Supreme State!

Well-placed Faith leads to the Supreme State!

The Blessed Buddha once said:
In so far as there are beings without feet, with two feet or with
four feet, or with many feet, with form or formless, conscious or
unconscious, or neither-conscious-nor-unconscious, of all these the
Tathagata is the highest, Arahat, a Perfectly Self-Awakened One...
Whoever has faith in the Buddha, has faith in what is truly highest!
For those who have faith in the highest, the highest is the result...
In so far as there are conditioned states, the Noble 8-fold Way is
truly the highest. Whoever has faith in this noble 8-fold Way, has
faith in what is highest! For those who have faith in the highest,
the highest will be the result. In so far as there are states, whether
constructed or unconstructed, dispassion, stilling, ceasing is truly
the highest of these states, that is Nibbana... Whoever has faith in
this State, has faith in what is highest! For those who have faith in
the highest, the highest will be the result... In so far as there are
communities, companies and groups, the community of the Disciples
of the Buddha is truly the highest of these, an unsurpassed Field of
Merit. Whoever has faith in the Sangha, has faith in what is highest!
Those who have faith in the highest, will experience the highest...

For fine further Faith (Saddhā) please see:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Going_Forth_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Outstanding_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Unwavering_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Analysis_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Power_of_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Faith_Summary.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Highest_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fruitful_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Leaping_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Mutual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Dual_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Fine_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Rich_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Lay_Faith.htm



Source of reference (edited extract):
The gradual sayings. Anguttara Nikāya AN II 34

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

From the Heart!

The Unsurpassable Radiance!

Mental Release by Friendliness Outshines All!

The Blessed Buddha often emphasized:
Bhikkhus, whatever kinds of worldly merit there are, all are not worth one
sixteenth part of the release of mind by universal friendliness; in shining,
glowing and beaming radiance, such release of mind by universal friendliness
far excels & surpasses them all... Itivuttaka 27

See this good being is happy! How fine! How excellent! Let there be Happiness!
Let there indeed be Freedom! Let there indeed be Peace! Let there be Bliss....
Let there be Understanding of this good principle. Buddhaghosa

May all beings be joyous and safe! Let every creature's mind rejoice!
Let every single living being's mind be exceedingly jubilant!
One should maintain an infinite friendliness for every single living being,
in gentle sympathy for this entire universe, unlimited, endless and vast!
This is the Divine Dwelling while actually here, they say. Buddha Gotama



The Bhikkhu pervades all beings with all-embracing friendliness ...
The Bhikkhu encompass all beings with universal & endless pity ...
The Bhikkhu permeates all beings with infinite & mutual joy ...
The Bhikkhu suffuses all beings with unlimited equanimity ... Digha Nikāya 33

May all creatures, all breathing things,
all beings one and all, without exception,
experience good fortune only.
May they not fall into any harm. Anguttara Nikāya II, 72

Thus he who both day and night
takes delight in harmlessness
sharing love with all that live,
finds enmity with none. Samyutta Nikāya I 208

More on this shining, radiating, all and everywhere beaming Friendliness:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Harmlessness_and_Tolerance.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/All-Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Friendship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

The Unsurpassable Radiance!

Formless is the Fruit of the 4 Infinite States

Formless is the Fruit of the 4 Infinite States:

The Blessed Buddha once pointed out some fine future fruits:
I: The release of mind by universal friendliness developed, linked with
the 7 links to Enlightenment, has the beautiful liberation as culmination!

II: The release of mind by compassionate pity developed, all joined with
the 7 links to Enlightenment, has the infinitude of space, as culmination!
This is the 1st formless absorption.

III: The release of mind by altruistic & mutual joy developed, all linked
with the 7 links to Enlightenment, has the infinitude of consciousness,
as ultimate culmination... This is the 2nd formless absorption.

IV: The release of mind by imperturbable equanimity developed, combined
with the 7 links to Enlightenment, has the sphere of nothingness, as the
absolute culmination... This is the 3rd formless absorption.

So do these 4 divine & infinite states of friendliness, pity, mutual joy and
equanimity, when cultivated together with the 7 links to Enlightenment:
Awareness, Investigation, Energy, Joy, Tranquillity, Concentration and
Equanimity, lead to entry and absorption into these 4 sublime formless
mental dimensions of supra-mundane consciousness...

Final Entry after much meditation...

More on the infinitely divine states (Brahma-Vihāras):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Infinite_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Endless_Pity.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Equanimity_Upekkha.htm


From Delight in Diversity to Unification in Oneness...

Source:
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya. Book V 115-21
Section 46: On The Enlightenment Factors. Linked with Friendliness: 54.
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

Four Fine Formless Fruits!

Development of Infinite All-Embracing Kindness!

Development of Infinite All-Embracing Kindness!

The Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus and Friends: There are these four infinite mental states:
The Bhikkhu pervades all beings with all-embracing friendliness...
The Bhikkhu encompass all creatures with universal & endless pity...
The Bhikkhu permeates all individuals with infinite and mutual joy...
The Bhikkhu suffuses all living mortals with unlimited equanimity...
First in one direction, then in the 2^nd, then the 3^rd, & finally the 4^th ,
above, below, all around, in every location, unifying himself with all beings,
he pervades the entire universe with a kind and all-embracing friendliness,
with an all-encircling compassion & pity, with an all-enveloping mutual and
altruistic joy, and with an all-encompassing imperturbable equanimity, fully
utilizing a refined mind, made great, vast, profound, infinite, immeasurable,
released from all hate, anger, irritation, opposition and stubbornness...
Source: DN 33



Because of hate, overwhelmed and obsessed by hate, one lives while
doing evil deeds, speaking wrong words, and thinking bad thoughts...
Thus one neither really understands one's own welfare, nor the
welfare of others, nor the welfare of both... If, however, this hate
is overcome and subdued, then one lives while doing good deeds,
speaking kind words, and thinking advantageous thoughts...
Therefore one really knows, what is one's own welfare, for the
welfare of others, & for the welfare of both one self & others...
Source: AN 3:55



More on these 4 Infinite and Divine States (Appamañña Brahma-Vihāra):
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/brahma_vihaara.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/The_Buddha_on_Noble_Frienship.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Selfless_Friendship_is_Sweetest.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/All_Embracing_Kindness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Rejoicing_Bliss_is_Mudita.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/United_in_Harmony.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Good_Friend.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Goodwill_Encore.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_&_Bright.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kalyanamitta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htm

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

The 4 Infinite States!

How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?

How to be a Real Buddhist through Observance?
Binara Poya day is the full-moon of September. This holy day celebrates
the inauguration of the Bhikkhuni Sangha by the ordination on this very
day of Queen Mahāpajāpatī, the Buddha's foster-mother & her retinue.
For life details on this excellent woman, who awakened as Arahat Theri:
See:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/maha/mahapajapati_gotami.htm

More on Binara Poya and the initiation of the Bhikkhuni Order:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Binara_Poya_Bhikkhuni.htm



On such Full-Moon Uposatha Poya Observance days:
Any Lay Buddhist simply joins the Three Refuges and undertakes the
Five Precepts like this: Newly bathed, shaved, white-clothed, with clean
bare feet, one kneels at a shrine with a Buddha-statue, and bows first
three times, so that feet, hands, elbows, knees & head touch the floor.
Then, with joined palms at the heart, one recites these memorized lines
in a loud, calm & steady voice:

As long as this life lasts:
I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.
I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.
I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.
I hereby seek shelter in the Buddha for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Dhamma for the 2nd time.
I hereby seek shelter in the Sangha for the 2nd time.
I hereby request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.
I hereby request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.
I will hereby respect these Three Jewels the rest of my life!

I accepts to respect & undertake these 5 training rules:
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Killing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Stealing.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Sexual Abuse.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Dishonesty.
I hereby accept the training rule of avoiding all Alcohol & Drugs.
As long as this life lasts, I am thus protected by these 5 precepts...

Then, one keeps and protects these sacred vows better than one's
own eyes & children!, since they protect you & all other beings much
better than any army! They are the highest offer one can give in & to
this world! So is the start towards Nibbāna: The Deathless Element!
This is the Noble Way to Peace, to Freedom, to Ease, to Happiness,
initiated by Morality, developed further by Dhamma-Study and
fulfilled by training of Meditation...

Today indeed is Pooya or Uposatha or observance day, where any lay
Buddhist normally keeps even the Eight Precepts from sunrise until the
next dawn... If any wish an official recognition by the Bhikkhu-Sangha,
they may simply forward the lines starting with "I hereby ..." signed with
name, date, town & country to me or join here. A public list of this new
quite rapidly growing new global Saddhamma-Sangha is set up here!

This New Noble Community of The Buddha's Disciples:

The Saddhamma Sangha:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Saddhamma_Sangha.htm
Can quite advantageously be Joined Here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm

May your journey hereby be light, swift and sweet. Never give up!!
Bhikkhu Samahita

For Details on The Origin of Uposatha Observance Days:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/uposatha.html

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Binara Poya Day!

Any Intoxication Weakens & Corrupts the Mind!

Any Intoxication Weakens & Corrupts the Mind!

Being Drunk and/or Drugged is always being Blurred and Blinded...
While drunk/drugged can one know what is best for oneself? NO!
While drunk/drugged can one know what is best for others? NO!
While drunk/drugged can one ever be respected by others? NO!
While drunk/drugged can one be truly upright & respectable? NO!
While drunk/drugged can one do a really good & valuable job? NO!
While drunk/drugged can one enjoy the result of a good job? NO!
While drunk/drugged can one meditate well and be absorbed? NO!
While drunk/drugged can one study, reflect and reason well? NO!
While drunk/drugged can one remember, and recollect well? NO!
While drunk/drugged can one make any progress spiritually? NO!
While drunk/drugged can one make progress professionally? NO!
While drunk/drugged can one make any progress personally? NO!
Is there any advantage or good at all in being drunk/drugged? NO!
Is being just a little drunk/drugged just little evil or a tiny good? NO!
Is there any valid excuse for going completely clean and clear? NO!
Will those who regurgitates this medicine ever be healed at all? NO!
Is social and economic fall certain by being drunk/drugged? YES!
Is the sadness of a spoiled life sure by being drunk/drugged? YES!
Is bodily and mental decay severe by being drunk/drugged? YES!
Is one made into an addicted zombie by being drunk/drugged? YES!
Is one's behaviour often sub-human by being drunk/drugged? YES!
Is the future kammic effect of inebriation insanity/stupidity? YES!
Is being drunk and or drugged thus quite self-destructive? YES!
Is being drunk and or drugged thus indeed quite irrational? YES!
Is being drunk and drugged literally the way leading to Hell? YES!
Is complete abstinence from all intoxication a VICTORY? YES!
Who is the Winner? Are you and all other beings you contact! YES! :-)

The 5th precept laid down by the Buddha for all was therefore:
Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
I hereby accept to refrain from drinks and drugs causing carelessness.

The Blessed Buddha further explained this avoidance by:
Abandoning the use of intoxicants, the disciple of the Noble Ones abstains
from taking intoxicants. Doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom
from animosity, freedom from harm to limitless numbers of beings. In giving
freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to
limitless numbers of beings, he gains a share in limitless freedom from danger,
freedom from animosity, and from oppression. This is the fifth gift, the 5th
great gift, original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, totally unadulterated,
unadulterated from the beginning, that is not open to any suspicion, that never
will be open to any suspicion, & is recognized by every contemplative & recluse.
And this is the 8th reward of merit, reward of skilfulness, nourishment of real
happiness, human as divine, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, leading to
what is desirable & attractive, leading to what is pleasurable and appealing.
Leading to the Welfare and to Happiness of all living Beings... Yeah Keep Clean!

More on this common self-destructive behaviour: Drinking & Drugging:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Curing_Lethargy_and_Laziness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Optimal_Observance_V.htm

Source: Anguttara Nikāya 8.39: Abhisanda Sutta: Rewards!
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.039.than.html

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Self-Zombification: Blurred means Blinded!

Pure Morality is a Happy Habit!

Morality is the Cause of No Regrets and thus Gladness!

What are the Advantages of Morality?
The Gladness of No Regrets and No Remorse!
Wealth well acquired by righteous diligence!
The Fine Fame of a Good Reputation!
The Purity of a Clean Conscience...
Assured and Natural Self-Confidence in any assembly!
Neither confusion, nor any panic at the moment of death!
A Happy and occasionally even Divine Destiny after death!

What are the Similes of Morality?
Morality is like a good foothold!
Morality is like a purifying bath!
Morality is like a solid cement foundation!
Morality is like a key to success!Morality is like a cool breeze!
Morality is like a hidden fortune!
Morality is like a scent drifting even against the wind!
Morality is like a staircase to heaven!
Morality is like an aura of fine radiance!
Morality is like an innocent and rapturous joy!
Morality is like a much respected fame!

Source: The Path of Purification: Visuddhimagga.
Written by 'the great explainer' Ven. Buddhaghosa in 5th century AC.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=771100

More on this Basic First Cause of all Good: Morality (Sīla)!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Sila_1_to_5.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Happy_Habit.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/What_is_Virtue.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Best_Protection.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Five_Basics.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Best_Buddhist_Praxis.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Sila_Contemplation.htm

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!
Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net