Page 125 of 189

Shaking off all Evil...

Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 4:49 am
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

How to live the ideal Bhikkhu Life!

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The Buddha once explained how:
Listen well Bhikkhus, I will explain to you the very way to shake off all evil!
Let the one who sees the goal & is thoughtful cultivate only that behaviour,
which is advantageous for those who have gone forth: One should wander to
the village at the right time early in the morning, since attractions attach
easily to the one wandering at the wrong time... Forms, sounds and tastes,
smells and touches, which drive beings mad, dispelling all desire for these
captivating things, he should enter for his morning meal at the right time...
Having received early alms-food, having returned alone, he should sit down
in solitude. Thinking of internal things, he should not let his mind go outside,
having his body well-constrained. If he should converse with any disciple, or
anyone else, then he should speak only about the outstanding doctrine, and
never slander, nor blame any other! Those of little wisdom will fight against
any argument: We do not praise them, since they scatter their minds there!
Having heard the Dhamma taught by the Well-Gone-One, a disciple who has
excellent intelligence, will wisely reflect, and therefore resort to alms-food,
and a remote silent habitation, since to simple alms-food, lodging, and water
for removing dirt from his outer robe, to such frugal necessities any really
wise bhikkhu cannot cling, like a drop of water not clinging to a lotus leaf...
Sn 385-392

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On Clinging (Upadana) and how to release this intensified form of craving:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Cool_Calm.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/St ... inging.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... adaana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... inging.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Cl ... n_I_Am.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_ ... inging.htm

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Shaking off all Evil...

Like a water-drop not clinging to a lotus leaf...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Sha ... f_Evil.htm

Radical is Relinquishment!

Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:19 pm
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

Only Relinquishment Wins Freedom!

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The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, I will teach you the state of relinquishment... Please pay attention.
And what, Bhikkhus, is the state of overcoming all by leaving it all behind?
The eye, form, visual-consciousness, eye-contact, and any feeling arisen from
seeing, whether pleasant, painful or neutral, is to be relinquished and left.
The ear, sound, hearing-consciousness, ear-contact, any feeling arisen from
hearing, whether pleasant, painful or neutral, is to be relinquished and left.
The nose, smell, smelling-consciousness, nose-contact, any feeling arisen from
smelling, whether pleasant, painful or neutral, is to be relinquished & let go of.
The tongue, any flavour, tasting-consciousness, tongue-contact, and any feeling
arisen from tongue-contact, pleasant, painful or neutral, is to be relinquished.
The body, touch, tactile-consciousness, body-contact, any feeling arisen from
body-contact, whether pleasant, painful or neutral, should also be relinquished.
The mind, any mental state & phenomenon, mental-consciousness, mental-contact,
and whatever feeling arisen with mental-contact as origin, whether pleasant,
painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant, that indeed also should to be relinquished!
This is the radically released state of overcoming all by leaving all sensation behind..

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Back-pack-burden of heavy dependencies all exploded!

Comments:
Logically can only relinquishment of all dependencies ever gain true freedom!
Only true freedom means absence of fear from all events from any corner...
Only freedom from fear and anxiety can ever open up for ease, peace & bliss!

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More on systematic relinquishment:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Free_from_Fear.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Le ... Behind.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/No ... ything.htm

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Source:
The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya. Book IV 15-6
The Salayatana section 35. Thread on Leaving: Pahana Sutta (23)
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sa ... index.html

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Radical Relinquishment!

Only Letting Go can ever set Free...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Le ... Behind.htm

What Causes Purity?

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 11:59 pm
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

What is the Cause of Defilement & Purification?

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Venerable Mahali once asked the Buddha:
But, Venerable Sir, what is the causing condition of mental defilement?
By what reason, do beings become mentally defiled and degraded?
The Buddha then explained:
If, Mahali, this form, this feeling, this perception, this construction and
this consciousness were exclusively suffering, immersed only in frustration,
soaked solely in trouble and if it were not also sometimes soaked in pleasure,
beings would not become enamoured with it. But since this form, this feeling,
perception, construction & this consciousness is also occasionally pleasurable,
immersed now and then in pleasure, soaked momentarily in delight & it is not
soaked only & always in pain, beings become enamoured & enthralled with it!
By being enamoured with it, they are captivated by it and obsessed with it...
By being captivated by it and obsessed with it, they are defiled & degraded!
This, Mahali, is the causing condition for the mental defilement of beings...
By this reason, do beings become mentally defiled & detrimentally degraded!

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Mental Defilement veils the light of the mind by obscuring it!

But, Venerable Sir, what is the causing condition of mental purification?
By what reason, do beings become mentally purified & released?
The Buddha then explained:
If, Mahali, this form, this feeling, this perception, this construction &
this consciousness were exclusively pleasurable, immersed only in pleasure,
soaked solely in satisfaction, and if it were not also quite soaked in suffering,
beings would not become disgusted with it. But because form, feeling, perception,
construction & consciousness is also pain, immersed in distress, soaked in agony,
and it is not soaked only in pleasure, beings are disgusted with it. Being disgusted,
they experience disillusion and through this disillusion, they are mentally purified!
This, Mahali, is the causing condition for the mental purification of beings...
By this reason, do beings become mentally purified and happily released!

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More on mental purification:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mental_Purity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ab ... cation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... ations.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... cation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Th ... cation.htm

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Source:
The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta NikayaIII 69-71
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sa ... index.html

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Buddha said: Naturally the mind is pure and luminous all around!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta ... I.8-10.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_mind

Have a nice & noble day!

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

What Causes Purity?

Pleasure vs. Pain causes Defilement vs. Purity...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Ca ... cation.htm

What's Up!

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 12:41 am
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

Awareness (Sati) is a Link to Enlightenment!

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The Awareness Link to Awakening (sati-sambojjhanga) is basically the
same mental property (sati-cetasika), which inherently is included in:

The Four Foundations of Awareness (satipatthana)
The Ability of Awareness (satindriya)
The Power of Awareness (satibala)
The Right Awareness Path Factor (samma-sati-magganga)


Trained, developed and refined in a degree that gradually enlightens!

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The Buddha once said:
What mental fermentations (asava) should be
overcome by development? If a Bhikkhu by careful & rational attention
develops the Awareness Link to Awakening based on seclusion, disillusion,
ceasing, and culminating in relinquishment, neither can any fermentation,
nor any fever, nor any vexation ever arise in him. MN 2

The Ability of Awareness
is to anchor attention on any chosen object and
when this ability is unshakable & well fixed, it is the Power of Awareness!
Awareness is a Foundation (patthana), when well established (upatthana)
continually - without distractions interrupting - on these four objects:
1: Body as mere form: Just a group of foul and fragile organs...
2: Feeling as a mere reactive response assigned to any contact...
3: Mind as only a changing set of habitual mentalities and moods...
4: Phenomena simply as appearances of momentary mental states...

Not lasting, but transient! Not pleasure, but pain! Not self, but impersonal!
Neither neglecting, nor forgetting that these universal characteristics are
relevant and true for absolutely all aspects of these four objects, the false
and distorted perception of beauty in what really is disgusting, of pleasure
in what really is painful, of self in what really is selfless and impersonal,
gradually fades away and the mental fermentations (asava) of sensing,
of views, of ignorance and of becoming are overcome by elimination.

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Further inspirations on this lucid and penetrating quality of Awareness:
Training of Clear Comprehension (sampajanna):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Clear ... ension.htm
Training of the Four Foundations of Awareness (satipatthana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Man ... .Manual.hm
What is Right and Noble Awareness? Answer and Details at:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_ ... reness.htm

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Further studies in this universally superb mental state:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Sati_Studies.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Causes_of_sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Sati_Summary.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sa ... litude.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Clear ... ension.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/N ... reness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/O ... ly_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/F ... reness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/A ... alysis.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sa ... ruddha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/What_ ... reness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Ca ... ention.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/F ... reness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/C ... ension.htm

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Have a nice & noble day!

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

Noticing what is going on!


Awareness (Sati).
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/A ... s_Sati.htm

Breath Meditation!

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 12:32 am
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

How is constant Awareness Established only by Breathing?

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Sitting cross-legged, with straight back, elevated chin, in a silent place, the
yogi remains focusing all attention on the touch point of air in his nostrils:

Fully aware one inhales and fully aware one exhales...
When inhaling a long breath, one notices that...
When exhaling a long breath, one notices that...
When inhaling a short breath, one notices that...
When exhaling a short breath, one notices that...
Experiencing the whole body, one inhales...
Experiencing the whole body, one exhales...
Calming all bodily activity, one inhales...
Calming all bodily activity, one exhales...


One trains thus: Experiencing joyous rapture, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing joyous rapture, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing a happy pleasure, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing a happy pleasure, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing all mental activity, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing all mental activity, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Calming all mental activity, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Calming all mental activity, I will exhale...

One trains thus: Experiencing all mentality as mood, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Experiencing all mentality as mood, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Satisfying and gladdening the mind, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Satisfying and gladdening the mind, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Focusing the mind by concentration, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Focusing the mind by concentration, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Releasing the mind from hindrance, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Releasing the mind from hindrance, I will exhale...


One trains thus: Considering the impermanence of change, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Considering the impermanence of change, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Considering the detachment in disillusion, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Considering the detachment in disillusion, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Considering the stilling within cessation, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Considering the stilling within cessation, I will exhale...
One trains thus: Considering open and freed relinquishing, I will inhale...
One trains thus: Considering open and freed relinquishing, I will exhale...

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This is how continuous Awareness is established just by breathing!!!
Breathing meditation can bring the yogi into 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Jhana...
It is a unique praxis used by all Buddhas at their very Enlightenment!!!

Anapanasati breathing meditation guided and explained:
As streaming audio
https://soundcloud.com/bhikkhu-samahita ... meditation
As mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/b75hbanxcxf01 ... tation.mp3

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Details are found in this Meditation Manual:
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/pdf ... nasati.pdf

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More on Awareness by Breathing (Anapana-sati):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_I.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_II.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/1_Producing_4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_IV.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_III.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Fo ... _Seven.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Mag ... tation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... a_sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ex ... Breath.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Br ... nsight.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Pe ... e_Spot.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Un ... athing.htm

Source:
Middle Length Sayings of the Buddha. Majjhima Nikaya 118 Anapanasati:
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=25072X
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/ma ... mn118.html

Breath Meditation!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Aw ... athing.htm

Game Over (ever again) ...

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:17 am
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

Contemplation on Death is Advantageous!

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The Blessed Buddha once said:
The days and nights are flying past,
Life shrinks & dwindles hurriedly away,
The life of mortals ebbs, and runs away,
Vanishes, like water in a tiny stream.
SN 4:10

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As every morning one may worry & fear
The sudden falling of the ripened fruits,
So all mortals in this and any other world,
Have to live in constant fear of abrupt dying.
Sn 576

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Death looks over your shoulder to see how you fool around...

All beings are subject to death, will die
end in death, can never ever escape death.
As absolutely every earthen pot that has
been shaped & born by the potter's hand,
whether big or small, firm or frail, each one,
All will crack up & fall to pieces in the end!
Exactly so are all beings subject to death,
come to death, can never escape death...
All beings at due time have to pass away,
Their life one day will finish and perish,
Then they all fare according to their deeds,
Thus good or bad fruits they all will earn.
The evil-doer fares all screaming to hell,
The good man smiling to a happy world.
Hence, Noble deeds one should perform
As a supplying store for the next life!
For good deeds in the next world give
living beings their only strong support!
Without that there is only the free fall!
SN 3:22

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END-MAKER
Neither in the distant space, nor in the deepest ocean,
nor in the darkest cave, can anyone escape the crushing
fact of Death ...!!!
Dhammapada 128

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More on the inevitable fact of Death:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Death.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... /amata.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/De ... lation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Th ... ension.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/D ... thless.htm

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Game Over!

Contemplation on Death is Advantageous!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Game_Over.htm

Successful Remembrance!

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 10:58 pm
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

How to Dwell abiding in Successful Recollection:

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The Blessed Buddha once told his cousin the Noble Layman Mahanama:
One who has faith is successful, Mahanama, not one who has no faith.
One who is energetic is successful, Mahanama, not one who is lax and lazy.
One who is acutely aware is successful, Mahanama, not one who is negligent.
One who is concentrated is successful, Mahanama, not one who is distracted.
One who understands is successful, Mahanama, not one of no understanding.
Having established yourself in these five things, Mahanama, then you should
always dwell recollecting:

1: The Blessed One
2: The Dhamma
3: The Sangha
4: Own Purity
5: Own Generosity
6: The Deities


Doing this, Mahanama, one wins the joy and special thrill that goes with the Dhamma.
From joy grows satisfaction. From satisfaction grows calm. From a calm body
grows happiness. From happiness grows concentration. Concentrated, Mahanama,
one dwells as serene among those agitated. One dwells joyous among those in anger...
Anguttara Nikaya  V 329-32

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More on these 6 Successful reviewing recollections:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Master_Presence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Bu ... lation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Dhamma_Presence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Dh ... lation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Sangha_Presence.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sa ... lation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rev ... Virtue.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Si ... lation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rev ... rosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ge ... lation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rem ... eities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Di ... lation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rem ... eities.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Di ... lation.htm

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Successful Remembrance!

How to Dwell abiding in Reviewing:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Suc ... iewing.htm

Rejoicing produces Bliss!

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 12:31 am
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

Unselfish Joy! How to Rejoice in Others Success:

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By seeing that:
If only happy at one's own success, such egoistic Joy is rare and limited!
If happy at others success also, the Joy is more frequent & even infinite!

By observing that:
It starts with basic sympathy, develops into acceptance, genuine approval,
& appreciation. It culminates in rejoicing altruistic sympathy by directing
mind to initiation, much cultivation & boundless expansion of Mutual Joy!

By knowing that:
Mutual Joy is the proximate cause of sweet, fully satisfied contentment!
Lack of mutual joy is therefore the proximate cause of discontentment!
Mutual Joy instantly eliminates acidic jealousy, grudge and green envy!
Mutual Joy is an infinite, truly divine, elevating and sublime mental state!
Mutual Joy is 1 of the 4 mental states of the Brahma-devas (Brahmavihara)


The Blessed Buddha pointed out:
If it were impossible to cultivate this Good, I would not tell you to do so!

Buddhaghosa:
See how this worthy being is very Happy!
How fine! How excellent! How sweet!

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Let there be Happiness. Let there be open Freedom.
Let there be Peace. Let there be Bliss from cultivating this.
Let there be Understanding of this mental state of Mutual Joy!


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Cultivation of Mutual Joy is the specific medicine against Envy & Jealousy:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Mutual_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rejoicing_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/I ... usness.htm

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Mudita: The Buddha's Teaching on Unselfish Joy: BPS Wheel Publication No. 170
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el170.html

Have a nice & noble day!

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

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Rejoicing gives Bliss!

Mutual Joy in Other's Success...
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoi ... Mudita.htm

Gracious is Gratitude!

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 12:54 pm
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

Gratitude Appreciates all Assistance!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thus: Thank you for reading this!

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Source (edited extract): The Lessons of Gratitude by Thanissaro Bhikkhu:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... itude.html
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ap ... iation.htm

Have a nice & noble day!

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

Appropiate Appreciation is Advantageous!

Gracious is Gratitude!

http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/The ... titude.htm

Winning Wisdom..

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 11:54 pm
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

How to Win the Social Game using Wisdom?

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

Dhammapada 223

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

AN 7.6

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

AN 5.35

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On this Future Wealth Creating and Wisely Open-Handed Generosity (Dana):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/giving.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/V/Pure_Merit.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Glad_Giving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_3_Gifts.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/K ... remony.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... /caaga.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... /daana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Openh ... rosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Rev ... rosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ge ... lation.htm


Winning Wisdom!


How to Win the Social Game using Wisdom?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Winning_Wisdom.htm

Giving Dhamma-Sharing-Power :-) _/\_

Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2014 1:56 pm
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Giving Dhamma-Sharing-Power :-) _/\_

Urgent Battery Bank Thermal Runaway Request!
http://what-buddha-said.net/various/Bat ... equest.htm

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Giving is Getting!

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 1:22 am
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

Cause & Effect: Action & Reward:

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Giving now is the prime cause of Future Wealth!
No giving = no wealth, much giving = much future wealth!


Giving Food, one gives and later gets Strength!
Giving Clothes, one gives and later gets Beauty!
Giving Medicine, one gives and later gets Health!
Giving Shelter, one gives and later gets Protection!
Giving Transport, one gives and later gets Swift Ease!
Giving Lamps, one gives and later gets Light and Sight!
Giving Learning, one gives and later gets Intelligence!
Giving True Dhamma, one gives & later gets Deathlessness!
Thus this gift of True Dhamma exceeds all other gifts...

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More on Generosity = The 1st mental perfection:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Glad_Giving.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Openh ... rosity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Ge ... lation.htm

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The Gods became the Gods, by Giving to the Pure Ones!

Giving is Getting!

Cause & Effect = Good Action & Reward:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/giving.htm

Faith is the Seed!

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 12:51 am
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

What did the Buddha say about Faith (Saddhâ)?

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The Blessed Buddha once said:
And even though a disciple of the Noble Ones lives off lumps of alms food and
wears rag-robes, still, because he is endowed with four qualities, then he is freed
from hell, freed from the animal womb, freed from the realm of hungry ghosts,
freed from all the planes of pain and deprivation, the bad and low destinations.

And what are the four? There is the case where the disciple of the Noble Ones is
endowed with verified faith, confidence and conviction in the Awakened Buddha like
this: Worthy, honourable and perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha! Fully
consummated in knowledge and behaviour, totally transcended, expert in all these
dimensions, knower of all worlds, unsurpassable trainer of those who can be tamed,
both teacher and guide of gods as well as of humans, blessed, exalted, awakened
and enlightened is the Buddha !!!

He/she is endowed with verified faith, confidence and conviction in the Dhamma like
this: Perfectly formulated is this Buddha-Dhamma, visible right here and now,
immediately effective, timeless, inviting each and everyone to come and see for
themselves, inspect, examine and verify. Leading each and everyone through
progress towards perfection. Directly observable, experiencable and realizable
by each intelligence...

He/she is endowed with verified faith, confidence and conviction in the Noble Sangha
like this: Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble
disciples: Training the right way, the true way, the good way, the direct way!
Therefore do these 8 kinds of individuals, the four Noble pairs, deserve both gifts,
grants sacrifice, offerings, hospitality and reverential salutation even with joined
palms, since this Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples, is an
unsurpassable and forever unsurpassed field of merit, in this world, for this world,
to honour, respect, support, give to and protect.

He/she is endowed with long-term clean morality, which are dear to the Noble Ones:
Moral purity that is untorn, unbroken, unspotted, and impeccable, liberating, praised
by the wise, immaculate, and leading to concentration. SN 55.1
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

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For a lay person, there are these five rewards of faith, confidence and conviction
Which five?
1: When truly good people in the world show compassion, they will first show true
compassion to people of faith, confidence and conviction, and not to people lacking
in faith, confidence and conviction...
2: When visiting, they visit people of faith, confidence and conviction, and not people
without faith, confidence and conviction...
3: When accepting gifts, they first accept gifts from people with faith, confidence
and conviction, and not from people lacking faith, confidence and conviction.
4: When teaching the Dhamma, they first teach those with faith, confidence and
conviction, and not those without faith, confidence and conviction .
5: A person of faith, confidence and conviction, on the break-up of the body, right
after death, will arise in a good destination, the heavenly world. For a lay person,
these are the five certain rewards of faith, confidence and conviction. AN 5:38
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

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And how is the individual who is released through faith, confidence and conviction?
There is the case where a certain individual does not dwell immersed in those
peaceful states that has transcended all form, but having understood the Dhamma,
some of his mental fermentations are ended, and his faith, confidence and conviction
in the Tathagata is settled, well rooted, and established. This is called an individual,
who is released through faith, confidence and conviction. Regarding this monk, I say
that he has still a task to do. Why is that? Perhaps this Venerable, when staying at
suitable places, associating with admirable friends, while balancing all his mental
abilities, will reach and dwell in the supreme goal of the Noble life for which good men
rightly go forth from home into homelessness, directly realizing it for himself right
here and now. Envisioning this fruit of further effort for this monk, I say that he
still has a task to complete. MN 70
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

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Any female disciple of the Noble Ones who grows by these 5 types of growth grows
a Noble growth, and thereby get a handle on what is essential, and what is excellent.
Which five?
She grows in terms of Faith...
She grows in terms of Morality...
She grows in terms of Learning...
She grows in terms of Generosity...
She grows in terms of Understanding....
Growing by these five types of growth, any female disciple of the Noble Ones grows
a Noble growth, and thereby gets hold on what is really essential, and what indeed is
quite and truly excellent. Growing in faith, morality, learning, generosity, and finally
understanding, a virtuous female lay disciple, such as this, establishes real essence
within herself. SN 37.34
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Three_Jewels.htm

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For fine further Faith (Saddha) please see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/G ... _Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/O ... _Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/U ... _Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/A ... _Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/P ... _Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Faith_Summary.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Highest_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/F ... _Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leaping_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Mutual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fine_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rich_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Lay_Faith.htm

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Faith is the Seed!

What did the Buddha say about Faith (Saddhâ)?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/T ... _Faith.htm

Clever Avoidance...

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 10:38 pm
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

The 4 Right Efforts avoids, overcomes, develops, & maintains!

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The Blessed Buddha once said:
Friends: There are four right efforts: the effort to avoid, the effort to
overcome, the effort to develop, and the effort to maintain...
What, friends, is the effort to avoid? In this case, when perceiving
a form with the eye, a sound with the ear, a smell with the nose, a taste
with the tongue, a touch with the body, a thought of mind, one neither
fixes to the overall appearance, nor to any of this sensation's details...
One strives to avert the arising of evil and detrimental states, such as
greed, urge and longing, by remaining guarding these 6 sense-doors!
One watch and notice the senses, keeping the 6 senses under control ...
This is the effort to avoid!
What, friends, is the effort to overcome? In this case, one does not
accept any thought of sensual lust, ill-will, irritation, or any other evil
and detrimental state that may have arisen! One dispels them, destroys
them, causes them to evaporate right there and then, on the very spot...
This is called the effort to overcome!
What, friends, is the effort to develop? In this case, one develops the
7 links enlightenment, which when bent on solitude, detachment and
ceasing, ends in release, namely: Awareness, Investigation, Energy,
Joy, Tranquillity, Concentration and Equanimity...
This is called the effort to develop!
What, friends, is the effort to maintain? In this case, one keeps the
mind firmly focused on any advantageous object of concentration that
may have arisen, such as the mental image of a skeleton, of a festering
corpse infested by worms, of a swollen, decaying corpse, bluish-black
riddled with pus and maggots dripping out of any hole and opening...
This is called the effort to maintain! These are the four Right Efforts.

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Source: Anguttara Nikaya. The Numerical Sayings: AN 4:14
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta ... erical.htm

More on Right Effort (Samma-Vayama):
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/What_ ... Effort.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/III/E ... Effort.htm
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/IV/Th ... Effort.htm

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Clever Avoidance...

The 4 Right Efforts avoids, overcomes, develops, & maintains!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/A ... Effort.htm

The Non-Returner...

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:04 am
by Bhikkhu_Samahita
Friends:

Which Meditation Objects induce The State of No-Return?

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The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, and Friends, from the cultivation and making much of The idea of a Skeleton;
The idea of a Worm-eaten Corpse; The idea of a Pale Bluish Discoloured Corpse;
The idea of a Cleaved and Cut-up Corpse; The idea of a Bloated and Inflated Corpse;
The thought of Universal Friendliness; The thought of Boundless Pity; The thought of Mutual Joy;
The thought of Imperturbable Equanimity; The training of Aware Breathing-in and Breathing-out;
The notion of Disgust; The inevitable Death; The Dispassion and Dislike with all worldly phenomena;
The fact of inherent Impermanence; The fact of immanent Misery and Pain in all worldly phenomena;
The fact of intrinsic Egolessness; The state of Leaving Behind, of Release, and the state of Ceasing!
One of two effects, one of two fruits may be expected even in this very life: Awakening to Arahatship
or Non-Return... Such training therefore results in a Great Benefit; in a Great Peace from all mental
Bondage, in a Great Thrill, in a Great Pleasure of Living! How, friends, should these ideas be cultivated,
how should these ideas be made much of, so as to reach these 2 fruits?
In this, any Noble Friend trains and cultivates the:
The Awareness ... of No-Self, (see note # below)
The Investigation ... of No-Self,
The Energy ... of No-Self,
The Joy ... of No-Self,
The Tranquillity ... of No-Self,
The Concentration ... of No-Self,
The Equanimity ... of No-Self,
All based on seclusion, based on detachment, based on ceasing, ending in total self-surrender...
If these ideas are thus cultivated, thus made much of, thus joined with the 7 links to Awakening,
one may look for one of these two fruits even in this very life: Realization of Disciple-Buddhahood,
or if there are any remaining substrate of clinging left back, in all cases: The state of No-Return!
 
# Note:
And any of these other classic meditation objects in the list should be substituted here, so that
all these meditation objects are properly joined and fused with the 7 links to Awakening.
 
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The Non-Returner (Anagami) is a Noble Disciple (ariya-puggala) on the 3rd stage of holiness:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPP ... nagami.htm

Source:
Samyutta Nikaya V, Maha Vagga: Great Benefits: The state of No-Return! Anagami

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The Non-Returner...

Which Meditation Objects induces The State of No-Return?
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Gr ... Return.htm