Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Sat Jul 16, 2016 8:50 pm

Friends:

The 3rd Noble Truth: Ceasing of Craving Stops Suffering!

The blessed Buddha once said:
One should dwell reflecting on all phenomena as mental states in the light
of these Four Noble Truths. How does one do so?
Here, one sees, understands, and knows this as it verily is:

This and such is suffering!
Craving is the cause and origin of all suffering!
Absence of craving is therefore the ceasing of all suffering!
This Noble 8-fold Way is the method to eradicate all suffering!

And what, monks, is the 3rd Noble Truth on the Ceasing of Suffering?
It is the complete fading away, ceasing, elimination, and eradication of all craving.
It is the relinquishing release from craving, the detaching liberation from craving.
And how is such freeing removal of craving, how is such ceasing of craving gained?
Wherever in the world there is anything attractive and pleasant, it is right there
and right then, on the spot, that this craving is deliberately left behind & ceases...
And what is there in this world, that is attractive and pleasant?
The eye, in this world, is attractive and pleasant, the ear, the nose, the tongue,
the body, the mind is attractive and pleasant, and there this craving ceases and
gradually fades away. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and mental states
are attractive & amusing, & there this craving ceases & bit by bit comes to an end.
Eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness,
body-consciousness, mental-consciousness in this world is attractive & alluring,
and there this craving ceases and finally finish. All Eye-contact, ear-contact,
nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, mental-contact in this world is
attractive and tempting, and there this craving ceases and slowly leave off.
Any feeling born of eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue- contact,
body-contact, mind-contact in the world is appealing & fascinating, and right
there this craving ceases and steadily die away. The perception and experience
of any sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, & thoughts is quite interesting
and captivating, and there this craving ceases & grows dim. Intention, wishing,
wanting and hoping for certain sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, thoughts,
ideas and mental states is enthralling & intriguing, and there this craving ceases
and dissolves itself. The craving itself, the drive, push & rush for various sights,
sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, & many mental-objects in this world is attractive
and seductive, and there this craving also ceases & progressively eliminates itself.
Thinking of any sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, and mental-objects in this
world is attractive & tantalizing, there this craving ceases & falls off drop by drop.
Prolonged pondering on certain sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles & the manifold
diversity of mental objects in this world is attractive & enticing, & there this craving
also fades away, is stilled, ceases, & is finally all eliminated...
And that, bhikkhus, is called the 3rd Noble Truth on the ceasing of Suffering...

[img]http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Pics/The_3r ... II.jpg/img]
The extinguishing of the Fire of Craving (Tanha) ceases all Suffering!

More on the 3rd Noble Truth: The End of all Suffering!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ce ... fering.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/St ... inging.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Th ... ibbana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ni ... _Peace.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Peace.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Long Speeches of the Buddha. Digha Nikaya. Book II [306-314]
Thread: The Foundations of Awareness. Mahasatipatthana Sutta 22.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=251033
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/digha/index.html

Stopping Craving Ends Suffering!

Relinquishing is the 3rd Noble Truth...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... fering.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Sun Jul 17, 2016 10:10 pm

Friends:

The 4th Noble Truth: The Noble 8-fold Way ceases Suffering!

The blessed Buddha once said:
One should dwell reflecting on all phenomena as mental states in the light of these
Four Noble Truths. How does one do so? Here, one sees, understands, and knows
this, as it verily and really is:

All this is suffering!
Craving is causing all that suffering!
Absence of craving ceases all suffering!
This Noble 8-fold Way is the only method to cease all suffering!

And what, Bhikkhus, is this Noble Truth of the Way to cease all suffering?
It is just this Noble 8-fold Way, namely:

Right View (samma-ditthi)
Right Motivation (samma-sankappa)
Right Speech (samma-vaca)
Right Action (samma-kammanta)
Right Livelihood (samma-ajiva)
Right Effort (samma-vayama)
Right Awareness (samma-sati)
Right Concentration (samma-samadhi)

The 8 spokes in the Buddhist wheel each symbolizes a step on the Noble 8-fold Way.

And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right View?
It is, Bhikkhus, knowing such is suffering, such is the cause of suffering,
knowing such is the ceasing of suffering, and knowing such is the way leading
to the cessation of suffering. This is called Right View...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Motivation?
Being motivated by withdrawal, by good-will, and being motivated by utter
harmlessness. This, Bhikkhus and friends, is called Right Motivation...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Speech?
Refraining from any lying, from slandering, from scolding, and refraining
from empty gossip. This is called Right Speech...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Action?
Refraining from all killing, from all stealing and cheating, and avoiding all
sexual misconduct. This is called Right Action...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Livelihood?
Here, Bhikkhus and friends, the Noble Disciple, having given up all wrong
livelihood, lives by right livelihood. This is called Right Livelihood...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Effort?
Here, Bhikkhus and friends, one makes a decision, makes an effort, stirs up
energy, exerts the mind and strives to prevent the arising of unarisen evil
disadvantageous mental states. One makes a decision... and strives hard to
overcome any evil disadvantageous mental state that already have arisen.
One makes a decision... and strives to develop all yet unarisen advantageous
mental states. One makes a decision, makes an effort, stirs up energy,
exerts the mind and strives to maintain any advantageous mental states,
that already have arisen, not letting them fade away, growing them greater,
to the fulfilled perfection of development. This is called Right Effort...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Awareness?
Here, Bhikkhus, one dwells considering the body as a group of mere form,
alert, clearly comprehending & aware, thereby ending worldly urge & trouble...
One dwells considering feelings just as assigned responses, alert, clearly
comprehending and aware, thereby ending all worldly urge and trouble...
One dwells considering mind & mentality just as ever changing moods, alert,
clearly comprehending and aware, thereby ending worldly urge and trouble...
One dwells considering all phenomena only as always shifting mental states,
alert, clearly comprehending & aware, thereby ending worldly urge & trouble...
This is called Right Awareness...
And what, Bhikkhus and friends, is Right Concentration?
Secluded from sensual desires, protected from any detrimental mental state,
one enters & dwells in the 1st jhana; full of Joy & pleasure born of solitude,
joined with directed and sustained thought.
Again, with the stilling of directed & sustained thought, one enters & dwells
in the 2nd jhana, calmed and assured unification of mind, in joy & pleasure
now born of a concentration, which is empty of all thought and thinking!
Again, friends, with the fading away of joy, one dwells in equanimity, just
aware & clearly comprehending, still feeling bodily pleasure, one enters
upon & remains in the 3rd jhana, regarding which the Noble Ones declare:
'In aware Equanimity one dwells in Happiness!'...
Again, friends, with the leaving behind of both pleasure and pain, & with
the prior fading away of both joy & sorrow, one enters & dwells in the 4th
jhana; a serene mental state of still, open and clear awareness, purified by
the Equanimity of neither-pain-nor-pleasure! This is Right Concentration...
That, Bhikkhus, is called the Way leading to the Ceasing of all Suffering...

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Tue Jul 19, 2016 1:52 am

What Buddha Said video series #1

The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta:

Setting Rolling the Wheel of True Dhamma -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etvyjpwwA6k

Samyutta Nikaya 56.11 PTS: S v 420 -

Edited from the Pali translation by Ñanamoli Thera

This very first speech of the Buddha Gotama was spoken and is still venerated on the July
full-moon poya day to the group of five monks (the pancavagiya), in the deer park of the
seers (isipathana) in the ancient holy city of India: Benares (varanasi)

Full text is here:
https://what-buddha-said.net/library/at ... .nymo.html

All What Buddha Said series videos are here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/Wha ... a_Said.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Tue Jul 19, 2016 10:38 pm

Friends:

The 3 domains of the Noble 8-Fold Way:

A former husband of a Buddhist Nun (Bhikkhuni) once asked her:
Venerable Dhammadinna, are these 3 domains of morality (sila),
concentration (samadhi), and understanding (pañña) included in the
Noble 8-fold Way, or is it rather instead the Noble 8-fold Way
that is included & divided into these 3 core domains of the training?
The 3 domains, Visakha, are not included in the Noble 8-fold Way,
but the Noble 8-fold Way is included in those 3 domains like this:
Right speech, right action, and right livelihood: These 3 things are
included in the domain of morality...
Right effort, right awareness, and right concentration: These things
are included in the domain of concentration...
Right view and right motivation: These things are included in the
domain of understanding.

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Wed Jul 20, 2016 11:41 pm

Friends:

Harming others will Hurt yourself!

The Buddha pointed out Harmlessness as the best protection by saying:

I am a friend of the footless,
I am a friend of all bipeds;
I am a friend of those with four feet,
I am a friend of the many-footed!
Anguttara Nikaya 4.67

As I am, so are others...
As others are, so am I...
Having thus identified self with others,
Never harm anyone, nor make any hurt.
Sutta-Nipata 705

Among tigers, lions, leopards and bears I lived in the jungle.
No one was frightened of me, nor did I fear anyone...
Uplifted by such universal friendliness, I enjoyed the forest.
Finding great solace in that sweetly silenced solitude…
Suvanna-sama Jataka 540

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Thu Jul 21, 2016 9:16 pm

Honourable Friends:

Release of Mind through Friendliness (Metta-ceto-vimutti):

Can be reached through systematic & continuous maintenance of this noble wish:
May all sentient beings without exception, in all 31 forms of individual existence,
residing in the 3 realms, of inconceivable number, extending infinitely in all 10 directions,
enduring boundlessly through all past, present and future time, to an absolute complete
and endless degree, come to see it all as it really is, conquer all craving and hostility,
reach utter harmlessness, and by that be perfused with the ultimate bliss ... !!!

The FRIEND of pure GOODWILL (Metta):
May I & all beings pay Constant Attention to, Always Aware of infinite Friendliness!
May I & all beings keep Examining Noble Friendliness based on endless Goodwill!
May I & all beings put enthusiastic effort & energy into developing limitless Friendliness!
May I & all beings rejoice in the Blissful Joy emanating from all genuine Noble Friendliness!
May I & all beings dwell in the Tranquillity which follows Friendliness made inestimable!
May I & all beings gain one-pointed Concentration arised from the calm of vast Friendliness!
May I & all beings experience imperturbable Equanimity arised from illimitable Friendliness!

The all-embracing PITY of UNDERSTANDING EMPATHY (Karuna):
May I & all beings pay Constant Attention to, Always Aware of infinite Pity!
May I & all beings keep Examining Noble Pity based on endless Understanding!
May I & all beings put enthusiastic effort & energy into developing limitless Pity!
May I & all beings rejoice in the Blissful Joy emanating from all genuine Noble Pity!
May I & all beings dwell in the Tranquillity which follows Pity made inestimable!
May I & all beings gain one-pointed Concentration arised from the calm of vast Pity!
May I & all beings experience imperturbable Equanimity arised from illimitable Pity!

The MUTUAL JOY: Joy with the success of others too (Mudita):
May I & all beings pay Constant Attention to, Always Aware of infinite Mutual Joy!
May I & all beings keep Examining Noble Mutual Joy based on endless rejoicing!
May I & all beings put enthusiastic effort & energy into developing limitless Mutual Joy!
May I & all beings rejoice in the Blissful Joy emanating from all genuine Noble Mutual Joy!
May I & all beings dwell in the Tranquillity which follows Mutual Joy made inestimable!
May I & all beings gain one-pointed Concentration arised from the calm of vast Mutual Joy!
May I & all beings experience imperturbable Equanimity arised from illimitable Mutual Joy!

EQUANIMITY: Unaffectable, Unprovokable, and Undisturbable (Upekkha):
May all the infinite number of sentient beings, without even any single exception,
in all 31 forms of individual existence, residing in the 3 realms, of inconceivable number,
extending infinitely in all 10 directions, enduring eternally through all past, present & future time,
to a completely infinite degree, develop Equanimity & become one who smiles silently like a mountain!
May I & all beings pay Constant Attention to, Always Aware of infinite Equanimity!
May I & all beings keep Examining Noble Equanimity based on endless imperturbability!
May I & all beings put enthusiastic effort & energy into developing limitless Equanimity!
May I & all beings rejoice in the Blissful Joy emanating from all genuine Noble Equanimity!
May I & all beings dwell in the Tranquillity which follows Equanimity made inestimable!
May I & all beings gain one-pointed Concentration arised from the calm of vast Equanimity!
May I & all beings experience imperturbable Equanimity arised from illimitable Equanimity!

Yeah, let it be even so :-) In brevity the 4 Sublime Abidings permuted with the 7 links to Awakening
It shines, blazes, lifts, elevates, and protects supremely like indeed nothing else ....
Going through systematically each morning keeps all day smiling !!! hehehe

For free copy as a gift of Dhamma, May I & all beings be freed by friendliness thereby!

Video on Metta Meditation on Friendliness:
How to cure Depression? https://vimeo.com/73424140

Metta Meditation As streaming audio and mp3 download:
https://soundcloud.com/bhikkhu-samahita ... meditation

More here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_B ... enship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/In ... lassic.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm

Released by Friendliness!

Release of Mind can occur thorugh Friendliness (Metta-ceto-vimutti):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Re ... odWill.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Fri Jul 22, 2016 8:53 pm

Friends:

Where are the 5 Mental Abilities to be Found?

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

The ability of Faith (saddha)
The ability of Energy (viriya)
The ability of Awareness (sati)
The ability of Concentration (samadhi)
The ability of Understanding (pañña)

And where, Bhikkhus, is the ability of Faith to be seen & found?
The ability of Faith is found in the Four Factors of Stream-entry...

And where, Friends, is the ability of Energy to be seen & found?
The ability of Energy is to be found among the Four Right Efforts...

And where, Friends, is the ability of Awareness to be seen & found?
The ability of Awareness is found in the Foundations of Awareness...

Where, Friends, is the ability of Concentration to be seen & found?
The ability of Concentration is found in the Four Jhana absorptions...

Where, Friends, is the ability of Understanding to be seen & found?
The ability of Understanding is found among the Four Noble Truths...

These five qualities, Bhikkhus & Friends, are the 5 mental abilities!

On The Five Mental Abilities (indriya) see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/F ... lities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Or ... lities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/F ... lities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/F ... lities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/A ... lities.htm

Source of reference (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.
Book [V: 196] 48 The Mental Abilities: 8 To be Seen..

Finding the Abilities...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/F ... lities.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Sun Jul 24, 2016 3:15 am

Dhamma on Air #28: Solar n Zen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93zON0ABa5w

Dhamma Questions answered:

Question 65: Why are only males able to become SammasamBuddhas?

Question 66: What is the difference between Theravada Buddhism and Zen Buddhism?

Question 77: Is active death-help a heinous crime for the relative, or the hospital-worker?

Question 78: Are relics, churches, statues, etc. and other religious symbols essential?
Does a formless form of being exist?

Question 79: If a person, impelled by karmic effects of the past, does something wrong to another person, will a new karma be created or will it stop there?

Online Food Dana = Food donation via Keels Supermarket:
http://what-buddha-said.net/various/Dana_via_Keels.htm

All Dhamma on Airs are listed and linked here:
http://what-buddha-said.net/various/Dhamma_on_Air.htm

All Buddhist Questions and Answers are linked here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/Que ... nswers.htm

Dhamma on Airs MP3 Audios are streaming & downloadable here:
https://soundcloud.com/bhikkhu-samahita ... y_buddhism

Please email New Questions to [email protected].

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Mon Jul 25, 2016 9:31 pm

Friends:

How does rightly verified Faith lead to Nibbãna?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, just exactly as, when rain pours down in heavy drops on a mountain,
then the water runs down the slope and fills the clefts, gullies, and creeks.
When these brim over, then they replenish the pools, which fill up the lakes,
which supply the rivers, which run out in the great ocean...
Similarly for any Noble Disciple, do verified confidence in the Three Jewels
the Buddha, the Dhamma, & the Sangha, and morality praised by the Nobles
flow onwards & beyond, leading to eradication of the 3 Mental Fermentations.

On Faith (Saddha):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Three_Jewels.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Faith_Summary.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fruit ... le_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... uggala.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... ations.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. [V:396]
Section 55 on Stream-Entry: Sotapattisamyutta. Thread 38: Rain.

Raining Faith ..

Fine Faith Flows into Nibbana!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Raining_Faith.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Wed Jul 27, 2016 1:07 am

Dhamma on Air #18 Audio: Conditioned Clustering

https://soundcloud.com/bhikkhu-samahita ... r-18-audio

Corresponding Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaBlXQKMju0

Dhamma Questions answered:

Q1: What are the 5 aggregates, the 5 clusters of clinging (=the 5 khandhas):
Are these 5 clusters a karmic result, or a just guide to understanding no-self (anatta)?

Q2: Do you have a description of the hungry ghost beings & dimensions (peta worlds)?

Q3: Is there a meta-fundamental, all underlying, & metaphysical "ground of all being"?

Q4: Is the conception of egg + sperm-cell enough to create a new conscious being?

Q5: Does the rebirth destination match with the karmic accumulation of the dead person?

Q6: If the Buddha spoke against blind ritualism, why is there many rituals in Buddhist culture?

Q7: Is "personal life" just a belief in an entity called "I" or "me", which conceives good & bad?

Related links:
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/II/Ghosts_Petas.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/DPP ... vatthu.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/IV/Hu ... ebirth.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dep ... nation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... inging.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/What_ ... inging.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... ppaada.htm

All Dhamma on Airs are listed and linked here:
http://what-buddha-said.net/various/Dhamma_on_Air.htm

All Buddhist Questions and Answers are linked here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/Que ... nswers.htm

Dhamma on Airs MP3 Audios are streaming & downloadable here:
https://soundcloud.com/bhikkhu-samahita ... y_buddhism

Please email New Questions to [email protected].

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Wed Jul 27, 2016 11:44 pm

Friends:

What is the Definition of Energy?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
What, Bhikkhus, is the ability of Energy? Here, Bhikkhus, the Noble Disciple lives
with energy aroused for the elimination of disadvantageous mental states and for
gaining a firm foundation in advantageous states. He is determined, resolute in all
his efforts, not evading any good opportunity to train advantageous mental states.
This is called the ability of Energy. Source: Samyutta Nikaya V 48

Without Energy, there is neither advantageous action, nor effort!
Without any advantageous action, there is neither any good result!
No cause gives no effect! Therefore: Raise and stir up yourself!

Get Going Good!

Energy is the Main Motor...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/T ... Energy.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 7:46 pm

Friends:

What is this Mental Ability of Awareness?

The Blessed Buddha once explained:
Bhikkhus, there are these five mental abilities (indriya). What five?

The ability of Faith (saddha)
The ability of Energy (viriya)
The ability of Awareness (sati)
The ability of Concentration (samadhi)
The ability of Understanding (pañña)

But what is the mental ability of Awareness (Sati)?
That which is Awareness, constant attention, recollection, mental presence,
mindfulness, remembering, bearing in mind, alertness, watchful consciousness,
non-neglect, non-oblivious, non-forgetfulness, non-carelessness, and acute
non-superficiality. This is called the ability and power of Awareness, Right
Awareness, and the Awareness link to Awakening!

But what is this Awareness link to Awakening?
Herein a Bhikkhu is mindful, endowed with excellent Awareness, recollection,
he remembers, remembers constantly, what has been done & what have been
said concerning release even very long ago. This is called the Awareness link
to Awakening... There is awareness of internal states and there is awareness
of external states. Both the awareness of all internal states & awareness of
all external states is an Awareness link to Awakening leading to knowledge,
Enlightenment, and to complete emancipating release!

Source: The Book of Analysis: Vibhanga 124 + 228
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=130304

The Power of Presence!

Awareness of the present is always advantageous!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/T ... bility.htm

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Fri Jul 29, 2016 9:41 pm

Friends:

What is the Concentration Ability (Samâdhi Indriya)?

Concentration is the ability to focus all mental factors on 1 object!
Concentration (samadhi) is a mental ability & power when steady...
Concentration is a Link to Awakening & a Factor on the Noble Way.
Concentration is non-distraction, non-scatter, and non-diffusion...
Concentration is collecting together, unifying, focusing, condensing!
Making mental release the object the Noble Disciple gains Samadhi,
achieves one-pointedness, & enters fixed unified mental absorption!

The Definition of these 4 subtle Mental Jhana Absorptions:
Having eliminated the 5 mental hindrances, the mental defects that obstruct any
understanding, while quite secluded from all sensual-desires, and protected from
any detrimental mental state, one enters and dwells in the 1st jhana; full of joy
and pleasure born of solitude, joined with directed thought and sustained thinking.
With the stilling of directed thought and sustained thinking, one enters and dwells
in the 2nd jhana, calmed assurance and unification of mind with joy and pleasure
now born of concentration, devoid of any thinking!
With the fading away of joy, in equanimity, clearly comprehending, one enters upon
and remains in the 3rd jhana, still feeling pleasure in the body, about which the Noble
Ones declare: In aware equanimity one abides in Happiness...
With the leaving behind of both pleasure and pain, as with the prior cessation of
both joy and sorrow, one enters and dwells in the 4th jhana mental absorption,
which is an entirely stilled mental state of awareness, purified by the equanimity
of neither-pain-nor-pleasure!

The 1st Entrance:
As long as a Bhikkhu does not perceive the disappearance of the 5 hindrances in himself,
he feels as if in debt, in sickness, in bonds, in slavery, on a desert journey. But when he
perceives the disappearance of the five hindrances in himself, it is as if he were freed
from the debt, from the sickness, the bonds, the slavery, and from the desert dangers...
And when he knows that these 5 mental hindrances have left him, then gladness arises
in him, from gladness comes joy, from the joy in his mind, his body is tranquillised!
With a calm body he delights in happiness, and this happiness concentrates his mind.
Thus secluded from sense-desires, isolated from detrimental states, he enters and
remains in the 1st jhana, which is of directed reflection and sustained evaluation, born
of seclusion, filled with pleasure and joy. With this pleasure and joy born of seclusion,
he so permeates, drenches, fills and pervades his whole body that there is not even a
single spot in his body, that is not saturated by this pleasure and joy born of seclusion...

The Similes:
As, your majesty, all rafters there are in a house with a ridge roof, they all lead to the
ridgepole, incline towards the ridgepole, lean on the ridgepole and this beam is termed
their peak summit, even and exactly just so, your Majesty, whatever advantageous
mental states there are, all of these are headed by concentration, incline towards
concentration, lean on concentration, is based on concentration ...
As, your majesty, a King might enter battle with an army of 4 parts, and the whole army,
the elephants, horses, chariots and foot-soldiers would be headed by him, incline towards
him, lean on him, and tend towards him, would follow after just him, even exactly so is this
unique concentration the chief, the captain, the commander, and the conductor of the
orchestra of mental states.. Miln. 38

The Explanation:
It is concentration that places and anchors the mind evenly on only 1 single object,
it settles and collects mind rightly together there. Its characteristic is absence of
all wandering, dispersal and distraction. Its function is joining and binding together
of co-arisen mental states as water does for bath-powder. Its manifestation is
calming down, tranquillization, stilling, ceasing and peace. Its proximate cause is
especially happiness. It should be seen as fixed steadiness of mind, like the fine
stilled steadiness of a candle-flame in complete absence of any perturbing wind...
Vism. XIV 139

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Sat Jul 30, 2016 11:22 pm

Dhamma on Air #29: Escaping the Mirror-House ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L1kP0OyAqY

Repairing the Past is Fixing the Future!

Question 80: I am extremely nervous when I have to talk in front of an audience.
Is that a defilement? How can i work through it?

Question 81: Isn't the highest giving, giving of the Dhamma... ?

Question 82: What are the karmic consequence of arguing and back-biting with one's parents?

Question 83: I have a friend who isn't Buddhist. She is not a good friend in terms of morality,
she drinks, she watches bad movies etc. However, despite of these weaknesses,
she did do good things to me like being with me at tough times, giving me gifts.
She is most of the time a nuisance and is very rude to me at times.
Should I end this friendship with her?

Question 84: I've seen people in social media spreading bad views on Buddhism.
I have tried my best to correct them however, they do not seem to understand
their mistakes. Should I continue despite of their negative comments?

Back to Basics: The 5 Precepts
https://what-buddha-said.net/drops/IV/B ... Basics.htm

Know that patience (khanti) is the highest praxis and 6th Mental Perfection
https://what-buddha-said.net/drops/Pati ... erance.htm

Online Food Dana = Food donation via Keels Supermarket:
http://what-buddha-said.net/various/Dana_via_Keels.htm

All Dhamma on Airs are listed and linked here:
http://what-buddha-said.net/various/Dhamma_on_Air.htm

All Buddhist Question and Answer sessions are linked here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/various/Que ... nswers.htm

Dhamma on Airs MP3 Audios are streaming & downloadable here:
https://soundcloud.com/bhikkhu-samahita ... y_buddhism

Please email New Questions to [email protected].

Bhikkhu_Samahita · Post by **Bhikkhu_Samahita** » Sun Jul 31, 2016 10:51 pm

Friends:

What is the Understanding Ability?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
This is called the Ability to Understand!
Here, Bhikkhus, any Noble Disciple who is both intelligent and wise;
is endowed with understanding of cause and effect,
is endowed with understanding of arising and ceasing,
is endowed with understanding of conditioned dependency,
which is Noble, penetrative, and leading to the complete irreversible
elimination of any and all Suffering...
He understands it, as it really is: This is Suffering!
He understands it, as it really is: Craving is the Cause of Suffering!
He understands it, as it really is: No craving is the Ceasing of Suffering!
He understands it, as it really is: The Noble 8-fold Way is the End of Suffering!
This is called the Ability to Understand!

Understanding is knowing and seeing the 4 Noble Truths!
Ignorance is not knowing and not seeing the 4 Noble Truths!

The Ability to Understand...

is an Outstanding Option!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/T ... bility.htm

Dhamma Wheel

Daily Dhamma Drops from Ceylon!

No Craving = No Suffering

The 4th Noble Truth

Setting Rolling the Wheel of True Dhamma

Noble is the 8-fold Way!

Happy is Harmlessness!

Released by Friendliness :-)

Finding the Abilities...

Dhamma on Air #28: Solar n Zen

Faith Flows :-)

Dhamma on Air #18 Audio: Conditioned Clustering

Get Good Going!

The Power of Presence!

What is Samâdhi Concentration?

Dhamma on Air #29: Escaping the Mirror-House ...

The Ability to Understand...