lay people should still try

Buddhist ethical conduct including the Five Precepts (Pañcasikkhāpada), and Eightfold Ethical Conduct (Aṭṭhasīla).
Garrib
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by Garrib »

archaic wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2018 1:42 am

The best lessons in life sometimes come from trying circumstances. There will never be a perfect time to meditate, there will always be a mosquito, and itch, a nagging mind-thought, or an aching joint.

Its like upgrading your tires to drive in mud... At first they spin spin spin when you have tires with very little tread in mud. You add some tread and they are a bit better, you add more tread and then eventually you can drive in thick gross mud.

The effort to sustain stillness amidst turmoil is an *extremely* valuable way to increase the tread on your tires.
Good call. Thanks - I will take this to heart!
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oncereturner
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by oncereturner »

I can seek shelter from this mad world only in the woods. It's hard to explain, nature cannot be substituted. I like to be alone and enjoy peace.
I like to walk in the mud. It's something special, everything is so different. A completely different state of mind. I breathe in the clean air.
Buddha said that dhamma is the only shelter, not nature. Meditation can substitute everything? Even the sun and the blue skies?
"And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: This is called right speech."

— SN 45.8
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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

well, if you really want to meditate, better get on one meal a day, chastity, abstinence from music, entertainments, etc thats just my advice
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

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oncereturner
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by oncereturner »

Dhammarakkhito wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2018 9:06 am well, if you really want to meditate, better get on one meal a day, chastity, abstinence from music, entertainments, etc thats just my advice
Music is dangerous, it only causes problems for the mind. I listen to music only once a week. I wonder that the greatest talents like Elvis, had a negative effect on the world. I mean the craving. His wife will come to our country this year and visit the new Elvis Presley park, and a statue will be made soon. I guess rap music is even more hazardous. I will try not to listen to music at all.

I entertain myself with computer games. In this games I have to use weapons to kill zombies or other enemies. My friend said it's not dangerous but I think it also have a very negative impact on the mind. This games are addictive. Please tell me your advice on this games.
"And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: This is called right speech."

— SN 45.8
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seeker242
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by seeker242 »

lay people should still try
To meditate everyday because it's beneficial. The Buddha never taught that it's counterproductive for laypeople to mediate. In fact, he taught the opposite of that.
lay non-returners like citta
Also practiced meditation.

:anjali:
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anthbrown84
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by anthbrown84 »

I once heard Ajahn Succito say on a retreat

"Your Citta doesn't know whether youre a monk or a lay person"

I think this is very relevant to this topic :)
"Your job in practise is to know the difference between the heart and the activity of the heart, that is it, it is that simple" Ajahn Tate
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oncereturner
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by oncereturner »

I have a dilemma. If all monks, wise layman practice brahmacharya, humanity will fall into the world of fools.
"And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: This is called right speech."

— SN 45.8
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Sam Vara
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by Sam Vara »

anthbrown84 wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2018 8:34 pm I once heard Ajahn Succito say on a retreat

"Your Citta doesn't know whether youre a monk or a lay person"

I think this is very relevant to this topic :)
:goodpost: :thumbsup:
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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

look at the chapters about lay people in here, citta, visakha etc https://www.wisdompubs.org/sites/defaul ... review.pdf
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3

http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
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dylanj
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by dylanj »

Dhammarakkhito wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2018 4:38 am look at the chapters about lay people in here, citta, visakha etc https://www.wisdompubs.org/sites/defaul ... review.pdf
:goodpost:
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
User1249x
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by User1249x »

I meditated more or less daily for about 3 years for mental benefits which are obvious and why we are all here, i did this before hearing the Dhamma, as i established that ultimate ethics exist i just started to follow the ultimate ethics for strategy in everything and meditating a lot more and systematically according to instruction from teacher whilst studying the Dhamma.

If it was not for meditation i would be a dead i think.
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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

i meditated for years myself, may have been a skill i'd developed in a previous life. i did not fully consider virtue having an impact on your meditation, i suffered from wrong views. i've thought of making a past-life speculation thread
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3

http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
User1249x
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by User1249x »

Dhammarakkhito wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2018 5:48 am i meditated for years myself, may have been a skill i'd developed in a previous life. i did not fully consider virtue having an impact on your meditation, i suffered from wrong views. i've thought of making a past-life speculation thread
it would have been even worse if you did not meditate i dare assume, i know for me it also produced no amazing results but it kept me going and even trained some faculties which were useful in my work and study.
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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: lay people should still try

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

yes it completely changed my life, and i was rebounding from an extremely dark time. could go into detail somewhere another time. but i got quite complacent. i drank and drank alcohol until i degenerated and put on a whole bunch of weight and fell into more evil states of mind. i think i would have very well ended up in hell if it werent for dylan
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3

http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
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