watching the mind is the ONLY meditation.** 🙂 **Because the moment you watch, the mind is not there. It goes away.** - Padmasri: when you just started watching your mind, as "I am watching my mind", the mind is still there. But as you watch longer, slowly the consciousness takes over. - **@@** Vilas: **consciousness can do so many things by itself, in fact much more than what you can do today.** It's like learning to bike, you have to fall so many times, but when you learned it, you know exactly what you need to do. It's similar to how **painters forget that they are painting**, or dancers forget that they're dancing. So when you (your mind) come back and **people say you gave a nice speech, you know "you" never existed to give that speech.** - The reason why people get mesmerized by that performance is because **they're pure consciousness also**. And their mind also goes away when they see "your" performance, which is done by the consciousness. And that attracts everyone. - If you can do this at work you're do much better than what you're doing today and **it's completely effortless and doesn't require any plans.** July 14, 2021 Aura and meditation (<https://youtu.be/ikwhXI7gUaA>) - **Vilas reading both aura and from students' eyes (their entire life). It's amazing :)** July 13, 2021 Removing hindrances to reach Anagami stage (<https://youtu.be/kNeUTi5BN9M>) - Vilas talked about that you have to really apply yoniso manasikara to see the current issue and apply the right solution. - **@@ E.g. if you're yawning, walk instead of sit in meditations. But if Your mind is restless or worrying (uddacca & kukucca), count the out breath and meditate in jhanas and don't walk.** Dhamma questions and answers session (<https://youtu.be/tyeFh37uVDY>) - Vilas talked about how **law of attraction works -- through Gati and Aura** (Gati akashana). - If you stay after 12am or 1am, it's so common that your Gati (aura) has changed, so that your body is taken by another being without a body to enjoy what they would like to enjoy (e.g. sex).. July 11, 2021 How to practice Cūḷavedallasutta (MN44) ? DAY 4 (<https://youtu.be/XRBXQChfiNI>) - **@@** (31:00) Vilas talked about **the practice to do when raga or dvesha arises, by**: - 1) **comparing it against jhanic pleasure** and - 2) **by thinking where the dvesha thought will bring you if you die** (and think about the pain of not being an arahat, anagami, saladagami, and Sotapanna, and the pain of being in the animal realm, etc.). - Mind will not give up sensual pleasure unless it sees a better pleasure (jhanic). Doesn't matter what you tell it. July 9, 2021 How to practice Cūḷavedallasutta (MN44) ? DAY 3 (<https://youtu.be/BYVlkWwlzDc>) - Vilas talked about the aura towards the end. July 7 **@@ FEMALE AUTOPSY** (<https://youtu.be/dxGxXnGI-CU>) - Watched some autopsy videos (female body, female breast) which brings some disenchantment about the body.. - Vilas: This is a good way of doing Asubha bhavana! (Nice overview) Buddha Dhamma in English - Steps for liberation (<https://youtu.be/sr5Vw6-Xw3s>) - **Vilas gave a very brief and nice overview of Dhamma** from 1 to 10 done by sariputta questioning a 7 years old), and how to get started on the path - 1 for food, 2 for namarupa, 3 for 3 feelings, 4 for 4 noble truths, 5 for 5 clinging aggregates, 6 for 6 senses, 7 for bojjhanga factors, 8 for 8 noble paths, 9 for 9 types of beings, 10 for 10 noble paths (8 + sammā ñāṇa, sammā vimutti) - Samma = San (defilements) + ma (cutting) July 6 **(Godly, lead to first walking meditation realization!)** Buddha and his dhamma (<https://youtu.be/CUfFJSuQodU>) - Vilas talked about that you have to **work on your senses from the weakest to the strongest.** Else it wouldn't work. - Vilas gave a beautiful talk on the relationship between **consciousness, subconscious, unconscious and supreme consciousness, using the analogy of an iceberg.** July 4, 2021 Food for thought - 4 kinds of āhāra that makes things up (<https://youtu.be/jd6JfrAkAzc>) - Vilas mentioned that suppression of sense desires (e.g. food, sex) will lead to a worse existence in next life (e.g. constantly deprived of food), and that's very bad. So the key is to first accept the desire not suppressing it. - Otherwise it becomes himsa, not ahimsa. July 3, 2021 Hindrance elimination and release through Dvedhāvitakkasutta (<https://youtu.be/ab5_hTFJ9-w>) - Vilas talked about the 4 layers of consciousness: 1. **Conscious** - manasikara, the observer, the one who think it's the "I" 1. When you observe yourself, you have yoniso manasikara 2. When you follow the dukkha and Sukkha, then the sanna, cetana and passa, you get into ayoniso manasikara (which is our default mode) 2. **Subconscious** - the one that takes control when conscious (1) is absent - e.g. what one would do when they lost "patience" or get "drunk"(?) 3. **Unconscious** - all past lives memory are here, accessible in 4th jhana 1. It doesn't do anything - it just watches 4. **Sublime consciousness** - vinnana anidassanam - the universal consciousness - Vilas talked about the analogy of a herd of dears, led by 2 dears to the wrong path, where the male dear being raga (which has dvesha behind it), and the female dear being moha. To liberate, one has to identify the 2 dears and remove them. - And the attitude of having a female is attachment, and the attitude of having a male is desire. June 28, 2021 **(Great, DN2)** Sāmaññaphalasutta - Ascetic life and its fruits - PART 2 (<https://youtu.be/oyd6juRo-wU>) - **@@ Vilas provided super detailed explanations on how to remove the kama chanda (and other 5 hindrances).** - **@@** Vilas gave **superb, detailed instruction** on **how to do jhanas** - Vilas explained all the supernatural powers (iddhi) that an anagami (can travel with astral body always) and an arahat should have (**can read mind always, remember all past lives, travel with physical body**). - Jati sotapanna will have an easy / un-deprived life -- Vilas has stopped working since 2013 except as consultant, but there's no shortage of money. June 24, 2021 Vivekachudamani Day 2 - 15th June, 2021 (<https://youtu.be/rNsv0y6Mv-M>) - (40m in) - religion = atma == building the self, which will goes either higher (deva), lower (animal), or stay (human) - spirituality = adhyatma = undoing the self / name and form / concepts - **by shutting down the mind when in awaking state** (same as deep sleep state) - temporarily shutting down the mind is realization - permanently shutting the down mind is liberation June 21, 2021 Experiencing Four Noble Truth - moment to moment (<https://youtu.be/v4nEmuJz5Ns>) - Vilas gave extensive explanation about rebirth, kamma, human development, etc. June 19, 2021 Buddha Dhamma - Where to start and what to expect? (<https://youtu.be/cnTKvhU16_Q>) - **A fantastic full picture summary of Buddha Dhamma** w/ explanations with neural science too (citta, neurons) too. June 16 - [[(Very good, practice) AN1.11-20 Nīvaraṇappahānavagga (Giving Up the Hindrances) — Bhikkhu Sujato _ SuttaCentral|(Very good, practice) AN1.11-20 Nīvaraṇappahānavagga (Giving Up the Hindrances) — Bhikkhu Sujato | SuttaCentral]] - Very good overview of how hindrances grow or reduce🙂 - [[禅通讲座：修行人如何自我检验？|禅通讲座：修行人如何自我检验？]] <- pretty good🙂 - 所以，要看你的言是不是利他，无论你是直还是不直，只要是利他的，直和不直都是符合菩萨道的。但是，如果你是自利的，图自己口快的，无论你直和不直，都不与大乘法相应。 - 规划一下，三年忍辱，三年精进，三年禅定，三年般若。前后十二年行过来，大概就有机缘触证自心如来。 June 15, 2021 - [[(Vilas recommend sutta on kalyanamitta, very good overview) The Discourse about Meghiya (ud 4.1)|(Vilas recommend sutta on kalyanamitta, very good overview) The Discourse about Meghiya (ud 4.1)]] - \[1\] Idha Meghiya bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto 04 hoti, - Here, Meghiya, a monk has a good friend, - kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko. - a good companion, a good comrade. - Aparipakkāya Meghiya cetovimuttiyā, - For he whose freedom of mind is not fully mature, Meghiya, - ayaṁ paṭhamo dhammo paripākāya saṁvattati. - this is the first thing that leads to maturity. - .... - cattāro dhammā uttaribhāvetabbā: - four further things ought to be developed: - \[1\] Asubhā bhāvetabbā rāgassa pahānāya, - The (meditation on the) unattractive should be developed for the giving up of passion, - \[2\] mettā bhāvetabbā byāpādassa pahānāya, - friendliness (meditation) should be developed for the giving up of ill-will, - \[3\] ānāpānassati bhāvetabbā vitakkupacchedāya, - mindfulness of breathing should be developed for the cutting off of thoughts, - \[4\] aniccasaññā bhāvetabbā asmimānasamugghātāya. - the perception of impermanence should be developed for the complete uprooting of the conceit ‘I am’. Jun 13, 2021 Experiencing Girimananda Sutta...day 2 (<https://youtu.be/td9y_4UD3GI>) - Great talk on 10 sannas. - Vilas taught the 2 right ways to do anapanasati. - Vilas shared his journey -- amazing. :) June 9, 2021  - (**Superb**) Dhamma discussion with 4 noble truths (<https://youtu.be/6K-QPv0svl0>) - **@@ AMAZING summary of 5 hindrances (nivarana) with real life examples!!** - (21:00) He gave an amazing example on Tina and Midha (regarding someone goes to work).. 😂😂 - **@@@@** And how we have **nicca sanna** even tho it is anicca. - @@ We only see **anitya** (impermanence) -- so that we know "**yes, it will not last forever but it will last as long as I exist!**" --  but not the arising and passing away! - (52:00+) Great answer on how to experience Anicca. - (**Superb**) Dhamma discussion with 4 noble truths (<https://youtu.be/6K-QPv0svl0>) - **@@ BEST EVER summary of [[app://obsidian.md/5%20hindrances|5 hindrances]] ([[app://obsidian.md/5%20hindrances|nivarana]]) with real life examples!!** - (21:00) He gave an amazing example on [[app://obsidian.md/thina%20&%20middha|thina & middha]] (regarding someone goes to work).. 😂😂 - [[app://obsidian.md/thina%20&%20middha|thina & middha]] - I feel, ahhh it's ok.. tomorrow it will still be there.. No hurries to do it today.. :) I can do it _anytime_ I want -- it will be there waiting for me (again, due to [[app://obsidian.md/nicca%20sanna|nicca sanna]]).. - Midha - every given thing you try to **postpone**. June 8, 2021 - Bhagvadgita 18th chapter (<https://youtu.be/XirYT8GKFsM>) - (20:00+) Vilas said we need to realize that everyone of us is in a mental Asylum -- meaning everyone is mad. - And the way to deal with madness is to **show that you're equally mad, but only in fact, you're not.** - **@@** So the strategy to **treat anyone in your life is to engage, but disengage internally.** - Don't feel remorse for anyone for anything. June 7, 2021 - [[(Utmost important, practice) Vandanā – Anumodana Sankalpa _ #Vilas|(Utmost important, practice) Vandanā – Anumodana Sankalpa | #Vilas]] - **Bhagavā – Bha + ga + vā** – One who knows the arising and passing away of beings where in Bha represents Bhava or becoming, ga = relationship and va = type of beings - [TODO: Read again! (Amazing... Lead to my Sotapanna!?) Latha's plan](https://www.evernote.com/shard/s5/nl/376587/9469d81d-9577-9277-109f-6a1b54dbb727/) - (Wow..) Take support of Brahman, make Brahman as only relative/friend. **Find that happiness within. All material happiness are perishable, relationships end, situations end, people move away, only Brahman remains always. We go behind people/situations/things to get a pleasant/elated/happy feeling at heart.** June 5, 2021  - Kannanda (Vilas' native language) June 3, 2021  - Session 2 - anattā - How to practice? (<https://youtu.be/BJFQ0X8S-Tg>) - Such an amazing talk on anatta using an example of meeting a girl... June 2, 2021  - [[Anicca; Nicca – Glossary of Pāli Terms with Illustrations|Anicca; Nicca – Glossary of Pāli Terms with Illustrations]] - Anicca is usually termed ‘impermanent.’ And if permanent means ‘continuing or enduring without fundamental or marked change’ (Webster’s), then impermanent means continuing or enduring with fundamental or marked change. In which case, permanence means lastingness without change, and **impermanence means lastingness with change. But the concept that things last, continue, or endure to the slightest degree is not supported by the scriptures.** May 30, 2021  - [[SN22.95 Pheṇapiṇḍūpamasutta]] May 28, 2021  Bhagvadgita 18th chapter (<https://youtu.be/uPWr75xIB1k>) - Vilas talked about 3 robots that's sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. - The tamasic one is self-centered. And things are given, it Praises itself, when things are not given, it blames others. It does another funny thing that it will believe in creator god when things are not going well, but will believe in self doing it when things are going well.. 😂😂 May 25, 2021 - [[(Good, very important, practice) 如何戒掉手淫？我采访了10名戒撸成功的男人，7个戒撸技巧助你快速戒掉手淫 - 知乎|(Good, very important, practice) 如何戒掉手淫？我采访了10名戒撸成功的男人，7个戒撸技巧助你快速戒掉手淫 - 知乎]] Spiritual Reflections - from the time one started to date (<https://youtu.be/u_dtlr9T_9U>) - Vilas' followers shared their journeys which are quite amazing :) May 24, 2021  - [[(Fantastic) Spiritual Diary by Latha (Vilas' student, VP at ABB)|(Fantastic) Spiritual Diary by Latha (Vilas' student, VP at ABB)]] - [[(Vilas Youtube) How to understand Buddha Vandana correctly in order to remove vicikicchā_|(Vilas Youtube) How to understand Buddha Vandana correctly in order to remove vicikicchā?]] - [[(Crucial) Vandanā – Anumodana Sankalpa _ #vilas|(Crucial) Vandanā – Anumodana Sankalpa | #vilas]] **(BEST EVER!)** Sotapanna to Anagami - Various stages (<https://youtu.be/g_Ag7DE1jIs>) - **Best of the best overview of Dhamma and the path!** - Vandana -> Sankhata & paticcasamupanna -> anicca/dukkha/anatta -> asubha -> 4 noble truths - Vilas talked about the formula for spiritual progress (e.g. starting from understanding Buddha, then Dhamma, et) - **@@ Sampajano** -- being aware of the arising, staying, and passing away of vedana, Sanna, and vitakka - Eryu: like Sāriputta mentioned in Ānāpānassatikathā!! - **@@ Mistranslations!** - **Anatta was mistranslated in English to "no self" because it was mistranslated in Sanskrit to anatman** (no soul), which brought about much confusion - The closest English translation should be **"no personality"** (it's just a process) - “there’s no person there" - **Anicca was also mistranslated -- it has nothing to do with impermanence (anitya)**, but rather everything arises and falling away due to conditions (sankhata) - (added March 22, 2022) Sakadagami - **@@** **Sakadagami will penetrate deeper into Dukkha samudaya and dukkha nirodha**, and will **start experiencing nirodha!** - **Eryu (March 22, 2022): recently happened to me!!** - An **sakadagami** is someone **who doesn't own anything.** May 23 How to reach heaven? - Part 2 (<https://youtu.be/1DaPPCEWs58>) - Vilas showed the video of a monk departing, and talked about the 4 types of beings -- esp. who knows where they're coming from and where they're heading to. - And talked about the process of how to do it yourself 🙂 - Begging won't get us anything (which is what 99.9% of religions teach), you have to work for it. May 21 How to reach heaven & Bhagvadgita 18th chapter (<https://youtu.be/q6wcZSINf-o>) - Vilas explains how student / teacher relationship works - Vilas also talked about astral travels (and subtle body) May 19 Bhagvadgita 18th chapter (<https://youtu.be/erfkA8g12VE>) - Vilas explains what the mental body (3 bodies in total) is and what happens after death.🙂 - And how to go to heaven (and which one to go to)🙂 May 18 What is Karma - Part 2 (<https://youtu.be/gVD5N-aUN5E>) - Vilas said we need to stop doing 2 things to create bad karma: 1. Taking credit for what we did -- this is raga 1. Consciousness is doing everything 2. Taking a perfectionist idea -- this is dvesha 1. Things might seem perfect due to punna phala, but wait until bad karma comes then there's no perfection at all. 2. Only consciousness (God) is perfect. - Rather, just do kriya (instead of karma) May 15, 2021 **LOVE??!! -** Brahma Level - Day 2 (<https://youtu.be/RcXyqNt8K20>) **WOW..... Vilas talked about what is love🙂** - You actually cannot love anyone but yourself :) - It's a feeling. You're completely contented. - It's a feeling that they are part of you. - And they'll be what you want them to be -- **it's entirely conditioned.** - Proof: as soon as they don't listen to you, you get anger (hate) instead of love. - It's a pure transaction: as long as it's working, we love. - Me: Which means, when you realize you as the universal consciousness, you'll feel the unconditioned love for all beings. **All we want in life is contentment.** - **So the first thing we need to do is love ourself** -- by being content with whatever we have at this moment. And that will give us happiness that's not conditioned (you're not expect anything from anyone else). - That happiness will catch people's attention, and can be shared with others (and you're teaching them how to be happy). - This is also what vihimsa is all about. Vilas also talked about the 4 heads of Brahma (4 brahma viharas), and how to get them (basically being happy yourself, sharing your merits, bring happy for others, and being equanimous (whether they can take the help or not)). **But the first step is always: love yourself.** May 14, 2021 [[SN12.64 Atthirāgasutta]] - “Mendicants, there are these four fuels. They maintain sentient beings that have been born and help those that are about to be born. - What four? - Solid food, whether coarse or fine; contact is the second, mental intention the third, and consciousness the fourth. - **Kabaḷīkāro āhāro** oḷāriko vā sukhumo vā, **phasso** dutiyo, **manosañcetanā** tatiyā, **viññāṇaṁ** catutthaṁ. [[(Brilliant map & dictionary of the path, details on Sila) DN2_ Sāmaññaphalasutta—Bhikkhu Sujato _ SuttaCentral|(Brilliant map & dictionary of the path, details on Sila) DN2: Sāmaññaphalasutta—Bhikkhu Sujato | SuttaCentral]] May 13, 2021 Reflections and Bhagvadgita 18th chapter (<https://youtu.be/uoiM_V4cS2Q>) - Vilas talked about how to figure out how much punna phala (good karma) and papa phala you have left, by observing/reflecting on your thoughts. - And by that you would know where you're going (esp. after death). May 11, 2021 Conclusion on path and practice for realisation & liberation (<https://youtu.be/hoKTIb_mqoE>) - Great summary / conclusion of the series.🙂 - On the fruit of the path🙂 - White light = citta = Consciousness - It's like a projector light, which projects movie of 3 colors -- raga: yellow, dvesha: red, and moha: blue -- on the screen, which is the mind. May 10, 2021 Continuing on meditation in another way (<https://youtu.be/alpqSnwqjYE>) - **(Best ever)** Extraordinary talk on sankhata and paticcasamuppana! - Everything is **just a process** - No one ever raises the child -- the child grows up based upon its own kamma -- it's a process like everything else May 8, 2021 Applying all 24 hours through meditation..not closing eyes, but by opening (<https://youtu.be/PQBY7_LxFoo>) - (Great) Vilas talk about the 5 hindrances! - He also talked a bit about the light. May 7, 2021 Meditation on what we have learnt so far (<https://youtu.be/W066EpQwi1Y>) - Vilas talked about the visualization of yourself As the Brightest light possible -- and if you can't, it means you are blocked by kamachanda and byapada - Vilas talked about the practice where you treat your family exactly how you treat your work -- just playing the role (e.g. of a manager), and not actually get attached to the role and bothered by anything that happens there. - It's not necessarily easy because even at work you could take the role too far and actually take it as real (which is what almost everyone does). - There a mother argued with Vilas passionately regarding the practice being impossible (wrt the example of giving up feeding her baby) 🙂 - **Me: I need to take on this practice too -- and know that whenever I'm getting frustrated with Luke where I feel like I "have" to teach him, I'm taking the role too far (take on the personalization, as "mine").** May 6, 2021 Bhagvadgita 18th chapter (<https://youtu.be/UcA5k-jJIGA>) - Vilas mentioned that we love to suffer -- e.g. we love to talk about problems in our lives, but if one were to **say "I'm feeling very happy" then you basically cut out the entire conversation**, since there's nothing to talk about 🙂 - We're always looking for suffering in life. We love suffering. Mind is constantly in search of unhappiness, not happiness. - Towards the last 10-15 mins of the video, Vilas talked about how karma works (esp. between 2 or more ppl) Apr 21 Bhagvadgita 16th chapter (<https://youtu.be/nMJUBubFX9c>) - Very interesting talk on Bhagavadgita and on rebirths into lower realms of existence (e.g. ashurah 阿修罗, pig, bee, etc.). Apr 11 - The Egg - A Short Story (<https://youtu.be/h6fcK_fRYaI>) - Vilas shared a video on a good understanding of how consciousness becomes localized. - [[Vilas on undirected consciousness and nibbana!! _ Vinnanam anidassanam|Vilas on undirected consciousness and nibbana!! | Vinnanam anidassanam]] - Sankhara is what confines consciousness, and when mind (sankhara) is stilled, mind expands Apr 9, 2021 - [[(Super important!!!) AN 4.170 In Conjunction _ SuttaCentral _ (on 4 ways of liberation)|(Super important!!!) AN 4.170 In Conjunction | SuttaCentral | (on 4 ways of liberation)]] April 6, 2021  <https://youtu.be/OaIqpg8xW2s> - Good explanation of the 5 aggregates - 5 aggregates are ordered from coarse to subtle - On sanna: people  call the computer mouse as "mouse", but it's just a random name/designation someone in the past come up with. Apr 4, 2021 Sutta - SN 45.2 | <https://suttacentral.net/sn45.2/en/sujato> - 2\. Half the Spiritual Life | 2. Upaḍḍhasutta - Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: - “Sir, good friends, companions, and associates are half the spiritual life.” - “Not so, Ānanda! Not so, Ānanda! **Good friends, companions, and associates are the whole of the spiritual life.** A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to develop and cultivate the noble eightfold path. - Sakalamevidaṁ, ānanda, brahmacariyaṁ, yadidaṁ—kalyāṇamittatā kalyāṇasahāyatā kalyāṇasampavaṅkatā. March 29 [[PINNED - (Superb, Map of the path) _ MN 95  Caṅkī Sutta _ With Caṅkī _ DhammaTalks|PINNED - (Superb, Map of the path) | MN 95  Caṅkī Sutta | With Caṅkī | DhammaTalks]] - “When, on observing that the monk is purified with regard to qualities based on delusion, he places conviction in him. With the arising of conviction, he visits him & grows close to him. Growing close to him, he lends ear. Lending ear, he hears the Dhamma. Hearing the Dhamma, he remembers it. Remembering it, he penetrates the meaning of those dhammas. Penetrating the meaning, he comes to an agreement through pondering those dhammas. There being an agreement through pondering those dhammas, desire arises. With the arising of desire, he becomes willing. Willing, he contemplates \[lit: weighs, compares\]. Contemplating, he makes an exertion. Exerting himself, he both realizes the highest truth with his body[6](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN95.html#mn95note06) and sees by penetrating it with discernment. March 23, 2021 **Ask A Monk: Taming ones sexual desires** <https://youtu.be/mJ-Uc1C6JGQ> - Sensual gratification has a tendency to grow when u satisfy them, it's part of how kamma/reality works. - **Love & attachment are different.** - **What we usually call "love" is the combination of both** -- some altruistic desire for the other to be happy (which is just a small piece of the unconditioned love we should have towards every living being), plus a lot of attachments, expectations, desires for the partner (wife). - Guilt is an unhelpful and unwholesome emotion in Buddha's teaching. It leads to denial/repression not resolution. March 20 [[(Fantastic read on distinction of Ditthi & sanna, and 4 noble truths) Icchā, Taṇhā, Kāma - Root Causes Of Suffering _ Pure Dhamma|(Fantastic read on distinction of Ditthi & sanna, and 4 noble truths) Icchā, Taṇhā, Kāma - Root Causes Of Suffering | Pure Dhamma]] - The doctor gives the following advice: (i) keep contemplating on the dangers of damaging his liver and (ii) also keep contemplating on the relief that he has gained by stop drinking (no more abdominal pain/swelling, etc.), (iii) don’t associate with those who like to drink, (iv) associate with those who don’t drink in excess. - A Sotapanna learns the dangers of kāma assāda from a true disciple of the Buddha (an Ariya.) **That transition to the Sotapanna stage happened when he started “seeing” the dangers of kāma assāda.** - ![[../_resources/Attachment.jpg]] March 29, 2021 - [[Canki Sutta_ With Canki|Canki Sutta: With Canki]] - _"Now some things are firmly held in conviction and yet vain, empty, & false. Some things are not firmly held in conviction, and yet they are genuine, factual, & unmistaken. Some things are well-liked... truly an unbroken tradition... well-reasoned... Some things are well-pondered ..."_ ##### March 24 - Bhikkhu Bodhi - 2 - The Four Noble Truths ([Youtube](<https://youtu.be/9dQeSykDtgU>)) - Dukkha on not getting one wants: We often wants pleasure, wealth, fame, and praise, but met with pain, poverty, dishonor, and blame. - @@ What we notice / perceives are largely determined by our desires - **TODO: MAKE MORE ACCURATE,** AROUND 30-50 minutes in - Tanha (craving) is NOT the same as desire! Buddha didn't teach us to have no desires. - Dhammapada: craving leads to sorrow, and craving leads to fear. - **In 4 stage: the suffering of lack, the suffering of seeking, the suffering of protection (once you have it), and the suffering of loss (when losing it eventually)** - Even when craving is met, it doesn't bring deep satisfaction (but only temporary gratification), but instead it fuels the craving so it grows more strongly in the future. - **@@ Like throwing wood into the fire.** > [!NOTE] From Youtube AI > - Yes, Bhikkhu Bodhi did talk about these types of suffering as stages in the psychological process by which craving leads to Dukkha (1:11:30): > - Suffering of lack: This arises from the contrast between one's current state of not having an object and the possibility of having it (1:11:48). > - Dukkha of striving and seeking: This is the suffering involved in the effort to search for and acquire the desired object (1:12:00). > - Suffering of protection: Once the object is acquired, there is suffering associated with protecting and safeguarding it from being lost or destroyed (1:12:08). > - Suffering of loss/deprivation: This occurs when the desired object breaks up, or a loved one goes away (1:12:24). Come, Kālāmans, do not be satisfied with hearsay or with tradition3 or with legendary lore or with what has come down in your scriptures or with conjecture or with logical inference or with weighing evidence or with liking for a view after pondering over it or with someone else’s ability or with the thought ‘The monk is our teacher.’ When you know in yourselves: ‘These ideas are unwholesome, liable to censure, condemned by the wise, being adopted and put into effect they lead to harm and suffering,’ then you should abandon them. February 26, 2021 [[(Amazing read) Kisagotami Theri _ #accesstoinsight _ Life stories of 2 nuns (Kisa Gotami & Patacara)|(Amazing read) Kisagotami Theri | #accesstoinsight | Life stories of 2 nuns (Kisa Gotami & Patacara)]] - Story of Gotami - Gotami … young child had died, she refused to believe it was dead. - … she was finally directed to the Buddha. When she told him her story, he offered to provide medicine for the child, but he would need some mustard seed — the cheapest Indian spice — obtained from a family in which no one had died. - **@@ After a while, the message sunk in: Death is universal.** - **Associate with the wise and whom with integrity** - Having admirable friends has been praised by the Sage with reference to the world. - Associating with an admirable friend - even a fool becomes wise. - People of integrity should be associated with. - In that way discernment grows February 13, 2021 (**Fantastic overview of the path**) Quote from <The Life of the Buddha> By Bhikkhu Ñanamoli - “Gotamī, those things of which you know: ‘These things **lead to passion, not to dispassion; to attachment, not to detachment; to amassing, not to dispersal; to ambition, not to modesty; to discontent, not to content; to association, not to seclusion; to idleness, not to energy; to luxury, not to frugality**,’ of them you can quite certainly decide: ‘This is not the Dhamma, this is not the Discipline, this is not the Master’s teaching.’ - But those things of which you know: ‘These things lead to dispassion, not to passion; to detachment, not to attachment; to dispersal, not to amassing; to modesty, not to ambition; to content, not to discontent; to seclusion, not to association; to energy, not to idleness; to frugality, not to luxury,’ of them you can quite certainly decide: ‘This is the Dhamma, this is the Discipline, this is the Master’s teaching.’ ” February 10, 2021 **Dear ones** - MN 87 (read from The Life of the Buddha) - He did as he had been asked. The Blessed One said: “So it is, brahman, so it is. **Dear ones who endear themselves bring sorrow and lamentation, pain, grief and despair.** - And how that is so can be understood from this: Once in this same Sāvatthī there was a woman whose mother died, owing to which she lost her mind and wandered mad from street to street and from crossing to crossing, asking ‘Have you seen my mother? Have you seen my mother?’ Homage to the Buddha (MN 87) - Homage to that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!” - Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassā”ti. January 2, 2021 - [[(Amazing, Utmost important) _Clinging & the End of Clinging_ by Thanissaro Bhikkhu|(Amazing, Utmost important) "Clinging & the End of Clinging" by Thanissaro Bhikkhu]] - **@@ Clinging is suffering🙂** - 4 types of clinging: - Clinging of sense pleasures - Clinging of views - Clinging of habits and practices (i.e. rites and rituals) - Clinging of a self - **5 steps process to give up unhelpful states (5 hindrances)** - 1 - 2. See the arising (origination) and passing away of the state - E.g. anger doesn't last, it comes and passes away, but we keep digging it up. - E.g. a lady went to a monk to ask how to give up sadness for losing his son, and the monk said "you're just saying this to show off" - 3\. See the allure - 4\. See the drawback - 5\. Becoming dispassionate about it -- which ends this particular suffering. September 27, 2020 - [[PINNED - (Greatly Important, great read, practice) How to Read the Suttas - Essays - Discuss & Discover|PINNED - (Greatly Important, great read, practice) How to Read the Suttas - Essays - Discuss & Discover]] - But beware of over-interpreting individual words: the true meaning of a spiritual text emerges from context and experience, not from etymology. - If you are **in doubt**, remember the poised attitude that the Suttas themselves speak of: **“Neither accepting nor rejecting, I will inquire about the meaning…”**. In Buddhism, we are not expected to believe literally every detail of the scriptures; but if we read them with a fault-finding mind, we will never really get it.