Friday, December 31, 2010

Patience is the 6th Perfection:

Friends:
Patience is the 6th Perfection:
The characteristic of patience is acceptance, its function is to endure,
and
its manifestation is non-opposing tolerance! The cause of patience
is
understanding how things really are.. The effect of patience is calm
tranquility despite presence of intensely stirring provocation..
Patience of the will produces forgiving forbearance!
Patience of the intellect produces faith, confidence and certainty!
Patience of the body produces resolute and tenacious endurance!
Internal tolerance of states within oneself is patient endurance...
External tolerance of other beings is forbearance and forgiveness...
He who patiently protects himself, protects also all other beings!
He who patiently protects all other beings, protects also himself!

Not from speaking much is one called clever.
The patient one is free from anger and free from fear,
only such steady persisting one, is rightly called clever...
                                                                        Dhammapada 258


Patient tolerance is the highest praxis...
Nibbāna is the supreme Bliss!
So say all the Buddhas.
                                                                         Dhammapada 184

The innocent one, who has done nothing wrong,
Who endures abuse, flogging and even imprisonment,
Such
one, armed with stamina, the great force of tolerance,
Such stoic one, who self-possessed can accept, I call a Holy One!
                                                                  Dhammapada 399


One should follow those who are determined, tolerant, and enduring,
intelligent, wise, diligent, clever, good-willed and evidently Noble.
One shall stick to them as the moon remains in its regular orbit.
                                                                        Dhammapada 208


Friends, even if bandits were to cut you up, savagely, limb by limb,
with
a two-handled saw, you should not get angry, but do my bidding:
Remain pervading them and all others with a friendly Awareness imbued
with an all-embracing good-will, kind, rich, expansive, and immeasurable!
Free from hostility, free from any ill will. Always remembering this very
Simile
of the Saw is indeed how you should train yourselves.
                                                                     Majjhima Nikāya 21
The five ways of removing irritating annoyance:
Bhikkhus, there are these five ways of removing annoyance, by which any
irritation
can be entirely removed by a Bhikkhu, when it arises in him.
What are these five ways?
1: Friendliness can be maintained towards an irritating person or state..
2: Understanding can be undertaken towards an irritating person or state..
3: On-looking Equanimity can be kept towards an irritating person or state..
4: One can forget and ignore the irritating person, mental or physical state..
5: Ownership of Kamma of the irritating person can be reflected upon thus:
This good person is owner of his actions, inherit the result his actions, is
indeed
born of his actions and only he is responsible for his actions be they
good or bad. This too is how annoyance with the irksome can be instantly
removed
. These are the five ways of removing annoyance, and by which any
irritation can be entirely removed in a friend, exactly when it arises...
                                                                        Anguttara Nikāya V 161


Buddha to his son Rāhula: Develop an Imperturbable Mind like the elements:
Rāhula, develop a mind like earth, then contacts of arisen like and dislike
will
not obsess your mind! Rāhula, on the earth is dumped both the pure and
the
impure: excreta, urine, saliva, pus, blood, but the earth does not detest
any of those... Even and exactly so make your mind stable like the earth!
Rāhula, develop a mind like water, then contacts of arisen pleasure and pain
will
not seize your mind. Rāhula with water both the pure and the impure
are
cleaned... Washed away with water are excreta, urine, saliva, pus, and
blood
, yet the water does not despise any of that! Even so make the mind
fluid
and adaptable like the water!
Rāhula, develop a mind like fire, then the contacts of any arisen attraction
or aversion will neither consume, nor hang on to your mind! Rāhula, fire burns
both
the pure and the impure, burns excreta, urine, saliva, pus, and blood,
yet the fire does not loathe any of that.. In the same manner refine the mind
into
a tool like an all consuming and purifying fire!
Rāhula, develop a mind similar to space, then contacts of arisen delight and
frustration
does neither take hold of, nor remain in your mind. Space does
not
settle anywhere! Similarly make the mind unsettled and unestablished
like
open space. When you expand mind like space, contacts of delight and
frustration
will neither be able to dominate, nor obsess your mind...
                                                                             Majjhima Nikāya 62


More on the 10 mental perfections (paramis):

http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm

Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Thursday, December 30, 2010

How does the Noble live in Alert Elevated Joy?

Friends:
How does the Noble live in Alert Elevated Joy?

The Blessed Buddha once said:
How, Nandiya, does a Noble Disciple live in alert elevated joy?
Here, Nandiya, any Noble Disciple is endowed with verified conviction in the
Buddha thus: Worthy, honourable & perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha!
Not satisfied with that verified conviction in the Buddha, he makes a further
effort
in solitude by day and by seclusion at night!
When thus enthusiastic, he is elevated by alertness!
When thus elevated by alertness, then gladness is born!
When he is gladdened, then a rapturous joy arises!
When the mind is uplifted by joy, the body becomes all tranquil...
One tranquil in body experiences a pure bliss of sweet happiness!
The mind of one who is thus happy becomes condensed and concentrated...
When mind is concentrated, even subtle phenomena become plain and simple.
Since these subtle phenomena become plain and simple, he becomes one,
who
lives and dwells always rejoicing in alert elevated joy...



More on this blessed Bliss of Joy (Pīti):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Forest_Bliss.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Joy_Piti.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Feeding_Joy.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_Beyond_This_World.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Blessing_all_Beings_by_Bliss.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_of_the_Flesch_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness.htm


Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya. [V:398]
Section 55 on Stream-Entry: Sotāpattisamyutta. Thread 40: Nandiya.
Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Mutual Joy cures all vicious Envy and Jealousy!

Friends:
Mutual Joy cures all vicious Envy and Jealousy!
The dear companion can be the proximate cause for Mutual Joy, where one
rejoices in another being's success... One thus rejoicing in others fortune
is called a 'boon companion', for he is constantly glad: He laughs first and
speaks afterward! So he should be the first to be pervaded with gladness.
Or on seeing a dear person being happy, cheerful and glad, mutual joy can
be aroused thus: 'See this being is indeed glad! How good, how excellent!'
Just as one would be glad at seeing a dear and beloved person very happy,
exactly so does one pervade all other beings in all directions with mutual joy...
Rejoicing mutual joy can also be aroused by remembering other's happiness
in the past and recollecting the elated joy aspect in this way: 'In the past he
had great wealth, a great following and he was always glad'. Or mutual joy
can be aroused by apprehending the future glad aspect of his in this way:
'In the future he will again enjoy similar success and will go about in gold
palanquins, on the backs of elephants or on horseback'. Having thus aroused
mutual joy regarding a dear person, one can then direct the very same feeling
successively towards a neutral one, and gradually towards any hostile person.
Vbh 274, Vism I 316
Comments:
Mutual joy causes Contentment! No mutual joy thus means Discontentment…
Therefore: If being generally dissatisfied, then be happy over others gains!
Secondly: Mutual joy causes all envy & jealousy to evaporate into equanimity!

Mutual Joy (Muditā), which cures all envy and jealousy, is a divine state!
Rejoicing Bliss = Mudita, Infinitely_Joyous_Consciousness, Mutual_Joy
Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Monday, December 27, 2010

Feeding the Joy Link to Awakening!

Friends:
      Feeding the Joy Link to Awakening!


The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, just as this body, is sustained by feeding, exists in dependence on
feeding & cannot survive without food, even so are the 7 Links to Awakening
also sustained by feeding, they also can only exist in dependence on feeding
and they cannot survive without feeding... And what, bhikkhus, is the feeding
of the emergence of any yet unarisen joy and also feeding of the completion
by increase of any already arisen joy? There are mental states that are the
originator, maker, producer, root, basis & source for the awakening of joy!
Frequently giving careful & rational attention to them, is feeding the arising
and gradual fulfillment of joy... And what is the starving that obstructs the
emergence of any yet unarisen joy and which also hinders any already arisen
joy from reaching sweet fulfillment by development? There are states that
are the basis & source for the joy link to awakening! Not giving frequent
careful and rational attention to them; not considering them much & often;
is the starving that prevents any unarisen joy from arising and also blocks
any already arisen joy  from reaching any complete fulfillment by mental
meditative training...
Comments from the classical commentaries:
Elated & ecstatic exultation is the characteristic of the Joy Link to Awakening
(Pīti-sambojjhanga). Motivated intentness upon is the purpose of the quality of Joy.
Satisfaction lifting any depression is the manifestation of the Joy Link to Awakening.
Thinking of Joy makes this state return! This can be utilized by training it! Try now!
This reinforcement - in itself - has the capacity to gradually elevate and induce Joy!
Therefore is the state of gladness & Joy itself mainspring, basis & source of more Joy…
It is the deliberate directing attention to this, again & again, that can produce Joy!!!


Further conditions helpful for arising of the Joy Link to Awakening are:
1: Recollection of the supreme and sublime uniqueness of the Buddha...
2: Recollection of the supreme and sublime uniqueness of the Dhamma...
3: Recollection of the supreme and sublime uniqueness of the Sangha...
4: Recollection of the supreme and sublime efficacy of pure Morality...
5: Recollection of the supreme and sublime efficacy of prior Generosity…
6: Recollection of the qualities that gave the devas their divinity...
7: Remembering the stilled silent state of blissful Peace...
8: Avoidance of primitive, violent, angry, rough, and coarse people.
9: Friendship with refined & kind people, who often smile in silent ease.
10: Reviewing by reading many inspiring dhamma discourses like this one.
11: Commitment & resolute determination to elevate the mind by Joy...


There is joy joined with thinking and there is joy separated from thinking!
Both leads to enraptured advance towards many advantageous states.
Awakening is a veritable flood of bliss!
Sources (edited extracts):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya.
Book [V: 65-6+102-8] 46: Links. 2+51: Group & Nutriments....
Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net 

Sunday, December 26, 2010

The Deepest Tranquilization is that of Greed, Hate & Ignorance!

Friends:
The Deepest Tranquilization is that of Greed, Hate & Ignorance!
The Blessed Buddha once said:
Formerly, when that person was still ignorant, then he was possessed & obsessed 
by sexual & sensual greed, lust, desire, yearning, envy, jealousy, and miserliness...
He was obsessed & possessed by hate, anger, ill-will, irritation and stubbornness...
He was obsessed and possessed by ignorance, doubt, delusion & plain foolishness...
These evils are now overcome by him, eradicated, like a slashed & uprooted tree,
completely destroyed, and therefore unable to sprout into existence ever again!
Therefore such Bhikkhu, thus endowed, is indeed enriched by the highest Calm!
This tranquillization is his unshakable foundation! Since this, friends, is the very
highest
and most precious: The Tranquillization of Greed, Hate, and Ignorance!!!


Tranquillity (Passaddhi) Quiet : Tranquillity_Passaddhi, Feeding_Tranquillity
Calm (Samatha) Peaceful Ease: Forest Bliss, Calm_and_Insight, Calm
The 3 Root Violations (Mūla): Proximate_Causes, Fading_Away

Source Text (extract): Majjhima Nikāya 140: Analysis of the Elements:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.140.than.html
Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.n

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Expectation inevitably creates Disappointment:

Friends:
Expectation inevitably creates Disappointment:
How does one create future frustration for oneself? By expecting!!!
Ooh May I enjoy such and such form in the future.
Ooh May I delight in this and that feeling in the future.
Ooh May I experience exactly these lovely things in the future.
Ooh May I receive my beloved favourite experiences in the future.
Ooh May I relish only in those mental states, that I like in the future.
Ooh May I be satisfied by solely favourite sorts of consciousness in future.
Ooh May I Not meet this or that disliked person, event, circumstance, etc...



On the contrary: One is always content  if without any expectations:
Let the past be past, passed and forgotten, for never to return to it again!
Let forms, feelings, experiences, hopes & mind here & now be as they may!
Let whatever arise & cease! Relinquishing all hoping and wishing for whatever
future
forms, feelings, experiences, constructions & types of consciousness:
May I just remain aware, calm, clear, content and therefore unagitated!

Let it be, as it may! 
Let it come, as it comes! 
Let it go, as it goes!
Good is contentment with just what one has, with just what there is!
Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Friday, December 24, 2010

Expectation is bound to give Disappointment!

Friends:
Expectation is bound to give Disappointment!
Whenever and wherever there is expectation, there is also hoping & longing!
Whenever and wherever there is hoping & longing, there is also craving...
Whenever and wherever there is craving, there is also suffering!
This is the 2nd Noble Truth: Craving causes suffering...
Whenever & wherever there is neither expectation, nor hoping, nor longing,
nor any form of craving present, how can there ever be any suffering?
This is the 3rd Noble Truth: Absence of craving ends all suffering...



About the 4 Noble Truths (Ariya-Sacca):
The_4_Noble_Truths, Whenever_and_Wherever, Indeed_True,
The_1st_Noble_Truth_on_Suffering, The_Ultimate_Fact,
The_2nd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Cause_of_Suffering,
The_3rd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Ceasing_of_Suffering,
The_4th_Noble_Truth_on_The_Way_to_Cease_Suffering,
Concentrated_Truth, ClansMan_Breakthrough, Focused_Truths,
The_4_Truths_Meaning, Absolute_Certainty, The_16_Aspects
Discontent Disappointment is NOT caused by the outside world!
'Loving' and 'liking' mixed with expectation => passion => suffering!
'Loving' and 'liking' without expectation = friendliness => elevation!
These 2 forms of “love” lookalike, but are VERY different in outcome!
Expectation is an often subconscious diluted derivative of greed, which
nevertheless retains the ability to ruin any relationship and any life by
inducing the mischievous and treacherous mental state called discontent!
This discontent is NOT caused by the external object as often believed,
but by the very 'own' internal hidden prejudgement inherent in expectation!


About Expectation:
Always Different



Awareness of Emerging Expectation Helps:
If one notices expectation right when it arises, and also when it persists,
this enables reflecting: "Now future suffering is created and maintained!"!
This in itself gradually will reduce this diluted derivative of painful craving.




On this poisonous Craving
(Tanhā) see:
The 3 kinds of Craving, Elemental Analysis, Craving_is_Pain, Cut_Craving,
Craving_is_Cause, Origin_of_Suffering, Ceasing_of_Suffering,
The_2nd_Noble_Truth_on_The_Cause_of_Suffering,
Craving_is_Catastrophic, Quenched, Sandcastles
Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net