BUDDHISM IN KERALA

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Ceasing of Kamma is by Exhaustion of Effect!

Friends:

Ceasing of Kamma is by Exhaustion of Effect!
The Blessed Buddha once explained:
I tell you, Bhikkhus and Friends, that it is absolutely impossible, that willed,
intended, done, and accumulated actions (kamma) will cease to be effective
as long as one has not yet experienced their results, be it in this life, or in
the next life, or in even further future lives!
And it is equally impossible, that without having experienced the results of
one's accumulated, intended, and performed past actions, that one will be
able to put an end to Suffering. May this hereby be well known by all!

Kamma is an accumulated interference with a universal wavefunction
determining the probability of all the various possible future events!
Kammic moral efficacy of action is thus not a metaphysical postulate,
but an experimentally verified -yet subtle- quantum-mechanical fact!

Detrimental Action (Kamma) has painful effects!

Source:
Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Anguttara Nikāya AN 10:208
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/Canon/Sutta/AN/Index.Numerical.htm

Advantageous is respecting Monks, Parents, Elders & Teachers...

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Impermanence cannot be Stopped!

Friends:

Impermanence cannot be Stopped!

Let us face the dry facts! Everything is impermanent! We can all understand
impermanence superficially. But deep down in our subconscious mind a sense
of permanence is lurking. So we keep patching up our broken teeth, wrinkled
dry skin, brittle nails, grey hair, hunched backs, weak eyes, impaired hearing,
becoming sick, breaking bones & many other things caused by the inevitable
impermanence of this fragile body. Similarly do our moods, our feelings, our
thoughts, our perceptions, and our memories all go through many changes in
every moment. We take medicines, see mental health specialists, & do many
other things, including meditation, to correct our restless flickering minds!
While we are doing this, impermanence is still going on crushing everything
both inside our body and mind and also outside in all the world relentlessly...
While all the organs, all the cells, nervous system, quality of blood, capacity
of oxygen content in the lungs and the bone structure are going through this
very rapid and unmistakable change, no matter how much we patch up on the
surface and beneath the skin, impermanence is working its due course quite
persistently underground & inside the body and mind. Nothing on this earth,
no science, no technology, can ever delay or stop this proceeding of change!
Impermanence keeps burning everything up unstoppable and systematically!

Seeing impermanence (anicca) is the key that opens mind to see suffering,
and non-self! The moment we understand this very clearly, our mind opens
to the fact that things change without leaving a trace behind to follow the
path that impermanence has taken. This is called voidness or signlessness...
This awareness evaporates the desire for anything that is impermanent!
It also evaporates all aversion growing from our disappointed expectations.
Then naturally, this clean mind becomes fully aware of not having any agent,
immovable mover, or controller, which sometimes is called "Self, I, Me, Ego"
or even "Soul" by some people. This element of Dhamma, this basic intrinsic
nature of all, this law of Dhamma is known in Buddhism as emptiness of self!
The Blessed Buddha said: Sabbe Dhammā Anatta = All States are Selfless!
Seeing impermanence with wisdom is the key to detachment, calming, stilling,
ceasing, and releasing mental relinquishment. Joyous Freedom is the result!

In the Mahā-suññata Sutta (MN 122) The Blessed Buddha points out that
suffering arises from clinging and attaching to all impermanent things:
"I do not see even a single kind of form from the change and alteration of
which there would not arise sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair in
one who lusts for it and takes delight in it!" The same is true of all transient
feeling, perception, mental construction=intention & sorts of consciousness!
If we tenaciously cling to any of them, then we suffer, when they decay!

This passage clearly states, that suffering arises from the attachment to
form, not because the form is impermanent, but because we are attached
to impermanent form. When we attain full enlightenment, we do not suffer!
This happens not because we make any impermanent things now everlasting!
This happens only because we release our clinging to all impermanent things.
Impermanent phenomena continue to be impermanent, whether we ever gain
enlightenment or not. As the blessed Buddha also has explained exactly:
"Bhikkhus, whether Tathāgatas appear or do not appear, there is always
this constantly established element of Dhamma, this fixed law of Dhamma:
All that is conditioned and constructed is impermanent. To this aTathāgata
fully awakens and fully understands. So awakened and thus understanding,
he announces, points it out, declares, establishes, expounds, and explains it,
classifies and clarifies it: All that is conditioned is actually impermanent...
Bhikkhus, whetherTathāgatas appear or do not appear, there is always this
precedent condition and absolute of Dhamma, this anchored law of Dhamma:
All that is conditioned and constructed is unsatisfactory, & thus suffering!
To this aTathāgata fully awakens and fully understands. So awakened and
thus understanding, he announces, points out, declares, establishes, explains,
and clarifies it: All that is conditioned and constructed is indeed Suffering!
Bhikkhus, whether Tathāgatas appear or do not appear, there is always this
situation present, a subtle truth of Dhamma, this safe doctrine of Dhamma:
All states are without a self! To this fact anyTathāgata fully awakens and
fully understands. So awakened and understanding, he announces, points out,
declares, establishes, explains, and clarifies it: All states are without self!"
Anguttara Nikāya I 285

By seeing the impermanence, suffering & selflessness thus in all conditioned
things in this and any other world, one naturally becomes disenchanted with
everything constructed. Disenchantment leads to disillusion and dispassion
towards everything. Within a dispassionate mind craving for everything will
gradually fade away (virāga). With this insight one lets go of all attachment.
Being dispassionate, one thereby liberates oneself from all this evil misery...
Being liberated, one knows that one is liberated, has ended rebirth, has lived
the Noble life, has done what should be done, and that there is nothing more
to be done! This means that attaining full freedom from all suffering indeed
begins with this very perfect and acute awareness of impermanence...!

Source: Bhante Henepola Gunaratana: From Impermanence to Liberation.
Buddhist Publication Society http://www.bps.lk/ Newsletter #63: 2010-1.

More on Impermanence , Instability, Change and Transience (Anicca):
Experiencing_Universal_Transience, Highway_to_Nibbana, What_is_Mara,
Fingernail of Soil, Rough Realism, At_All_Times, W heel186, Evident_Facts,
The_External_Transience, Experiencing_Impermanence, Rise_and_Fall,
Transient_formations, Perceiving_Transience, Impermanence_Anicca,
The Monkey passing the Banana, The_Internal_Transience, The_Trap,
Contemplating_Impermanence, Contemplating_Impermanence_2,
Hidden_Horror, Noting_the_Breakup, Flash_In_Flash_Out,
Basic Fact: Anicca, The_Burning_Turban...

The Fact of Impermanence = Anicca...
Have a nice & noble day!

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

Monday, May 31, 2010

Buddhist Cultural centre Celebarated Buddha Jyanthy at Palakkad

Buddhist Cultural centre Celebarated Buddha Jayanthy at Plakkad Kakkayur on 27th May in grand amanner.
around 100 peoples attended the function.

BOUDDHA MAHASABHA CELEBARATED BUDDHA JAYANTHY

Kearal Bouddha mahasabha celebarated Vaisaka poornima in a grand manner at Calicut.
It was state level programme. Ven. Bante Bodhi datta ( Minority Commision member of Karnataka State ) Inagurated the function . Dr. Rajananda Moorthy ( prof. Goudhama Buddha Medical College Bangalore) was Chief guest.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Friends:

At this Fullmoon Day do all Buddhas Awaken:
2010 May 27 Vesak Day celebrates birth, Enlightenment, and passing away
of the Buddha Gotama. Rejoice! Keep clean, calm, cool, clever, and caring...
About this Buddhist Vesak Festival: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesak
This May full moon also celebrates the Buddha's third visit to Sri Lanka in
the eighth year after his Enlightenment where he journeyed to Kelaniya on
the invitation of the Nāga King Maniakkhika (Mahavamsa i,72ff.).
The day also celebrates the crowning of king Devānampiyatissa (Mhv.Xi.42),
and the laying of the foundation stone of the Mahā Stūpa (Mhv.Xxix.1)

Please Remember:
At this very May full moon in year 528 BC the Blessed Buddha awakened
by completely perfect and utterly unsurpassable self-Enlightenment!
At that time a girl named Sujata Senani lived in Uruvela. When adult she
prayed before a certain Banyan tree, that she might get a good husband
equal to herself in caste & that her firstborn may be a son. Her prayer was
successful. Since indeed it did happen. At the full moon day of the Wesak
month, she rose at early dawn and milked the cows. As soon as new buckets
were placed under the cows, the milk poured spontaneously in streams all by
itself! Seeing this miracle, she knew something special was happening!
That same night the Future Buddha dreamt 5 dreams making him conclude:
"Surely, truly, without any doubt, today I will reach perfect Enlightenment!"
His 5 colored radiance illuminated the whole tree. Then Sujata came and
offered the cooked milk rice into the hands of this Great Being.

Later a local grass-cutter came going with a bundle of grass just harvested
from nearby. He offered the Great Being 8 handfuls of Kusa grass, when he
saw that this Sage was a Holy Man. The Future Buddha accepted the grass
and proceeded to the foot of the Bodhi-tree. Reaching the imperturbable
Eastern side, where all the Buddhas take their seat, he sat down saying to
himself: This is the immovable spot, where all the prior supreme Buddhas
have planted themselves! This is the place for destroying this net of desire!
Then the Future Buddha turned his back to the trunk and thus faced east.
Right there, he then resolutely settled on this mighty decision:

Let just blood and flesh of this body dry up & let skin and sinews fall from
the bones. I will not leave this seat before having attained the absolute and
Supreme Self-Enlightenment!

So determined did he seat himself in this unconquerable seat, from which
not a 100 lightning strikes could make him waver from. At this very moment
the rebel deity Mara -The Evil One- raised exclaiming: Prince Siddhattha will
pass beyond my power, but I will never allow it! And sounding the Mara's war
shout, he summoned his mighty army for battle. Then Mara warned his evil
militia: This Sakyamuni, son of Suddhodana, is far greater than any other
man, so we will never succeed to fight him up front. We must thus attack
him from the rear. Frustrated, being unable even to touch this big wielder
of power also with 9 mighty hurricanes of wind, rain, rocks, weapons, red
coals, hot ashes, sand, mud, and darkness Mara somewhat in panic shouted
at his army: "Why do you all stand still? Seize, kill & drive away this prince!"

Mara then yelled: "Siddhattha, leave this seat. It is not yours, but mine!"
Hearing this, the Well-gone One replied: Mara, neither have you fulfilled the
10 perfections to the third degree, nor have you given the 5 great donations.
Neither have you striven for insight, nor for the welfare of all the world,
nor for supreme self-enlightenment! Therefore does this very seat surely
not belong to you, but truly indeed only to me. Suddenly overpowered by fear
Mara's followers fled helter-skelter in all directions. Not two went in the
same direction, but leaving their weapons in a chaos, they all fled terrified
by metaphysical panic. Seeing them flee thus, the great assembly of deities
triumphantly shouted: Mara is defeated. Prince Siddhattha has won! Let us
celebrate this truly sublime, wonderful and unique victory! It was before
the sun had set that the Tathagata conquered Mara and defeated his army.
That same night, after having bathed, while the Bo tree rained red sprigs onto
his robe, The Consummate One gained knowledge of his prior lives during the
1st watch of the night: "With the mind thus concentrated, purified, bright,
unified, focused, tractable, compliant, steady & imperturbable, I directed
mind to remembrance of my past lives. I recollected many past lives, i.e., one
re-birth, two...five, ten... 50, a hundred, a thousand, 100 thousand, many eons
of cosmic contraction, & many eons of cosmic expansion: There I had such
a name, belonged to such a clan & species, had such a body. Such was my food,
such my life of pleasures and pains. Such was the end of my life. Passing away
from that state, I re-arose there. There I had such name, belonged to such
a sort & family, had such a form. Such was my food, such my experience of
pleasures & pains. Such was the end of my life. Passing away from that state,
I re-arose here. Thus I remembered my various past lives in all their various
modes and manifold details. This was the first knowledge I attained in the
first watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed; the knowledge arose;
darkness was destroyed; light arose as happens in one who is alert, aware,
and determined. But the very pleasant feeling that arose by this did neither
invade my mind, nor remain. With the mind thus concentrated, purified, bright,
intact, pliant, malleable, steady, and totally imperturbable, I directed it to
the knowledge of the passing away and reappearance of beings. I saw by
means of the divine eye, purified & surpassing the human eye! I saw beings
passing away & re-appearing, and I realized how & why they are high or low,
beautiful or ugly, fortunate and unfortunate all in exact accordance with
the intentions of their prior actions: These beings who were endowed with
bad behaviour of body, speech, and mind, who reviled the Noble Ones, held
wrong views & acted under the influence of wrong views, with the break-up
of the body, after death, have re-appeared in the plane of misery, the bad
painful destination, the lower realms, even in hell. But the beings who were
gifted with good behaviour of body, speech and mind, who did not revile the
Noble Ones, who held right views and acted under the influence of right
views after the break-up of the body, after the death, have re-appeared in
happy destinations, even in a divine world! Thus by means of the divine eye,
purified and surpassing the human I saw beings passing away & re-appearing,
all in accordance with their particular mixture of good and bad kamma...
But the satisfaction that arose here did neither invade my mind, nor remain.
With the mind thus concentrated and completely absorbed, I then directed
it towards understanding the ending of mental fermentation. I realized how
it actually comes to be, that:

This is Suffering...
Such is the Cause of Suffering...
Such is the End of Suffering...
Such is the Way to End Suffering...

Such was the mental fermentations...
Such is the Cause of mental fermentation...
Such is the End of mental fermentation...
Such is the Way leading to the end of mental fermentation.

When my mind saw that, it was instantly freed of the fermentation of all
sense-desire, it was released from the fermentation of becoming, and it
became fully uncovered from the fermentation of ignorance. Thus fully and
perfectly Enlightened - The Buddha - perceiving this immense glory, spoke
these 2 solemn verses, which never has been omitted by any of countless
billions of prior Buddhas:

Through this round of countless existences have I searched, but yet failed
to find "the Creator", who framed this construction: What Suffering indeed
is such endless birth, ageing, decay, sickness and ever repeated death!
Now I see that "the Constructor" of this structure is Craving...!!! Never shall
this construction be built again, since all the rafters are shattered and the
main beam is busted and completely broken... At this calming of all Craving,
the mind was finally, irreversibly and ultimately stilled…
Then, friends, this revelation of certainty arose in me: This release is indeed
immutable, this is the very last rebirth, this endless reappearance has finally
come to a happy end... Nibbāna is verily the Highest Bliss!

About Absolute Awakening!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/buddha.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/g/gotama.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/s/sujaataa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/bodhisatta.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/bodhi.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/bodhirukka.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/b/bodhimanda.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/s_t/sammaa_sambodhi.htm

Source:
The Jātaka Nidāna. The story of Gotama Buddha.
Tr. by N.A. Jayawickrama, Pali Text Society 1990.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=132935

Have a nice & noble day!

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

Monday, April 26, 2010

Genuine Devotion is a rare Delight!

Friends:

Genuine Devotion is a rare Delight!

Homage to that Perfectly Self-Enlightened One!
Thus, indeed, is that the Blessed One: He is the worthy One, fully enlightened,
endowed with clear vision and virtuous conduct, sublime, the knower of worlds,
the incomparable leader of men to be tamed, the teacher of gods and men,
awakened and blessed. Forever do I reverence for the Buddhas of the past,
those of the times to come, those Buddhas of the present time...
No other refuge do I seek: The Buddha is my only true refuge. By this Truth
may peaceful victory be mine! I revere with my head the dust on his holy feet.
If I have wronged the Buddha, may the Buddha bear with me.
Until life’s end, to the Buddha I go for saving refuge.
Who is the foremost speaker among mankind, The Sakyan Sage, O Holy One,
whose task is done, gone beyond, possessed of supreme power and energy!
To you, the wellcome wellgone One, I go for refuge!

Homage to that perfectly formulated Dhamma!
The Dhamma of the Blessed One is perfectly explained, to be seen here and
now, inviting one to come and see, leading onward to Nibbāna; to be known
by any wise, each for himself. Homage to that Dhamma leading out of this
suffering, out of samsara! The Dhamma of the ages past, the Dhamma of
the times to come, the Dhamma of the present time, forever do I reverence.
No other refuge do I seek, the Dhamma is my true refuge. By this Truth:
May peaceful victory be mine! I revere with my head this triple Dhamma of
the three supreme qualities: Morality, Concentration and Understanding...
If I have wronged the Dhamma: May the Dhamma bear with me.
Until life’s end to the Dhamma I go for refuge.
Freed from lust, cleared of craving, sorrow-free: An absolute Law, gracious,
gratifying and satisfying, sweet, potent, profound, an analytic science...
To this very Dhamma I go for refuge!

Homage to that Great Sangha Community of the Eight Noble persons.
The Sangha of the Blessed One’s disciples has entered on the good way;
the straight way; the true way ; on the direct way, that is to say: the 4 pairs
of men, the 8 types of persons. This Sangha of the Blessed One’s disciples is
fit for gifts, fit for hospitality, fit for offerings, and fit for reverential
salutation with joined palms, as an incomparable field of merit in the world.
Forever do I reverence: The Sanghas of the past ages, those of the times
to come, and the Sanghas of the present time. No other refuge do I seek.
The Sangha is my true refuge. By this very Truth: May peaceful victory be
mine! I revere with my head this peerless Sangha. If I have wronged this
Sangha: May the Sangha bear with me. Until life’s end, to the Sangha I go
for refuge. Whatever is given to the four pure pairs of persons and these
eight kind of people, who have realized the Truth, this bears great fruit...!
To this very Sangha I go for refuge!

More on Faith (Saddhā) and Devotion (Bhakti):
Faith Summary, Fruitful Faith, Lay Faith, Unwavering Faith, Fine Faith,
The Buddha on Faith, Rich Faith, Analysis of Faith, Dual Faith, Raining_Faith,
Highest Faith, Leaping Faith, Outstanding Faith, Power of Faith

How to become a real Buddhist formally? Take refuge here!
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm

Source: BPS Wheel no 54 (Edited Excerpt):
The Mirror of the Dhamma. A Manual of Buddhist Devotional Texts.
By Nārada Thera and Bhikkhu Kassapa. Revised By Bhikkhu Khantipālo:
http://www.bps.lk/wh054-u.html

Have a nice & noble day!

Friendship is the Greatest!

Bhikkhu Samāhita _/\_ Sri Lanka ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Only by Guarding the 6 Sense Doors is one in Control!

Friends:

Only by Guarding the 6 Sense Doors is one in Control!

The Blessed Buddha once explained mental control like this:
Friends, having seen a form with the eye, one remains neither attracted
towards any nice form, nor repelled by any disgusting form...
Having heard a sound with the ear, one remains neither captivated by any
fine sound, nor repulsed by any horrible sound...
Having smelled a smell with the nose, one remains neither allured by any
pleasant smell, nor rejected by any repulsive smell...
Having tasted a taste with the tongue, one remains neither fascinated by
any delightful taste, nor reversed by any revolting taste...
Having touched a touch with the body, one remains neither tempted by
any delicate touch, nor disgusted by any unpleasant touch...
Having thought an idea with the mind, one remains neither enticed by any
agreeable thought, nor disappointed by any disagreeable thought...
One resides having established constant awareness of the body & within
an infinite mind. Thereby one comes to know directly that release of mind
and that release by understanding, wherein all harmful detrimental states
irreversibly cease without remaining traces left behind... It is in this very
way, that one lives in full mental control with the 6 sense doors guarded...

Comments:
Awareness of the body means seeing it as an afflicting skin-bag of bones,
bowels, tendons, excrement and urine, with nine holes oozing with filth...!
Such continuous awareness disables any arising of desire, lust and greed!
Dwelling within an infinite mind means constant attention to the aspects of:
Universal friendliness, endless pity, mutual joy, & imperturbable equanimity.
Such continuous good-will prevents any arising of hate, anger & irritation!
One should dwell like the snake, which sees the mouse hide in ant-hill with
six openings! By lying rolled up on the anthill - constantly watching! - the
snake remains thinking: Out of which hole may this mouse now appear?
Even so one thinks: Through which sense door may the next contact appear?

More on these Sense Sources (Ayatana):
The_Source_of_All, Sour_Sense_Sources, Things_that_can_be_clung_to
Mistaken_Reference, The_Fisherman's_Hook, Hands_and_Feet...

Source:
The Grouped Sayings by the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya 35:132 IV 117-21
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 _/\_ Sri Lanka ]
http://What-Buddha-Said.net

Divine Dwelling is infinite and produces Gods!

Friends:

Divine Dwelling is infinite and produces Gods!

Contemplation of infinitely friendly Loving-Kindness (Mettā)
Having seen that like oneself all beings whatsoever searches only happiness
Patiently then cultivate friendly loving-kindness for all beings like this:

May I always be happy. May I always be free from suffering.
May all my friends always be happy and always be free from suffering.
May all neutral beings always be happy and always be free from suffering.
May all my enemies always be happy and always be free from suffering too!

Within this town, this country, this continent, this planet, all the galaxies,
May all sentient beings, all persons, all creatures, and all breathing things,
Be happy, be free, joyous, content and peaceful in their various destinies.

Whatever living beings there may be, men, women, Noble, or ordinary,
Animals, Devas, or unhappy ones, who lives in one of the ten directions,
whether weak or strong, long or large, short or small, far or near
seen or unseen, in existence or seeking to become this or that,
With none excepted: May creatures all be of a blissful heart!

May I be free from enmity! May I be free from distress!
May I be free from misery! May I live happily!
Whatever beings there are: May they be free from enmity!
Whatever beings there are: May they be free from distress!
Whatever beings there are: May they be free from misery!
Whatever beings there are: May they live happily!

May all beings … all breathing things … all creatures … all persons …
all entities … women … men … the Noble Ones … those not noble ones …
gods … humans … beings in the realms of deprivation in the east … west …
north … south … above … as below … and all around be free from enmity,
be free from distress, be free from misery, and live fully happily!

The Four Divine Abidings (Brahmavihãra):

I: Loving-kindness (Mettā):
Whatever beings there are: May they be happy!
Whatever beings there are: May they be free from enmity!
Whatever beings there are: May they be free from distress!
Whatever beings there are: May they be free from misery!
Whatever beings there are: May they live happily!

II: Compassionate Pity (Karunā):
Whatever beings there are: May they be free from all pain & all suffering!

III: Mutual Joy with other's success (Muditā):
Whatever beings there are: May they not be separated from their gains!

IV: Equanimity (Upekkhā):
Whatever beings there are: they are the owners of their kamma, inherit
their kamma, born of their kamma, related to their kamma, abide supported
by their kamma; whatever kamma they do, whether good or evil, the effect
of that will be the theirs only...

Contemplation on Equanimity (Upekkhā):
Just as a mighty rock doesn't shake with the wind,
So the wise are not disturbed, neither by praise, nor by blame.
Neither clinging to the state of happiness, nor in pain when depressed.
Composed and ballanced I remain! This is my perfect equipoise... Yeah!