Friday, July 26, 2013

The 3 Root States of all, that is Advantageous:




By means of Non-Greed, they are not greedy, lusty, desirous, yearning or longing.
Non-greed has the characteristic of easy absence of desire for any given object.
It does not cling, attach or adhere, but rolls off like a water drop on a lotus leaf!
The function of non-greed is not to lay hold on, grasp, fasten or cling to anything.
It is manifested as a state of not treating as a shelter, like one who leaves dirt...

Through Non-Hate, they do not react with hate, anger, irritation, or opposition.
Non-hate has the characteristic of lack of cruelty. Gently, it does not oppose...
Its function is to remove any fever of annoyance, and allay all fury exasperation.
Non-hate is manifested as a pleasant and mild agreeableness, like the full moon!

Due to Non-Delusion, they are not ignorant, confused, in doubt, or perplexed...
Non-delusion has the characteristic of seeing through, penetrating to the real
nature of phenomena, understanding their essence, and not just their appearance.
The function of non-delusion is to illuminate the object everywhere, like a lamp.
Non-delusion is manifested as non-bewilderment, like a clever guide in a forest.

These three states should be regarded as the roots of all that is advantageous!
Vism I 465.

More on  the 3 Roots of Good and Evil (Mūla):
Fading_Away, What_is_Disadvantageous, Proximate_Causes

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

Monday, July 22, 2013

Dhamma propagators in Kerala history


How to Extend Amity Universally:

 

The Grace of Goodwill: A Meditation on Friendliness (Mettā):

May my mind be filled with the thought of Kind Friendliness & open Amity.
May the minds of my good teachers be filled with the thought of Friendliness.
May the minds of my parents and dear ones be filled with the thought of Friendliness.
May the minds of all unfriendly persons be filled with the thought of Friendliness.
May the minds of all living beings be filled with the thought of Friendliness.
May the minds of all strangers be filled with the thought of Friendliness.
May we be free from fear, tension, anxiety, worry, and restlessness.
May our hearts become soft. May our words be pleasing to others.
May we be generous. May we be gentle. May we be relaxed.
May we be happy and peaceful. May we be healthy.
May we be a source of pure peace and happiness.


May the minds of everyone in this room be free from greed, anger, hatred, jealousy, and fear.
May the peace and tranquillity of tender Friendliness pervade their entire bodies and minds.
May they have good fortune. May they be prosperous. May they have really good friends
May the minds of everyone in this building, in this street, in this city, in this nation on
this continent, on this planet & in this universe be free from greed, anger, & doubt.
May these thoughts of Friendliness embrace them, charge them and envelope them.
May every cell, every drop of blood, every atom, be charged with kind amity.
May the peace & tranquillity of goodwill pervade their entire bodies & minds.
May they be happy-hearted. May they be free from worries and troubles.
May all beings in all directions throughout this multiverse be happy.
May they be filled with Friendliness, abundant, exalted, & infinite!
May they be free from enmity, affliction, and anxiety.
May they live happily.


May all beings in all directions, all around the universe be happy.
May they have good fortune. May they be prosperous.
May they be famous. May they have good friends.
May they be reborn in a happy destination.
May they be reborn in the heavens.
May all beings Awaken swiftly!
May they become thus Happy!


Inspired by 2 really good friends.

More on this shining, radiating through all & everywhere beaming Friendliness:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Infinite_Friendliness.htm
The Grace of Goodwill!
Have a nice & noble day!
signature.picBowing_Bhikkhu 
Friendship is the Greatest! Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Security stepped up in Lumbini, other Buddhist centres

PTI, July 13, 2013

Kathmandu, Nepal -- Nepal has stepped up security in Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, with security personnel frisking every tourist entering the shrine, nearly a week after a terror attack on the Mahabodhi temple in India.
An emergency meeting of the Lumbini Development Trust held on Thursday decided to step up the security for immediate and long-term purposes in Lumbini which is enlisted in the World Heritage Site of the UNESCO.
Lumbini, where only a few policemen were deployed earlier, is now guarded by a team of additional 30 policemen under the command of a Police Inspector, according to officials.
Armed Police Force personnel have been mobilised in the shrine to avert any untoward incident, the police said.
Special security arrangements have been made in the area while in some border areas and checkpoints more security personnel have been mobilised in plain clothes.
Besides Lumbini, Kapilvastu, Ramgram and other places with Buddhist links have been put under high security watch, according to officials at the Lumbini Development Trust, the nodal organisation to manage the affairs of Lumbini.
Each and every tourist is checked thoroughly before being allowed to enter the shrine in view of the recent security issues.
Even the internal security of the main temple of the area has been stepped up, according to the Trust officials.
Special security has been arranged for Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini.
On Sunday, a string of 10 low intensity bombs rocked the temple town of Bodhgaya in Bihar in which two monks were injured.
SOURSE: BUDDHSIT CHANNEL

Monday, July 15, 2013

Remains of 1300 BC village‚ pre-Ashokan shrines in Lumbini

The Himalayan Times
7 July, 2013
 The Maya Devi Temple (seen in the backdrop) and the Ashoka Pillar in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.


KATHMANDU: New excavations within the Maya Devi Temple of Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini, Nepal, have revealed evidence of a series of shrines extending the history of the site to a much earlier date than previously known, according to UNESCO.
“For the first time in South Asia, excavations have revealed a pre-Ashokan temple of brick, which itself was built over an earlier one of timber,” said Professor Robin Coningham of Durham University in UK, who co-directed a team of Nepali and international experts together with Kosh Prasad Acharya, at a press conference here in the Capital on Sunday.
The Maya Devi Temple houses the Marker Stone and the Nativity Sculpture, installed in ancient times to denote that Lord Buddha was born in the place.
Until now, the earliest Buddhist temples had been attributed to Indian Emperor Ashoka, who in the 3rd century BC spread Buddhism across the region, as evidenced by his pillar and brick built temple in Lumbini.
The birthplace of Buddha is UNESCO World Heritage property since 1997.
Coningham also said that even older remains of a village dating back to as early as 1300 BC were found a few hundred metres south of Lord Buddha’s birthplace, pushing the date of the settlement of the region back by a thousand years.
The team worked with the framework of a UNESCO project funded by the Government of Japan through the Japanese Funds in Trust for the Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage to UNESCO, UNESCO said in a statement.
The first phase of the project was completed this month in Lumbini which lies in Rupandehi district of Nepal.
What do stakeholders say?
“These two discoveries (1300 BC village and pre-Ashokan shrines) are great steps which help us to better understand the origins of Lord Buddha’s life and the spiritual importance of Lumbini,” said Acharya Karma Sango Sherpa, the vice-chair the Lumbini Development Trust that looks after the preservation and management of the site.
“We have now very robust proof that Lumbini’s history extends far before the visit of Emperor Ashoka. The Government of Nepal will step-up its efforts to preserve the outstanding universal value of the site,” said Sushil Ghimire, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
“I am pleased that the project that the UNESCO Office in Kathmandu has implemented in close cooperation with the Lumbini Development Trust and the Department of Archaeology has resulted in such important discoveries,” the UNESCO statement quoted Axel Plathe, Head of the UNESCO Office in Kathmandu and UNESCO Representative to Nepal, as saying.
“Japan is honoured to have been able to contribute to the success of this flagship project,” said Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Kunio Takahashi.
According to UNESCO, the project has produced a number of other significant results. “It has enhanced the conservation of the three most emblematic monuments of Lord Buddha’s birthplace, namely the Marker Stone, the Nativity Sculpture and the Ashoka Pillar,” the statement said, “It has established an operational plan for the implementation of the Kenzo Tange Master Plan for the Sacred Garden and confirmed the continuous relevance of the Pla It has established a comprehensive management framework for the property. And it has increased the capacity of national experts and institutions to manage the site.”
The project has demonstrated that the preservation and management of the World Heritage property of Lumbini cannot be isolated from the management of the rich cultural landscape of the greater Lumbini area, UNESCO said.
“Therefore a second phase of the project extending the scope of the just completed project, is expected to begin shortly.”
SOURSE:BUDDHIST ART NEWS

KERALA MAHABODHI QUOTES


Richard Gere: Buddhism is my life

Sowetan Live, Feb 26, 2013

Los Angeles, CA (USA) -- Richard Gere says his Buddhist faith is at the centre of everything he does and every decision he makes in his life.
The Hollywood actor is a firm believer in the Asian religion, which focuses on personal spiritual development, and says it is the guiding force that surrounds everything he does.
He explained: "It's relevant to everything I do. Buddhism is the camel of my life. It's there everywhere. I don't think you have to be Buddhist to get it, quite honestly. I'm more interested in secular ethics, about what we all have in common. What is good? What is happiness? What is our duty to ourselves?"
The 'Arbitrage' star is happily married to former model Carey Lowell - with whom he has a 12-year-old son, Homer - but, at 63, he still doesn't think he has reached sexual maturity.
Gere still has strong erotic urges and he channels of all this energy into his marriage to Carey, 52, but he tries to control it because Buddhism teaches that desire causes suffering.
In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, he said: "I haven't quite got there myself. You don't want to lose that energy but there's an unseemliness at a certain age when you're run by it, when you're not in control, that's really kind of foul.
"That's what we have to look at. How can I use desire in such a way that I might be proud of it at the end of my life? There is a way but you have to work at it. At some future date I will be there."
SOURSE: BUDDHIST CHANNEL

Application of Buddhist principles can help reduce stress and improve mental health

By Shelton Gunaratne, LankaWeb, January 31, 2013

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- With the rapid spread of Buddhism in the western United States, boosted by increased immigration from Asia, Americans should consider applying Buddhist principles to solve their everyday problems. Although Buddhism has two major sects - Theravada and Mahayana - both agree on the crux of Buddhist philosophy based on the Four Noble Truths (FNT), the Noble Eightfold Path (NEP), and the associated 12-factor formula of conditioned genesis (paticca samuppada).
Buddhist population worldwide range from 350 million to 1 billion. The 2010 religious census estimated the Buddhist population in the U.S. at 1 million, mostly located in metropolitan areas with population greater than a million. The census found San Jose, California, to be the most Buddhist city in the country with approximately 1.25 percent identifying as a Buddhist adherent.
Buddhism, in contrast to the three major Abrahamic religions, is not interested in conversion. Buddha was an enlightened human being who discovered the path to nirvana the state of non-existence. Adherents of all religions can practice Buddhist principles without incurring the wrath of the omniscient God because they have universal universality.
Here is how the FNT are relevant to our problems. First truth: [Existence is] dukkha (“suffering” both mental and physical). Second truth: Samudaya [the cause] of dukkha is tanha/trsna (“thirst”/greed) conditioned by avijja (“ignorance” of the reality of self), upadana (clinging), and a cluster of other mental, biological, and physical factors.  Third truth: Nirodha (cessation) of dukkha is possible by following the path to nirvana. Fourth truth: Magga (the path) or the NEP provides the way to nirvana,The original Pali terms is used in this essay because no single word in English can capture the connotative depth of the terms that Buddha used.
Buddha concluded that no sentient being could avoid ongoing dukkha in his/her bhavacakra (wheel of becoming), which rotates from fetus to birth, and then experience jaramarana (sickness, old age, and death) within the ambit of samsara (cyclic existence).
Buddha illustrated the operational dynamics of the first three noble truths in his paticca samuppada formula. The bhavacakra of every sentient being took a circular form because it had no beginning or end. He did not answer questions on the First Cause or expand on the nature of nirvana becausethey were beyond human comprehension. He gained his insights by purifying his mind and   using the techniques of bhavana (meditation) to comprehend the causes and effects of existence. Buddha identified a cluster of 12 mental, biological, and physical nidanas (conditioned factors) that invariably engendered dukkha in the samsara. He surmised that living beings should follow the NEP, also called the Middle Path, to control their tanha (“thirst”/greed/desire/craving), which is interconnected, interdependent, and interactive with all other nidanas. In particular, tanha was reinforced by the impact of the five nidanas surrounding it - phassa (contact), vedana (feeling), upadana (clinging), and bhava (becoming).
Bhava identifies a sentient being as a namarupa (name and form)—a composite of panca skanda (five aggregates), where rupa stands for the physical form, and nama for the mental/nonphysical aggregates of feelings (18 types), perceptions (six types), mental formations (50 types), and consciousness (six types). These five interdependent aggregates are in continuous flux (anicca). Because every existing thing, both mental and physical, is anicca, the presumption of a permanent soul (atta) is inaccurate. The reality of existence is asoulity or no self (anatta). Thus, no person is the same except for the duration of the present moment, and the addiction to think in terms of the first person singular (I, me, my, mine) will merely prolong an organism’s dukkha in samsara. The three marks of existence, Buddha said, are anicca, anatta, and dukkha.
Descartes’ assertion Cogito ergo sum (“I think, therefore I am”) led to the belief that mind and body were two independent static nidanas. But Buddha had correctly seen more than 2100 years earlier that at one’s death the panca skanda discarded its rupa component while the four nama components remained intact in a state of flux until the cluster entered a new rupa in samsara (cyclic existence) depending on its karma (volitional actions). This is what is called punarbhava (rebirth or re-becoming). It is different from Hinduism’s re-incarnation.
The preceding sketch of the crux of Buddhism enables us to solve our everyday problems in ways that are alien to Western culture:
Before rushing into committing any physical or mental action (karma), meditate on its short-and long-term consequences on every sentient being in your environment, including your adversaries.  You can reduce your dukkha by realizing your asoulity (anatta) and impermanence (anicca).
Train yourself to control the three roots of evil: greed and desire; ignorance or delusion; hatred and destructive urges, which are embedded in your five aggregates (panca skanda). Use systems thinking, applying the principle that all elements in the system are interdependent, interconnected, and interactive.
Follow the middle path to tone down excessive emphasis on individualism, which breeds selfishness, self-righteousness, egotism, arrogance, etc. The second amendment to the U.S. Constitution cannot pass muster under Buddhist principles. Buddhism does not endorse weapons for individual protection or use of guns for pleasure hunting.
----
Gunaratne is professor of mass communication emeritus at MSUM. He is the author of an autobiographic trilogy. He conducts a Buddhist discussion group in Moorhead once a month on the second Saturday evening.
SOURSE:BUDDHIST CHANNEL

One becomes Calmed by Stilling all Agitation!




The brahmin Māgandiya asked the Buddha about how to become calmed:

Not dwelling in the past, stilled in the present, one prefers no kind of future!
Without irritation, without agitation, without regrets, without worry, neither
boasting, nor proud, but humble and modest, one is indeed a restrained sage...
Withdrawn, not opposed to anything, not wanting anything, all unconcerned,
aloof, gentle, independent, for such one there exists neither craving or fear
for any kind of existence, nor craving or fear for any form of non-existence...
Such calmed one is indifferent to sense pleasures, detached, not clinging to
any kind of property! For him there is nothing more to take up or lay down!
For whatever others might accuse him, he remains tranquil and not agitated!
Neither opposing anything, nor attracted to anything, with nothing of his own,
not perturbed by what does not exist, such tranquil one is truly calmed! 
Sutta-Nipāta 849-861 Edited excerpt.
Calmed...
Have a nice & noble day!
signature.picBowing_Bhikkhu 
Friendship is the Greatest! Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Buddhist Practice Is About the Kind of Person You Are

by Lewis Richmond, The Huffington Post, July 11, 2013

The world has always needed people who are kind and wise and who can effectively and skillfully relate to the cries of the world. It would seem that Buddhist practices and values are designed to produce such people. That is what attracted me to Buddhism as a young man, and has kept me in the Buddhist fold for my whole adult life.
However, over the decades much of what I have learned about Buddhism concerns the ways these lofty promises have been exaggerated or unfulfilled -- perhaps partly due to my own idealization and wishful thinking. Of course Buddhism exists in the human realm and is practiced and taught by flawed and corruptible human beings.
How could it be otherwise? It is true that Buddhism has produced some extraordinary people. It is just as true that Buddhist individuals and institutions--past and present -- have caused harm and suffering. We have only to look at the continuing drumbeat of bad news regarding present-day Buddhist teachers, leaders and institutions to realize that Buddhists -- like people of every faith -- come in all shapes and sizes.
Once Thich Nhat Hanh was asked to summarize Buddhism in one word, and he said, "Ahimsa," which means "non-harm." Following his example, when I am asked to briefly explain what Buddhism is about, I say, "It is about the kind of person you are and what you do." Of course it is about more than that too, but if it is not about that -- if it is only about some heady ideal of perfect enlightenment unconnected to character and action -- then I wonder what use it is.
On that point, I like the Chinese Zen story about an eccentric Zen teacher known as the Tree Master -- since he lived in a tree. Once a high lord, on hearing about the Tree Master's wisdom, visited him and asked, "What is the deepest truth of Buddhism?" The Tree Master replied, "Do good, avoid evil, benefit beings." These are the three pure precepts of the Bodhisattva, which would have been known to every person of that time.
The lord, perhaps affronted by the apparent triviality of the teacher's response, said, "Why, even a three-year-old child knows that!"
The Tree Master retorted, "Yes, but even a hundred year old man can't fully practice it."
The Tree Master knew that the world of flawed human beings includes intrigue, treachery, betrayal, ambition, pride, rigidity and duplicity -- even among those who profess to be deeply spiritual. All religions -- East and West -- seem to partake of this darkness to some degree. Many adult converts to Buddhism have yet to fully accept this -- perhaps because so much of their knowledge comes from books or reading, which tend to display Buddhism's best face.
Once a senior monk from a training monastery in Japan was visiting a large Zen center in America, and was astonished to see the meditation hall full of Americans silently meditating. The Japanese monk turned to his American host and said, "How do you get them to meditate without beating them?" Apparently in Japan it was unusual for Zen monks to actually like meditation.
In the 1970s, I once asked a highly regarded Japanese Zen teacher how many enlightened Roshis there were in Japan. The teacher paused and finally replied, "Four or five." I was taken aback. I had naively assumed that there were hundreds more just like him. That was an important lesson for me. Saints are rare, whatever the country or the era.
That being said, Buddhists ought not to be discouraged or disillusioned by hearing the news of how things really are. After all, "how things really are" is what the word "dharma" means. While I have at various times been dismayed on hearing bad news about some Buddhist individual or institution, I keep taking refuge in the thought that this too is Dharma. To know how things really are and to face those facts with clarity and courage is our work as Buddhists.
May that work long continue.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lewis-richmond/buddhist-practice-is-abou_b_3570465.html


MAHABODHI QUOTES


Saturday, July 13, 2013

Buddhist monks to preach without hurting other religions


Elevenmyanmar, 11 July 2013

"It is our duty to make people with weak faith to have stronger faith... Monks are the only method to make [them] have strong faith... The monks shouldn't act carelessly." - Ven. Dr Sandavarabivamsa
Yangon, Myanmar -- Esteemed monks from Mogok Vipassana League called for monks to preach in accordance to Buddhist teachings and not resort to hurting other religions.
Over 150 monks from Mogok Vipassana League attended the ceremony on protecting nationality, religion and Sassana which was held at their headquarters in Yangon on Wednesday.
"[Monks] need to prioritise our own nationality, religion and Sassana and preach to make people believe while ensuring not to disturb other people and hurt other religions. We all need to avoid extremism and act in accordance with the truthful doctrine of the Buddha," said venerable monk Agga Nyana.
The meeting comes as Buddhist monks have come under the scrutiny of the international press. TIME magazine's July cover featured controversial Mandalay monk, U Wirathu citing cases of religious hatred and extremism. The article was met with strong condemnation in Myanmar, which is a majority Buddhist country, leading the government to ban the issue over fear of inciting more hatred.
"The world has accused us of being religious and social extremists. We have to keep denying this. We also have to prevent ourselves [from becoming extremists]. We have to build trust in Sassana. If we do this, our Sassana will not disappear in our lifetime," said senior monk Ven. Dr Sandavarabivamsa.
Religious violence between Buddhists and Muslims has spread across different towns and cities in Myanmar this year, often fuelled by rumours and hate speech. But as Myanmar embarks on a series of reforms opening up to the outside world many Buddhists feel that their time-old traditions are under threat.
This has led to numerous debates in the media about whether there should be law to protect religion. During the ceremony, Dr Sandavarabivamsa echoed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in saying that building peoples faith more than laws was what was important to maintain religion.
"It is our duty to make people with weak faith to have stronger faith. We have to make our devotees have strong faith in Sassana. Monks are the only method to make [them] have strong faith... The monks shouldn't act carelessly. We have to give sermons about religion," he added.
SOURSE:BUDDHIST CHANNEL

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The10 Perfect Qualities Explained:



The 10 Perfect Qualities (Dasa Parami) are:
The 1st Perfection: Generosity (Dāna):
Just as a water pot turned upside down lets all its liquid run out, and takes
none of it back, so is the perfection of generosity not having the slightest
remorse over what has been given away, even when sacrificing everything!
The 2nd Perfection: Morality (Sīla):
Just as a yak whose tail is caught in bush will rather die than to tear it off,
so consists the perfection of morality in being meticulously careful about
keeping all precepts and promises & not breaking them in any circumstance,
even if being threatened with death!

The 3rd Perfection: Withdrawal (Nekkhamma):Just as one imprisoned in jail does not desire anything more intensely than
to get out of there, so the perfection of withdrawing renunciation consists
in the longing to get out of the prison of transitory existence & having only
this one wish: To spit out the impermanent, to be rid of it once and for all!
The 4th Perfection: Understanding (Paññā):
Just as a monk on alms-round neglects no house, but goes to all the families
without exception, so the perfection of understanding consists in leaving
no gaps, leaving nothing out, & of being ready to learn from all wise people,
who are more advanced, even though they may be younger than oneself.

The 5th Perfection: Energy (Viriya):Just as a lion marshals his strength whether standing, going, or sitting even
so does the perfection of energetic & enthusiastic effort consist in keeping
on striving with initiative launching into action, that endures until fulfilment!

The 6th Perfection: Patience (Khanti):
Just as the great earth accepts even the most disgusting things thrown onto
it, so consists the perfection of patience in accepting slander, disgrace and
every disrespect without aversion, enduring them, while letting them pass.

The 7th Perfection: Honesty (Sacca):Just as a star never strays from its fixed orbit, so consists the perfection
of honest truthfulness in not lying under any circumstances, not moving even
an inch from the actual and real truth for any trivial advantage whatsoever.
The 8th Perfection: Determination (Adhitthāna):
Just as a mountain stands immoveable even in the strongest storm and is
incapable of being thrown over, so consists the perfection of determination
in remaining unshakeable in one's advantageous choices and not being able
to be distracted by anything when pursuing something good and beneficial.
The 9th Perfection: Friendliness (Mettā):
Just as water refreshes and cleanses both just and unjust persons without
discrimination, so does the perfection of friendliness include both friends
and foes alike and doesn't display any distinction, favouritism, or partiality.
The 10th Perfection: Equanimity (Upekkhā):
Just as the great earth remains unmoved and equanimous, avoiding like and
dislike whether one throws pure or impure things onto it, even so does the
perfection of equanimity consist in always remaining, calm and composed,
neither being repulsed, nor attracted, whether by any pain or any pleasure.
Imperturbable even in strong conflicts, as well as in the greatest success!

Sujātā perfecting generosity by giving The Buddha his last meal before Awakening!


Source: Buddhavamsa II verses 117-166 (Edited Excerpt):

In: Similes of the Buddha: An introduction BP 427S by Hellmuth Hecker.
Tr. Ven. Khantipālo and Ven. Piyadhammo. Ed. Ven. Nyanatusita.
http://www.bps.lk
The 10 Perfections Explained.
Have a nice & noble day!
signature.picBowing_Bhikkhu 
Friendship is the Greatest! Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Happiness of the Flesh, Not of this World and Beyond!




The Blessed Buddha once said:

And what, Bhikkhus, are then this simple happiness of the flesh?
There are these five strings of sense-pleasure. What five?
Visible forms experiencable by the eye ...
Hearable sounds experiencable by the ear ...
Smellable smells experiencable by the nose ...
Tastable tastes experiencable by the tongue ...
Touchable objects experiencable by the body ...
They are all attractive, captivating, desirable, irresistible, lovely, agreeable,
tempting, pleasing, sensually enticing, seductive, alluring, and tantalizing...!!!
These are the five strings of sense-pleasure. The happiness, that arises from
these  five strings of sense-pleasure: This is simply the happiness of the flesh …


Joys of the Flesh!
And what, Bhikkhus, is then the happiness, that is not of this world?
Having eliminated the 5 mental hindrances, mental defects that obstruct understanding,
quite secluded from sensual desires, protected from any detrimental mental state,
one enters & dwells in the 1st Jhāna; full of Joy & pleasure born of solitude, joined with
directed & sustained thought. Again, friends, with the stilling of directed & sustained thought,
one enters & dwells in the 2nd Jhāna, calmed assurance & unification of mind with Joy &
pleasure, now born of concentration, devoid of any thought!  Again, friends, with the fading
away of joy, the friend dwells in equanimity, aware & clearly comprehending, still feeling
pleasure in the body, one enters upon & remains in the 3rd Jhāna, regarding which the Noble
Ones declare: 'In aware Equanimity one dwells in Happiness!'.
This is the happiness, that is not of this world! A Joy not of the Flesh!


Jhāna: Joy not of this World! Joy not of the Flesh!
What, Bhikkhus, is the happiness beyond that happiness, which is not of this world?
When a bhikkhu, whose mental fermentations are eliminated, reviews his mind s
liberated from lust, freed from hatred, and released from confusion, there arises
a transcendental happiness. This is called happiness quite beyond that happiness,
that is not of this world... Yeah!
More on the folly vanity of desire for simple Sense Pleasure (Hedonism):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Why_Not.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Craving_is_Pain.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.1-2.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Charcoal_Pit.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/AN.I.3-4c.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Colourful_but_Muddy.htm

http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Craving_is_Catastrophic.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Fire_of_Sense-Desire.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/What_is_Disadvantageous.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Joys_of_the_Flesch_and_Beyond.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Happiness_of_the_Flesh_and_Beyond.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya. Book IV [235-7]
section 36:11 On Feeling: Vedanā. Joys beyond this world ...
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html
Blissful is being without passions in this world,
Blissful is the overcoming of all sense-desires!
Udana II, 1

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

U WIRA THU : Open Letter to “Ms. Hannah Beech (TIME Magazine)”-ENGLISH


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Dear Sister Ms. Hannah Beech,
I nationalist Buddhist Monk U Wira Thu is writing this letter to you. When you came to us, we had treated you and your photographer with hospitability. You know we had done our best to help you and your photographer to get what you want.
We had helped you only with the good volition that we want the media and correspondents get the true facts.
We helped you because we respect western liberal media like Times and we expected you wouldn’t make lies to the people of the world. And we did not think you wouldn’t break ethic and responsibility of media.
Now I know that you are the worst visitors we have ever had.
I could not see the hatred behind your smiles. I could not see your ruthlessness under your tender actions.
I could not see your deceit under your sweet words it is like blade covered by honey.
I did not think that a gentle and beautiful girl like you have the ruthless heart of performing savages attack on us to be heard all over the world. I could not think that because of my background may be as you said I was a vagabond.
I had told you that those names such as Shaved Head Nazi, Neo Nazi, Burmese Bin Laden were given by Muslims on Facebook. And then liberal media like you dare use the word like “The Buddhist Monk, The Title “Burmese Binladen”
I believe (think) you admit your dirty mind by deliberately using the word “The Buddhist Monk” then followed by the word “With the man in burgundy robes.” You are not a lady with high moral ground and you are same as dirty minded as extremists all over the world. Muslims are also like you want me to strip of the robe. They do not revere me as a Monk and call me “the man in the robe.”
My preaching is not burning with hatred as you say. Only your writing is full of hate speech.
We can forgive the misunderstanding. We can forgive wrong conclusion. But will you deny that your hatred words targeted me to tarnish my reputation.
Please recheck your words and the words that I preached.
“Now is not the time for calm.”
“Now is the time to rise up to make your blood boil.” These are your words.
Now I show my words.
969 is for peace,
We should preserve these noble reputations of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.
For our National cause, our Culture and our Faith,
We will avoid terror act.
Upholding three gems (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha)
We will perform with honesty, diligence and determined attempts.
For our national cause,
We will carry out it warmly without ignorance.”
These are my words. It is clear that you made savage attack against me by comparing my words and your words.
I preach people not to react with lawlessness, but you accused me of terrorist. You tried to draw a picture of me as a person who aggravate the situation by hate speech and fuelling to make offensive attack, where I am preaching people to perform with honesty, diligence and determined attempts to preserve our value. I preach people to carry out national cause warmly without ignorance, than you gave the world bad impression of me who is trying to boil the blood of people.
You dare do that.
With sustained loving-kindness,
Ven. Wira Thu

HANNAH BEECH
HANNAH BEECH

Monday, July 8, 2013

Establishing Awareness Creates a Mighty Magic Power!


Venerable Sariputta

Sāketa was the place where Venerable Sariputta said this to Venerable Anuruddha:
Friend Anuruddha, by cultivating and making much of which conditions have you
developed such mighty magic power and supreme majesty ?

Friend, it is by cultivating and making much of the Four Foundations of Awareness
that I have done so. What four? Herein friend,

I dwell contemplating body just as a form ... & the rise and fall of body ...
both own and other ... internal and external ... past, present and future!
I dwell contemplating feeling just as reaction ... & the rise and fall of feeling ...
both own and other ... internal and external ... past, present and future!
I dwell contemplating all mind just as moods ... & the rise and fall of mind ...
both own and other ... internal and external ... past, present and future!
I dwell contemplating all phenomena just as mental states ...
& rise and fall of mental states ... both own and other ... internal and external ...
whether past, present and future!

Moreover, friend it is by cultivating and making much of these Four Foundations of Awareness
that I have come to completely & directly experience this thousandfold galactic world-system.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness
that the painful feelings that come upon my body make no contact on my mind.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness
that I enjoy  many forms of magic powers: From being one I become many, visible or invisible ...
& even as far as the fine material Dark matter Brahma world do I exert power with my body.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,
that I hear with divine hearing purified and supra-human the sound of both man and deva, far or near.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,
that I know the minds of other beings; the lustful as lustful ... the liberated as liberated.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,
that I know, as it really is, the cause of any given event and what is not the cause of this event.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,
that I know as they really are the cause and conditions of any given action, whether performed in
the past, future or present time.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,
that I know, as it really is, the gradual and final result of any given practise.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,
that I know, as they really are, the diverse character of whatever being.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,
that I know, as they really are, the natures of other beings and persons minds.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,
that I know, as they really are, the corruption, purification and uprising of the attainments of any
trance, mental release and concentration.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,
that I can remember my past lives, as they really were: One, two ... thousand births in all their
minutest detail and peculiarity.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,
that I know and see with divine supra-human sight, as they really are, the going & coming of beings,
death & rebirth, transmigrating according to their behaviour.
Moreover, it is because of having cultivated & made much of these Four Foundations of Awareness,
that I know, as it really is, in this very life, by my own unaided ability, the destruction of the mental
fermentations, & the calm blissful dwelling in release & insight freed from all mental fermentation...
Venerable Anuruddha

Source: Samyutta Nikāya V Maha Vagga, Section on Anuruddha. 

Anuruddha was first cousin of the Buddha & an eminently Aware master disciple:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/ay/anuruddha.htm
Mighty Magic Majesty!
Have a nice & noble day!
signature.picBowing_Bhikkhu 
Friendship is the Greatest! Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net