Friday, December 24, 2010

How can one experience Ceasing of all Pain?

Friends:
How can one experience Ceasing of all Pain?


The blessed Buddha once explained:
Bhikkhus, the concentration won by Awareness by Breathing, when developed
and
frequently cultivated, is of great fruit and results in a big advantage...
And how, Bhikkhus, is concentration by Awareness by Breathing developed and
cultivated
so that it is of great fruit and advantage?
Bhikkhus, when one have gone to the forest, or to the root of a tree, or to an
empty
hut, there one sits down cross-legged, having straightened one's body
and back, and set up awareness around the nostrils, then just plainly aware of
that breathing itself one breathes in, & just solely aware of only that breath
in itself, one breathes out...
Breathing in long, one knows, notes and understands: I inhale long!
Breathing out long, one knows, notes and understands: I exhale long!
... ... ... (steps 2-15) ... ... ...
One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in!
One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out!
Therefore, if such friend feels a pleasant feeling, then he understands through
his
prior training in breathing meditation:
It is impermanent; it should neither be clung to nor delighted in...
If he feels a painful feeling, then he indeed also understands:
It is impermanent; it should neither be clung to nor engaged in...
If he feels a neutral feeling there and then he also understands:
It is impermanent; it should neither be clung to nor involved in...
Whether he feels a pleasant feeling, or a painful feeling, or a  neutral feeling,
he feels it as if detached from it, and as something remote, and alien...
If he feels a feeling terminating with the body, then he understands:
If feel a feeling terminating at the same time as this body...
If he feels a feeling terminating with life, then he understands:
I feel a feeling terminating at the same time as this life...
He then understands: With the break-up of this frame of a body, following
the exhaustion of life, all that is felt, and all sensed, not being delighted in,
will turn cold right there and then... Just as, bhikkhus, an oil lamp burns in
dependence on the oil and the wick, and with the exhaustion of the oil and the
wick the flame ceases to burn through lack of fuel, exactly so too, Bhikkhus,
when such a Bhikkhu feels a feeling terminating with the body or with life...
Then he understands: With the break-up of this  fragile frame of a body,
following the exhaustion of life, all that is felt, all that is sensed, by not being
delighted in, by not being clung to, will cool down & cease right there & then!



This sublime (Ānāpāna-sati)  technique is used by all Buddhas at Awakening:
Ānāpānasati text and commentary, 1_Producing_4, Four_Fulfilling_Seven,
Breathing_Calm_and_Insight, The_LAMP_I, Experiencing_the_Breath,
The_LAMP_IV, Awareness_by_Breathing, Peaceful_and_Sublime_on Spot,
The_LAMP_III, Unique_Thing_Awareness_by_Breathing,
Magnificent_Meditation.



On the formless (ārupa) Jhānas and Ceasing: Nirodha-samāpatti:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/9_Stillings.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/g_m/jhaana.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/nirodha_samaapatti.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya. [V:319-20]
section 54: Ānāpānasamyutta. Thread 8: The simile of the Lamp! 
Have a nice & noble day!
 
Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

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