Self-Control means Guarding the 6 Senses!

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus by possessing 3 qualities, one lives this life full of pleasure & joy!
Furthermore, one has thereby prepared for the elimination of the subtle
mental fermentations... What are these 3 advantageous qualities?

I:     One guards the doors of the senses,
II:   One is moderate in eating, and
III: One is devoted to wakefulness...

How, Bhikkhus, is a Bhikkhu devoted to wakefulness?
During daytime, while doing either walking or sitting meditation, a Bhikkhu
purifies his mind of detrimental states. In the 1st watch of the night, while
walking back & forth & sitting, he also purifies mind of obstructive states!
In the middle watch of the night, he lies down on the right side in the lion's
posture, with one foot lying upon the other, aware & clearly comprehending,
determining when to rise again. After rising, in the last watch of the night,
while walking back & forth and sitting, he cleans out any disadvantageous
mental states again. It is in this way, Bhikkhus, that a true Bhikkhu is fully
devoted to wakefulness! Bhikkhus, it is by possessing these three qualities,
that a Bhikkhu lives full of happiness and Joy in this very life, and that he
has prepared for the final destruction of the mental fermentations...

When have you last been Wide Awake before Sunrise?

The first 3 Basics of Self-Control:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Guarding_the_Senses.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Moderate_in_Eating.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Devoted_to_Wakefulness.htm

Sit up! Rise Up! Let not the King of Death find you sloppy!

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya. Book IV [176-7]
Section 35: The 6 Senses. Salayatana. The Horse-Wagon. Rato 239.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html


Get Moving! Train & Prepare! There is no free ride or lunch!

Devoted to Wakefulness!

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

How to train and purify Imperturbable Equanimity!

Sitting alone, in silence, each early morning, with closed eyes one wishes:
May I radiate and meet only calm, imperturbable, and even equanimity!
May I and all the various beings on the 31 levels of existence develop and find
only the composure and poise of calm, imperturbable, and even equanimity!
May I and all beings on the sense-desire, fine-material, and the formless plane
develop and encounter this serene, calm, imperturbable, and even equanimity!
May I and all beings in the front, to the right, the back, the left and below as
above develop and experience cool, calm, imperturbable, and even equanimity!
May I and all beings in this city, country, and universe always be fully aware
and deeply mindful of this steady, calm, imperturbable, and even equanimity!
May I and all beings in this city, country, and universe examine all details and
subtle aspects of this unstirred, placid, imperturbable, and even equanimity!
May I and all beings in this city, country, and universe put enthusiastic effort
into their training of this solid, calm, imperturbable, and even equanimity!
May I and all beings in this city, country and universe find enraptured joy and
jubilant gladness in this unmovable, calm, imperturbable, and even equanimity!
May I and all beings in this city, country, and universe cultivate the tranquillity
of quiet, silent, stilled, and all smiling calm, imperturbable, and even equanimity!
May I and all beings in this city, country and universe attain concentrated and
absorbed one-pointedness by stoic, deep, imperturbable, and even equanimity!
May I and all beings in this city, country, and universe dwell in undisturbable
and imperturbable equanimity of unexcitable and unreactive detachment...
Yeah! Print this out, dwell in each state until pure, use ~ 25-45 minutes. 

Comment:  Imperturbable Equanimity is the 4th infinite state (Appamaññā)
This gradually reduces all desire, attraction, drift, tendency, bias, preference,
favouritism, one-sided partiality and unhappiness related with all these states.
Equanimity is the proximate cause of any knowing and seeing leading to Wisdom...
Equanimity is an extremely subtle form of solid, calm and peaceful Happiness...
Equanimity purifies all other advantageous states and brings them to Perfection...
Equanimity is unresponsive indifference, unstirred, unaffected, and untroubled!!!
There is Equanimity both regarding all live beings and all dead things!
There is Equanimity both regarding all internal and all external states!
There is Equanimity both regarding all past, all present and all future events!
There is Equanimity both regarding all what is mental and all which is physical!
There is Equanimity both regarding all what is material and all which is immaterial!
There is Equanimity both regarding all formed and all formless phenomena!
Cultivating such six-fold equanimity brings this supreme state to completion.


 

Even is also: Equanimity (Upekkhā)
Even is Equanimity, The 7 Links to Awakening, Serene Equanimity and Beyond,

Imperturbable Equanimity, Unshakable Equanimity, Equanimity Upekkha,
Feeding Equanimity, Empty Equanimity, High_and_Alert, What_is_Wrong,
Safe_Medicine, Serene_Equanimity, Divorced_Freedom, Tatra-Majjhattat,
Exquisite_Equanimity

Unshakable Equanimity (=Upekkhã)!

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

 

How does Sense-Desire Muddle the Mind?

A Brahmin Priest once asked the Blessed Buddha:
Master Gotama, what is the cause of being unable to remember something
that has been memorized over a long period & also that which has not been?
Brahmin, when the mind is obsessed, beset, and dominated by sense-desire,
and one does not understand any safe escape from this arisen sense-desire,
in that very moment, one neither sees, nor understands, what is advantageous,
neither for oneself, nor for others, nor for both...
On such occasions, even texts, that have been long memorized, cannot be
recalled by mind. Why is this neglect so? Imagine a bucket of water mixed
with dyes or paints: Yellow, blue, and crimson red. If a man with good eyes
were to inspect the reflection of his own face in it, he would neither see, nor
recognize his own face in it! So too, brahmin, when the mind is obsessed, beset,
and dominated by sense-desire, on that occasion those texts, that have been
long memorized does not recur to the mind, not to speak of those texts,
events, phenomena, concepts, and things, that have not been memorized at all…

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

Hieronymus Bosch: The Garden of Earthly Delights...

Blissful is being without passions in this world,
Blissful is the overcoming of all sense-desires!
Udana II, 1

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya.
Book [V:121-2] section 46: The Links. 55: To Sangarava...

Is Hedonism Happiness?

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

Friendly + Unselfish = Honourable!

 Daily Fine Words of the Blessed Buddha:
 

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Sangāhako mittakaro,
Vadaññū vītamaccharo,
Netā vinetā anunetā,
Tādiso labhate yasam.

Friendly + Unselfish = Honourable!
Who is hospitable, and friendly, generous and unselfish,
A guide, a teacher, a leader, such one will to honour attain.
Dīgha Nikāya 3.273

More on Friendliness (Mettā):
Metta, Buddha on Noble Friendship, Good_Friendship, Blazing_Goodwill,
Genuine_Goodwill, Evaporated_Enemy, Release_of_Resentment,
Across_Borders, The_11_Advantages, Loving-Kindness, Cosmic_Goodness,
Unbounded_Mind, Mothers_Love, Goodness_Galore, Hey_Friend,
Advantageous_is_Friendship, Friendship_is_Universal

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

 

Meditation gives Infinite Joy!

Brahmavihãra Meditation gives Infinite Joy!

 

Training Universal Friendliness induces unalloyed Joy!
Cultivating Boundless Pity enables tranquil Tolerance!
Developing Mutual Joy produces deep Contentment!
Refining Equanimity establishes calming Serenity!
 

The Blessed Buddha repeatedly explained:
May all creatures, all breathing things,
all beings one and all, without exception,
experience joy and good fortune only.
May they not fall into any harm!
Anguttara Nikāya II, 72
 

With good will for the entire cosmos,
Cultivate a limitless & infinite heart:
Above, as below, across & all around,
Unobstructed, without any hostility.
Sutta Nipāta I, 8

Overcome the angry by friendliness;
Overcome the wicked by goodness;
Overcome the miser by generosity;
Overcome the liar by truth.
Dhammapada 223

Train yourself in doing only pure good...
That lasts and brings great happiness!
Cultivate generosity, a peaceful living,
and a mentality of infinite friendliness!
Itivuttaka 16

 

Joy creating is Meditation on the 4 infinite Brahmavihāras :
Higher_Release, Universal_Friendliness, Endless_Pity, Mutual_Joy,
Blazing_Goodwill, Unshakable_Equanimity, Infinite_and_Divine_Classic,
Unsurpassable_Radiance, Goodwill_Encore, The_Grace_of_Goodwill,
Released_by_GoodWill, All_Embracing_Kindness, Blazing and Bright!
 

Blazing Goodwill produces infinite Joy!

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

Let us Stop Canada's Cruel Baby Seal Slaughter

Let us Stop Canada's Cruel Baby Seal Slaughter
Canada allowed hunters to kill more than 300.000 baby seals this year!

Please be kind by Signing this Petition and forward this to your kind friends!
Support Sen. Harb's Bill to End the Seal Slaughter for Good! - Sign the Petition!

http://www.change.org/petitions/support-sen-harb-s-bill-to-end-the-seal-slaughter-for-good?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=78RgacB9UgA

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

Zen Hermits are Fine Forest Friends

http://youtu.be/pv6P-08A_u0

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

Feeding the Serenity of Equanimity!

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, just as this body, is sustained by feeding, exists in dependence on
feeding and cannot survive without food, so are the 7 Links to Awakening
also sustained by feeding, they can also only exist in dependence on feeding
and they cannot remain without feeding... And what, bhikkhus, is the feeding
of the emergence of any yet unarisen equanimity and also feeding of the
completion by condensation of any arisen Equanimity?
There are states that are basis & source for Equanimity! Frequently pointing
careful and rational attention to them, is feeding the emergence of unarisen
equanimity & also feeding of the gradual fulfillment of any arisen Equanimity
Link to Awakening... And what, Bhikkhus, is the starving that obstructs all
emergence of a yet unarisen equanimity, and which also hinders any already
arisen Equanimity Link from reaching complete fulfillment by development?
There are states that are the basis and source for the equanimity!
Not giving frequent, careful and rational attention to them; not considering
them much and often; is the starving that prevents an unarisen equanimity
from arising and also blocks any already arisen equanimity from reaching
any complete fulfillment through training in the form of frequent meditation!

Comments:
The main basis and source of Equanimity is knowing, seeing & understanding:
All beings are born, created, conditioned and shaped by their past kamma...
They are owner, debtor, inheritor of the effects of their prior behaviour.
Whatever they do - good as bad - only they will feel the long-term results! 

Comments from the classical commentaries:
Imperturbable onlooking ballance is characteristic of the equanimity.
(Upekkhā-Sambojjhanga). Moderation, seeking a neutral middle, composure
and control is the purpose of the quality of Equanimity (Upekkhā)...
Imperturbability is the manifestation of the equanimity. This stable yet still
plastic patience purifies all the other advantageous mental states, which thus
reach their maximum, when joined with Equanimity...

Further conditions helpful for the emergence of the equanimity are:
1: Impartiality regarding all living and sentient beings...
2: Indifference regarding all inanimate material constructions...
3: Avoiding biased people, who prefer favouritism and one-sided partiality...
4: Friendship with well ballanced people unmoved by both pleasure and pain...
5: Commitment to ballance the mind into even and imperturbable Equanimity!

There is Equanimity towards living beings and regarding material things!
There is Equanimity towards internal states and regarding external states!
There is Equanimity towards all past, present, and future times and events!
There is Equanimity towards all mentality and regarding all materiality!

More on Equanimity (Upekkhā):
Even is Equanimity, The 7 Links to Awakening, Serene Equanimity and Beyond,
Imperturbable Equanimity, Unshakable Equanimity, Equanimity Upekkha,
Feeding Equanimity, Empty Equanimity, High_and_Alert, What_is_Wrong,
Safe_Medicine, Serene_Equanimity, Divorced_Freedom, Tatra-Majjhattat,
Exquisite_Equanimity

Sources (edited extracts):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya.
Book [V: 65-6+102-8] 46: Links. 2+51: Group & Nutriments....

Feeding Equanimity!

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

What is the Final Goal and Destination?

The ascetic wanderer Nandiya once asked the Blessed One:
Which things, Master Gotama, when developed and refined, lead to Nibbāna,
have Nibbāna  as their end destination, have Nibbāna  as their final goal?
These eight things, Nandiya, when developed and refined lead to Nibbāna, have
Nibbāna as their last destination, have Nibbāna  as their final goal. Which eight?

Right View  (sammā-ditthi)
Right Motivation  (sammā-sankappa)
Right Speech  (sammā-vācā)
Right Action  (sammā-kammanta)
Right Livelihood  (sammā-ājīva)
Right Effort  (sammā-vāyāma)
Right Awareness  (sammā-sati)
Right Concentration  (sammā-samādhi)

These eight things, Nandiya, when developed and refined, lead to Nibbāna,
have Nibbāna  as their target, have Nibbāna  as their final aim!
When this was thus spoken, the wanderer Nandiya said to the Blessed One:
Magnificent, Master Gotama! Marvelous, Master Gotama! Let the Master
Gotama remember me as one, who has taken refuge in the Buddha for life…

The 8 spokes symbolize the 8 Steps of the Noble Way!

Further study on the Noble 8-fold Way:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Middle_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Fulfilled_First_.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Noble_8_fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_3-fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Failed_by_Neglect.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Noble_8-Fold_Way.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Fruits_of_the_Noble_Way.htm

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya.
Book [V:11-2] section 45:10 Nandiya ...
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html

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