# (2022-08-18 onwards) Vilas Youtube: 21-day [[Brahma Vihara|Brahma Vihāra]] Meditation Series Tags:: #guided-meditation, #dhamma/practice/best ##### Day 1 - https://youtu.be/aqw04aJB_AQ (Meditation for Four Brahma Vihara & Astral travel) - Steps (2hrs total): 1. 30m precept 2. 30m watch the breath (Anapanasati) 3. 30m body contemplation (pathavi, apo, etc.) 4. 30m looking at how all beings get into this world - Great guided meditation on the **[[Sikkhapada|5 Precepts]]** and why one should not break them. - "I'll make a **Pledge** not to break any of the in the **next 21 days**." - **@@@@ Superb #Formula** #dhamma/practice/eryu/great for contemplating [[Anicca]], [[Dukkha]], and [[Anatta]] of the 4 [[Dhatu|Elements]] in the body: ^b899d5 1. When it **arises**, did it ask for ==**my permission?**== 2. While it lasts, it **gets sick and brings pain**, did it ask for my permission? 3. When it **decays and eventually passes away**, did it ask for my permission? 4. For about 3 reason, can I see it as "**mine**", as "**belonging to me**" and as "**myself**"? - If X (e.g. breath, or sweat) is "myself", when it departs, is it so that **"I am gone"**? - Eryu: this follows the same outline in [[SN22.59 Anattalakkhaṇasutta]] - **@@** Q: **[[Thina-middha|Drowsiness]]** during Anapanasati, what to do? - Vilas: drowsiness can happen due to 1) lack of **sleep**, 2) lack of **oxygen**. - **Solutions:** - Taking a **walk while watching the** breath is a good solution. - Also, try to **take a few (5-6) deep breaths** and it might go away. ##### Day 2 - https://youtu.be/5K3TZjWs-II - Steps: 1. Sila 2. Calming the mind and body by watching the breaths 3. Contemplate on Dhātu 4. Investigate on what is the [[Ayatana|Senses]] -- Just the **Eye** today. - Vilas gave another good explanation on the 5 precepts and why they should be avoided. - Another **great #Formula** to meditate on [[Dhatu|Dhātu]]. - **@@@@** you're just a **Witness** of the hair growing and falling. - a witness of the urine coming and going - a witness of the body getting fever and recover from fever - a witness of certain parts of my body being hot, and certain parts getting cold. - a witness of the air going up and down the body (e.g. breaths, bowel movements) - **@@@@** Investigate on the **Eye** ([[Ayatana|Senses]]) — how you're just a **Witness** of the eye and sight (and hence it's [[Anatta]]) #Formula - Eryu: if the light is not there (external condition) or the eye has diseases (internal condition), "you" **cannot see.** #eryu/insight - Q: then why do I feel like "I" can look at this or that? - **@@** Eryu: You can try to change the **[[Sankhata|Condition]] of which the seeing happens** (e.g. turning your head left and right, or turning on the light), but **ultimately you do not have control over what you can see.** ##### Day 3 - https://youtu.be/I4NfOD402vg - @@ The 6 senses is like a **House** with **5 windows** and a **big door** (mind) — when you go inside, **you don't find anything.** - There is no "You" in it. - And hence [[Anatta]] ##### Day 4 - https://youtu.be/MKNwFHPJCq0 - Similar as before, starting with Sila and then **Dhātu** with 20m focused on **senses**, and finished with 30m on the first 2 **[[Nivarana|hindrances]]** — [[Kamacchanda]] and [[Byapada]], by contemplating them **together with 4 Dhātu and 6 senses** — seeing them as **anatta**. ##### Day 5 (Best) - https://youtu.be/XGN9HXEwX9g - #guided-meditation **Fantastic** guided meditation on [[Assada, Adinava, and Nissarana]] and [[Metta]]! - Contemplate on the senses using Mahādukkhakkhandhasutta ([MN13](https://suttacentral.net/mn13/en/sujato), [[MN13 Mahādukkhakkhandhasutta|MN13]]) - **@@@@ Fantastic #formula to meditate on [[Assada, Adinava, and Nissarana]]:** ^formula-assada 1. Assada — Deeply investigate on the 5 senses and sense objects -- are they **Conditioned & dependent** or unconditioned and independent? (To get the **6 kamaguna**) 2. Adinava - @@ contemplate on **how much Pain** that we have to endure to get the 6 senses — through **fights and arguments**, put up with **heat, physical effort & pain, mental pain**, etc. 3. Nissarana - @@@@ Contemplate on the **Futility** of these — none of them **can be held.** - Hence I will use **Vinaya** to withdraw from it. - @@@@ Meditate to experience what if there is **No Sight, No Sound**, ... — you'll get **instant peace**. - Continued to meditate on Brahmavihāra, starting with **[[Metta]]** - @@ See that **Every Being** is interested in **enjoying the senses**, but they **don't give us happiness.** - See that **how much Struggle** that the beings have taken to finally have gotten it. - E.g. an ant finally got its sugar. - E.g. a Brahmā is getting the jhana he wants - **@**@ We especially **befriend those who can be in the Jhanas (Ariyas)**, because we also will feel **happy** being with them. - @@@@ From the **bottom of your heart**, spread the wish that ==**"May every being get what they want!!"**== To all directions (8 + 2) of the world. - Wheather it's material (sensual) or immaterial (jhanic). - Even for a split second, may they be in peace of getting what they wanted. ##### Day 6 - https://youtu.be/444pj1gf8X0 Process - Gatha + 10m sila contemplation + 10m watching the breaths - 1hr watching the 4 elements of in the body - **@@@@** See that we are **just the ==Witness==** of **the body**, since our **childhood** to today. - (?)Maybe missed watching and removing hindrances - (last 10m in video) Practice Brahma vihara - 1. Metta — **sharing the sukha** which we are able to attain by being in the 3rd jhana to all the beings, since they're so much more superior than the sense pleasures, which cannot be maintained. - 2. Karuna — compassion towards all beings who are having trouble getting the **6 sense objects they desire**, and for those who **cannot attain jhanas**. - by seeing the adinava of the senses - 3. Mudita — feel so happy for those who have so much Puna and is **enjoying great sensual pleasures**, or those who have attainted the **4 fruits** and enjoying jhanic bliss. - 4. Uppekkha — for those tho does not have Puna but only **Papa** and **keeps doing wrong deeds** — killing, stealing, verbase abuse, etc. — remain **equanimous and indifferent** rather than getting agitated and worried. - **TODO: TO AGAIN!!** ##### Day 7 - https://youtu.be/2mWT35B2rPY - Meditating using [SN22.56](https://suttacentral.net/sn22.56/en/sujato) - (**Great!) Process** - 5m Gatha + Precepts - 15m watching the breath to calm it down (to almost no breath) - (24m in) 15m watching the **Hindrances** which **prevents you from watching the breath!** - Starting from vicikiccha, which causes uddhacca - then watch thina middha - then watch if there's any irritatio (byapada) and sensual thoughts (kama chanda) - **@@** Watch the **senses** — see that the **eye cannot dictate what it sees**, it sees **whatever comes** in front of it — and the same with ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind - (1h7m in) Watch the assada (pleasure) of beings, which is so difficult to get; and when they have it, they're in **Sukha**. May we not have jealousy and hatredness towards them, and have a friendly attitude towards them. Also for those who's able to be in **Jhanas** and attain the **4 Fruits** of enlightements, may we be friend with them, which will bring us happiness and freedom from suffering. - Also practice karuna, mudita, uppekkha (for those who have only papa and keep doing deeds which takes them down, do not have hatred towards them) - **@@** Practice **[[Metta]]** by truly **wishing ALL Beings** to be **away from:** - **Avero** — Enmity towards anyone/anything - **Byapada — going down into lower existences** - **Anigho — developing hindrances, i.e. raga/dvesha/moha** - and being able to **Establish** in the **Sukha of the 3rd jhana and nibbana**. - 30m Keep practicing the 4 brahma vihara for half an hour ##### Day 8 - Meditation for coming out of 5 aggregates of grasping - https://youtu.be/x9n_GI5FkNY - Using [[SN22.56 Upādānaparipavattasutta|SN22.56]], we will **Contemplate on the [[Pancupadanakkhandha|5 Aggregates]]** (focused on **[[Rupa]]** in this video) **in relationship to the [[4 Noble Truths]].** - Eryu: because: **pañcupādānakkhandhā dukkhā!!** - Process - Gatha + Sila + 20m watching breath - (15m in) [[Dukkha]] — Contemplate on how the **4 [[Dhatu|Dhātu]]** and 4 upādāya [[Rupa|Rūpa]] in this body **arise, stay, diminish on their own** and it's not per my will! And **hence anatta!!** - (Added Note) Contemplate these following body parts: ^c5be11 - **Solid: head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, bones, skin, flesh** - **Liquid: sweat, saliva, urine, blood, phlegm** - When we leave this body, it's abandoned like an **empty house**. - When we hold this body as "mine" and "me" (when it's **in fact not**), it is the **[[Dukkha]]**. - [[Samudaya]] — Now, the Rupa is **sustained by** the **Food**, which also contains **Pathavi, Apo, Tejo, and Vayo**. - We have much craving for the food, because it helps sustain the body. - When the food supply is stopped, the body will also diminish. - @@@@ [[Nirodha]] — You can experience the **Unbinding** if the **craving for both the food and the body is given up.** - @@@@ (**Most Important**) You should **==NOT stop watching the breath==** during the investigation (ime. Vipassana)! - (10m) Practice this unbinding - **Patipada** — Vilas explained the [[Noble 8-fold Path]] leading to the Dukkha nirodha. - #eryu/practice/next-time @@@@ **(Very Important)** Vilas: **Watch the breath ==WHEN doing [[Vipassana]]==**!! ^103b0d ##### Day 9 - Continuing on Upādānaparipavattasutta - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp6FnAVGF9g - Fantastic meditation using on [[SN22.56 Upādānaparipavattasutta]] - Followed up with a good discussion with #Sachin - "abbhaññāsiṁ" = **Seeing it from "Another" perspective** - Vilas: the **Viññāṇa** can **ONLY be seen** after the Rupa, vedanā, sañña, sankhara is let go of. - In Puttamaṁsasutta, Buddha said that one who understands **Viññāṇa ahara** has **NOTHING more** to understand! - **@@@@** Vilas: You have to first develop [[Vandana]] — **When you close you eyes, can you see the Buddha!!?** — ELse, it is **NO USE!** - (1hr18m) Vilas talked about how can we distinguish (for ourselves) that whether someone has reached a certain [[Magga Phala]]. - You have to observe their eyes and voice -- because that's where all the Āsava is. ## TODOs - [ ] #task Practice Day 5 - 8 again! 🔼 ⏳ 2023-03-18 - **TODO: Keep practicing for Vedanā, sañña, sankhara and vinnana for SN22.56**