equanimity

On the cultivation of insight/wisdom
fijiNut
Posts: 124
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 2:11 am

Re: equanimity

Post by fijiNut »

*A Special Message From Mother Sayama And Saya U Chit Tin*


While in Sydney for the auspicious Water Festival course in April
1981, Mother Sayama and Saya U Chit Tin were requested to give a message
on Dhamma practise to the students in Australia. This is the message:

"Regarding the training in //Sila//, //Samadhi// and //Panna// our
message is to lay emphasis on Samadhi. Sayagyi U Ba Khin had said: "For a
good experience of Anicca (Impermanence), Samadhi must be good. If Samadhi
is excellent, awareness of Anicca will also be excellent." Sayagyi's
Teacher, Saya Thetgyi, recounted: "My Teacher, Ledi Sayadaw, frequently
reminded me, 'Maung Thet, work on your Samadhi diligently. If the Samadhi
Sasana (teachings of Tranquility) is well established, then the Panna
Sasana (teachings on Insight) will also become established.'"

Ledi Sayadaw was a Burmese monk and a Pali scholar who was known to
scholars of many western countries and perhaps one of the outstanding
Buddhist figures of this age. Saya Thetgyi, therefore, worked earnestly on
Anapana for 7 years and then Vipassana for another 7 years. Finally he was
praised by his Teacher, who authorised him to teach meditation beginning
with a course at the Ledi-Tawya-Taik Monastery of his Teacher. The monk
scholars of his Teacher were among the students of the first batch of his
disciples.

Buddha said, "Develop your Samadhi. If Samadhi is developed then you
see things in their true perspective."...

"The Path must be trodden by each individual; Buddhas do but point
the way".

*Keep Coming back to Anapana-Sati (watching over in- and out-
breathing)*, for, if developed and frequently practised, this will bring
you high reward and great advantage.

When Samadhi (concentration) is established and developed,
contemplation of sensation on the Body will be easy and almost
instantaneous. You will dwell with full energy, clearly conscious,
attentive and fully engrossed, with the understanding and awareness of
Anicca (impermanence), Dukkha (suffering or ill) and Anatta (egolessness
or soullessness).

Sayagyi U Ba Khin summed up thus: "This will give us the "Peace
within" and enable us to share it with all others. We will then radiate
such powerful and purified mental forces as will successfully counteract
the evil forces which are all around us. Just as the light of a single
candle has the power to dispel darkness in a room, so also the light
developed in one man can help dispel darkness in several others."

May all beings be happy

May they be liberated and win the Deathless.
rowyourboat
Posts: 1952
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:29 pm
Location: London, UK

Re: equanimity

Post by rowyourboat »

Thanks Ben, indeed- having developed samadhi, with a mind of equanimity, watching the impermanence of bodily sensations is truly vipassana.

with metta

Matheesha
With Metta

Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: equanimity

Post by Ben »

rowyourboat wrote:Thanks Ben, indeed- having developed samadhi, with a mind of equanimity, watching the impermanence of bodily sensations is truly vipassana.

with metta

Matheesha
No problem Matheesha.


Hi FijiNut.
When I was in Myanmar recently, I visited U Ba Khin's centre (IMC) three times and I also trecked out to Saya Thetgyi's centre across the Yangon River. Interestingly, monks still take courses of insight meditation at Saya Thetgyi's centre. I'll post photos and a full travelogue one of these days when I get some time!!
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
User avatar
zavk
Posts: 1161
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:04 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: equanimity

Post by zavk »

Ben wrote: When I was in Myanmar recently, I visited U Ba Khin's centre (IMC) three times and I also trecked out to Saya Thetgyi's centre across the Yangon River. Interestingly, monks still take courses of insight meditation at Saya Thetgyi's centre. I'll post photos and a full travelogue one of these days when I get some time!!

Slightly off-topic, but yes, Ben, I'm curious to hear about public attitudes towards bhavana or 'mental culture' in the country. My understanding is that mental culture played a pivotal role in early to mid-twentieth century social and national reforms in Burma. One of the first figure to promote mental culture in the country was Thahkin Kodawhmaing, the highly esteemed 'grandfather' of Burmese postcolonial politics, who not only supported the teachings of Ledi Sayadaw and viewed it as a means for ‘re-establishing freedom from the British’ but also promoted it as a means for national liberation. And as you know, both Mahasi Sayadaw and U Ba Khin taught meditation to cabinet ministers, civil servants and the general laity. But I understand that some political tensions developed around the teaching of meditation with the 'nationalisation' of the country by the military faction. So I'm curious about public perceptions of meditation in Burma or Myanmar as the ruling faction calls it today.

OK, sorry about the disruption. :focus:
With metta,
zavk
fijiNut
Posts: 124
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2009 2:11 am

Re: equanimity

Post by fijiNut »

Ben wrote:
Hi FijiNut.
When I was in Myanmar recently, I visited U Ba Khin's centre (IMC) three times and I also trecked out to Saya Thetgyi's centre across the Yangon River. Interestingly, monks still take courses of insight meditation at Saya Thetgyi's centre. I'll post photos and a full travelogue one of these days when I get some time!!
Please do Ben. I hope to visit Burma one day myself for intensive retreat. Perhaps I could get some travel tips from your travel journals!
:)

metta
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Ben
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Location: kanamaluka

Re: equanimity

Post by Ben »

Hi Ed,

Very briefly...
My experience was that it was seen as an incredibly beneficial thing by the Burmese when I disclosed that I was in the country to participate in a long meditation course. On my first day in Myanmar I went to Botataung Paya with four senior american assistant teachers - it contains a hair-relic of the Buddha. I remember paying respects to a Buddharupa and a young Burmese couple were pointing at me with delightful curiosity, talking quietly to each other and smiling. I think Burmese people are genuinely very eager to share their culture and the Dhamma with sincere practitioners from abroad. It was very easy for me to get a 'pilgrimage letter' from VMC Dhammajoti which indicated that I was also on pilgrimage and it allowed me free entry into most of the places of interest inc. Shwedagon, Mandalay Hill, Mahamuni temple &etc. When I showed the pilgrimage letter there was usually a conversation about what I had seen, where I was going and the meditation course I was on. Within the community of the U Ba Khin and Goenka 'tradition', my intention to be in the country to sit a long course and do a short yatra - it just seemed to open doors for me.

Figures such as Sayagi U Ba Khin, "The Anagamin" Saya Thetgyi, and Ledi Sayadaw are very well known. SN Goenka is well known, but doesn't yet have the stellar reputation of his predecessors. He has established eighteen centres in Myanmar and there are three separate and concurrent prison programs in operation which have produced incredible results.

Perhaps it was that document that you shared with me on mental culture and the politics of crisis management in Burma that mentioned that Ledi Sayadaw was supported and became popular with the court of King Mindon in Mandalay. I wish I had finished reading it before I went to Burma, but...time (or lack of it)!
kind regards

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
PeterB
Posts: 3909
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:35 pm

Re: equanimity

Post by PeterB »

Ben, you shine like a beacon in a naughty world.


metta
:anjali:
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: equanimity

Post by Ben »

PeterB wrote:Ben, you shine like a beacon in a naughty world.


metta
:anjali:
Thank you Peter! That made me smile.
Really, I am just an ordinary guy.
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
User avatar
christopher:::
Posts: 1327
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2009 12:56 am

Re: equanimity

Post by christopher::: »

Ben wrote:
Really, I am just an ordinary guy.
The world could use more ordinary guys like you, Ben.

:bow:
fijiNut wrote:
*A Special Message From Mother Sayama And Saya U Chit Tin*


While in Sydney for the auspicious Water Festival course in April
1981, Mother Sayama and Saya U Chit Tin were requested to give a message
on Dhamma practise to the students in Australia. This is the message:

"Regarding the training in //Sila//, //Samadhi// and //Panna// our
message is to lay emphasis on Samadhi. Sayagyi U Ba Khin had said: "For a
good experience of Anicca (Impermanence), Samadhi must be good. If Samadhi
is excellent, awareness of Anicca will also be excellent." Sayagyi's
Teacher, Saya Thetgyi, recounted: "My Teacher, Ledi Sayadaw, frequently
reminded me, 'Maung Thet, work on your Samadhi diligently. If the Samadhi
Sasana (teachings of Tranquility) is well established, then the Panna
Sasana (teachings on Insight) will also become established.'"

Ledi Sayadaw was a Burmese monk and a Pali scholar who was known to
scholars of many western countries and perhaps one of the outstanding
Buddhist figures of this age. Saya Thetgyi, therefore, worked earnestly on
Anapana for 7 years and then Vipassana for another 7 years. Finally he was
praised by his Teacher, who authorised him to teach meditation beginning
with a course at the Ledi-Tawya-Taik Monastery of his Teacher. The monk
scholars of his Teacher were among the students of the first batch of his
disciples.

Buddha said, "Develop your Samadhi. If Samadhi is developed then you
see things in their true perspective."...

"The Path must be trodden by each individual; Buddhas do but point
the way".

*Keep Coming back to Anapana-Sati (watching over in- and out-
breathing)*, for, if developed and frequently practised, this will bring
you high reward and great advantage.

When Samadhi (concentration) is established and developed,
contemplation of sensation on the Body will be easy and almost
instantaneous. You will dwell with full energy, clearly conscious,
attentive and fully engrossed, with the understanding and awareness of
Anicca (impermanence), Dukkha (suffering or ill) and Anatta (egolessness
or soullessness).

Sayagyi U Ba Khin summed up thus: "This will give us the "Peace
within" and enable us to share it with all others. We will then radiate
such powerful and purified mental forces as will successfully counteract
the evil forces which are all around us. Just as the light of a single
candle has the power to dispel darkness in a room, so also the light
developed in one man can help dispel darkness in several others."

May all beings be happy

May they be liberated and win the Deathless.
Thanks for this!

:anjali:
"As Buddhists, we should aim to develop relationships that are not predominated by grasping and clinging. Our relationships should be characterised by the brahmaviharas of metta (loving kindness), mudita (sympathetic joy), karuna (compassion), and upekkha (equanimity)."
~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009
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