Category: Dharma

  • The Removal of Distracting Thoughts

    MeditatingYogis, especially beginners, are often discouraged by distracting thoughts. They say that meditation is difficult and they want to give up because of distracting thoughts. Sincere yogis, can spend long periods sitting, walking or in other postures, apparently meditating but in fact, just thinking. Thoughts of the past, present and future keep arising and the…

  • Aasava, Jhaana, Kusala

    The suttas teach yogis about the practice for removing the aasava-taints so that kilesa-mental defilements no longer cause suffering. Samatha meditation also known as jhaana-absorption practice may temporarily suppress the taints but does not eliminate them. The complete removal of the taints is achieved with vipassana insight, the opening of the Dhamma eye of the…

  • Aasava – Taints are like a Seeping Abscess

    There have been moments when the mind is relatively clear and concentrated, peaceful and calm. Then an object that activates lust or anger arises and with that a subtle sensation in the chest area and at the back of the throat reminiscent of sickness also arises. Then sati-mindfulness and samaadhi-concentration declines and awareness becomes cloudy…

  • Noting the Object

    I read a few pages from Ven. Saydaw U Pandita’s book The State of Mind Called Beautiful. This is a great book for yogis practicing the technique of Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. I found many excellent passages. The following instructions struck a chord with me.p. 88. A meditator’s mind must continuously enter and penetrate the object.…

  • Dream Visions

    When I was 19, before I became Buddhist, I had three dream visions in one night. I woke each time deeply impressed. I can still remember these visions clearly almost 30 years later. I agree, I’m not a good artist, nor a skilful user of Gimp, the painting program. Mountain top storm Standing on the…

  • Escape the Sinking Burning Ship

    The following simile is one of my attempts to explain what motivates me to take the Dhamma journey, simplify life, meditate and so on. People see things in quite different ways, with different values, different assumptions and knowledge about reality. This leads people to adopt different behaviour and morality. Because of how we view reality…

  • Strategic Intent Supported by Attention

    Our habitual mental states, our daily intentions and inclinations generate kamma. Lord Buddha encouraged us to diligently restrain the six sense doors and to wisely attend the skillful mental states that lead away from suffering and toward liberation. Samyuttanikaaya SN.II.12.38. Volition (เจตนาสูตรที่) At Saavatii. “Bhikkhus, what one intends, and what one plans, and whatever one…

  • Remedies for Restless Minds

    Five HindrancesLord Buddha identified five hindrances (nivaarana) to mental development: lust, anger, sleepiness, restlessness and doubt. There are many synonyms for these hindrances and other commentators may use different words. A keen student who is not familiar with these five hindrances would do well to study them further. Essentially these five hindrances are symptoms of…

  • Restraint of the Six Sense Bases

    The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Saṃyutta Nikāya ; Translated from the Pāli by Bhikkhu BodhiSelected discourses from the Salaayatanasamyutta – Connected Discourses on the Six Sense Bases SN.35.96 (3) Decline Sutta, p.1178 … “And how, bhikkhus, is one subject to decline? Here, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu has seen a form…

  • Restraint of the Six Sense Bases

    The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Saṃyutta Nikāya ; Translated from the Pāli by Bhikkhu BodhiSelected discourses from the Salaayatanasamyutta – Connected Discourses on the Six Sense Bases SN.35.96 (3) Decline Sutta, p.1178 … “And how, bhikkhus, is one subject to decline? Here, bhikkhus, when a bhikkhu has seen a form…